It’s Halloween ………

There is much occurring of a spooky type nature at The Towers today as we are entertaining later on today.

Nigel and I have been assigned to the pumpkin carving, the putting up of a few choice decorations, trick or treat bags  and a couple of party games all under the supervision of  Darrell, our self appointed artistic director!

Darrell has put himself in charge of the kitchen, with an ample roast promised, with all the trimmings for the adults and Halloween chicken and pasta for the delectation of Young Miss Iris  and Master Bertie, followed by the now obligatory  Riverside foraged crumble and custard! 

It seems like only yesterday when we last donned our ghoulish apparel, yet here we are again …….

……. Nigel is as cute as ever in his pumpkin outfit, Darrell will be rocking the glow in the dark skeleton look and I am planning on being a comfy Count Dracula without the fangs, as I don’t want to scare the babies …….

………. too much!!

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like …….. Halloween

As you know Nigel very much appreciates a good seasonal shop window display, but with our recent Dawlish jaunt etc. the opportunities to take in the Halloween windows of Evesham has been few and far between this year, but yesterday afternoon  he finally managed it get to see one or two …….

The Bed Shop always puts on a good display ……. and Nigel thought that having their giant hippo dressed as Count Dracula was quite inspired!

He also noted that there seem to be more costumes than ever for sale, and not to be outdone we have already treated Iris and Bertie to a pair of pumpkin t-shirts to wear to our little “soiree” later in the week.

One of the sweet shop windows Nigel thought was a just tiny bit lacking, to which Darrell, with his would be designer eye would have said that “…..there is an awful lot of empty space that needs to be sympathetically and cohesively filled to draw the whole theme  together”,   but perhaps it isn’t quite finished yet ………. we shall await any further developments.

However, the same cannot be said for the other sweet shop directly opposite ……

They, true to form, have gone way and beyond in their efforts  ……..

……. producing something almost touching on the stuff of nightmares,  but all good fun which, I can’t believe actually distracted Nigel from his other mission, which was to find a small and perfectly formed pumpkin for our aforementioned celebrations ……. or was it just a cunning plan so that he’d have to go out and embrace the windows all over again and look for new ones?

One Final Hurrah of a Seaside Type Nature for 2017

Nigel and I are now back, firmly ensconced within Darrel’s and The Towers ample bosom……..

……. but not before stopping off for a couple of hours in Weston Super Mud Mare to break up the journey for Little Miss Iris …….

……. for just one last sandcastle …….  and just one last paddle ……

Let’s just say it was emotional ……..

……. our last seaside foray of 2017 …….. but with the promise of many happy returns in 2018, when we will then, most likely, have Young Master Bertram in tow too, with all the pleasures he brings ……. Happy Happy Days!

A Few Choice Gifts For Darrell

Sadly, our short holiday is drawing nigh, it was but a brief encounter, but I think we have all taken Dawlish to our hearts and embraced all its pleasures.

Nigel found Darrell his requested holey stone, but is wasn’t exactly the smallest or most subtle pebble on the beach, however, though Nigel and I don’t really have Darrell’s artistic flare, we rather think said stone would look rather good furnished with a couple of strategically placed air plants, but we will leave that entirely up to Darrell.

We have also made a couple or three considered purchases in Gays Creamery of an alcoholic type nature …….

…… notably some Cranberry and Rosehip wine miniatures ……

……… a small contribution to Darrell’s beloved cocktail cabinet to see what he can concoct with them, we hope something exotic and mildly potent! 

And then I think we will be rash and crack open the beer once Iris is safely returned to the bosom of her family ……..  to celebrate yet another holiday well spent!!!

A Beach Artist In The Making ……

It has been very, very lovely watching Little Miss Iris create her beautiful beach pictures in the sand, although Nigel and I have both mooted that she might actually be sending coded messages to beings of an alien type nature!

They are very intricate and keep her absorbed for hours, …….

…….. and all she uses is her pointy finger.

Nigel has been a bit worried that said finger might get a little sore, and has had wet wipes, plasters, and a sling all on hand, bless him.

And in turn, I have told him not to be such an old fuss pot of a dotting uncle …..

…… our Iris and her finger are made of much sterner stuff than that …

…… and no one ever told Picasso or Mozart Mattise when they should give their paintbrush a rest!

Nigel’s Nom Nom Nom Moment

Being on a self catering holiday, we have mainly been self catering, with Darrell sending us off with select freezer bag packed with a full compliment of individual cottage pies, tuna pasta bakes, a humungous boeuf bourguignon and a couple of sponge puddings, including a most excellent and springy Spotted Dick, complete with a tin of Ambrosia Devon Custard………

However, we have still managed to avail ourselves of the hospitality of a couple of cafes during our stay ……  well, it would look rude not to sample a little of the local cuisine, wouldn’t it?

…….. and it was at one of these fine establishments that Nigel had what was his nom, nom nom moment of the week, ( …..perhaps even of the month) with a smoked mackerel rarebit, something he is VERY partial to, but doesn’t have very often ……. Lets just say he remained silent until every last morsel was eaten and the plate licked, before he beamed and uttered those famous words ……. nom, nom, nom ……. what is he like? 

Another Day ………

Another day ………..

…….. another sandcastle ……

………. and another ………

……… gloriously melting ice-cream ……

……. followed by another good wet wiping!!!  HAPPY HAPPY DAYS!!!!

Everyone Is An Art Critic

As with all our holiday caravans, there is the obligatory work of art in each of the rooms, but this time it seems less corporate and more personal.

There was a bit of a tussle between Nigel and Young Miss Iris as to who “got” the room that was adorned by the magnificent  “Gigantic Crayoning Beach Bunny v The Diminutive Moustachioed Pirate” ………

…… and who ended up with the sugary sweet depiction of “The Snuggling Friends”. In the end Young Miss Iris fought a good fight and secured the Bunny Room, but it may have cost her an ice-cream!!!!

I am more than happy with my “Children Jumping Off A Rock Amidst Quite Robust Waves Without Any Obvious Adult Supervision”

But it is the “Lady Carrying A Deckchair” that has been the source of most discussion and debate between Nigel and myself during the long evenings after story time.  It has to be said that carrying a deckchair, without tripping over or becoming entangled in it, is no mean feat, as we have oft found on numerous holidays, but this young lady seems to have mastered it with great aplomb and a certain grace, for which she should be commended!

And …… just to show you that we are not entirely philistines of an art appreciation type nature,  and before Mr D points it out, the picture is actually called 'Sweet Bird of Youth' by Jack Vettriano. Nigel’s only criticism would be that perhaps Mr Vettriano could have given said young lady an ice-cream …….. for when she finally sat down!!!  What is he like?

Happy Hook A Duck Days

Young Miss Iris is keeping us very much on our toes, but not in an overly demanding sort of way as we certainly do not countenance any three year old diva type behaviour …… or it’s back to the caravan!

Needless to say Hook a Duck is ALWAYS number one on Iris’s activity list, with Uncle Nigel always on hand to win her a much considered prize ……

However, Hook a Duck has certainly moved on since the 50p and a goldfish days of our youth ……. the thought of £3 per hook still makes our eyes water ……. but in this case we had one very happy little girl after Nigel managed to win a Hook A Duck play set for her.

This was promptly taken down to the sands, with Nigel being asked to fetch yet another bucket of water to make a very satisfying beach hook a duck with sea shells as prizes, which was played with for the rest of the afternoon and until Nigel and I got quite crossed eyed, with a mountain of shells each to take back to the caravan! Happy Days!!!!!

Our Dawlish Home From Home.

Our last caravan of the year ………

……. and it’s just perfect, with all mode cons and we have the site pretty much to ourselves.  It has to be said that our last caravan dans Exmouth, was, let’s say, just a touch bijoux …….

…… but here in Dawlish Warren, we can have breakfast and go about our ablutions without having to dismantle the couchette bed first!

Nigel even has en-suite facilities, always a good idea as his said ablutions can be a little bit, erm ………. noisy and occasionally robust.

And, we have had something we have never had on a caravan holiday before ……….

A Welcome Tray, with two sorts of biscuits, tea, coffee and hot chocolate sachets, milk (in the fridge) and a bottle of wine, which Nigel said I could have if he could have the biscuits, what is he like?

There was even a pack of playing cards, a ball and stickers and colouring for Young Miss Iris……..

……. what more could we seasoned, end of season, autumnal holidaymakers wish for, for a perfect short break?