Day 1 from the forest!

Hello everybody and welcome to Day 1 of our Center Parcs holiday in Elvedon, Suffolk.

After a short drive up the A14 in the new Kia (you HAVE to get one Dad) and after putting up with Claire's squeals of delight as every mile drew closer, we arrived at Center Parc's booking huts around 12:30 on Monday.

All processed and checked in with the efficiency of a Nazi concentration camp, we proceeded to Car Park B to tuck into Claire's pack lunches - and a sneaky beer!

As you cannot get into the lodgings until3pm, we decided to make the most of the blue skies and have a wander around our new surroundings for the next few days. First stop was the Beauty Spa (of course - where else?) and booked Claire in for a good old fashioned tinting! I sat in the reception in the humidity for what seemed like an age... 30 minutes later Claire comes staggering out only to inform me she'd 'had a nice sleep'!!!! Thanks!

Next stop was the village square where it all happens... lovely little walkways and streams with plenty of wildlife merrily wandering around the shoppers and toddlers. A lovely little duck crossed our path, before nonchalantly dumping a trail of green shit behind it! Lovely!!! :)

We checked out some shops and then the 'Sports Complex', which is a massive building housing all sorts of indoor sports - plenty of badminton courts, tennis courts, pool tables, table tennis etc - very cool. Our wandering took us to the man made beach alongside the massive lake.

Caught up in the moment, we decided it was definitely right to take to the water and hired out a rowing boat! I proceeded to row us around in circles and then into the bank of reeds, before finally getting the hang of it - then sensibly letting Claire take over to get us back to dry land! A-hoy shipmates!

The weather was still holding strong, cold but sunny and blue skies - but it was now time to get into the lodge. We waited till the queues died down and headed to the car at around half 4 to off load our cases. Our lodge is fantastic, set back into the woodlands and clad in timber, it looks every inch the woodland lodge - inside everything is very clean and modern with a lovely kitchen/dining area, 2 bedrooms a large lounge with LCD TV and DVD player and a real fireplace should we choose to set light to one of the 100s of squirrels running around later in the week.

The main bathroom even has underfloor heating and a skylight - feels like living in an episode of 'Grand Designs'! Keep expecting Kevin to come walking through and get Claire pregnant :)

After offloading and realising how far we (seemed) to be from the main square, we decided to risk the weather and hire a couple of bikes - took a while to sort out and queing in the setting evening sun under shade wasnt much fun (ffffffreezing), but after a while, we were off and pedalling around like a couple of 12 year olds. Claire clearly needs stabilisers... but thankfully she knows EXACTLY where the f-ing bell is...

We enjoyed the ride and decided to put on some warmer clothes and go for an explore which was fun.

The evenings festivities had already been planned (by me) and as a lovely, thoughtful surprise by me to Claire, I took her out to the village square to watch Newcastle v Middlesbrough on the big screens, accompanied by a pint and a burger. Dont say romance isnt dead!

First downside of the day though was the hour plus wait for the dessert we ordered which never materialised, still got a refund and the barman gave us 2 'guilt cookies' to keep us onside, so alls well that ends well.

A cycle back through the now dark lanes brought the day to a close and we were both knackered. Despite a bit of a restless night, we are now up embracing the morning sun and ready to do it all again!

We'll update you again soon with news of Day 2 - swimming, bowling and who knows what else planned for later...

BYE FROM US BOTH!! XX

Oh... heres some pics from Day 1 - enjoy!