And...... we're off!!!!!!!!!

Finally Boris has given us the green light, a small amount of #freedom that means that we can get moving from the place that we have spent all our days over the last year or so. Finally, our lives don't have to feel like they're on hold and we can resume our #adventures however big or small and resume truly #living. I'm a firm believer that you only get one shot, so pack it full, pile it high and embrace everything this amazing world has to offer. So the first opportunity we had, which is a few days after the initial lifting of lockdown, we were off. Time for Duggie to stretch his (metaphorical) legs (he actually has tyres as if you didn't know!), the poor fella having gone no further than Morrison's in the last year. I didn't want to over egg on the first trip so decided on somewhere that would tick all the boxes as far as August was concerned, and for me too.

Craving to be near the #seaside, drink in the #sea air, watch August run around #barefoot on the sand and enjoy his #childhood without constant fear of "the bug", obsessive hand washing and smathered in alcoholic gel. A #forest location would also be a plus, I love forests particularly pine ones and find them to be incredibly #relaxing places. The aroma caused by sun on pine is one of my favourite smells in the whole world. It always brings back fond memories of self drive #camping holidays to the south of France as a child, stopping for "Une Baguette" at one of the hugely more pleasant Autoroute rest areas, free from cruddy tissues and pee smells.

So we settled on Sandringham, what should be about an 1hr and 40 minutes drive from Nottingham although in Duggie would probably take about three. From #Sandringham we could enjoy the forest and be within a short drive of some of North #Norfolk's attractions and lovely beaches. This was also a great scoping trip to make sure that Duggie was appropriately kitted out for when getting away would be a more frequent possibility.

We chose to stay at the Camping and Caravanning Club in Sandringham. Yes, (you heard right) I'm officially an old git and I've joined the clunge club! (ref: anyone who thinks the Inbetweeners are as funny as I do). Give it it's due though, this particular site was brilliant. Location was spot-on, in the middle of the forest connected with lots of #cycle tracks great for an active #family. The site is beautiful and well laid out and I found everyone really genuinely friendly (and no keys in the bowl involved... especially with a child in tow... that's just wrong!). Just dashing all those CCC myths before you even start!! (CCC ... get me... I've even got the lingo!). Because Duggie is so compact and bijoux they were able to squeeze us into a neat little spot out of the way but within the line of sight of the kiddies playground. August loved the little bit of independence this gave him; to be allowed to go on his own to the play area.

What did I learn from this trip? Firstly how good it felt to have a little bit of #freedom. There are so many amazing personal gains that have come from lockdown. It really has been an opportunity to #reset and #reconnect with your #values and for me personally, as somebody who is always on the go, to slow down and appreciate slowing down but very much to value the simple things in life. This trip showed me just how amazing and #resilient children have been through this crisis. How important it is for them to be able to connect with other children, to play without worry and develop their social skills; something that to a certain extent has been halted over the last year. I got immense pleasure just listening to the sound of my son's laughter as he played make-believe games with his new found friends at the play area in front of our pitch. Another thing that I learned is that #Hunstanton is actually a fairly decent British seaside resort. It's really well equipped for the needs of a family and doesn't just cater in shit and chips. It also caters in a wide range of plastic tatt and unnecessary holiday related chintz too. I joke, I think it's actually pretty great! and I love the holiday chintz! There is also some really good seafront parking for free within a short walk of the town centre although it's not possible to camp there overnight, nor would it be fair on residents anyway.

Another thing I learnt is that it is incredibly difficult to use a portaloo inside a Daihatsu hijet micro camper, although not impossible. August's favourite part of the weekend was emptying the portaloo! We have not yet solved the mystery of how more number 2's came out than went in.......A must for longer trips is some kind of awning to try and maintain some vestige of dignity. I must look into that.

Another thing, North #Norfolk is amazing. Particularly the stretch of coastline between #Holkham and #Wells (next -the-sea.... or next to the sea if you want to talk proper) connected by the most beautiful stretch of beach but also possible to cycle and walk. Again fringed with pine forests, so a real winner as far as I'm concerned. Holkham estate is a great visit too. For the £4 car parking charge you get access to the grounds, which are not only beautiful but are also home to a pretty spectacular #adventure playground. We spent a good few hours there as well as August enjoying riding his bike around the estate and grounds. Another thing that I love about Holkham is the beach #horseriding. Something that sits high on my bucket list is to gallop along a wide sandy beach and Holkham would be a pretty perfect place to do this. You see loads of horse riders along this stretch of beach and I'm always massively jealous. Need to check out riding stables close to Holkham added to my to do list. It's quite a way from the car park to the water's edge and with the flat, smooth, sand was actually possible to take our bikes onto the beach. August thought it was amazing to be able to cycle on the beach and again a moment of pure #simplicity and pleasure was felt as we both played hide and seek in the sand #dunes and enjoyed rolling down the dunes that have been warmed by the spring sun. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh........