This week we enjoyed a holiday in Hampshire. Our main priority was catching up with family, thanks to COVID we hadn’t seen them in what felt like forever. So, it was amazing to reconnect with cousins, aunties, and grandparents.  Plus, it was really nice just to get away. We needed some variety and a change of scene.

I was impressed how much we managed to do. Fortunately, the Eat Out To Help Out scheme was still running as we definitely made the most of it this week! In my last weekly update, we managed two meals, this week we totted up five!

Car Boot

Our first morning of our holiday was an early start. The boy’s grandparents love car boots. So, we were up at 6am and on our way to the car boot not long afterwards. Apparently, you need to get there before all the good stuff gets snapped up! Although my husband and I came away empty handed, so we need to up our game next time! However the boys were pleased with their finds.

Fishing

After the car boot we went fishing. The boys are definitely getting better at fishing these days. I think granddad was quite impressed with their casting. We caught a lot of fish and enjoyed a breakfast delivered to our peg to celebrate. Although they did tell us they usually charge for spectators so I don’t think we will try this fishing lake again. My job is to untangle the line, so I don’t want to pay £14 just to be there to do that!!!

Bowling

We really enjoyed going bowling. I think I liked it even a bit more as I managed to win one of the two games! It got a bit hot wearing masks, but we noticed other people had taken them off. There was plenty of space between lanes (as they had closed some off), therefore it felt safe enough anyway. So, the boys and I ended up doing the same. We had ordered drinks anyway, so it wasn’t practical to keep putting masks on between sips of drink!

Milkshakes

I absolutely love Five Guys milkshakes and they are even better when they are half the price! Mind you I do feel a little guilty that they contain like 670 calories (and I am assuming more for the cream!). I would have to work extremely hard on my rowing machine to burn off even a fraction of that! But I was in holiday mode where calories don’t count. I will have to spend longer rowing next week to make up for all the indulgences during this one.

New Forest Wildlife Park

My sister in law had said this attraction had been struggling to afford to feed the animals because of lockdown so we wanted to show our support now they are open again. They have 300 animals that still needed to be cared for and no income to do so thanks to COVID. It was nice to see plenty of people visiting. They had a one-way system in place, and we felt safe enough. Although there was a bit of a bottleneck of people by the wolf’s enclosure. I really liked the harvest mice they were so cute.

Geocaching

I suggested a walk in the New Forest after the wildlife park. You can spend a lot of money on holiday so it’s nice to have some free entertainment too. My youngest found a the geocache and he was delighted it was an ammo crate (see feature picture!).

Fort Nelson

This was a little gem! It only cost £3 for the parking and entrance was free (although donations are welcomed!). You book a time slot so don’t just turn up without doing that first! Fort Nelson houses an impressive collection of artillery. I think I liked the underground tunnels best of all, but it was also interesting reading what all the weapons did.

Southsea

Then we headed on to Southsea to check out the model village and have a game of putting. Just my youngest and I ended up going into the model village. The others thought it looked too small from the outside to be worth the entrance fee.

However, we had a nice time regardless, plus we lucked out as there was also a magician. So, a 10-minute visit turned out to be 40 minutes which seemed better value for money for the £9 we spent. The Coffee Cup was an excellent stop-off for Strawberry lemonade and cake (even more so with 50% off!).

It is nice to be back home now. Holidays are lovely but tiring, you can’t beat sleeping in your own bed. I have already had a catch up chat with Simone and now I need to cram in more episodes of Housewives of New York!