There's nothing like planning ahead...

[JoM]

I've just provisionally booked the cottage we go to in Cornwall.
For August bank holiday week NEXT year.

These cottages are lovely and book up quickly, plus they allow dogs too. You can book them early and don't have to pay a deposit until January so if we change our minds between now and then we can cancel and lose nothing.

I know we go to the same place every year but we all love it there (and hopefully Billy will too - it's his first time this year!!).

[Ally]

You're as bad as mum...she's booked their Spanish flights for next April and a cottage in Wales for next July!

[JoM]

It'll give me something to look forward to when we get back from this year's holiday

[Kaz]

I thought I was previous booking our August cottage in Devon back in February

Seriously though, what a good idea! You have made sure that the week you want is yours for the taking

[debih]

Good idea Jo.

Our planning ahead is slightly in jeopardy now as the government (god bless them) have decided that from September 2013 term time holidays are an absolute no no.

I had had it sort of cleared by S's head of year but today I have emailed the head to find out how likely we are to get this week in March. I hadn't put a formal request in as L isn't at the school yet.

At least it gives us chance to change the booking to Easter if need be (and if it is available then).

Watch this space - I will let you know the outcome...............

[Diflower]

Jo whereabouts is it you go, I can't remember, is it Looe or am I thinking of someone else??

[miasmum]

That was what I was about to ask Di, I would go to Cornwall every year if I could

[JoM]

We always go to Bude, in the north. That's where we spend our days anyway. The cottage itself is on a working farm, about 8 miles away inland and right on the Devon/Cornwall border. I think it's just an organic beef farm now, when we first used to go it was a dairy farm and the children were always invited to watch the milking when around in the afternoon, they're lovely friendly people who own it.

[Diflower]

It must be someone else who goes to Looe

Jo that sounds lovely. The first time we took the boys away was to a b&b on a working dairy farm in Devon, it was perfect
They were very young and we had a family room.
Luckily there was a big bathroom so each evening Bb and I would sit in there, with a glass of wine by the big open window
It had a view of a big field of sheep - for the first 3 days. The fourth day, he and I watched the big lorry arrive before breakfast and load all the sheep
We told the boys they'd gone on holiday, they were a bit young for anything more truthful

I asked because we've been looking at cottages to book, but because of Minnie have still not been able to do anything about it.

[JoM]

Oh bless them! There's a farm dog, Harry, who always visits as he just runs around the farm all day, and he always appears at the door at dinner time. He was a puppy when we first visited in 2003 so is getting on a bit now!

This is the website for the farm - we stay in The Stables, although we've stayed in The Cottage a few times and that's lovely too but we can spread ourselves out a bit better in The Stables
I had the realisation a few weeks ago that it won't be long until we can go, just the two of us and Billy, during the off-season period.