Thursday 16 July 2015

A Gorgeous Break in Norfolk #MyHavenDays

Last weekend the Bishop clan headed off for a little getaway with our lovely in laws, Liam's stepbrother, his girlfriend and their baby daughter. Our destination was Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk, and we stayed at the Hopton Holiday Village, Haven. I hadn't stayed in a Haven resort since I was a teenager and blimey, they've come a long way since then!

On the friday morning before we left for Norfolk I decided I'd start a mini craft project (like you do!) I started making Bert a Bing Bunny inspired cuddly toy out of felt - I didn't have a pattern so I just made it up as I went along...I had no idea how it would turn out but it was one of those craft ideas that comes from nowhere and then suddenly actually looks better than you imagined it would. 

I spent an hour on it at home before we had to pack the car up and leave and by then I was invested in it that I knew I'd have to finish it on the journey to Norfolk. So I packed my needle and thread, and worked on finishing off the little chap during the 2 hr drive to Hopton - when we arrived I had a new little friend to give Bert! I wish I could have captured his face on camera when I gave him his new Bing toy...he was sat in the back of the car and we were just a few minutes away from the holiday park - his face lit up and he said 'BING!' and gave him a huge cuddle - adorable! 

My finished Bing Bunny! 

We arrived, unpacked and got to grips with the caravan and the holiday park. We were all blown away by the caravan itself, it really was just perfect and so different to the caravans I remember staying in as a child. We stayed in a Deluxe Plus caravan which was plenty big enough for all 6 adults and two children - it felt spacious and wasn't remotely claustrophobic. The decor was fresh and everything was really clean and in great condition. The caravan provided everything you could need for a family break away including large living area with TV and DVD player, dining table, 3 bedrooms, 2 toilets, a shower, a fully stocked kitchen with kettle, toaster, fridge/freezer, oven, microwave and crockery/cutlery! 

We spent 3 nights at Haven, and managed to fit so much into our short break: from visits to the beach where we swam in the sea, built sandcastles and had a picnic, to a coastal walk, a trip to Great Yarmouth to do the 'traditional seaside' thing (ice creams, amusements, funfair etc..), fish and chips, crazy golf, swimming, and we even managed to find a pond to feed the ducks (duck are Bert's favourite!)

Bert was amazing the whole weekend - the huge change in his routine, the unfamiliar surroundings and all the new experiences didn't seem to phase him too much and he had so much fun - his highlights if he could tell me would be: 

  • building sandcastles, and knocking them down again
  • eating 'chippies' for dinner
  • playing football on the beach with Nanny, Daddy and Uncle Matt
  • eating a giant ice cream 
  • swimming in the swimming pool with everyone
  • climbing on the wooden pig
  • feeding the ducks
  • going on a merry-go-round/carousel for the first time ever
I really wanted to share some of my favourite photos with you from our time away - so here is our virtual holiday album...

HOPTON-ON-SEA, JULY 2015

The giant deckchair! I loved this...and it was Breton striped too ;-)

Hopton was such a stunning place to visit and the sandy beach was simply perfect! 

So many happy family memories made! 

There's nothing quite like wandering down a sandy beach in the sunshine with my two boys! 

Holiday fun! 

Bert was apprehensive about the beach at first (after the sea took him a little by surprise on our first day when he raced towards it all excited, only for a wave to come ashore and wash over his toes - it was very cold and he was not happy!) Having said that, by the Saturday he was rolling around in the sand, playing football on the beach with his Nanny and Daddy and throwing pebbles into the sea - like with everything new and unknown, it just took him a while to adjust. 

At the top: digging in the sand with Mummy and Daddy.
At the bottom: Bert snoozing in his pram on the beach with Mummy, Auntie Gillian and Uncle Matt.

Probably my favourite picture from the whole holiday - my boys having so much fun on the beach together - proper family time! 

Hehehe I love this shot - his little face! Auntie Gillian thinks he's funny - bless! 


The only negative to the weekend was that Bert decided that 5:45am was a really good time to wake up on all three mornings! Coming from a little boy who usually doesn't wake up until 7-8am it was a bit of a shock to the system and we were all rather sleepy to say the least...hence the snoozy shot of me in the caravan with my boys which was taken at about 7am one morning. 

So much fun and silliness with this little dude! He has the best sense of humour, and he made us giggle all weekend!

Bert experienced a new first while we were away too - he went on his first ever funfair ride - the carousel! As soon as he laid eyes on it he was intrigued, he started to do his hilarious and very loud horse noise and when we asked him if he'd like to go on it he laughed and smiled. The reality at first was a little scary for him - the music and the lights and the spinning were all slightly overwhelming, he looked a bit worried, but after a couple of spins and with the encouragement from his Nanny and Daddy who went on with him, he soon smiled and did really well. Unlike his mummy, who, when I was Bert's age had to have the teacups ride stopped so I could get off as I was so distraught! Ha! You'd think it would have given me a phobia of teacups, but I love them!! 

Bert on some rides!

Of course a seaside holiday in Britain wouldn't be complete without yummy ice creams on the seafront and of course the odd rain shower - both of which we experienced during our afternoon in Great Yarmouth. 

The customary group photo: our lovely family! 

And of course we had to get some walking in after all those treats...

Look at that cheeky face and those giant feet! Bert just loved this wooden pig outside the Haven reception. 

The grounds of the Haven holiday park really blew me away  - everywhere was super-clean and so well designed. All of the gardens surrounding the caravans were beautiful and very well maintained. My favourite garden was outside the main reception where there were huge alliums and stunning passion flowers: I'm rather pleased with these two photographs I managed to snap...

A giant allium among the grasses.

Have you ever seen such a pretty flower? The passion flower - incredible! 

Finally, two more of my favourite photographs from our trip away...the beach huts at Great Yarmouth and the scrumptious ice cream I enjoyed on the sea front. I love discovering a new flavour of ice cream that I've not tried before, and Yarmouth didn't disappoint with this Liquorice Fudge ice cream...it was ahhh-mazing! 

The beach huts at Great Yarmouth - I want one! 

Liquorice Fudge ice cream in a choc/nut dipped waffle cone - yes to this - it was incredible! 

We just had the best time and I really didn't want to leave. I would happily return to the Haven Holiday Park, Hopton, we cannot fault it and really truly did have the best #MyHavenDays. 

A huge thank you to my amazing in-laws Ruth and Paul for treating us to such an incredible and much-needed break away. We so appreciate it, and will treasure the memories we made. 

Are you going away this summer? I'd love to hear all about your holiday plans. 

Mrs B

xxx

This post is not in collaboration with Haven. Our in laws booked and paid for this holiday. We simply had such a great time that I wanted to share it with you all!