The kitchen fairies didn't come...

But we had a fantastic holiday in Bude, so that's ok. However, I've spent so long ploughing through 350 photos that I can't be bothered to write really! (Now I know how you felt Pete and Courtney!)

Anyway, the first week was spent with Grandma and Grandad (a.k.a. Janet and Graham), we went for walks, played on the beach, ate, walked the dogs, listened , listened and listened some more. By that I mean Jessica has learnt the female role in life and out-talked even the grown women. Boy has she got stuff to say! Anyway, rant over, we did lots of not very much but the girls had a wail of a time. And so did we as it happens, I was whisked off to a romantic (if not shoddy) hotel in.... Ilfracombe. I got a blue rinse especially! We had a lovely, slightly inebriated, time despite the rules and regulations;
- Swimming but only after 9:30am - breakfast being served from 8 - 10am.
- A la carte dinner served at 8:30pm only in the dining room,
- Only bar meals (a la Weatherspoons) to be served on the decking and only between 6:30 and 8:30pm
The list went on. Very Fawlty Towers! But despite that we had a nice child-free anniversary and many thanks to G and G for looking after the girls.

So then on Friday we were left to fend for ourselves. Having said that we had a great time, the Big Sheep (cutely named "Baa baa back sheep, has you any woooool" by Jessica - obviously), cream teas, crazy golf... so crazy that I actually won. And fair and square!!!!, the Maize Maze and lots of beaching!

The Big Sheep was great fun, Jessica was well up for all the feeding and shearing and particularly the play barn (can't believe it can you!), Maddy also liked it all but more from a distance.

Crazy Golf was obviously superb although I think Nick has some excuses lined up.

The best bit was the maize maze which had it's own Wylie style chain of attractions. We decided, after receiving the maps and instructions, to be "intrepid" and not use them. So we followed the leader (Jessica). We made Walt Disney proud (and a considerable amount richer in loyalties!)searching for dinosaur eggs. We saw red, then blue, then green, then blue, then red, then blue, then PURPLE, then green..... and so on. So we took a break, had a drink and went back in using the map. Jessica was tired and didn't want to walk, Maddy Pooed and wouldn't lay still amongst the maize to be changed and Liz had a little epi because she couldn't carry either of her two children, they all growed up and heavy! Fun, fun, fun!!!!!!!! We laughed a lot that afternoon.

As for the beach stuff it was all fairly monotonous, surfing, sandcastles, rockpools, car/helicopter building etc etc (but enjoyable I hasten to add!).

Then on Wednesday morning Nana and Grampy arrived (a.k.a. Janice and Pete) to take over the entertainers role. Again very little of any consequence happened, we still went for walks, played on the beach and ate. The only major difference from the other grandparents was the lack of dogs. Jessica still talked incessantly, followed Nana like a shadow this time instead of Grandma, and all was really lovely and calm!

Until Saturday. We packed up to come home, but decided to stay the day and invade the Thurlby holiday! So to summarise, 6 adults and 5 children to feed, beach and clean up afterwards. It was nothing short of a miracle, especially as the Wylies had a deadline for leaving and two VERY grumpy and tired children to boot! Tra la la. It was fantastic fun. The girls REALLY enjoyed having more company of their own kind, and we enjoyed having even more company of our own kind too! So muchos thanks to Bec and Andrew for making us feel so welcome. I think the photos speak for themselves on that one!

Well... it seems I found the energy to write, must be the caffeine. I hope you enjoy perusing our photos. In the words of Madeline, "All gone!"