After a break...

This evening has mostly been spent researching cottages for a weekend away when Mark is back on R&R.  We had originally wanted to go skiing, something we had been getting excited about for quite some time, but I got behind on organising it and last minute deals for a long weekend simply don’t exist.  In fact trying to go skiing for a weekend rather than a Saturday to Saturday week simply is unheard of.  I had some luck finding a place for us all but the pressure was on to start booking and I got cold feet – I’m not sure how suitable a small chalet intended for two adults and two children would be filled with four adults and two babies. What’s more, the costs were adding up, flight availability was getting tight with costs rising and, to cap it off, the ski resort wasn’t somewhere that I’d ever heard of before.  (I’m not claiming my knowledge to be vast but I hadn’t got my head around what the village and slopes would offer and in light of everything else I got cold feet).

Skiing also meant that Mark’s only full weekend back in the UK would be spent in France – no bad thing but when you consider that we already live 250miles away from our bestest friends (not including those we live 4,433 miles from) it was a question of working out what we wanted to do most.

And so, whilst skiing hasn’t been totally taken off the list, I’ve been looking instead at possible cottages in England. (That said cottages isn’t really the word when you are looking for a property that will potentially fit 8 adults and 3 babies plus 2 dogs).

I have found a couple of gems.  Two are halfway between York and London and one is just that little bit further South, down in Kent.  Whilst Kent is quite a distance to travel the advantage is that it is near Mark’s brother and his family and so by heading that way we could hopefully see them too. 

The properties are:

The Thatched Barn (Kent)

It sleeps 11 but is really set up for 8 (three double bedrooms, one twin plus pull out beds in most rooms).  Bonus of table football in the games room.  £172 per couple (based on 8 people)

Hollywall (Worcester)

It sleeps 8 split across 2 double bedrooms and 2 twin bedrooms. No playroom, but spectacular views and only £62 per couple for three nights stay (!!)

The Old Forge (Norwich)

This one is only a semi-detached but again sleeps 8 (3 doubles, one twin). 

All properties allow dogs, have stair gates plus a highchair and cots.  Brilliant!

Now just to see if location works, all hoped for friends are able to attend and the hubbie is happy...