We are home

 Well that week went far to quickly in Devon!!!
Although it is always lovely to come home to your own bed, I am already pining for the sound of the waves and the smell of the sea air. Being away has given us all some much needed down time to relax before baby arrives (8 weeks to go YIKES!). We have had some lovely rambly conversations sat in the sun on the beach about everything and anything. Here is a taster of some of our adventures.

 We have been to Occombe Farm to visit the animals and try lots of tasty things in their farm shop.

 Cockington Village where we investigated a craft village and many many many duck ponds.

 Several local adventure playgrounds and parks.

 Amusement arcades for long lazy evenings to spend our pennys.

 A wonderful model village in the town of Babbacombe.

 The wonderful historic harbour and town of Brixham.

 Many beachs, quays and bays. Not to mention rockpools, piers and proms.

 And Paignton Zoo, where DD had a whirlwind holiday romance with this guy. (Hence the kissing)

 I miss it already.

x x x

Thursday afternoons by the sea

 Thursday afternoon are our time off together as a family, and we seem to be ending up at Hayling Island more and more often. Not that I'm complaining mind you, there is something really enjoyable in walking along the seashore for a little bit hunting for treasures. One day I will find dubloons or Nazi gold I swear!

  Today while beach combing we found lots of pretty rocks and seashells, seaweed, cuttlefish, a few pieces of crab shell and a broken necklace. We left everything but the necklace almost where we found it. I wish I could say that it was a diamond or opal necklace but alas it is a simple leather thong with a few glass beads on it, I didn't want to leave it there because it might have hurt some poor local wildlife and also because it was my first find in ages and I just know I can think of something crafty to do with it soon.

 After our walk we enjoyed some of the local arcade games. As usual we let ourselves have a pound or two each and tried out luck winning some goodies.

Then we finished up by having a wonderful meal in the Beachlands cafe. We don't eat there every time we visit as that would make going far to expensive, but today we just couldn't resist the smell of a fry up wafting around us. DD was very pleased with her mountain of baked beans, sausage and chips. As you can see she had a very healthy appetite after our walk.
x x x

Another day by the sea.

  This Bank holiday has been something of a wash out down our way. I was hoping to get some beach combing in but it was far to drizzly even for me lol. So we did the same as before, nice lunch in the cafe and a mooch around the arcades. Being a bank holiday meant all the arcades were open this time, and some of the fun fair rides were running as well. It also meant that the free car park on the beach was £2.50 rather than free like last visit so we park a few roads from the beach for free and walked instead.
 (Above) DD loved pretending to drive on this racing simulator game. She didn't even mind that we hadn't put any money in and was quite contend spinning the steering wheel and beeping the horn.

 OH sneaked this snapshot of me trying to win some sweets for DD.  I hadn't realised my bump had popped out quite so much already.

 As we moved from one arcade to the other DD loved finding puddles to splash in. We had to take her shoes and trousers off in the car for the journey home as they were soaked through. But seeing her so happy and giggling was worth it.

 Who remembers these from their childhood? I used to love "winning" my little egg from these machines. I haven't seen one like this in years and years!! I think the modern ones are so boring and expensive at £1 a go. I also remember there used to be one with a monkey/gorilla as well.

 x x x