One Last Fling With Summer

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Just as soon as I'd packed away The Boy's shorts and sunsuit, the sun comes out with temperatures in the mid twenties, azure blue skies and Mother Nature beckoning us outside for one last frolic.

So we did, we've spent much of the weekend outdoors. Yesterday we went to a beautiful Victorian park in Cardiff, then went and played on our town's beach. The Boy's never been on a pebbly beach before, I had been waiting until he was more stable on his feet and then I kept forgetting to take him down. Which is ridiculous because it's our beach! He and Mr. TheBoyandMe had a good old play while I ordered the take-out pizza and chips, then we went and sat on the pier and scoffed a veritable feast!

Today we took advantage of the fabulous weather and went 'down the Island'. The tide was just going out as we arrived so we set up on the slightly damp sand and set to building a moat and castle. Several hours later, picnic consumed and moats built we tottered home for showers and sleep.

We've just finished the weekend up with a lovely light meal of asparagus risotto and a glass of white zinfandel. Bye-bye Summer, I'll see you again in March!

Tanatomicals

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Apparently, we're due to have a heatwave later this week. Yeah right, like we did in August? If we do, it will be your last chance to get a tan (safely!) before the sun comes back to see us next year.

It's not going to happen though is it?

Therefore those pale and pasty people like me are going to need a little help to stay looking healthy, alive and not like a zombie. Help in the form of fake tan.

Which is lucky because I've recently been sent some of the products from the new range by Tanatomicals, a fab and funky fake tan range exclusive to Superdrug.

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Sizzling Sausages Struck by Lightning!

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I am discombobulated.

It has just been thundering and there have been flashes of lightning. Today's date is 25th August and we've just had a thunderstorm. I haven't had my summer yet where I have lounged on my sun-lounger with my toddler playing alongside me in the sweet smelling summer grass. I haven't got a cushion for my sun-lounger and the grass is far from sweet-smelling.

But that's not the point!

I haven't had warm, soft, balmy evenings with the jasmine and honeysuckle sweetly scenting the air, the condensation from my glass of Pimms trickling over my fingers and friends laughing while the barbecue sizzles in the background.

Even before The Boy, I don't think we had a barbecue like that. Let's face it; the barbecue always manages to smoke everyone out, Mr. TheBoyandMe is usually worried about the chicken cooking all the way through, I forget the tray of jacket potatoes in the oven (true story! The oven had been turned off post cooking, but the next day I opened it to find 25 beautifully crispy jacket potatoes on a baking tray. We had potato salad for days afterwards), we run out of lagers but have too much rum left over (why do I buy it? No-one drinks it), and half way through the evening we have to come inside because it's too cold or raining!

However, did you know that the British are spending more on summer barbecues than they do (per person) on a summer holiday? The average amount per summer season of barbecues is £724.02, with an average spend of £141.67 per barbecue! Now bearing in mind, I haven't had one this summer, that means someone has had some marvellous barbecues and not invited me!

Apparently though, it's not just the hosts who spend money; it's the guests too! Gracious guests spend over £22 on goodies to supplement the already groaning feast-laden table. When I read that factoid, I'll admit to thinking: if each guest spends £22 on goodies, all I need to do is co-ordinate what they're bringing and I needn't spend a penny!

It's the last bank holiday weekend before Christmas (!) this weekend, it should be the time to have one last almighty bash at a fabulous barbecue. I won't be able to partake as we binned the underused and rusted barbecue last year (I'm vegetarian, he's a meat-eater, it never worked out easily), but here are some top tips to help it go well:

These factoids have been taken from The Pimm’s Summer Time Report, conducted in June 2011 by One Poll, which surveyed of 3,000 UK men and women, 25-45 years old. I wasn't asked to write about it, I've not been given anything, I just wanted to moan about the weather and show off my photo of one of my favourite drinks!

Please drink responsibly.

Our Holiday in Tweets

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I thought rather than go for the bog standard recount; I'd present my week in an alternative manner! (I may have used selective editing)

Saturday 30 July 2011
07:05 Morny. And so begins the mad panic of 'it's 2hrs til wr go on holiday', only I'm too tired, so sod it
07:15 Oh God, I'm so tired!
12:46 Stressed hr in the M5 service station. Didn't know we were going to be stopping, least of all for lunch. Could have been there by now!
14:28 Yeah baby! Holiday!

16:22 Trying to not be ungrateful but finding it very hard. My mum has already done the food shopping without consulting me.
16:23 Including buying jars for 10m+ for my 2yo. Incredibly p*ssed off that she's done this when we said we were going to go shopping together!
16:25 I know she's trying to help but I run my own family my way, 10yrs since I lived at home. I do things differently now
22:15 First day of holiday has seen so many mini-strops, it's like bloody Dynasty around here. Tomorrow I don my best Krystal Karrington smile!
22:29 Off to be sociable with the Grumpy Bunch for half an hour.

Sunday 31 July 2011
00:07 I have my dad inordinately happy by spending 3/4 of an hour playing dominoes #gooddaughter
00:17 There's moths. Everywhere. And bloody bats. I don't like flying things…
00:18 Night twitter
00:18 Can no longer type straight. I give up
06:13 Worst night ever because of not being our bed, cot, rooms, temperature etc. Knackered
06:57 Sod it, may as well have brekkie in peace and quiet


07:10 I'm sat in the conservatory on my own. No other bugger is awake. Grrr, getting bored
10:55 God my mother is touchy! Never realised how much. Now how would I cajole a 10yr old? Will it work on a 66yr old?
17:37 Chesil beach
23:25 Off to see a certain little lady pig and her family tomorrow. Return visit for us, let's hope this set of grandparents behave themselves

Monday 1 August 2011
06:49 Morny. Peppa Pig World today, wahoo
07:09 The Boy woke up at 6.30. He wanted Nana and Grandad so I may have quietly shown him the way…
10:47 Thanks everyone. I don't understand why my site won't load when it is on my phone @maft
16:19 Peppa Pig World is serious fun when you have grandparents who take part
23:41 Right. 2bed/2bathroom apartment aimed at families? You'd expect one of those 'bath'rooms to have an actual bath? Yes? No? Just me? Ok then

Tuesday 2 August 2011
14:33 It has just taken four men to fold down our pop-up beach tent. Hilarious! I think this should be a new form of beach emtertainment!
14:36 A saxophone was playing on the promenade in Lyme Regis while we built sandcastles, ate chips and got sand everywhere. Very atmospheric
14:40 The Boy is sat in his car-seat very seriously. He has just declared, "I eaten my ice-cream." I agree sweetie.
14:49 And now he's asleep
19:15 Eating his tea al fresco watching people on a picnic bench "those people are eating their tea" shhh "they can't hear me nana! Those people sing twinkle, twinkle little star"

Wednesday 3 August 2011
07:10 #badnightcoffeeclub That is all I have to say
14:41 Spent the morning in the local market town's market. The Boy refused to eat his lovely lunch and is now comatosed on the bed.

14:42 Why don't toddlers eat as well when on holiday? It's the most stressful thing! I feel like my mum is glaring at me when he refuses
15:02 Can I just commend @maft? My blog may have gone down on & off due to transfer from server, but he has worked relentlessly to fix it!
17:55 Things that annoy me: PRs who will not get the message that no I will not host something for nothing
21:10 The atmosphere this evening is horrendous; you could cut it with a knife. No-one's talking to anyone, might bugger off to bed in a moment
23:33 It is widdling it down here. That's fine as long as it's finished by morning!
Thursday 4 August 2011
00:07 It is really widdling it down here. Our bedroom opens out onto the conservatory which is really noisy from the raindrops on the roof
05:35 Morny. It's torrential outside & so windy. Not sure if it's rain or the sea pelting againat the conservatory #coastalcottage
05:52 I'm starving! Have eaten 3 crunch creams but they've not taken the edge off it
06:00 I might attempt this sleep nonsense again.
18:30 "I've got my seat-belt on". The Boy's understanding of grammar is developing daily and astounds me.
22:26 I have spent an hour trying to get a connection on the laptop through the wireless tethering & 3G on my phone! Grrrr! I miss wireless
22:59 Finally I have a connection to the Internet! I am currently sat on the toilet (don't worry the lid's down!) editing my 365! #dedicated #mad
23:11 Last night, The Boy looked out at the stormy sea highlighted with Neptune's waves & shouted 'Iggle-Piggle!' He could see him sailing to bed

Friday 5 August 2011
06:52 Morny! A beautiful penultimate day here in Dorset (but I still haven't had a cream tea!)
10:37 "The sky box is open mummy!" He means sun roof!
17:15 I kid you not, my mum has just phoned from the car behind to tell hubby to let the car coming up to overtake. Seriously!
17:58 I need a holiday to recover from this one #extendedfamilyholidays
20:53 I love her, I love him but God I've had enough of them. I don't think I can do this holiday again.
21:06 See that's what happens; you go away for a week on holiday and no-one tweets you.
21:58 I wish the child upstairs who is screaming about wanting a story would be given one. If he wakes The Boy up I'm going to clock his parents.

Saturday 6 August 2011
06:32 Morny. It's too early but this is good in a way: got to pack up & get out by 10.30!
07:45 Right, toys in car (most of them) cotbed down, duvet/pillows folded, clothes packed. Time to shower then try fitting it all back in my car
07:46 If we ever have another child, we're going to need an Espace not a Scenic. Some MPVs aren't as big as you'd think!
10:18 Family friendly cafe/restaurant in Bridport. Has an indoor play area and everything! 'Generations'
10:43 It is so hard to find a coffee shop where people don't sneer at your little one playing, to find one that has a play area.
14:21 Right settle an argument for hubby & me: pleb or plebb? #trafficjamonM5 #bored
14:25 Worried now that pleb/plebb is an un-pc term… off to check t'Internet
14:27 Phew, ok. Not.
14:40 Oh my word, 4th gear & 50 miles an hour #excitement #trafficjamonm5
16:59 Ha, take that motorways! You shall not defeat me
18:50 We have feasted on cheese, french bread, dough balls and onion rings. #comfortfood #knackeredaftertravelling #needaholidaytorecover