Thursday and more photos

Hi again, everyone.  It's the last full day of my break at Elveden.  The time has passed so quickly and I'm having a lovely time.  It will be nice to get home too but that's for tomorrow!

The first time we came to Center Parcs was when Beth and Dave were little.  I was given a two term maternity cover at school and thus was able to afford to book a holiday.  The girl at the agency I went to (this was well before internet, google, etc) recommended this new place that had just opened in Sherwood Forest that was a big thing on the continent - a holiday the English weather couldn't spoil.  So I booked (took the children out of school, bad me), we had the best time ever, they both cried as we left and the first thing I did when we got home was book another week.

This continued for a time but when the children were older, they went more on flourish holidays with my ex and wife so I did my own thing a little bit.  Along came Alex, funny, quirky, difficult to manage Alex and we discovered Streele Farm which was wonderful and very safe for a runner.

When that got a bit too expensive, we went back to Center Parcs - Alex was old enough to cope by then and we've been back ever since, on and off.  

And we have the next two planned but not yet booked!

Yesterday, I had the usual leisurely morning with a nice swim and yesterday's ice cream was mango.  Delicious.

In the afternoon, I headed off for another stroll around and came across this:

It was new to me so I took some photos that explain it.  
I am pretty sure Percy was the peacock that greeted guests when the Lakeside apartments were the Sheldrake Hotel.  

Here's the bench from the front.  It overlooks one of the lakes, a very restful and attractive spot.

I'm glad I saw it.

I took a few general snaps as I walked around.

It could almost be a country lane, rather than a holiday village, couldn't it?

It's a bit hard to see but I was standing on a bridge and this should have been a stream that ran between two 'lakes'.  However, the water levels are really low and not only is fishing banned for now, the water was fenced off at the beach so no paddling.  There didn't seem to be as many water birds as there always have been either.

Today, last full day, will be more of the same.  A swim, an ice cream, a walk and eating out in the evening.

And packing.  I hate to leave it until that very last day as we have to be out of the apartments by ten and I don't want to be fussing around at the last minute.  So I will be getting most of it done today, just leaving what is needed for tomorrow morning.

And I've just remembered, I'm going to try to join Lindsey's SET class this morning - I need it and my fingers are crossed that the connection is strong enough and doesn't keep freezing!  I haven't got the right gear for it really but that doesn't matter!

And I wonder if the tree has gone yet.

Have a good day, everyone.  xx