Center Parcs Sherwood Forest 2014

16th of June to 20th June

We were off to Center Parcs with Nicole again but somewhere different this time, this time we were off to Nottingham. This all happened seven months after my stroke when my memory was still really bad, so this is just a brief write up of what I think happened.

Monday the 16th of June

Quite an easy drive down to the site although I did think I had missed it and turned back at one point, but after a phone call to Nicole, we turned back around and found it.

We met up with the others and had food before we got in to the room, then Nicole and Tim brought all our stuff around to the cabin. The cabin was very nice but I do not remember much else about the day, I know that we went for a walk though.

Tuesday the 17th of June

Today was a day that the girls went on a tree walk, along ropes, slides, swings ets. Me and Dot wandered down to watch them and it looked pretty scary, although the girls didn't show it.

 

Although a couple of children got too scared to carry on and everyone had to wait while the instructors got them down. The girls could then carry on with their trek.

 

From there we moved on to the lake where the girls went out in canoos, while Me and Dot went for a beer. I had a Goose Island, Honker's Ale, this imported version is not 5.0% as the in USA one but 4.7%, it was light amber color with a good head, slight toffee aroma, fruity caramel malt taste, very nice. We were joined by the others a bit latter.

 

Back at the apartment the Squirrels were trying to get us to feed them, they even tried to get in the room but we would not let them.

 

Latter back at the cabin Me and Georgia did a BBQ to feed everyone for tea, it was getting a little bit cool by then.

Wednesday the 18th of June

After lunch the other were all booked to go to the range to fire arrows at the targets, Me and Dot went down later to see how they were doing.

After they had finished there we went to the bar and sat outside for a beer, I think we may have even eaten in there. It was a lovely warm day and we had a nice sit i the sun.

 

Thursday the 19th of June

We all went for a walk on the morning, I say a walk the girls took their scooters with them. We walked all the way to the The Country Club but stopped at playgrounds along the way.

 

Before The Country Club, we first went to look at The Nature Centre and had a good walk around. Then it was the Club, where I am sure we had a meal before making our way back to the apartment.

 

Not sure what we did that night but I think we had a meal out, not too sure but we did one or two times while we were there.

Friday the 20th of June

Another day when I am not sure of what we did but we did not rush off, we packed up in the cars and went back to the center. We will have gone in the pool and we will have had food but as I did not take photos I do not remember too much.

We also went to the pool on other days as well but I do not remember exactly when.

My memory is much better now but I still rely on the camera.

Center Parcs Cumberland 2015

Mon the 2nd to Fri the 6th of November.

Nicole had invited us away with them to Center Parcs in Cumberland, it was well over two years since our last visit there almost three, although we had been to the one in Nottingham last year.

Mon the 2nd of November

We set off later than the others but met up with them in the pub on site for lunch, The Lakeside Inn. This is something we usually do on our first day there, before we have access to our lodge, we go for a drink and a pub lunch. Me, Dot and Emily had a Beefburger with Haggis on top, it was ok but I do not think I will try it again. We also had a couple of beers (Pedigree I think), the prices in Center Parcs are quite high especially the beer, although I suppose many visitors are used to it.

Around three we went off to see if our rooms were ready, there are not supposed to be until three thirty but it was ready. It was not far to walk from The Lakeside Inn and in fact it was the closest one to the Sports Plaza you can get.

Once settled in we moved on to the Sports Plaza and got seats near the pool tables and had a few games (and beers) before moving back to our lodge for something to eat.

 

Back at our lodge, we just spent the evening sat about watching TV, we had some more beers of course and we had cheese and crackers for tea/supper.

Tues the 3rd of November

We had a very relaxing morning, I stayed in bed reading, something I rarely do nowadays, reading that is. But eventually I had to get up for something to eat.

We did have to be out early (before 11) for the girls to do the areal tree top walk, Dot and I let the others go first and we followed on just in time to see them up in the trees. We had to wait for a wile for one young lad to be lowered down, as he did not like it up there and I do not think I blame him.

 

After lunch the others headed off to the pool and eventually Dot and I followed them over to the Village Centre but we didn't go in the pool, we just had a look around the shops. I managed to get a new beer from the supermarket there but I will cover that in another blog. We then had a cup of tea while we waited for the others, who turned up just as we got them, so anyway we all had a drink. It was only five when we walked back but it was getting very foggy.

As we walked back we hoped that it would be better tomorrow night, as tomorrow night was to be firework night. Back at the house we ordered Indian for tea. It didn't take that long for the food to arrive and it was very good indeed. We had a right mix of curry's, chicken tikka masala, chicken jalfrezi and chicken korma, with some starters like Onion Bhaji and pizza for the girls.

We then settled down to watch the first part of the last Lewis ever on ITV.

Wed the 4th of November

I spent the early part of the morning reading in bed again but eventually I had to get up for a shower and breakfast.

At eleven the girls had the climbing walls booked, so we had to be out early to watch them.

 

The girls were the two biggest ones there but I think they still enjoyed it though. Afterwards we went off to play pool and have our dinner there in the Sports Plaza. Beefburger without Haggis on top and with cheese instead seems to be a much better idea.

That afternoon we wandered over to the Village Centre ready for the fireworks that night, we walked through the Christmas avenue that was just about ready. The reindeer there seemed to be just settling in.

Over at the Village Centre we all had a game of ten pin bowling (and a beer or two, Jennings, Cumberland ale, I think), I won, this is not a usual thing, more of a fluke.

After the game Tim and the girls went into the pool, while the rest of us just sat in the bar. Nicole went outside to get a good place for us to watch the fireworks and eventually we all met up there with a very good view. The total lack of wind rather ruined the display but it was still good.

We wandered back to the lodge but went via the Christmas avenue again and the snow had been sprayed now, it looked really good.

 

Back in the lodge we had cheese and crackers again and watched a Bond film we had with us, Quantum of Solace, by the time it was finished it was time for bed.

Thurs the 5th of November, Bonfire Night

Nice quite morning, we didn't do much at all, except packing . On the afternoon though, George and Tim had an archery lesson (there were only two spaces available), so off they went with Nicole to watch them. Latter the rest of us wandered over to watch them and got the last quarter of and hour.

We then wandered over to the Village Centre and we walked through the Christmas avenue again on the way.

In the Village Centre we headed to the Italian, Bella Italia for something to eat. Up there in the restaurant we had a good view of Santa riding across the top of the trees. We all had something different, Dot and I had Pizza and a Pasta dish a sheared them between us. The beer in there was Becks, seems strange to have German beer in an Italian restaurant.

After our food we walked around the shops and even Dot bought things for Christmas. It was dark before we walked back to the lodge. Tim and the girls went back over to the pool while the rest of us rested but within half an hour, they were back. Someone had pooed in the pool and so it was closed.

Latter we had cheese and crackers again, watched another Bond film we had with us, Skyfall this time and again, by the time it was finished it was time for bed.

Fri the 6th of November

We had to be out of the lodge by 10:00 so we were up fairly early (no chance to read this morning). Tim went for his car and we got all our stuff in it and drove it back to the car park. We just parked up there, I pumped my tyre up and we wandered back over to the Sports Plaza to meet up with the others.

We played badminton for the first hour and then moved on to the table tennis, By now I was worn out, so me and Dot went up for a cup of tea. The others continued on and played tennis next, before meeting up for lunch.

 

After lunch we played pool for a while then made our way over to the Village Centre to do some more shopping. From there we walked back to the car park where Tim brought his cat next to ours to pack. Then it was off home.

Middleton-in-Teesdale 2012

18th June to the 20th June

We have just had a couple of nights away in a Hotel in Middleton-in-Teesdale, we had bought another two night Bed & Breakfast voucher from Groupon. It didn't get off to a good start though, as I had stupidly applied for a job and the interview was on the afternoon of the first day away. It also meant that I was a bit stressed for a lot of the time we were there.

Day one, Monday 18th June

As soon as the interview was over we set of for Middleton-in-Teesdale and had a good drive there. When we arrived at The Forresters Hotel & Restaurant, there was nowhere to park, so Dot went in to ask. We had to drive down a narrow lain to get to the back of the hotel where we were met by the boss and shown to our room.

All I wanted was a beer to see if I could relax, so it was straight down to the hotel bar. Waiting there was a bonus, a hand pulled beer, a hand pulled beer I hadn't had before.

Jarrow Brewery, Rivet Catcher from England

4.0% gold colour with a good head, citrus hop aroma and a refreshing citrus hop taste.

After two of them, I was feeling a little better and we went to look at the rest of the village. it was getting late and the shops were closing, so we had a look at the couple of bridges while the sun was still shining.

On the walk back we looked into the other hotel in town and they also had a hand pulled beer I hadn't had.

Mithril, Game of 2 Halves from England

4.1% gold colour with a good head, citrus hop aroma, citrus hop taste.

Again I had two, sat outside in the sun, something very rare this year, before going back to our hotel for another couple of Rivet Catcher.

Day two, Tuesday 19th June

A day to go for a drive, we did have a general idea that we would head for Alston but that was it for the planning.

After a very nice full English breakfast, we set off on the road, first stop was a picnic area just of the A689, that Dot remembered from her childhood. It is a stop for walking to Low Force, never been to Low Force but didn't fancy it today (too much beer the previous night and too much greasy food for breakfast).

As we passed High Force car park, Dot convinced me to park up and have a walk to the falls. It was £2.00 to park and £1.50 each entrance to the falls, I would rather park free at the hotel and pay for a beer but it was too early for that.

We have been to High Force many times and took many many photos but it is a nice walk and an impressive waterfall and gorge. It started to rain as we got to the falls but by the time we got our waterproofs on it had stopped and we ended up sat in the sun for a while (I was feeling ill, see above).

 

We continued our drive towards Alston, stopping occasionally for photos, just over one bridge we pulled into a lay-by where two minibuses were already parked. I got out and walked over the bride to see if there was a good shot, I was surprised by what I saw looking over the parapet. Under the bridge was a waterfall and there was a group of people abseiling down it. I want straight back to the car to get Dot.

The only way we were going to get a photo of all this, would be to go down into the valley but neither of us had brought our walking shoes. The path down was rather steep and wet but we managed and it was well worth it for the view.

 

It would have been a perfect place for a picnic but unusually for us, we hadn't brought one. So we slowly made our way back up the slippery path to the car. Where we did have some orange juice to drink.

Arrived in Alston but there was nowhere to park on the high street, so we got parked at the old railway station. The railway is now a tourist ride, we did it a few years ago and it was very poor but now it has been extended. I do not remember it being a  narrow gauge railway, shows how the mind can play tricks with your memory.

 

We didn't go on the train but thought it could be a good idea to come back with the girls during the summer holidays.

Even though I was still feeling unwell, we walked up the bank into the centre, Alston was practically deserted. The chip shop was open and a few gallerias and small shops but all the pubs were either shut down or closed for the afternoon and there were empty shops. The Co-op was open and doing well though, we got water, crisps and some scones for a snack, we were going to eat in the hotel tonight. Also I did not find any new beers.

 

After the walk, we drove along the route of the railway, taking photos we went but when we ended up in Northumberland, we thought it would be a good idea to turn back.

Back at the hotel we booked a meal but wanted to eat early, as we needed to find somewhere to watch England play. We were informed that if we ate in the bar area instead of the restaurant, they would set up a TV so we could see the game. We agreed and had longer to get washed and rested.

 

The TV was right next to our table, so we had a good view, good food and good beers to go with it. We are not big on eating out in restaurants but I enjoyed doing it for a change.

Again I had too many of these.

Day three, Wednesday 20th June

Where to go on the way home? The Olympic Torch Relay, was due in Barnard Castle that afternoon and we had already thought about a visit to Barnard Castle, so Barney it was.

After another Full English breakfast (I must stop eating greasy food), we drove straight to Barnard Castle and as we were very early for the Torch Relay, we got parked down by the bridge, where we had intended to.

From there we walked the long way, along the road up into the centre, where, after a quick look in the shops, we made for the tourist information to find out the Olympic flame's route. The route would take the flame up and down the high street so anywhere along there, would double the chance of a good view.

We sat in the sun next to the castle for a while before getting board and going back to the shops, where I found several new beers but didn't want to carry them round all day. Dot got a snack while I went the the fish and chip shop for my lunch.

It was still over two hours before the flame was due, so we went for a walk by the river Tees. It was a walk we had done twice before, so knew we had plenty of time.

As we walked back up into town the crowds were building but we noticed that next to nobody had picked a spot on the old buttermarket. We knew the flame would pass there twice, so we claimed a space in the sun. It was still an hour to go but we were sat in the sun with easy access to ice cream.

The police were very friendly and even entertaining, the sponsors buses also kept the interest up. Eventually the torch bearer came in to sight and the now very large crowd cheered, I was taking photos and missed most of it.

After a short while, a different torch bearer was coming back the other way and then all too soon it was all over.

We sat in the sun next to the castle again and waited until the roads reopened and the traffic died down, before going back to the car. In the end, I forgot to go back for the beers I had found.