ONZE Restaurant, Praia de Carvoeiro

Today was day trip day.  First we went to Silves to visit the castle.  The kids loved the trip, as did I.  I think my wife did as well most of it anyway.  My daughter who had been learning about castles before I think appreciated it, but both the kids loved being able to walk on the battlements.

Dinner was outside the hotel, taken in Carvoeiro in a place over looking the beach.  Thanks to the kids having a siesta they were able to eat out and enjoy it.

Vale D'oliveiras Quinta Resort And Spa

Today the kids got to spend the day at the pool.  It was an enjoyable day, one where the wife and I got to relax and the kids got to try to swim.  As you can see from the picture, there are two pools, one deeper, that being in the backgroud.  The kids did try the deeper one with me, but in general they were more than happy to splash around in the shallow one.  So far, so good here.  The service is friendly and the setting is wonderful.  My wife has yet to try the spa but if it is like the rest of our stay here so far, she will have a great time.

Rei das praias

Well, today was another good day.  Started of with breakfast at the hotel which I think we all enjoyed.  Last night my wife and I were told that the hot chocolate that is made at this hotel is really heated up chocolate milk, and I love the milk, be it warm or cold.  Helps that I love chocolate, and so do the kids.  

So after breakfast, a trip to the local supermarket to buy somethings which I had forgotten to pack, like razors, hayfever tablets etc as well as food and drink so that we do not have to go out to eat every day.  

And then it was a trip to the beach.  Yesterday was a great day, but it was a bit cold, so today, I expected the same.  I guess we looked like a bunch of idiots turning up to the hot sandy beach in jeans! The kids did get wet in the sea and also they got to bury me in sand, and then we ate at the restaurant at the beach which not only had a great view, but had great food, drinks and service as well.

They are so tired right now, just put them to bed.  But they have really enjoyed today.

Hilton Gatwick

Well, it has been an interesting start to the holiday so far.  Yesterday we travelled to Gatwick to fly away today. 

We have stayed at the Hilton in Gatwick before, this being in the time before kids, the attraction being the walk way into the terminal, but this time the experience was more memorable.  The kids were one reason, they loved being away from home and they both loved the room.  We ate in Giraffe in the terminal before going back to the room.  It was a great room, loads of space for the kids, the only issue I had being the bed which I was convinced was not level, and I feel it was due to this that I nearly fell out of bed on more than one occasion in the night.  But other than that, it was a great stay and I am sure that if ever we have the opportunity to stay there again that the same would not happen again with the bed issue and the reason for this was the communication that took place by e-mail before our stay and the way the staff were helpful.  Besides, things could have been worse.  If we had stayed at the Sofitel, we would not have been able to book in due to a security alert!

Anyway, we are knackered now.  The kids have had a full day, waking up early in the morning and then a flight and now a stay elsewhere!

BREAKING NEWS: For the second time in his career, Tiger Woods successfully gets away with dropping his balls in the wrong place.

Quick post about the weekend.  Had to work on Saturday but got back to surprise the kids as my wife had unlocked the door so I could sneak in.  They had just been put to bed and loved being told an extra story.  My daughter does not like to sleep so this morning we got to watch Dr Who together as my son was still asleep until about half past eight.  After my wife and he woke up, it was a trip to Mersea Island where the kids had a great time.  To say it was windy would be an understatement, but it was sunny and despite the wind, not too cold.  We would have stayed there for hours, but my son on trying to get some water for making a sandcastle managed to fall in a very wet patch of sand, or basically mud.  It was fun, he took it well and sadly we had to come home much sooner than we had planned, but over all, it was a great day out for all.

Today China gave North Korea a stern warning to not bomb the United States, because they owe Beijing 16 Trillion Dollars.

Well, the other joke I was going to post was about Arsenal.  Which I have to say played well on Saturday, a hard earned victory over WBA.  And the best bit, was when I watched it in the morning, I got the kids to sit with me and watch the game.  I gave them the option of eating at the table, or sitting with me on the sofa and watching the game while eating.  Being kids, they loved the idea of watching the television, even if it meant watching football, which they are not fans.  Yet.  I am hoping that we get to win the next few games, but I think that in the next three games, we will be lucky to get five points.  Which will not be good enough to finish in the top four.

Anyway, the family.  On Sunday we had an overdue trip to Legoland.  The kids loved it, more so as it was a surprise.  They know the way there now, but due to traffic problems on the M25, we cut through London and went on the North Circular which meant that we were only an hour late for the opening, rather than a further hour or two which it would have been otherwise.  But, the kids did not know where we were going due to the alternative route and by the time we were getting close, they were causing enough trouble that I got them to close their eyes.  When they opened them to find out where they were, well the joy on their faces!

Anyway, knackered, have to go now, good night.

Margaret Thatcher, forever blue

Well, it has been an interesting week.  Just in case you are not aware, Maggie is dead.  And this has divided the nation again.  There are those who think that she was great, and those that hate her.  As you can imagine if you follow my posts, I am not in the camp that thinks that she was great.  I have however, on hearing my daughter state that she hates her, told her that she should not hate someone she does not know about.  Margaret Thatcher was after all, a Prime Minister who did a lot of good for the nation, which should be remembered, along with the great suffering she inflicted as well.

There is no doubt that she was right to liberate the Falklands.  It is argued by some that the invasion happened because she was complacent, but history will always have those who will disagree with this view.  What was right was that the freedoms of the people of the Falklands should have been defended.  Argentina accuses the UK of having a colony there.  Argentina, an ex-colony of Spain.  When the invasion happened, an evil military dictatorship imposed its views on the island, something I would never defend, and something Argentina today should remember.  Even though Argentina is now a democracy, they should respect the democratic rights of those who live on the island to decide if they should join Argentina or not. She was right with some of the reforms that she made to prevent the unions destroying economic growth, she was right to stand up to Europe and she did improve parts of the economy of the nation.

But she destroyed so much as well.  She caused the NHS to decline, she brought about record unemployment, and not only did she destroy the mining industry, she destroyed entire communities.  She destroyed social housing as well which in turn caused community problems.  The selling of council homes to tennants, was not a bad thing, but what was insane was refusing to allow councils to reinvest the money in more flats and houses.  And, if given the chance, she would have done even more!

She worked against sanctions to bring down the oppressive government in South Africa, calling those who had turned to violence in South Africa when peaceful demonstrations were forbidden terrorists (please note that I do not support the use of violence to bring about change unless peaceful attempts have been exhausted, which is what happened in South Africa and is happening now in Syria).  And let us not forget the support she gave Saddam before the invasion of Kuwait.

She was loved by many and hated as well.  It is right that those who think that she was great have a chance to mourn her as she did do many good things for our nation, but it is also right that those who hate her get to raise a glass to the death of a woman who caused so much suffering for so many.