Romanais Blog

Sunday xx

22/2/2015

Check out at Stout's Hill is normally 10.00am. Yesterday the lady at reception told us that cleaners don't work on Sundays so we could stay for as long as we wanted today, the room wouldn't get cleaned until tomorrow. They also told us where to leave the key as reception is unmanned from 1.00pm. Very nice of them and it meant we effectively got "another day".

After breakfast we went for a walk to the lake, brrrrrr, it was frosty. Roman sailed his boat, we all had a go at flying Roman's glider and Anais tried to crack the ice in the puddles.

We went back to the apartment to warm up and have a snack and then went to have a game of badminton inside the old sports hall.

Back to the apartment so Anais and Roman could get changed and they went swimming.

We went back to the apartment for lunch.

After lunch we went to the games room one last time for darts, pool, air hockey, table football and table tennis.

Here is the dining room inside the main house. We forgot to take a photo of it on Monday. Roman said it has been like staying in a National Trust house!

We were planning to play golf this afternoon once it had warmed up a little. The weather had different plans though and as it was raining lots we left for home approx 1.30pm.

We got home just before 3.00pm, unpacked and had tea and settled down to watch "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1".

Roman has gone mad on Harry Potter, this is his "wand" - a twig he picked up yesterday from Woodchester Park and asked to bring home and paint. Mark cut all the nobbly bits off it! Roman wants to spray paint it gold.

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Saturday xx

21/2/2015

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This morning we got up and went to play golf, all 9 holes! It took a while as Anais and Roman kept missing.

We went back to the apartment for a cup of coffee and to warm up and then went to play tennis.

We were due to go home today. When we booked this holiday up we could only book Monday to Saturday as somebody had booked the weekend before us. When Mark asked we were told we could book the extra Saturday night as a different apartment had become available. We moved apartment at 11.30am today, for one night, extending our holiday from 5 nights to 6 nights.

This is apartment 8, a one bedroom apartment. It doesn't have the same character as apartment 9 though it is still quite quirky! It is all on different levels. Access to this apartment is through reception, you enter to a small hallway and to go into the kitchen and living room go upstairs.................

The bathroom is by the front door which is downstairs.................

The bedroom is on two levels also downstairs, a dressing table is at the end of a little corridor and to go into the bedroom you go up more stairs. There is a gothic arch painted white to get into the bedroom.

There are pretty views of the croquet lawn and golf course from this apartment with big sash windows.

Anais and Roman have been enjoying playing hide and seek in this apartment as there are little alcove's and hiding places!

After lunch which we ate in the apartment (picnics all week!) we went to Coaley Peak View Point.

We went to Woodchester Park (National Trust). It is next to an air field so lots of gliders out flying.

We took the blue path which was the play trail path and full of activities and nice views. We walked for MILES!

And what did we find in the middle of no where? Woodchester Mansion - an unfinished mansion that is currently being finished by people learning their trades. Roman thought it looked like Hogwarts!

Swimming again when we got back approx 5.00 to 6.00pm. Anais and Roman had the pool to themselves again, they have been lucky all week.

We had tea when we got back from swimming and 7.00pm we were off to the games room for table tennis, darts, pool, table football and air hockey.

We were back at the apartment to watch "Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince". We didn't realise it was two and a half hours long though, could be a late night, ooops! xx

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Friday xx

20/2/2015

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It was warm(ish) and sunny this morning. After a nice lazy breakfast of boiled egg and soldiers we went to the lake to sail Roman's boat. We also took the bread to feed the ducks but again, they just weren't interested. Roman put a piece of bread on the boat to tempt the ducks over - didn't work!

We went to Cheltenham. A nice little town with a........ PRIMARK! Anais' favourite! We got her some sweat tops for her school trip. Roman got some new pyjama's as he still insists on wearing his dog and shark onezie's which are really too small for him.

From Cheltenham we went to Chedworth Roman Villa (National Trust).

Wow, really, really interesting, we really enjoyed it here as it was something completely "different". You go to some houses and they all look the same, its just another house. Plus the artefacts in some house's you wonder if they are original or reproduction put there for show. This was something completely different we haven't seen before.

The house in the middle is actually a museum with Roman artefacts in. A building has been erected over some of the old mosaics with a walkway suspended from the ceiling so nothing actually touches the mosaics on the floor.

Roman loved it because it was his name!

We got back late today, just before 5.00pm and took Anais and Roman swimming straight away, they had the pool to themselves again.

An hour in the pool, we were back at the apartment for 6.00pm and while I cooked tea everyone else settled down to watch "Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix" which we borrowed from the DVD library.

Just after 7.00pm we went to the games room, the table tennis table was fixed today so we could play table tennis.

8.00pm we were back at the apartment to finish watching "Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix".

Our apartment by night, Anais said it is scary in the dark, she thinks it is haunted!

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Thursday xx

19/2/2015

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Heavy rain when we woke up this morning. After breakfast we went to have a game of badminton which was indoors.

We had a quick walk around Stroud town centre. We had to convince Roman that yes, he loves Meerkat's but no, he really didn't need a book "101 Uses for a Dead Meerkat"!

We went to Newark Park (National Trust). Anais and Roman did the trail quiz each and Roman tried the dressing up clothes on.

We were back at the apartment for 2pm to get dry - we all put our pj's on and watched "Harry Potter and The Prizoner of Azkaban".

Approx 4.30pm we went to the games room to play some games.

Approx 5.00pm Anais and Roman went swimming. They had the pool to themselves again.

Approx 7.00pm we settled down to watch "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

One strap of crochet bag done so far.

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Wednesday xx

18/2/2015

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This morning we got up and took a walk to the lake again - we tried to feed the ducks but they are just not interested. We all had a go at flying Roman's plane.

We went to Cirencester - we got some of the clothes Anais needs for her week away soon. Check out the inside of the poshest W H Smith we have ever been in!

We went to Bibury a pretty quaint little village with the houses "Arlington Row" (National Trust). They were very pretty! Built in 1380 as a wool store and later converted to weavers cottages in the 17th century. Opposite is "The Rack Isle" where they used to hang wool on racks to dry - now a marsh land for plants and creatures. They are the most photographed houses in Britain and are the houses in the passport books.

There was an article in the Daily Mail we read about Arlington Row before we came here - and yes the yellow car was there today!

We saw...............

two friendly squirrel's on The Rack Isle
scary fish in the river
a black bird, what is it? A black swan or an ugly goose?
DUCKS! And ducks that were actually grateful to be fed bread!

From Bibury we went to Bourton on the Water. I can count on one hand how many times we have been here -

first time was Mark's 30th birthday when Anais was 2 months old
second time was in 2005 before the Live Aid 2 concert, Anais was almost 3
third time was in 2007 when Roman was a few months old and Anais was 5

We got these for Anais' school residential trip with still more to get...........

two pairs of tracksuit bottoms
two pairs of shorts
one pair of leggings
five pairs of thermal socks
two thermal tops

Grandma and Grandad - Anais and Roman spent their pocket money!

Anais bought Jacqueline Wilson "Queenie" and Roman bought a "Big Hero 6" book with characters.

More charity shop goodies - four packs of card games 50p each! For holidays/the caravan.

Swimming again this evening - they had the pool to themselves.

There is a dart board in the games room but no darts (health and safety). Anais and Roman wanted to have a go at darts so we picked up this mini dart set for just £4 today - we can use the darts here and they can use the whole set in the back garden at home (supervised)!

Tonight in the games room it was all about darts.......................

This is how far I got with my crochet, what will it be?

I was reading some old craft magazines last week and came across this crochet bag pattern. I said I regretted not buying some crochet cotton when we saw it for £1 a ball as I could have had a go at making it.

On Saturday (Valentines Day) Mark had bought me five balls of the crochet cotton and some curtain rings and said it could be my holiday project - thanks! xx

All squares now completed and crocheted together and this is what my bag looks like so far. The curtain rings are for the handles.

I still have to do the handles, attach a button and line it (though I must just put straps on, we'll see)

Tonight we borrowed "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret's" from the DVD library.

Mark finished "The Snowman" Jo Nesbo and enjoyed it. Now the bulk of my bag is finished I might start reading Thomas Harris "Red Dragon".

The pretty daffs have opened up lovely.

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Tuesday xx

17/2/2015

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It was beautifully sunny when we got up this morning. We went for a walk to the lake - Roman had a go at sailing his boat, we all tried flying Roman's plane and we tried to feed the ducks though they weren't very interested.

We went to the games cupboard to borrow equipment and had a game of tennis in the tennis court outside the apartment.

We went to Dyrham Park which is National Trust. Unfortunately the house was closed but we walked around the very large and pretty grounds. We also had our first OUTSIDE picnic of the year! The temperature was 16 degrees according to Cassie.

From there we drove to Bath which was either very expensive to park, car parks miles away from the town or car parks full.

We drove to Dursley instead and had a little walk around the town where we are staying.

Charity shop goodies - various cottons 25p for the bag, 20p for a bias binding and I know I said I wouldn't but........................ I couldn't leave these two balls of eye lash yarn there, 60p for both balls :-)

When we got back to the apartment we went to play golf - very funny as Anais and Roman kept missing. Mark took it very seriously as he wants to enter at the work "do" next year! I gave it up after half an hour as it was cold.....................

.....................so I came back (shortly followed by Anais) to the warm apartment to do some crochet. This is how far I have got now.

Anais and Roman have been swimming again and had the pool to themselves.

After tea we went to the games room - pool, table football and air hockey.

After the games room we had pancakes with Jenny's delicious homemade jam :-)

We are having a lovely time - Roman said it is like staying in a National Trust House!

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Holiday! xx

16/2/2015

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We are on holiday for a few days, wooooo!

We love holidays, the excitement of going somewhere new (or even going somewhere we have been before) - a break from the same routine every day - seeing and doing new things, a week of no work or school, a week just for us!

This morning we set off approx 10am went to and had a walk around Gloucester and Gloucester docks. The last time we went to Gloucester docks was approx 10 years ago (we think?).

Pics for Jenny - check out the old Singer sewing machines which made up the window display in a shop!

We then drove to the apartment for 2pm - we are at Stouts Hill, Dursley. It is an area we have never really been to before - it has always seemed too far away for day trips but too close for a long holiday. When we saw a few days come up here we jumped at the chance as it was an opportunity to see an area we haven't really seen before. There are also lots of family activities to do here.

* * * * *

Info about Stouts Hill from the information book in the room -

The present house was built after 1743. It was purchased in 1786 by a family who lived in it until 1830. Members of the family continued to live in the house for the next 70 years after that it was rented out.

In 1930 the house was leased to Stouts Hill Preparatory School - the school purchased the property in 1970 until 1982 when it was purchased for timeshare development.

Stephen Fry attended Stouts Hill School as a child.

It remains as a timeshare development today.

* * * * *

The apartment we have is a studio apartment as it was the only thing they had available. It has so much character we were wowed as soon as we walked in! Want to see?

Here is the door to our apartment, welcome!

Look above the front door -graffiti! Names and dates of old students!

Welcome to the very large entrance hall - look at those doors - so aged and full of character - they don't even meet in the middle, we can see daylight through them!

The bathroom..........

The living room which is HUGE - Anais and Roman will share the big bed. It has a curtain to pull across. We will use the sofa bed. The apartment is fully central heated and even I (who is cold most of the time!) am toasty warm in just a t-shirt!

The stone fireplace. And what is that in the back of it, a bread oven?

The kitchen and the view from the kitchen...............

Stone exposed walls, such character...............

This afternoon we went exploring.

The games room where Anais and Roman had a go at air hockey.

The grand staircase............

The library bar..............

Lounge..................

Drawing room................

Dining room.............

Pitch and putt, lake and grounds. We all had a go at flying Roman's glider.

Anais and Roman had fun in the deep swimming pool which they had to themselves..........

................while Mark was reading "The Snowman" Jo Nesbo, I started working on this (to be revealed shortly!) when I have done more squares.

This evening while I was uploading LOTS of photo's to here, Mark took Anais and Roman back to the games room, they played pool, air hockey and table football............

We borrowed "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" from the DVD to library to watch tonight.

Weird gold mint Christmas nuts - nasty - was like eating toothpaste.

Absolutely zilch phone signal here, if anyone needs us urgently - e-mail, google talk or facebook (no fb on my phone though so will have to wait till laptop goes on!) xx

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Saturday - now back home

1/11/2014

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We are home now after a lovely week away. All photos for all previous days have now been uploaded. All photos with Anais and Roman have been uploaded to Facebook.

I/we all love Weymouth - so pretty and so much to see and do - we never get bored there.

This was the view we left behind this morning.

We left the apartment approx 9am, went to get diesel and for a drive along the seafront and harbour and set off for home approx 9.30am. We got home approx 1pm.

Remember the cake I made and froze before we went on holiday? I got it out the freezer when we got back and it was very nice, freezing hadn't made a difference to it, in fact it made it even easier to ice.

Anais and Roman decorated it with white icing shapes and then painted it with food colours.

It was warm when got back so no heating needed. We opened the french doors to allow the heat from the conservatory to come in. It went colder when it went dark though so we lit Fred and used some of the drift wood sticks Roman foraged from Lyme Regis.

Not much done on crochet blanket today - I did three stripes in the car on the way home.

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Friday at Weymouth xx

31/10/2014

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We had a lovely last day today and the weather has been beautiful too.

We visited Corfe Castle. On the way we stopped off at The White Horse at Osmington.

Lovely views from Corfe Castle though it was a little breezy at the top of the hill. We saw Cassie car parked in the car park at the bottom of the hill..............

..................and Mark zoomed in on some deers in a nearby field.

There was a Halloween Trail which Anais and Roman had a go at doing. We spent two hours wandering around to find all the answers. Other pictures of Corfe Castle...............

At the end of the trail they were given a medal each and they were very proud of themselves! Roman was knighted and Anais was declared a lady!

We walked back to the car through the pretty countryside instead of sticking to the paths................

After Corfe Castle we went to Swannage which is somewhere we have never been to before. It was incredibly pretty. We walked through the town and along the beach front..............

We had a late lunch/early tea at The Trumpet Major in Dorchester. Mark had a chilli burger, Anais and Roman had a burger with chips and salad each and I had a blue cheese and mushroom pasta.

When we got back to the apartment Anais and Roman went swimming and had the swimming pool to themselves. It was the Halloween party tonight so everyone had abandoned the swimming pool to claim seats in the club.

We have been to the arcades tonight. Anais and Roman started the night with £1 each, Anais lost all her money in the machines while Roman had a long time playing the machines and still came out with £1.14.

We stayed in the club for quite a while tonight as it was the Halloween party though it was quite busy. Anais dressed up as a Zombie and Roman dressed up as a Zombie Pirate. Here they are................

My crochet blanket so far................

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Thursday at Weymouth xx

30/10/2014

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No rain today though it has been mostly overcast it has also been very, very warm.

We went to Thomas Hardy's Cottage which was a very old little cottage and full of character. There was a violin in the sitting room which visitors could play so Anais had a go. Anais and Roman wrote in the guest book they thought it was pretty.

From there we went to Max Gate, a house designed by Thomas Hardy. Another interesting house, lots of things to do such as try on costumes and play with the old typewriter.

This afternoon we went crab fishing off Weymouth Harbour. We caught three crabs but only landed two crabs as the first crab was HUGE (the size of Marks hand) and wouldn't fit in the net.