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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Days Out, Days Out and Attractions/Events, Reviews · July 13, 2022

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

On a recent trip to North Yorkshire, we decided we would visit the famous Whitby Abbey on a day trip to the area through the North York Moors. The Abbey is visible long before you reach the town and stands proudly on cliffs overlooking the coast.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

When we arrived we parked in Whitby Marina and wandered through town before climbing the 199 steps from the town to the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, which stands in the shadow of the Abbey ruins and is just a stone’s throw from the Abbey entrance.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

What is Whitby Abbey?

Now managed by English Heritage, Whitby Abbey started life as a 7th century Christian monastery and later became a Benedictine Abbey until Henry VIII seized it between 1536 and 1545 during the dissolution of the Monasteries. The abbey ruins were eventually bought by Sir Richard Cholmley and it remained in the Cholmley family line until 1920 when it was passed to the UK Government.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

One famous resident of the monastery was St Hild, a 7th century Abbess. She was influential when it came to the English Church deciding to follow Roman rather than Celtic practises. The Roman method of calculating Easter that is still used to this day was as a result of these changes.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

She was also famous for chasing snakes out of the town and turning them into stone. These stone snakes can often be found around the rocky Whitby coastline in the form of fossilised ammonites.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

Whitby Abbey and the town itself is probably best known for inspiring Bram Stoker when he wrote Dracula in 1897, which describes a large dog like creature running ashore and up the 199 steps to St Mary’s Parish Church.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}
Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

In homage to the ties in the Dracula story, the museum has an extremely rare first edition of Dracula signed by Stoker in the visitor centre, which is housed inside the 17th century mansion. The signature is clearly legible and brings a shiver to those who know the story and the links to the very place they are standing in.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

Regular Dracula events happen throughout the year at Whitby Abbey and draw fans from all over the world. The visitor centre is also home to rare Anglo-Saxon crosses and medieval manuscripts and tells the story of 3,000 years of history at the site.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

Visiting Whitby Abbey

We were blown away as soon as we saw Whitby Abbey. To say the ruins are inspiring is an understatement. It’s amazing to think that such a magnificent stone structure was designed and built to such a grand scale without the advantage of modern technology.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

Information boards around the ruins paint a picture with words about the former glory of the structure. There are also several artists impressions around the ruins that help visitors to take themselves back in time to when the Abbey was in its prime.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

There are some fantastic photo opportunities around the site to take advantage of and the children loved running around the open space around the ruins and exploring all the nooks and crannies around the place. Whitby Abbey is a real adventure for children.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

In 2019, English Heritage invested £1.6 million into the site, protecting the ruins and building new facilities like a coffee shop and large gift shop within the visitor centre. We finished our tour of Whitby Abbey by walking through the visitor centre to take in the exhibition and artefacts from the history of Whitby Abbey.

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

Then, we went in the gift shop, picked up our traditional magnet and spent the rest of the day talking to the children about Dracula. Whitby Abbey ended up being such an educational place that opened up so many conversations.

You can find out more about Whitby Abbey over on the English Heritage website. For reference, the Whitby Abbey Whitby address is: Abbey Lane, Whitby, Yorkshire YO22 4JT

Visiting Whitby Abbey {English Heritage}

In: Days Out, Days Out and Attractions/Events, Reviews

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Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

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