ENGLISH MUM

Back from Tenerife!

I have SO much to tell you that I just don’t know where to start.  Undaunted by his first ever ‘alone in the house’ time, the Mad Professor actually managed to keep the place tidier than I ever do (and not burn it down OR kill any of my baby plants) so I’m feeling rather a lot of parental pride.  The Dude spent the week with his Grandma and threw up the whole time, still Grandma handled it like a pro (she’s used to vomit – she’s got three kids and seven grandchildren after all).

So until I can download photos, whilst simultaneously loading the washing machine, unpacking my suitcase, paying bills and opening mail, I shall leave you with a few photos of the highlights of my trip.

More soon.. promise.

Firstly, here’s my cabin at the Yotel in Gatwick, where they very kindly put me up before my trip (thanks guys!).  I had a wonderful sleep in my space age pod, complete with bed (with VERY nice bedlinen) that moves back to give you more room, desk, flat screen TV, WiFi and amazing wet-room shower and loo.  I slept like a baby and the pillows were lush.  This is my second stay and I love it just as much.  Brilliant way to catch an early flight – just drive there the night before and stay at the Yotel.  Sorted!  For more info, check out Yotel.com.

And here’s just a glimpse of what turned out to be one of the most amazing, unforgettable (and deafening) nights of my life: the ‘firework wars’ in the town of Los Realejos.  More of this later.  As you can see we were on someone’s roof watching the display.  Mind boggling.

And finally a glimpse of the gardens at the Hotel Botanico, possibly one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Pure luxury (and again, more of this later):

Until then, I’m off for some hard labour. Serves me right, really…

Great British Weekends

What do you do at the weekends?  After our lie in (that bit’s non-negotiable – I usually have to start crashing about or hoovering at about 11am or they’d sleep all day), we generally head out.  We’re big on brunch and have tried most of the establishments in the area.  Other than that, the Death Wish Dude is often at a skate park, near or far, the Mad Professor likes to socialise, or there’s cricket practice, chauffeur duty from various parties, a bit of baking for me… and then the large glass of wine and some trash TV to finish it all off.

Pretty boring, I suppose, but then apparently as a nation, Brits are pretty boring, weekend-wise.

Recent research has shown that over half of us rate our weekends as ‘average’ and, more shockingly, 18% say that their weekends are, and I quote, ‘boring’.

Going through this research has been a revelation.  You’d think we’d love our weekends: an opportunity to spend time with our family, have a lie in, go out t eat… visit a local beauty spot, maybe?  But no, apparently we’re a nation of boring old moaners who spend their weekends at home.

Shockingly, even though 91% of us said that we’d be prepared to use our cars for the weekend, the average we’d be prepared to travel is just 58 miles.  58 miles? That wouldn’t even get me to the seaside!

And even those who enjoyed their weekends didn’t get up to very much, the top weekend activity being, well, staying in.

Happily, the chaps at Allianz have decided that this has got to change, and have launched Great British Weekends, instilling us all with a fresh sense of adventure.  And who can blame them, with this, the year of the Olympics AND the Jubilee (and those extra Bank Holidays), we should be out and about, enjoying our beautiful country – especially now summer is around the corner.

First off there’s the Allianz Your Cover Find & Drive Smartphone app which helps locate essential services when on the move, plus Allianz Your Cover Insurance is running a competition for two lucky Twitter followers to win an annual family National Trust membership. Just follow them @YourCoverUK to enter and use #GBweekend to find out more.

So what’s stopping you?  Join the Allianz Your Cover Insurance Great British Weekends campaign by joining their Facebook page and get more out of your weekends!

To find more out about Allianz Your Cover Insurance visit www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk

Video of our fabulous weekend at Disneyland Paris 20th birthday celebrations

So I’ve already told you about our marvellous trip to Disneyland Paris. I think one of the best things about it was spending a whole weekend just with one of my children (the other was rather happy to have some alone time with his Xbox AND without his little brother, don’t worry). The Death Wish Dude and I had an absolutely blast and really enjoyed each others’ company. And let’s face it, when they’re 14, the opportunities for ‘quality time’ are few and far between. We whizzed on rollercoasters, whooshed on rockets, oohed and ahhed at amazing sound and light shows and got all competitive zapping in Buzz’s Laser Blast, but more importantly we laughed. And laughed.

Here’s a gorgeous video that the lovely chaps at Disney made for us. I’m not ashamed to say that I cried buckets!

First Choice’s all inclusive calculator – it all adds up y’know!

So what sort of holiday do you yearn for?  We were recently debating this as we’re planning on taking a trip with the Disreputable One and his good lady later on this year.  All was well until the subject of board came up: ‘of course, we’ll be going half board’, said my Dad.

‘Oh’, I said, ‘only we really like going all inclusive’.

My Dad was a bit surprised as, being a food lover, he thought I’d be happier to get out and about and try different places for dinner.  The thing is, though, as I explained, when taking a beach break with kids, it’s easier to go all inclusive, given the constant stream of requests for cokes, ice creams, snacks and more cokes.  It’s so much easier to budget when you know everything’s paid for in advance.

It’s also rather nice for them to have the independence to wander off  and get their own snacks and drinks rather than constantly having to ask.  On our recent trip to Mexico, the Mad Professor would alight from his sunbed, have a stretch and then say, rather magnanimously, ‘right, it’s my round then’.

And yes, I am a food lover, and on different holidays we’d maybe choose B&B or self catering, then eat out – especially with city breaks – but on a good old ‘slob out on the beach’ holiday, the last thing I need is to be constantly badgered for my purse.

Interestingly, then, First Choice, the holiday company who have recently changed all their holidays to all inclusive only, have come up with a new ‘calculator’ tool so customers can measure the cost implications of self-catering versus all inclusive.

First Choice say that recent research has shown that choosing an all inclusive holiday can save a family of four £500 compared to going self catering over a week’s holiday.

If you want to have a go at First Choice’s new all inclusive calculator, click on http://blog.firstchoice.co.uk/all-inclusive-calculator/ - be warned, you have to let it do its bit before you can enter your own information.  It’s an interesting guide, though, and will even let you enter how many fizzy drinks or meals you think you’d normally use on your hols.

It’s a clever app and pretty thought provoking.  Now, whose round is it?

The Thomson and First Choice blogger lunch

Over half term, the Death Wish Child and I popped to the Rainforest Café in London to meet up with the lovely team from Thomson and First Choice for their family blogger event. They’ve got some fab stuff going on at the moment, what with First Choice’s move to all inclusive from summer 2012, and loads of new family initiatives. Here’s the stuff that took our fancy:

Ooh. A new Wet’n'Wild Kids’ Park at Universal

Interesting news reached the English Mum Newsdesk (okay, the kitchen worktop, but just use your imagination, okay?) this week.  Turns out that Universal are opening a mahoosive big new attraction this summer.

Contained within the site of their huge Wet’n'Wild Florida waterpark  (where you can experience every sort of water-based ride known to man), the new Kids’ Park will cover more than an acre and feature all sorts of fun including slides (17 of them), water cannons, jets and all manner of water-based fun.  They’re paying attention to the surrounding landscaping too (think ‘lush and tropical’ (perfect for the parents to hang out while the little ones go and get wet) and the entire sandcastle-themed area will have one separate entrance, meaning it’s nice and safe and an easy way of keeping track of everyone too.

Tickets for  Wet ‘n Wild cost from £27 for adults and £22 for children at Attraction Tickets Direct (valid for up to 14 consecutive days) or you can visit all of the Universal Orlando packs with a ‘ 3-Park Bonus Ticket’ costing from £113 per adult which covers entrance to Universal Studios, Wet ‘n Wild, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk.

Where should I go on holiday? Year round climates.

I think I’m quite annoying.  Alright, I KNOW I’m quite annoying.  I’m one of those ‘yay, it’s January! Let’s make plans!’ type people.  And while the rest of the family (and possibly the world) are mired in depression about putting on weight or going back to work, I’ve got a fresh notebook, a new pen and am busy planning where I want to go on holiday this year (Boston, France, Cornwall and possibly back to Goa, if you must know.  Oh and maybe Greece?  Ooh and Italy?  Sicily! Oh I can’t decide.)

Thomson have come up with this nifty little infographic (which I’ve stolen for you – I’m good like that), where you choose the month you want to travel, how hot you want it to be, and then it’ll show you the cities that match your requirements. Magic.

Oh and if you book anything, I’m happy to come along as a consultant, or something.  You’re welcome!

Click image to open interactive version (via Thomson Holidays).

2012 will be all about snapshots. And not about stuff.

So here’s a question for you: what did you get for Christmas last year?  Go on, think hard.  And your birthday?  Hmm, thought not.  I can’t remember either.  And that’s not to belittle my beloved and family, who obviously shopped mindfully and thoughtfully and bought me gifts they knew I’d love.  I just honestly can’t remember.

Now I’ll ask you another question: where did you GO last year? What did you experience?  What memory makes your heart soar?  Yup, now I bet you can remember.  Me?  I stood on the observation deck of the world’s tallest building in Dubai.  I had lunch with Jimmy Doherty, walked in the footsteps of the Mayans at Chichen Itza and shared amazing tapas and cocktails in a bar in London with some of my closest, dearest friends.  Oh, and I stood on the bow of a beautiful cruise ship as it docked in the Bahamas, gasped as the Red Arrows whooshed over my head at Goodwood and got my apron on at Leith’s (among other things).

So, beginning to see my point?  We (and I’m one of the biggest culprits here) are all about stuff: buying stuff to wear, buying stuff for our homes, a new handbag here, a new face cream there.  I wonder how much money I spent on STUFF last year.  Actually, it’s probably best that I don’t wonder.  I’d be horrified.

What will my teenagers remember when they look back on their ever-decreasing childhood years?  Will it be the HMV vouchers and the trainers?  Maybe.  But I’m also hoping it will be the amazing adventures that we’ve shared: watching pelicans fishing on the Riviera Maya, playing Xbox games with their creators in Cologne and whizzing about a skate park under the Westway flyover.

So this year (and this is my resolution, if I dare call it that) will be all about experiences.  And not about stuff.  I will step away from the Buy It Now button and stash my cash for that city break… that coveted wander around Borough Market… maybe even a holiday.  All those memories, ready and waiting to be made.  And cherished.  Snapshots of a life lived well, ready to be brought out on a gloomy November day, and many November days to come, and replayed for my enjoyment.

So here’s wishing you a very happy New Year.  May you create many new snapshots for your own collection x

Food glorious food: stuffing my face on the Disney Dream

So I keep meaning to tell you about part two of our journey.  It seems such a long time ago now.  But back then…

After a mahoosive party to celebrate sailing away, we settled into an endless round of eating, drinking and sunbathing (what? It was research).  We slept like babies and awoke to a beautiful pink sunrise in Nassau.  An hour later we were gliding into the dock:

Our day was spent exploring the beautiful resort of Atlantis, where we wiggled our toes in the sand, and swam in the clear, turquoise water:

If I was to go back, though, I’d spend the day exploring Nassau, which looked amazing (and that’s nothing to do with the fabulous shops we caught a tantalising glimpse of *cough*).

Back on the ship, exhausted after all that exertion, we came back just in time for cocktails before dinner.

The Disney Dream has some amazing restaurants.  The adults-only Palo was, I have to say, my hands down favourite.  Our dinner there was spectacular. But first, being girls, obviously we had to check out the bathrooms.  We weren’t disappointed – gold sinks!:

The food was as spectacular as the bathrooms (not often you get to write that in a sentence), and we started with a selection of yummy nibbles: olives, little pizzas and charcuterie, before moving on to a delectable starter (I chose a trio of crispy calamari, prawns and portobello mushrooms (apologies for the photos – always the way with restaurant photography):

Moving on, my main course was a delectable tuna steak (it looks really pink in the photo, but it was cooked to perfection):

… and this was all rounded off with possibly the best chocolate soufflé I’ve ever tasted:

To say we were completely full was the understatement of the century and we waddled back to our staterooms before collapsing in a big heap.

The next day, we docked at Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay.  Sadly the weather wasn’t on our side and it was a bit grey and drizzly (but still lovely and warm).  Here’s me in front of the ship in dock at Castaway Cay:

Still, we had a wonderful day – we did a bit of snorkelling, fed the stingrays (an amazing experience), indulged in a delicious barbecue (ribs to die for) and bobbed in the balmy bathwater-temperature water, collecting shells and having a good cackle.

That evening it was time for a pirate party.  There was a fabulous firework display (check out Liz’s video here) and plenty of silly pirate antics.  Arrrrrrrr.

TIP: Make sure you’re up on decks 11 and 12 for the firework display – you can’t watch the show from your cabin for safety reasons (being smashed in the face by a stray firework would be very Disney now would it).

My favourite, favourite thing of all though (if I was absolutely forced to pick one) would be the champagne brunch at Palo.  We met Sarah there for a final blowout and my, was it worth it.  The brunch is not only a mahoosive buffet of everything you can possibly imagine, sweet and savoury…

…but they also serve fantastic Mimosas and gorgeous eggs benedict.  As we sat, replete and burping, feeling a bit like Mr Creosote, the waiter was determined to bring us something else.  I actually worried about exploding.

Oh wait, no, my favouritest thing of all was the ‘Pink’ Champagne bar, where the decor is to die for and they serve scrummy pink champagne with a panacotta chaser…

Oh, I can’t decide.

This was actually our final day and we couldn’t believe it had gone so quickly.  Saying goodbye was sad, but we had one more surprise to come.  We were met at Port Canaveral by our very own VIP guide and town car, to have a private tour of any of the Walt Disney World parks we wanted to go.  More of this very soon!

Big huge hugs and thanks go to the amazing team at Disney Destinations.  Mwah xxx

11-night Caribbean Stay, Cruise and Stay from £999

Virgin Holidays Cruises offers seven nights at Rosen Inn Orlando on a room only basis, before joining the Disney Dream for four nights from Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay and back to Port Canaveral. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick and car hire. Based on departure date 15 Jan 2012. Offer is subject to availability andincludes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change.

Start your holiday before you’ve even taken off in the v-room at Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport…adults £20, kids £12.

To book: Visit www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk, call 0844 573 4398 or visit one of our 70 stores located in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores nationwide.

If you want to see all the pictures from our trip, check out my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/englishmumdotcom

Back from our Disney Dream

I am home.  Jetlagged, knackered and with very attractive puffy ankles.  Luckily, English Dad has coped magnificently while I was away (a bit too far magnificently if you ask me)  and I came back to an immaculate house complete with fresh flowers and an empty washing basket.  I think I’ll leave him more often.

And what an amazing time. I’ve got so much to show and tell.  But while I gather my thoughts and get rid of my old lady ankles I’ll leave you with this… our view as we sailed in to Nassau in the Bahamas:

and here’s me by the ship at Disney’s own island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay: