Highlights of the summer holidays

YOU know you’re having a great Summer when someone declares they need a “rest day” after one too many days out. We’ve had some gorgeous adventures and some very necessary down time.

Here is the highlight reel of our Summer so far:

1. My cousins coming to stay They bring all the joy. Everything is extra fun with them around.

2. The Aldershot Lido Nothing fancy, does what it says on the tin. Maia had a blast splashing around with us all. Leo - not so much.

In the end he had a long afternoon nap on a towel while the rest of us took turns watching him.

After a short while my cousin Rachel managed to persuade me to venture up to the slides.

“How fast are they exactly?” I asked the lifeguard tentatively.

“They’re pretty fast…” she said, amused.

Indeed, one minute my cousin was there right by me in plain sight, next she’s being launched into a pool of water 50ft below.

“NOPE not for me..” I announced.

I opted for the blue side. Designed, most likely, for mothers and babies.

“Do I have to go to the back of the line?” I queried.

“No just stand with me, the blue side will be ready in a minute.”

So there I stood, like a lemon, waiting in humiliation as one by one a gaggle of eight-yearolds flew down the fast slides.

The blue side was painfully slow and I spent most of it in hysterical laughter waving at my people while trying not to cry of embarrassment.

3. Beale Park Always a winner. Otters, zebras, and a pair of mating tortoises who seemed to go on forever. We stood and watched as passers-by laughed and commented:

“Are they STILL at it?!”

“EY UP!”

“The sound though.. those noises!!”

4. NT Live Prima Facie An incredible performance by Jodie Comer, I’d highly recommend this if you get the chance.

5. The Raver Tots Festival in Reading When

Joel first mentioned this particular festival, aimed at children, I politely declined. Loud base-heavy music, long queues to expensive food and a bunch of rides? No, no. Surely we could think of a better way to spend our Sunday.

Apparently I couldn’t because two months later I’m sat sticking sparkly gems to my face in festivalprep mode.

Then we made it inside and all I could think every 10 seconds for those four hours was: “WHERE IS LEO?”

Candy floss was bought, more glitter applied, rides ridden.

We raved inside the rave tent in short bursts as neither of the children were particularly keen.

6. The cinema This may seem mundane but the last time I went to the cinema was January 2020, so I was way overdue.

Joel and I hadn’t been since early 2019. Where the Crawdads Sing is not a film one can talk through, even us.

7. Taking Leo for his first haircut and passport photos

Both went surprisingly smoothly.

8. A trip to London

I met a friend for brunch then spent a while in Foyles.

Then there’s the play I’m going to see next week entitled Oh Mother, all about, you guessed it: Motherhood. Can’t keep away.