For the last day of holidays, we decided that we would brave Bluewater and have a last look at the sales. Nicky is in the market for a food processor, and we were using the flimsy excuse of the VAT rise tomorrow to justify having a look at some today, not that we usually need much of an excuse to head to the shops. However, it was not to be, as we joined a slow moving queue on the slip road off the A2, and after spending 10 minutes getting from there to the roundabout, we decided to cut our losses and turn left away from the crowds.
Headed back to Maidstone, and tried the Pippin for lunch, but they told us that they had given up on serving food as it was too busy. So, we went to the Aylesford retail park, with the plan of popping into the BHS coffee shop for a sarnie and then having a look at the Currys next door to see if they had a decent selection of food mixers. Well, the gannets had been through BHS ahead of us and cleaned them out, so lunch was a bag of crisps and a chocolate slice! Things didn't improve much in Currys and so we gave up and came home.
Anyway, now that the Christmas break is at an end, thoughts are turning towards 2011 holiday plans. Here's how things are shaping up so far:
1) Easter break - we may have a week away during the week after Easter. This is the week with the Royal Wedding in it, so for the cost of three days of holiday from work, I can be off from Good Friday through to the day after the May Day bank holiday. Unfortunately, schools are back in for those three days, but we are contemplating being cheeky and taking Jake out. The jury is well and truly out as to where we could go. We have a three way split along these lines: Nicky wants to go somewhere hot and sunny, and keeps mentioning Dubai, Jake isn't sure about Dubai and is pointing out a selection of all inclusive resorts in the Med which have huge swimming pools (from a brochure that we picked up the other day), and I'd quite fancy a week in the Lake District!
2) May half term - Boys On Tour! Plan A had been to hire a retro camper van on the Isle of Wight, but it looks like they are all booked up. Determined to have our boys holiday, Jake and I are now looking at some of the delightful hotel options on the Island. Will probably work out better (and may well be cheaper) due to our liking for hot and cold running water, proper mattresses, telly, and cooked breakfasts. The plan is to head off on the bank holiday Monday, spend the week playing in the arcades, eating ice cream, playing crazy golf and so on, and then (if it is available) meet Nicky at Mrs Cook's caravan for the weekend.
3) Summer holidays - Orlando. Jake will be bringing Owen along, and we will be staying in Bay Lake Towers and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Jake is very excited about having a friend along, and apparently Owen is a bit of a coaster fiend, so I will definitely have someone to keep me company on the fast rides. Will be interesting to see if Jake tries out some new rides as well! Hopefully we will get to Universal and visit the Harry Potter part of IOA. The three of us will be picking up Annual Passes for Disney because ...
4) Christmas - back to Disney. In accordance with the alternating Christmas rule, we will be heading back to the sunshine state for the festive season. Not sure where we will be staying just yet. My vote is currently going for Old Key West, but I think that the villas at the Wilderness Lodge may be running in a close second place. We will have to book our "home" resorts 11 months out (in a couple of weeks time) but then can try to swap when we get to 7 months.
Well, that's as far as the planning has got so far!