Do you remember our childhood holidays in the 60s and 70s?  I was born in 1966 and I love looking back at the old holiday camp photos, there was the year I won the Bonny Baby competition wearing a silver lamé bikini that my auntie had sent from the USA (she was in the circus (yes really) and her gifts were always quite wild).  We'd go to Norfolk, to Kent, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex, stay in chalets or caravans, meet up with family and friends, my granddad would roll his trousers up, put his handkerchief on his head and paddle in the sea with me.  Later on when my own children were growing up we had a touring caravan and recreated some of these experiences albeit in a slightly more modern way.  But my point is that a good old fashioned holiday, either going with friends or making friends when you get there, can be so special, the fun and camaraderie is something that stays with us for years after.  So when I saw that Potters started in the 1920s in Hemsby in Norfolk, all the old memories came flooding back!

Potters Resorts asked me if I'd like to spend a weekend at their Essex resort, Potters Resorts Five Lakes and share a review on my blog.  I was a bit unsure at first, we have never done an all-inclusive break before and I wondered how I would feel about the games and entertainment, I didn't want to feel obliged to join in.  But there was no need to worry, my concerns were totally unfounded and we had a super 3 night October break with the added bonus of sunshine!

Potters Resorts Five Lakes is exclusively adults only but don't be deterred, the age range of guests varies from younger couples in their 30s visiting with family groups, midlife couples like us keen to have a weekend away exploring the area and older people either on an organised group trip or happy to be spoilt for the weekend and not worry about cooking - and of course to enjoy the fantastic (and entirely optional) on-site entertainment and activities.

This is a sponsored blog post.

We had such an amazing time driving through France for our holiday this year!  A road trip has been on our bucket list for a while now, probably since my husband bought his Jaguar XKR Convertible and then more recently when we found ourselves with an empty nest! France really does have some of the prettiest villages and the most stunning countryside plus delicious fresh food, the tastiest wine and plenty of natural beauty to explore.  And the very best way to explore France has to be by car and even better if it is a soft top!  We were able to drive around at our own pace, we chose to stay off the motorways and toll roads as much as possible so we could stop whenever we wanted and make the most of the countryside views and sunny weather as we headed south.

​Photo warning ... there are lots!  But the views were so stunning, I had to share!

A personal post, last week my sisters and my dad took a really fun road trip to Ypres in Belgium to visit the WW1 battlefields.  It all started with my dad wanting to go on a coach trip, but when I looked into it, I felt the itinerary wasn't really suitable for his mobility issues.  But myself and my two sisters decided it was a trip we'd love to do too!  We set about organising and planning and we had the most fantastic time, making memories, learning about distant relatives and exploring the history of the First World War as well as enjoying the beautiful Belgian countryside (and chocolate) and simply spending time together.

If you've never been, and you have an interest in the history of the two world wars then add it to your bucket list!  We've all been to the Normandy Landing Beaches, both as children with mum and dad and then again with our own children - also highly recommended.  So finally making it to Ypres filled a few gaps in our history knowledge.

Here is a little summary of our itinerary and a few suggestions of things to do in Ypres (Ieper).

I am just back from 3 nights in the Isle of Wight, I've not been since I was a child, and I absolutely loved it!  I was invited by Red Funnel, the original Isle of Wight ferry service that operates from Southampton to East Cowes, and I was also gifted accommodation at Nettlecombe Farm, near Ventnor.  When I originally booked, I thought that 3 nights wouldn't be long enough but for a first trip back, it was just right!  Read on to find out more about my Isle of Wight trip and the perfect 'couples break' itinerary!

We set off from home about 9.30 am on Friday morning, my husband and our two dogs, Katy and Bonnie, it was a super easy drive down to Southampton from our home in Buckinghamshire, less than an hour and a half and access to the ferry terminal is easy and very clearly signposted.  We were booked on the 12 Noon ferry crossing and arrived about 45 minutes before departure, we had priority boarding organised and the whole experience was smooth and easy.  The ferry only takes an hour and so we had the whole of Friday afternoon to explore the Isle of Wight and get our bearings!

This is a gifted blog post.