Our UK trip {Plymouth}
So this post is pretty late in coming but better late then never right π
After a lovely time in Leamington Spa with Mark’s family we headed down to Plymouth to see mine π
The trip was about 4 hours in the car and Arthur was really good, that’s the longest by far he’s ever been in the car for! (We did take a break half way down for the obligatory gallon of Starbucks!!)
It was so nice to see mum and dad and to be back at their place again. Arthur of course, made himself at home right away and was charging about all over the place!! There were three floors to explore and he loved it!
A nice little treat for Mark and I was that mum and dad wanted Arthur in their room with them (fools!!!) so we got nice lie ins the whole time we were there!! Arthur was a bit of a monkey with getting up early but I think he was just very excited to play with his nana and grandfarji!!! He’s not used to being in a room with other people and whenever he is he tends to wake up earlier! Β We also took advantage of grandparents babysitting again and went for a nice dinner out one night! I also took a night out with my best friend Hannah to a wine bar (very sophisticated of me I know!).
While we were in Plymouth Arthur had lots of time at the park and he became a bit of a slide fiend!!
A lovely day out we had was at Pennywell Farm. Arthur really loved it there and I was made up as I got to cuddle a micro pig!!!!! It was a really great day, loads of activities going on to keep kids entertained and lots of lovely animals!!
We went to Paignton Zoo, it’s a little bit obligatory to go there whenever we are in Plymouth….there’s kind of a story where I might of definitely did throw up around (possibly on) some goats, and a few other animals (yes I was very hungover and not the more acceptable excuse of being pregnant)…my dad even told that story on my wedding day (thanks dad). I can confirm that there was no throwing up this time by the way!!
Obviously the animals were amazing but a highlight was that SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH was there doing some filming for an upcoming show, however We created a conspiracy that he’s never actually left the UK and has done all his filming in the UK!!! Anyway he smiled and so I’d say we are definitely friends now!
Something really cute that day was Arthur and my brother in matching outfits!
We went to the National Marine Aquarium which was great, Arthur loved it but it was so so busy which was a bit annoying but that’s the school summer holidays for you I guess!!
The aquarium is on the Barbican, a place I absolutely love!
It then leads on round to the Hoe which is also really really nice, it’s so pretty and there’s so much history there! I was really looking forward to being there with Arthur and of course getting fish and chips (actually I have sausage in batter but that’s not the point!!)
Mark and I went down to the Monkey Sanctuary in Looe one day and met up with Hannah and her daughter. We had a really nice couple of hours there. You pay once and get a years ticket, it wasn’t expensive and you can see that the monkeys have a really good life there. They are mostly ex-pets (people are crazy thinking they could have a monkey as a pet!) or have been rescued from some dodgy circus of some kind so it’s lovely to see them having a much better quality of life!
We headed back down to Cornwall again and went to mount edgcumbe to play frisbee golf. I have to say I wasn’t sure about going as I’m rubbish at gold and frisbee so my prospects weren’t good but we had so much fun there I can not recommend it enough. Β Check out their website here. It was a really fun day out, a great walk round the beautiful mount edgcumbe with a competitive element added and of course some exercise too! The guy that runs the place was super helpful, friendly and amazingly passionate and his love of the sport is truly contagious!
Perhaps my favourite day out was to Slapton Sands where we wrapped up warm and took Arthur to the lovely great big pebble beach….a little different to the beaches he’s used to but he loved it, after all he loves the water and he loves playing with stones so what’s not to love for him!!
Okay this is getting pretty lengthy now. Anyway I’ve got most of our big outings down here but also we had what felt like a lot of really nice quality down time as a family. And of course Arthur loved spending time with his Nana, Grandfarji and Uncle Will in Plymouth!
I love reading about your holiday and I will never, ever tire of seeing your little dude in clothes! hehe x
Ahhh thanks Donna! It is definitely strange looking back on those pictures now seeing him wrapped up in clothes…especially that fluffy coat haha! Xx
What a fab little trip lovely. Your folks having Arthur in their room must have been such a treat. It all sounds great, but I especially like the sound of the monkey sanctuary π #sharewithme
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Ahhh it was a nice treat for sure!! The monkey sanctuary was really lovely if you ever are that way I’d really recommend it!! X
Aww, gorgeous pictures Chantelle, and it sounds like you had such a lovely time! I’m sure you noticed the difference between the British beaches and the Seychelles ones though!! Xx
Haha we definitely did notice a difference but that’s what was so nice about it π xx
Gorgeous pics and so lovely to see Arthur having such a good time. Bless him. And your brother is very pleasing to the eye. That is all.. tee hee xx
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Thanks Sian haha naughty lady
How did you pack so much fun into just a week?! I’m with you on the Hoe – my brother-in-law studied in Plymouth and when we visited him, I loved it. Great that your folks gave you a chance to catch up on sleep too – that’s what grandparents are for right? Aside from spoiling the kiddie, of course! x
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Haha Eline we were there for two and a half weeks in way would we have packed that in to a week we’d have been exhausted!!!
Plymouth really is a nice part of the UK, especially when it’s sunny!!
Was so nice to have the sleep catch up, felt very spoiled with that! X
That’s a lovely part of the world – we were in Devon on holiday this year and Cornwall last year. I love the pic of Arthur and your brother – too cute! Sounds like you had a fab time and I’m now trying to guess whether it was actually about 25 degrees the day you went to the beach (ie positively balmy!) I know you feel the cold in a different way now! X #sharewithme
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Haha there was a bit of both on the temperature thing it was actually a pretty cold day and when we got there it certainly wasn’t beach wear for even the hardiest of Brits but after an hour or so a few people did start to turn up in shorts and Tshirts!! I love being at the beach on a cold day though, like an actual real cold day especially if it’s really blustery outside!! X
Sounds like you had a brilliant trip to Plymouth and managed to cram in loads of different things! Love that picture of Arthur and your bro in matching outfits, so cute!! Xx #sharewithme
Thanks lovely, looking back it does seem like we did loads, and we did of course but what was nice was that we never felt rushed! Xx
Ahhh bless you I love reading about families reunited. So glad you got to spend it with both parents and have a lovely time together. I love that your parents had him in their room. If only my parents would do that. That would have been absolutely amazing. I can’t get over it. Great parents and amazing you got to go out to dinner too! I think it’s always special when the kids get one on one grandparent time. So lovely and a beautiful post. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
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Thanks Jenny π haha yeah we were so lucky, certainly missing that luxury now it’s gone!!!
Ah it looks like you had a great time lovely, such gorgeous photos and I love the one of your brother and Arthur in matching outfits- so cute! x
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Thanks Katie, we really did have a lovely time π xx
What wonderful photos of your trip, it looks and sounds amazing. Love the shot of your brother and Arthur in their matching outfits! Glad you had such a fab time lovely x #sharewithme
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Oh this does make me smile – you’ve gone from near where I live now to where I grew up, I used to live in Strete at the eastern end of Slapton Sands so everywhere you’ve mentioned is really familiar as stalwarts of my childhood! It looks like you had a wonderful wonderful time!
Oh I was thinking of you the other day and wondering how your UK trip went. What fab photos- and wonderful memories to cherish too! x x x
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Ahhh that’s very sweet of you thank you π yes it was really really lovely, although it already seems like forever ago!! Xx
Pennywell farm, Paignton zoo and Plymouth marine aquarium are places I visited as a child and want to take my children to when we are visiting relatives in Devon, great days out, lovely photos too #sharewithme
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