Half term? Blink and you'll miss it!

Half term has simply galloped past on furious hooves.

We did so many things it felt like a month, not a week. We began with a trip to our favourite beach at Newport which, according to the Observer last year is "the new Rock". (No it isn't! Stay away!) The beach was beautiful and virtually empty, as usual. We climbed all over its lovely rocky bits and then warmed up with hot chocolate and homemade chocolate chip cookies in the car park.

Mother-in-law joined us on Wednesday so her visit was preceded by a little cleaning and hurried building of the new spare room bed.

Thursday saw us wandering round the lovely shops in Narberth and on Friday we celebrated Brian's birthday with fish and chips at Something's Cooking in Letterston, which serves the best fish and chips in the world.

Saturday found us hiking to the top of Foel Eryr, one of the Preseli hills. I'd love to say it's the tallest, but I'm not sure! It's 1,500 feet (468m) and the wind was fairly bracing at the top. There's an impressive Bronze Age burial mound near the summit and an observation point on the very top which helpfully points out things you can see on clear days, including the Wicklow Hills over in Ireland (but not on Saturday). In the picture I'm pointing towards ChrisH's house to the north.

We hurtled back down again. It's a lovely path, dry underfoot even at this time of year, with smooth grass peppered with tiny hoof prints. Going up is easy and is a fairly steady climb interrupted by big cushiony steps in the peaty ground. Coming back down again is enormous fun as you can run and jump off all the steps if you are either H7 or R5 - or me trying to keep up with the pair of them.

Sunday saw us as part of about 300 Brownies at Folly Farm to celebrate Thinking Day. H7 was joined by her friend and fellow Brownie G7. Myself, Brian, MIL, R5 and a large picnic went along for good measure. It was cold, but sunny, which did not deter the three smallest demanding ice creams while the adults huddled around big cups of cappuccino.

On the way home we saw a hedgehog walking across the road. That might not be such a major event for some, but we have lived in this part of Pembrokeshire for 24 years now and that's the first one I have seen here. It did the modern hedgehog thing and walked briskly across the road instead of rolling up into a prickly ball. For a week that also saw Darwin's 200th birthday being marked, it seemed appropriate.

The last week

Well I was a Determined Woman. The weather wasn’t going to spoil the last week of the summer holidays. No way. I think I scared the rain away. For a whole week it only rained at night or while we were in the car.

Our week started on the Sunday morning at about 7am when Much Maligned Husband woke up, peeled open an eyelid and said: “I can’t face the kitchen today. Where shall we go?”

“Cotswold Farm Park,” I replied, thinking nostalgically of my own childhood visits there.

So off we went. We stayed the night at the Express Holiday Inn just south of Gloucester, which for Hannah and Rosie was an adventure in itself, dined on Sunday evening at Gloucester Frankie and Benny’s then spent August Bank Holiday Monday at Cotswold Farm Park. It was almost as I remembered it, save for a new big barn by the entrance. There were lots of nice soft-lipped goats to feed and squeaky piglets to tickle. We bounced on the bouncy pillow and managed to lose one tooth (H6) and sustain a bruised cheek (R4), but only because M41 was “bouncing too high” to quote the injured.

We went home via Waitrose at Abergavenny which is a treat in itself being Not Tesco and Full of Nice Things (such as Tiffin, eaten on the hoof in the car park).

Tuesday saw Bri back at work and me, H6 and R4 round at a friend’s house for lunch. H6 and R4 played happily with E4 and F1.5 while us two mums discussed how nearly six weeks of dawn till dusk rain had us contemplating Thelma and Louise-style driving.

Then on Thursday M41 (ie me) became M42 (which is quite appropriate, really, considering I was born within earshot of the darn thing - or would have been had it been built in 1966). Anyway I had to have breakfast in bed, and then soak all morning in the bath reading a book. It’s a tough life.

Lunchtime found us at the best deli in the world: Ultracomida in Narberth. No chance of a table for tapas in its teeny restaurant, so instead we made do with its superb sandwiches. Freshly made on ciabatta with olive oil not butter if you prefer (I do) and fabulous deli fillings. I had blue cheese and honey with salad, the others had Serrano ham and salad. We devoured them overlooking Carew Castle (another childhood haunt, although it’s been ‘touristed’ now and you can’t climb the walls). Then we walked the block around the castle and its tidal mill, which is a lovely gentle stroll.

We drove on from there to Lawrenny, a village on the Cleddau estuary where we used to moor our boat when I was a kid. We had a wander around the beach, collecting shells and stones.

Friday arrived and I was assured by the two smallest people that I had promised to take them to Folly Farm. I don’t remember promising, but hey ho. So, armed with a fistful of Tesco vouchers, off we went. Folly Farm is THE BEST family attraction, ever. It even beats Cotswold Farm Park. The ‘farm’ part is a small clue – there are farm bits, such as animals to pat, goat kids to bottle feed, piglets, ponies etc, but it also has a zoo with cute ring-tailed lemurs – actually three different types of lemur, including babies. (Lemur babies are possibly the cutest of all babies.) There are also zebra, an ostrich, zebu, oryx… the list goes on.

But then there are the outdoor play areas. Three of them. From little nautical and dragon themed climbing and sliding things, to three ‘wrecked’ pirate ships and a thing made of thick logs and tyres, so beloved by orang utans and children.

But then there are the indoor things – the Jolly Barn full of goat kids, donkeys and piglets, a pet cuddling barn, and whopping indoor play area, floor to roof in slides, ropes and bridges, and an old fashioned fair, complete with carousel. We LOVE Folly Farm.

Saturday found us in birthday mode again. This time for my Dad’s 68th. I spent the day making the cake, roasting a chicken alongside various garden produce, and then drinking Pimms, followed by pink Cava, before scoffing the aforementioned cake.

Sunday was a cooked breakfast, followed by a quick examination of the progress of the sloes, bullaces and blackberries. Not much of any of them yet. Then I did my Long Run followed by equally Long Bath and hid under the Observer for the rest of the day.

Monday was the last day of the holidays and we had decided to go to the beach No Matter What. It was raining, so we stuffed the car with clothes for wet, dry and swimming, kites, picnic, wellies and more dry clothes. We arrived just as the tide was heading out in the general direction of Ireland and the sun was winning its battle with the clouds. The beach was at its most beautiful and was almost entirely deserted.

We climbed all over the rocks, dabbled in rock pools, picked over the pebbles and shells and explored the many little caves, then we paddled and jumped in the sea (which as the tide was going was ridiculously warm. Once it turns it comes in cold.) Then we flew kites, built sand castles and fell sleepily back into the car after a fabulous day out.

At bedtime H6 threw her arms around my neck and said: “Thank you mummy for making the last day of the holidays so nice.”