I always have a lot of questions about accommodati I always have a lot of questions about accommodation when we stay anywhere as a family so I thought I’d share this little tour of our room at @windjammerlanding which was a pretty perfect place to stay.

It’s the ‘Ocean View Two Bedroom’ which was like a little house, with an upstairs and downstairs, built into the hillside. Both rooms had outdoor space and their own shower rooms. Such a great option for a family.
A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. We’ve been back a few days now but still miss the heat, the food, the pool, the constant sounds of wildlife and the lovely people. It was such a great holiday and I’m sure we’ll be back one day.
And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is watching her grow and what a wonderful young woman she is becoming. We could not be more proud. Love you Pickle, have a great birthday.
We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in S We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in St Lucia staying at @windjammerlanding and it was just the holiday we needed. Two weeks of sunshine and relaxation in what must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. 

We can’t wait to go back again in the future. Here’s just a little snippet of our trip.
AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @na AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @national_motor_museum despite the rain! The children loved the Little Beaulieu play area and we loved exploring the National Motor Museum and Top Gear exhibit before having a ride on the monorail! We went on an old open topped bus, explored the Beaulieu Manor House and loved the gardens. 
Beaulieu is always a great day out - whatever the weather. This summer they have a whole ‘Summer of Fun’ planned, with activities most days - parades, bird shows and hundreds of sculptures within the grounds too. If you’re looking for a day out this summer definitely think about heading to Beaulieu.
AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to t AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to their first concert - but it was so much more than just a concert! @abbavoyage is incredible. With CGI ABBA and a live band, it’s like being at an ABBA concert 40 years ago but with modern lighting, effects and sound. ABBA look and sound real, it’s a mind blowing experience.
The set includes all the songs you know and love as well as a few less familiar ones.
You can’t take photos during the show which actually made a refreshing change. A whole arena focused purely on the show and soaking up the moment. It’s definitely something the four of us will always remember.
Now, I’m off to sing Dancing Queen all the way home.
AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdo AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdockyard today. They have a fantastic Ultimate Explorer ticket that lets you visit all the attractions as many times as you like for 12 months - and after a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we can see that you need more than one day to really do everything!

We explored HMS Warrior, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Exhibition - which is incredible! We also saw where ships are built and restored and spent time in Action Stations where the kids climbed and did an assault course.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is such a fun, educational day out with something for all ages - we can’t wait to go on their harbour tours next time we visit!
AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To cel AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To celebrate #100YearOfARoads National Highways have launched their #ARoadsToSummer competition! It's all about celebrating summer holiday moments, time together, fun in the sun, days out and more.

So why not be in it to win it? To enter, all you have to do is send @nationalhways a DM on here with a photo or video of your favourite holiday moments. You can also comment on their Facebook or Twitter #ARoadsToSummer posts with your holiday photos. I've shared a few of our favourite photos to give you some inspiration.

The best six entries will each win a £500 @nationaltrust holidays voucher! SO what are you waiting for? Dig out your favourite holiday photos or take some new ones to share!

The #ARoadsToSummer competition runs from 24 July to 10 September 2023. Winners will be announced in September 2023.

Good luck!
Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. As school draws to a close at lunchtime, I’m looking forward to a whole summer with them. My favourite people.

They’ve both had a great year at school this year. Troy’s first without his sister by his side and Athena’s first at secondary school. 

They both had great reports, always did their best and have made some really lovely new friends this year. I could not be more proud of them.

Now, let’s go and enjoy the next six weeks before school starts all over again!
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Opinion/Debate · February 16, 2016

Haul…? Nope, Just a Shopping Trip

This post is dedicated to one of the most misused words in the English language – which makes it also one of my least favourite words, one that gets my back up and has the same effect to me as nails down a blackboard.

Haul...? Nope, Just a Shopping Trip

The definition of haul is quite clear. You either pull something along with force – hauling it behind you. Or you steal a large quantity of something – pirate treasure for example. Haul has never meant the aftermath of a shopping trip and the purchases you made.

So why is the world of social media now drowning in shopping hauls, baby hauls and sale hauls? Did all those people steal those products from the shops? Did you possess them illegally? No. They just went shopping.

The world of social media has turned into one where you can completely change the definition of a word and people follow like sheep. No longer can you just go to Tesco and do your weekly shop, no, you have to have a grocery haul. You can no longer go to the Next sale on Boxing Day and just go home with your bags of shopping. No, you have a Next sale haul.

Every day I log in to Bloglovin and scroll down my feed. Every day there is someone with a new haul – a new collection of products that they’ve purchased or maybe they’ve been sent them to review. They’re not a haul, they’re just things they’ve legitimately ended up with.

My issue isn’t that people share their shopping across their blogs and social media – although I will never find anything more boring than a video of someone unpacking their shopping. My issue is that we should have more respect for the English language.

Haul in this context sits right next to the people that use pacific instead of specific, stationary instead of stationery, are instead of our and the constant text message abbreviations in anything written.

The pacific is an ocean – specific is a precise detail. Stationary is not moving – stationery is pens and envelopes. Are is how something is, our is belonging to. And haul? Haul is something stolen – not a shopping trip.

In: Opinion/Debate

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Comments

  1. Natalie Ray says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:34 am

    I totally agree. The other thing that annoys me is that I feel that ‘haul’ sounds a bit like they’ve got something for nothing when it’s a review, when in fact they should be working hard in return.x

    Reply
  2. Lindsay At Newcastle Family Life says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:52 am

    I love this ! I totally don’t get the whole ‘haul’ thing, I had never even heard of shopping hauls before I started blogging. I just don’t get it and totally agree that watching someone unpack a ‘ grocery haul’ sounds so boring. I skip past all the posts like these and then the empties post too , I don’t get them either xx

    Reply
  3. CAT CULMER says

    February 16, 2016 at 2:28 pm

    Love this! I get the cringe every time I see it

    Reply
  4. Katy (What Katy Said) says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    This made me laugh so much, totally agree and grrrr specific Pacific is one of the most annoying things ever! Oh and brought instead of bought- that one is something that means I click straight off a blog if I see it. So imagine if they said oh look at my shopping haul, I brought lots of lovely things. Haha we would both be fuming! x

    Reply
  5. Lauren says

    February 16, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    I’ve just got back from the supermarket, and the ‘haul’ for me was dragging a trolley around it with two kids in the trolley seat and another clinging onto the back like a monkey.

    That is how I’d define shopping haul. The act of shopping with several children in tow.

    (in comparison my two bags of shopping and a giant bottle of Vimto were in no way difficult to drag into the car and get home).

    Reply
  6. Stylish Tom says

    February 17, 2016 at 7:12 am

    This certainly has given me something to think about! I always assumed it was a haul as it was lots of stuff so you are hauling it home, maybe that’s just me..!

    Reply
  7. Sarah says

    February 18, 2016 at 9:00 am

    I can safely say I have never watched a ‘haul’ vlog (in fact I very rarely watch vlogs at all but that’s an entirely different post!) I can just about see the point of one of clothes or sale shopping, but someone’s weekly grocery shop? I just don’t care! I have to say though the use of the word itself doesn’t actually bother me – words do evolve their meanings, that’s the nature of language. Using the wrong word entirely, like the Pacific/ specific thing, or brought/ bought is a different kettle of fish!

    Reply
  8. Amanda says

    February 20, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    Haha I love this! It seems like some people will blog about anything, unless a person got something amazing at a wonderful bargain price, who gives a toss what anyone got on a shopping trip, as Suzanne says, it’s bragging and rather tacky.

    Reply

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