Journeys Are My Diary

Life, Adventures, Entertainment and more - A little bit of everything blog!

Jersey Diary – Day 6

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Though the morning started off looking grey, the weather was predicting a pretty nice day so we sat down as a family and tried to decide what we would do. Visiting a castle was top of my list and Chris wanted to see a museum and in the end it was planned that we would try to do both. We headed into St Helier and parked the car, walking to the place where we assumed ferries took us over to Elizabeth Castle. We had just missed the 12 o’clock ferry and so sat down to wait till the 12.30 one. The ferry was one of those amphibious ones, that went from land to sea. We travelled over to the castle and spent majority of the day looking around the castle and eating lunch. There was a great cannon display too.

Making our way back to the entrance/exit, there was a huge queue for the next ferry and so we decided to walk. At low tide you can walk the causeway back and forth to the castle and since it was now 3 o’clock and walkable, we decided it would be fun. Sadly half way through the walk, the path was still covered with water so I had to take my shoes off to pass and the others had to jump through the deeper patches. It was fun though and the weather was beautiful so we all laughed about it. As we got to land again, we decided there wasn’t much point heading to the museum as it was only open for another hour. Instead we bought Jersey Cream ice creams and sat outside to eat them. We popped to a nearby supermarket and then headed back to the apartment where we had sandwiches for dinner, cookie dough pudding and watched a movie. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Jersey Diary – Day 5

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Since I’ve only just made yesterday’s post, today – I’m making myself do today’s as well so I’m all caught up. Today was a similar day to yesterday, with more continuous travel around the coast. The first thing we did was head out to where we left off yesterday, though not the exact place but the next bit along. Instead of heading up the A10 though, we wiggled through some inland on the way there. So starting really at Bonne Nuit Bay, we first stopped there and took pictures, actually at two different points on the bay. Next we went around Egypt and over to Bouley Bay where again we stopped for pictures.

We continued on around the coast until stopping again at Rozel Bay, then on again until Fliquet Bay. Just a little further on was St Catherine’s Breakwater and here we stopped for quite some time, walking the length of the breakwater and back again. Next came a few stops along St Catherine’s Bay, before stopping again at Gorey and Mont Orgueil Castle. We parked the car here for an hour, took pictures, visited a souvenier shop and even grabbed a coffee. However since we’d had bacon butties for breakfast before leaving the house, everyone wasn’t hungry still – despite the fact it was now 2.30. We decided to carry on around and view the Royal Bay of Gouville as we drove along it. We stopped next at La Rocque Point, then Le Hocq Pt and finally Green Island (where we also took a bit of a walk). Finally we drove back towards St Helier, still along the coast – seeing a few more parts as we drove threw – then finally back to the apartments. Finally we had begun to feel hungry and so we decided to have take-away and get it delivered there. I’m guessing the rest of the evening will be spent eating and relaxing. Here are today’s pics!

Jersey Diary – Day 4

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Yesterday we were out for so long and I took so many pictures, that when we arrived home I simply couldn’t be bothered to log on to my computer and write up a post. So instead I’m going to write what we did and throw a few pictures in underneath.

We started off in the morning, heading back to La Pulente, which is where we left off on the first full day. We followed the “Five Mile Road” along St Ouen’s Bay, stopping at random points for photos. After reaching the fort at the military museum, we followed the road around, staying as much as we could, close to the coast. We stopped at Grosnez Point, where there was Grosnez Castle ruins. Then we stopped again at Plemont Bay. We then headed to Greve De Lecq where we ended up stopping for lunch at a really nice cafe. After lunch we headed onwards to the Devil’s Hole where we took a pretty long walk and loads of photos. Finally we went to Sorel Point, before going back down the A10, popping into St Matthew’s Glass Church and then home again. Here are some of my favourite pictures from the day.

Today’s Route

 

Jersey Diary – Day 3

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Today was a pretty quiet day as it was pouring with rain for the majority of it. After having breakfast and backing up our swimming gear, we headed out to St Helier and to the Aquasplash. We got soaked from the car to the building which sucked a bit but it was okay once we got in and the kids enjoyed the swim while Chris and I managed some time in the sauna too.

After swimming we went to Tamba Arcade, which was much smaller than we expected but the girls enjoyed playing on Mario Kart, Whack-a-Minion and the Piano Keys game. Next we headed to KFC for some lunch before taking a wander into the town centre of St Helier itself. Sadly, due to the rain, we were really just running in and out of the occasional shop and didn’t see much of the place itself.

Finally we grabbed some more food shopping at the Co-op before heading back to the apartment. We were all pretty soaked and tired so spent the rest of the day watching TV, playing games and just relaxing. Hopefully we’ll get time to head back to St Helier on a finer day and actually see some of the statues and landmarks there.

Jersey Diary – Day 1

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I don’t often have time to blog daily but this week we’re away in Jersey and it’s definitely a “down-time” holiday. Because of that we’ll be in most evenings and I’ll have plenty of time to update. Today is Saturday and the day we officially went away, though technically we left the house yesterday and stayed in a Travelodge near Liverpool.

We got up this morning and grabbed a Subway lunch before packing the car up and heading to John Lennon’s Airport in Liverpool. We parked the car, walked to the airport and headed on through check-in and security. Once through we had plenty of time to waste so we looked around and then chilled out.

Eventually we were called to Gate 9 where we pretty much headed straight out and onto the plane. The journey was fairly uneventful (except for a bit of turbulence) and we arrived after only an hour. Once off the plane, we picked up the rental car from Hertz and then headed the very short distance to Boscobel Farm where we would be staying for the week. We rent a car in Dubai so we knew where to go.

We are staying in Apartment 1. It has a twin room (with extra pull-out bed), a double room and a sofa bed in the lounge. The kitchen and lounge are together in one room and then there’s a bathroom too. We’re on the ground floor.

We all unpacked and then headed out to a local shop for food. We found an Iceland as the first place and stocked up on food for breakfast and also sandwiches (plus several bottles of wine). We bought pizzas for dinner and then came home to cook them. We spent the evening watching TV and relaxing, before heading off to bed.

Preparing to go on Holiday

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Planning a holiday is one of my absolute favourite things to do and right now I’m planning what I hope will be the holiday of a lifetime. I’m very lucky to be able to say, we do go away quite often. It’s not always for very long or even very far, but a few times a year we get away as a family. This year we have been away to Blackpool, Chichester, London and Paris. Later this month we’re going to Jersey for a week as well. Last year we managed France twice, Scarborough, Chichester and London – while the year before we had an amazing trip to Florida.

Packing is pretty much my least favourite part of the holiday. I love the planning; where, when, how aspects and even writing a list of what we need to take, what we need to buy before going etc. but the actual packing I just find a bane. That said, the unpacking when you get home is even worse so I suppose packing is at least better than that. As a mum of two girls, it’s important to always be prepared. We try to pack light but at the same time, I like to know we have everything we might need. Throwing in clothes is the basics, but remembering a hat and suntan lotion, or raincoats and umbrellas, those are the things I try to remember.

Before heading off on holiday, we of course take out holiday insurance. Touch wood, I have never had anything bad happen on a holiday before but I always like to make sure I’m covered. After that I think it’s important to remember you can get a free EHIC card for when travelling in Europe but you need to remember to apply at least a week or so in advance to allow time for it to arrive. After that, there is a lot of common sense involved – what things can you take from home that you might appreciate when on holiday – Capol for kids, paracetamol or ibuprofen for adults, plasters, tweezers, antiseptic wipes and cream etc. Other holiday essentials include sun hats, suncream and glasses for hot weather and warm clothes for cold (and of course the anticipation of it being the opposite to what you expect).

If you travel abroad on an airplane, its important to stay hydrated as high altitudes can make the air very dry. Unfortunately can’t help being trapped in the small space, with everyones bugs and germs, but keeping yourself hydrated can help fend off colds and flu. Walking around will also keep your blood circulated and hopefully avoid deep vein thrombosis.

Hand sanitiser and wipes are also great for holidays. You can wipe down places that you think may be more likely to carry germs and of course also for your own hands.

Eating well and also sensibly is important. For a start, drinking bottled water is always advisable while abroad. Also be careful of any food you wouldn’t normally eat and any food known to be highly likely to cause food poisoning when cooked or prepared wrong.

It goes without saying to make sure you wear a hat, sunscreen, glasses etc. when out in the heat. This will avoid sunstroke, sunburn and so on. When we were in Florida, my youngest daughter had her whole face swell up for the first few days and after that we were much more careful in the sun than we had been to begin with. Getting too hot can also lead to headaches and overheating so always be sensible with the sun. Being careful with alcohol consumption, especially in the sun, is also something to be advised. This can lead to dehydration.

Of course there are many more things you can do, but these are some of the main points. That said, you can’t always prepare for everything that might happen and sometimes you do end up ill or having an accident on holiday. At this point you should look into holiday claims by Your Legal Friend as they can help you claim for all sorts of aspects that may have ruined your holiday.

Planning well is always the best idea for a good holiday and I’m still hoping that my holidays continue to go smoothly. I can’t wait to start booking my next holiday and then of course, everything else that goes with it to make it the perfect holiday.

 

Happiness Happens Month

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August is by far one of my favourite months of the year – the kids are off school and I work from home, meaning I get to spend 100% of my free time with them. Whether we’re all just kicking around the house together, or whether we’re out and about on a holiday or day trip, we still get to be together all of the time. However I have to admit that my friendships have been a little neglected this August too. We haven’t seen our friends in Gainsborough since we moved in June, one of my best friend’s came for a visit at the end of July but I haven’t seen her all month either and my other best friend I hadn’t seen for ages – until today.

Did you know that August is Happiness Happens month? And that NRS Healthcare are big advocates of helping people feel better about themselves. They try to help adults feel connected and combat loneliness and with this in mind they made a great post called How to make new friends as an adult and live happily. While I absolutely love spending time with my family, there’s nothing like spending time with some adult company too. And while I’m not really one for heading out and making new friends, it does make me more determined to try and keep in touch with my current friends.

Send a quick text

My nearest friend lives only about 30 minutes from me and we tend to see each other once a week, or once every other week. However this summer we have both been so busy that I actually haven’t seen her since the very beginning of school holidays. Today I knew I was heading to a place very close to where she lives, taking the kids to a Maize Maze. A quick text, enquiring if she was about, lead to us meeting up unexpectedly and having a good old chat while the kids played on the adventure playground.

Comment or Like on Social Media

These days its very easy to keep up with friends, with things like Twitter and Facebook – and of course blogs. You read about someone’s life and often feel like you’re keeping in touch, even when you’re not. However why not take a few minutes to leave a comment on a post and let your friend know you are following their adventures. My other best friend is in Disneyland Paris this week and unexpectedly we had a quick chat this morning, just because she commented on my Instagram story.

Host an event

For a few years now, I have been Queen of Organisation in our social group. Most years there are at least 3-4 Murder Mysteries, several board game nights and dinner out for birthdays. However as of last year, organising events definitely slowed down and lives got very busy. It’s so easy to invite a couple of friends round, or even a whole host of them. You can keep it simple with a takeaway and games like Jackbox on the TV, or you can host a full on murder mystery of escape room evening. I’ve been eyeing up an escape room game, so it might be something I have to get organising!

Family are friends too

It’s easy to forget that hanging out with family, can be just as nice as hanging out with friends. Again, with busy lives its sometimes hard to coordinate but if you make an effort it’s usually possible. This summer break we arranged to meet up with my brother and his partner for a coffee – which then turned into going out for lunch – which then turned into going out the following day to Bradford and visiting the Museum of Science and Media.

Of course there are loads of ways to keep in touch with people and everyone has their own preference. It’s just important to remember that we can all feel lonely at times and its good to have some company. Apparently loneliness can be as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day – so keep in touch with your friends!

Happy 9th Birthday Lily

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Just a quick update from me today and I also know I’m yet to do my February Round-up. However I couldn’t let today go by without wishing my youngest daughter Lily, a Happy Birthday. We’ve had a lovely day that’s involved opening presents, muffins for breakfast, building Lego, eating at Pizza Hut for lunch, catching up with family and then chilling out. I’m actually quite sad the day is over but I think some of that is knowing tomorrow is Monday and the school run begins again!

So once again, Happy 9th Birthday Lily. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown and what a beautiful, funny and smart girl you’re growing up to be.

Hello 2017

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On New Year’s Eve I wrote a post reflecting on 2016 and so today I want to look forward to 2017. As it’s already 3rd January I’m sure it’s probably clear that a whole “new me” is not on the horizon. I think I’ve learned from previous years, that that’s not the best route for me. Instead little changes, positive attitude and a hope for better things, is the direction I would like to go.

This Year I will:

  • Get a better grip on my finances. As I’ve mentioned on my blog before, I have a lot of debt – largely from my time as a single mum (I mean, I’m technically still a single mum but I have a very supportive partner now). For a few years, I just buried my head and the debt got worse but then two years ago it all hit me and I had to stop avoiding it. 2016 was the year I finally started to get that debt down and while I definitely managed to stop adding to it and clear one particular lump of debt, I still have a fair way to go. I have a specific target in mind by the end of the year and that will hopefully lessen my debt by about a third.
  • Work hard on my business, Closet Geek. It would be a lie to say I don’t work hard on it already as to be honest its my main focus, after the kids. I have thoroughly enjoyed working from home this last year and despite how crazy busy it has gotten at times, I wouldn’t change a thing. This year I am aiming to add at least 6 more product ranges (don’t ask me what, I have no idea yet) and hopefully more variations of the products I already sell. That said, I must remember to take time out and relax (which is hard because I often get into a flow).

  • Weight Loss is something I want to focus on this year. I haven’t jumped into any kind of diet yet as there is still a lot of bad food kicking around the house. However I am trying to regulate myself and not eat too my rubbish and when routine starts over again and I start cooking evening meals from scratch, I aim to make healthy dishes and avoid any junk. Last year I felt uncomfortable in my skin and it stopped me from dressing up, cosplaying and even feeling like I wanted to make any sort of effort. Its amazing what a knock on effect feeling overweight can have to all areas of life. I also want to try walking more often, especially as life isn’t so hectic that I need to save every minute of time by hopping in the car.
  • Last year was a wonderful change to family life, working from home instead of feeling stressed in the job I had previously (I actually can’t believe I walked out on that job 2 years ago – I’ve honestly never regretted it). I managed to attend so many of the kids events at school and I’m sure I will be doing so again this year. That said I want to make time outside of those events, to do things as a family. The kids love to play board games (we had a day doing that during holiday), go swimming and play computer games (Lily and I have played Lego Harry Potter for most days of the holidays) so I want to make more time for fun, not just scheduled events. I also want to make more time for Chris as he often gets neglected, just because he “understands more”. On evenings when he’s not at work, I need to step away from my sewing or even my computer and just be with him – doing whatever it is we feel like doing.

This year I would like to:

  • Moving house is definitely top of the list for things I’d like to do in 2017. Sadly not a huge amount of that decision is in our hands, but we need to try wherever possible. From the house going on the market last April, till now, we’ve only had two viewings. I think there has been many reasons to that but largely the price recommended by the agents is too high. We do have another viewing tomorrow so we will see how that goes but at some point this year we will have to make some firmer decisions – perhaps to change agents, sell at a loss, or whatever other options there might be.
  • During January I have a weekend away booked with the girls, to Disneyland Paris. However as much as I’m looking forward to it, I’d really like a nice week away somewhere abroad. Top choice for this year would definitely be Italy and ideally during the warm weather. Chris booking holidays at work can be a pain though as he can often only get out of school holiday time. With Megan now at secondary school I am loathed to take them out of school for a holiday, so it’s definitely going to be a juggling act – and of course available money. If we can’t get away this year, I would definitely love to book something bigger for next year – maybe a two week holiday somewhere further afield like the US.

This Year I will try:

  • Yesterday I was in a position (as I often am) where one of the girls asked if we could do something (something they had been asking for a while and have been saying “soon” to) and my immediate answer was “yes, tomorrow”. Now although that might seen immediate to you, it’s really only because it was that day or tomorrow that we needed to do it, before it was too late. But my reaction was still the latter, not the actual immediate. However after I walked away, I thought “actually, why can’t we just do it now?” and so that’s what we did. Basically I really want to stop putting things off till tomorrow and just get on with them. Because tomorrow never really comes and before you realise it, you’ve been putting everything off and never getting anything done.

  • When we went swimming, the girls and I, I was reminded of how much I enjoy it and, that despite not going very often, I’m still pretty good at it. While I don’t always want to go when they suggest it, I did realise I could take them and just watch (they’re both old enough now), but also I could go when they’re at school and just swim lengths. It would be a great way to make time for me, get fitter and even find time to shower! I don’t want to set myself a frequency but I would like to swim more.
  • As I mentioned last year, our friendship group is a little bit fractured now and so in the past 12 months I haven’t thrown any large group events. I think its probably easiest to just see each group of working friendships, by themselves, whenever there is time, rather than force everyone to get together. Last year we did enjoy a meal out as a group of friends, a cinema trip as a double date and a few times having friends around for dinner. I would like to continue that this year, making more of an effort but hopefully making time for everyone.
  • Finally I should probably give my blog a mention. At this time of year it’s always easy to say “I’ll post more”, or “I’ll post frequently” but the truth is when life gets busy, my blog takes a backseat. I also often find that I lose inspiration for what to write at times and it can become just one big life update that people probably aren’t that interested in. I’m ditching Project 52 (as I did towards the end of last year) as I always forget to take pictures weekly). Instead I might do something monthly, as I did with my round-ups (which definitely suits me better so I will be sticking to those). I’d like to keep updating about books I read (which maybe should have been another bulletpoint as I really should read more) and movies we see at the cinema but past that I’m uncertain of the direction my blog will take. I am considering various options though so watch this space!

Making the most of your spare time

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We all know that running a family home can leave us with very little in the way of spare time. So that’s why it’s a good idea to try and make the most of whatever time we have left after the meals have been eaten and the kids have gone to bed.

In the summertime, it was nice to take long evening walks. But now that the darker days have drawn in, we have to be a little more creative about how we choose to spend our time.

But thankfully tablet technology means that we can still do anything from planning parties and holidays to playing online games so that we never need to rely on those boring TV schedules anymore!

Online window-shopping is something that is not only endlessly engrossing, but it can also lead to some bargains later on. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate Christmas party dress, or some Disney gifts for the kids, there’s nothing like a bit of a bargain hunt on an evening!

There’s a great range of online fashion retailers that have sprung up in recent years, with the likes of Asos and Boohoo being amongst my favourites. And Pinterest is a great way to find things that you wouldn’t normally come across. By creating a virtual pinboard of fashion, recipes and pretty pictures, it’s helped millions of people to organise their wishlists and spend an evening in a vaguely productive way.

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Even something as simple as video games can be made a little more useful. Although Fitocracy is a workout app, it cleverly uses gaming elements to help you stay in shape without noticing. And the live casino and slots games that you can find at Red8s are so engrossing that it’s easy to forget that they can provide a little extra money on the side!

Although it’s probably unlikely that most of us would become professional slots players from these online casino sites, the winnings can be used to make a future holiday fund. Thanks to travel sites like Skyscanner it’s really easy to search around to see what flight destinations are cheapest at particular times of the year.

So whether you’re planning a quick Christmas getaway to beat the winter blues, or are daydreaming about a dream trip to the casinos of Las Vegas or Disneyworld in Los Angeles, it all shows that we can all use our spare time in a productive way!