Archive for ‘Butlins 2010’

June 13th, 2010

Top tips for a trip to Butlins

To end this series charting our staycation holiday to Butlins in Skegness we thought we would share a few top tips to help other families that might be planning on visiting.

  1. Consider buying a dining option when booking. We chose the bed, breakfast and evening meal option and it really paid off for us. I think the costs would have spiralled had we needed to pay for 2-3 meals per day for all of us. I know it ups the cost at booking but pays for itself at the other end. Plus, the standard is so good. That said, there are other great places to eat on the resort and paying as you go might suit your needs better.
  2. Take a hamper of food and drink with you to at least see you for the first day. It helped us to have a stock of cans of pop, beer (for us), juice (for the child), snacks and milk. Of course you can buy most things on the resort but why waste time looking for them when you can be doing other stuff that you will enjoy more.
  3. Take plenty of change, especially 2ps for the slot machines.
  4. If you need to be withdrawing cash there are cash points on the resort but they charge. It is only a small amount but will add up if you are going a few times. Withdraw your money before you get onto the resort.
  5. Take a small first aid kit. Bumps, trips and falls are inevitable. Staff are trained but if all you need is an elastoplast it seems silly to waste their time.
  6. Read the “Infunmation guide” to find out what is on and where. It is a great way to plan what you might want to do for the day. Loads of stuff in it. Redcoats are also a great source of information.
  7. In relation to the above, plan your days the night before. We missed the start of a couple of shows because we hadn’t fully appreciated what time they started (and they start right on time). There are also different photo opportuntiies for the kids to have their photo with a favourite character. Read the infunmation guide as to when each will be, as you don’t want to miss their favourite (I think each one is only on once a week).
  8. Take waterproofs / umbrella. The walk to the Skyline Pavilion is not undercover and so if the weather is bad, putting the kids in their waterproofs makes the walk across the camp much easier.
  9. If the weather is good, think about spending half a day on the beach. Its lovely and you get onto the beach from a gate on the resort, and if you forget anything its only a short walk back to your accomodation.

These are the tips that helped us out this week. Even without them it is good fun winging it. Feel free to contact us at info@familiesrecommend.co.uk if you have any more top tips and to leave a review visit www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

Best wishes for the summer

Lee, Sarah and Thomas

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June 13th, 2010

The inevitable drive home and time to reflect on a great week away at Butlins.

The door banged closed behind us and we made our way to the fully loaded car ready to travel the 200 miles or so back to Tyneside. The 4 hour journey back is time enough to contemplate and reflect on the great week that we had at Butlins. The thing that struck me is that despite all of the visual clues around the resort, I really did not remember the place as well as I thought I might have done. Of course, a lot has been changed and upgraded since I was last on the resort in 1988. The Skyline Pavilion is a new addition and I suspect on the site of where I played some of the best football of my life! I did have one flashback to a photo that I published on the first post of my brother on the BMX track. I think that the same patch is still there today although not being used for anything that I could see.

Stopping for a photo on the 500th lap

I think this is the old BMX track but stand to be corrected

It is all well and good looking back with a smile and trying to relive teenage years but the real reason for being at Butlins was to have a holiday with my family. The important thing is how it measures up in 2010. Our week at Butlins saw a mostly family orientated crowd which I am sure is repeated month on month. It was slightly off season, as kids were mostly back at school after the half term break. A reason I am sure is why there were a lot of children of pre-school age present. Our son included. Having thought hard I have whittled down why I think Butlins has been as big a success this week for us.

Food and drink

On booking our break we opted to go for the Premium Dining option. The restaurant we went to was Coast Restaurant. A fresh and modern restaurant that also boasts a clean and fresh play area for the kids to play in once they have finished their food. The standard of the food was better than most holiday catering that I have had. The choice was more than enough to suit everyone and included desserts and cold drinks. Eat as much as you like is also the mantra. The kids food, which I know is always a worry when you go away from home, was delicious. I have to confess that on a couple of occasions I had the kids option as the pizza and chicken curry were just so good. The food is based on Annabel Karmel recipes so also comes with a decent track record. However, it is the staff that make the place the friendly and welcoming restaurant that it is. From the chefs to the servers, everyone is welcomed with a smile and a bit of friendly banter. Two people in particular who stick in our minds are worthy of a mention. Julia, the restaurant manager, was the person who initially allowed us to swap our restaurant choice at the last minute. The draw being the playroom. She always had time for a chat and our Thomas certainly was taken by her. He even gave her a kiss before we left! The second person is Szilvia (I hope I spelt her name correctly) who stood on guard duty for most of the week at the main door to stop Thomas from running out. Again, always a smile and time for a chat. She also stamped Thomas’ fruit and vegetable card so he could get a pin badge. The very reason why he also gave Szilvia a kiss on our last morning. Well done eveyone. We loved it!

Redcoats and general staff on the resort

The entertainment that the Redcoats provided for the children was superb. Their enthusiasm shone through when performing and raising a laugh from the audience young and old. Redcoat Chris who was the DJ at the Tots Disco played a blinder in getting the kids up and moving and they loved him too. Thank you for our stickers too! The other staff on the resort were no less commited. Katie in the Gold reception office I have previously mentioned but non the less, thank you for your efforts. Plus all of the other staff that keep the place clean and tidy. A great job that is reflected in the fact that the place is litter free and spotless.

Entertainment

This kind of goes back to the Redcoats a little but it is worthwile mentioning that there is something for everyone. These blog posts have outlined that the kids entertainment is great. The stuff for an older audience was not left out and was well taken care of despite the fact that I was unable to see any of it. My only minor gripe is the amount of slot machines but this is just me and to be fair I did have a go on them and enjoyed it. Most of them are 2p slots and do add to the atmosphere.

Accommodation

The place has clearly been upgraded over the years and is reflected in the standard of accommodation. We were lucky enough to have a Gold Apartment. We had 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, and kitchen/living room. More than enough space which was clean and comfortable to boot.

5 minutes later we were in the car going home

So. In short. A great week away. I was not sure what to expect at the beginning of the week and the weather forecast did not promise to help out much. But then again the Great British weather is pretty changeable at the best of times. If we chose to do nothing because of it we would end up going nowhere. The best thing to do is put a smile on your face and be deterimed to make the best of it. A sentiment that Butlins have had to carry in order for the staycationers of Britain to keep coming back for more.

Have you been to Butlins at Skegness or anywhere else? Tell us about it by writing a review at www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

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June 12th, 2010

Day 4 in the Billy Butlin house. The Sharps are about to be evicted…

Evicted is a little dramatic. We have reached the end of our week and were embarking on our last full day on the resort. Once again, the weather has not been great but it really did not matter. In preparation of our impending journey home I decided that we should take an hour or so off the resort to go and get petrol and take a drive down to Skegness. I was there 22 years ago when I was last at Butlins but have absolutely no recollection of it. Once I was there and saw the old place again…still nothing. But still it was nice to see somewhere that I had not been before, or in my case, simply could not remember. Skegness is very similar to Whitley Bay which is near to us and have recently blogged about. Fish and Chip restaurants and the smell of vinegar, souvenir shops, amusement arcades and the unique sound of the seagulls. Unfortunately the weather conditions in Skegness were substantially worse than on the Butlins resort so our trip was cut short. Still, now had a full tank of petrol.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends

The one thing that we all had been looking forward to was seeing Thomas the Tank Engine in the Skyline Pavillion. We had seen it on the website before we arrived and was also in our “Infunmation” guide. Our son Thomas (not to be confused with the blue steam train) has lots of books on his tank engine namesake and has also watched him on TV. A sure fire winner. The place was packed for the 2:30pm performance and I am not at all surprised. All through the week we have both been so impressed with the level and quality of the children’s entertainment. A yardstick to use when measuring this is the sound that can be heard coming from the audience and today was no different. Kids laughing and shouting back to the performers and parents doing it too in moments where they thought they had not been seen. A remark that both Sarah and I made was that for all it was essentially for children, the adults were not left out and it was hard not to get swept up in it. It goes without saying we had a really great afternoon before going back to Splash Waterworld that had proven so popular the day before.

Back to Splash Waterworld but no “Heavy Petting”

The pool today was a lot busier so my first calculated decision was to steer clear of the water flume. I don’t think that the good staycationers of Skeggy needed to see me again in less than graceful posture as I hit the pool at the bottom. Instead I took my responsibility as a parent more seriously and played with Thomas in the Turtle Pool again. Today there were intermittent water jets from the side of the pool that Thomas loved although he would not let me put him under them. I think he must have seen what I had also clocked some 10 seconds earlier. A young couple who I would describe as the “beautiful people” were about to exchange what would have been described by the now famous swimming pool do’s and dont’s poster of the 70′s and 80′s as “heavy petting”. Having completed stage 1 and actually made contact they were in the unfortunate position of being in the approximate area where these intermittent water jets land. Having started out as Posh and Becks, the water jets came on and landed pretty close by which was enough to render them more like Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty. A fairly dramatic transformation but just goes to show that people really should take heed of the information signs regarding petting of any kind, heavy or otherwise. They are there for everyone safety! Thomas, not keen to be caught out by this very same water jet indicated he wanted to go back to shallower water. A sentiment shared by the artists formerly known as Posh and Becks.

Bottle and Bed

All three of us by this point were flagging. Having had our evening meal at the brilliant Coast restaurant (I am going to write about this separately at the end as it deserves to be undiluted) we were all struggling, especially Thomas. Our plan was to end the evening at the Tots Disco but decided not to. Instead we swapped the mirrorball for some milk and the dude was off to bed early doors. Coincidentally we also had a bottle of something chilling nicely in the fridge and were not disappointed when we finally got to drink it. First though, packing! Urrggghhh

Have you been to Butlins at Skegness or anywhere else? Tell us about it by writing a review at www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

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June 11th, 2010

Splash Waterworld, a Tots Disco and one very tired staycation family.

We were treated today with the first dose of proper sunshine and a little bit of heat after the washout of the last 24 hours. A really good nights sleep for all three of us was followed by breakfast then a walk along the beach. I had forgotten how big and pleasant the beach was and strangely enough I had some recollection of it from 22 years ago although I suspect that the wind turbines on the horizon are a new addition to the seascape. Our plans for the day were less busy and to be honest I was pleased. I am a bit of a lightweight nowadays and get tired more readily than I used to. I mostly blame the child, that works for a while but secretly suspect it is just me. So the option of a gentle stroll along the beach met with my approval before going back to the apartment to allow Thomas to have his nap.

Splash Waterworld

The afternoon began with a visit to Splash Waterworld, the indoor leisure pool. Thomas has not been swimming that much but really enjoyed himself in the shallow end tipping water over the big plastic turtle. The place was really busy but there was enough space to enjoy the water without getting in peoples way. I had a great time and had to stop myself from dive bombing into the pool like a 10 year old. It is really odd how I have regressed since coming through the gates. Obviously I was tasked with being the safe pair of hands for our non-swimming son but did manage to get away for 5 minutes as I had to have a go on a water flume. I chose the green one on the recommendation of the lifeguard at the top. He said it was the fastest and he was not wrong. As I thundered into the pool at the end of the slide I could not help but think that my entry into the water might have been more graceful as a teenager. Instead I hit the water all arms and legs and more vocal than I would have liked. Add to this the migration of my swim shorts towards an anatomical dead end and I can safely say that I wont be going back on again unless there are significantly less people around. I think that I am going to be a successful Dad in the respect that I will find it easy to embarrass my son in years to come without the need to really try! Going back tomorrow without a doubt though!

From the pool we moved onto the Skyline Pavillion to catch the Skyline Gang in Carnival. We are really impressed with the kids entertainment on the resort that we have seen so far. There are always a lot of kids ready to jump, sing, skip and today, Limbo dance. Thomas quite enjoyed the gang singing and gave a spontaneous clap at the end. We had to cut this short though as we needed to get back for a shower then back out again. It is no wonder I am tired.

Tots Disco 

We were at the Tots Disco last night however Thomas was a little tired so did not enjoy it as much as he could have done. We planned it better today and got to Reds at 6pm. I made reference to some of the buildings looking a little aged and shabby in a previous post. The outside of Reds did spring to mind when I made this remark. The inside is a different story. The interior has been fitted out very well and is full of colour. It is also a great size and it is possible to see the stage from just about anywhere in the room. This large room played host to the Tots Disco and was just as well it was large as a lot of people turn up for it. Thomas was in better form tonight and was happy to jump like a frog and spin on the spot to his favourite songs by Bob the Builder, Space Pirates and the Crazy Frog. The three of us were making such a good impression that Redcoat Chris, the DJ, awarded all three of us a sticker for our performance. Good work fella. He is a great compere and fab with the kids. He really engaged with all of them and you could tell that they were hanging on his every word. He said jump, they jumped! This has been typical of our experience of the Redcoats so far. They obviously love their work and it really shows.

Dancing to Space Pirates

A slow walk back to our apartment with a very tired little boy then turned into one fast asleep little boy. It has been a great day and there is part of me that would have liked to see some of the entertainment on offer in the evening. The only two things stopping me are my obligation as a parent but mostly my die hard lightweightedness. Hope I have enough energy for tomorrow.

Have you been to Butlins at Skegness or anywhere else? Tell us about it by writing a review at www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

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June 10th, 2010

First full day at Butlins and the resort was under water!

Day 1 in the Billy Butlin house…
 
Waking up on our first full day after a much needed sleep we were keen to get up and get out.  The rain was coming down hard and the unbroken black clouds on the horizon did not promise us much. Thomas has been a bit under the weather recently having been suffering from chicken pox last week. This week he is much better (and more importantly not contagious) and was keen to prove this by wanting to be out of our apartment asap.  A hefty breakfast in Coast was first which incorporated a chat with Julia who is the manager. She let slip that in her past she had lived in Newcastle whilst she was in the army. The military training has done no harm as the restaurant is run in the same orderly and purposeful fashion. Next was a wander to the Skyline Pavillion to see the opening ceremony. The redcoats looked like they were having as much fun as the kids with the singing and dancing. Thomas certainly enjoyed the singing and dancing especially from the characters.  A half an hour on the 2p slots then it was time to let Thomas recharge his batteries. He usually has about 1 hour but today had close on 2 hours. Must have been all of the action going on around him! Good for us though as we were able to have a coffee and a think about what we were going to to with the rest of the day.

The dancing started at the opening ceremony early on and didnt really stop all day

Thomas enjoying a ride on Bob the Builders digger

After a caffeine injection for us and an extended power nap for Thomas we headed back to the Skyline Pavillion via a walk past the duck pond. The weather has been pretty bad today and this chance of a walk in the fresh air with a temporary dry spell was taken without question. As we arrived at the Skyline Pavillion the heavens opened again so we counted ourselves lucky and waited for the Skyline Gang to appear on stage. Up until now Thomas had been more distracted by the flashing lights of the amusements so a chance to be entertained by humans was a welcome relief. I was  really impressed with the show that they put on. Definitely aimed at young kids, they had all of them in the audience clapping, singing and dancing.

Tea time beckoned and it was back to see our new friends at Coast restaurant although Thomas was not that hungry tonight. He must have been aware that we were going to the Tots Disco at Reds bar afterwards. Again, a really well planned event that was hosted by redcoats with an aptitude of making themselves look daft and entertaining the kids and adults in the process. They said jump and kids and adults alike jumped, shouted, put their arms in the air and wiggled their bums! At this point of the day our nearly 3 year old was getting tired again having been pre-programmed to going to bed at around the same time every night. Once again, we were not that far behind him.

Come on, the world cup starts this week…

One thing that struck me whilst meandering around the resort today was the huge volume of people wearing football shirts or clothing yet no-one wanting to play. When I was here 22 years ago I played everyday and my Dad also played in the “Dads football”. In anticipation of such an event I brought with me my trainers and footie shorts hoping that I would get a game. However I cant see any evidence of such a thing going on. I thought that it would have been a well subscribed event on the resort but can only assume that the organisers have other thoughts. Shame really as a good run around is just what I fancied. Perhaps I missed it.

We are not amused…or are we?

The only other thing that struck me today was the amount of slot machines that are knocking about on the resort. Weather wise, today was a bit of a washout which meant that everyone was heading indoors. We were no different. One thing that you really cant ignore are the flashing lights and pulsating music from the amusements. Now we don’t mind them to a point and to be fair they are generally quite cheap compared to some places I have been. I quite enjoyed them yesterday evening and for a little while this morning but don’t really want to be tipping coins into them all week. But equally, does Butlins want its success to be judged against how many people it can get into its arcade just because the weather is poor. Even when it stopped raining it was pretty busy.  It is my feeling that perhaps there is a little too much floor space dedicated to them when there is enough going on across the resort to keep people occupied. But. People enjoy them, and if thats what makes them tick then go for it! And people certainly were enjoying them. That’s the whole point of being on holiday.

Have you been to Butlins at Skegness or anywhere else? Tell us about it by writing a review at www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

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June 9th, 2010

The Butlins staycation. More than just a holiday camp!

So, after much preparation we headed down the A19 on our summer staycation to Butlins in Skegness. A 3 and a half hour journey towards a week in the sun. That was the idea. The reality was that the sun had been replaced with black rain clouds that were ready to relieve themselves of their moisture just as we arrived at the main gate. However we are made of stern stuff and a bit of rain was not going to dent our enthusiasm. We had packed ambitious clothing that excluded a coat but then again we are from Newcastle so that really is not a yardstick to use. No one wears a coat in Newcastle. I cant remember seeing a shop that sells one! So, ready for summer we were directed from the main gate to the car park where our accommodation was. Now we were on holiday!

First Impressions

I am a big fan of first impressions and really believe that they last. I have been to many places and have been met by the representative of that particular corporate body and have been less than impressed. The great “Yo! Sushi” debacle of 2007 is one of those situations that still annoys me now and came down to first impressions and in their case, last. I am still waiting for a response from the MD today. I am not going to dwell on that one too much…Too painful!  We checked in at Gold reception and were dealt with by a Katie. Everything was ready for us. The only request that I had was a slight change in our eating arrangements. We were booked to eat in the Yacht Club, a lovely looking premium dining restaurant that was part of our package. However on reflection, Coast restaurant suited our needs best as it had a childrens play area for our nearly 3 year old, Thomas. I asked Katie if it would be OK to swap and accepted that if it was not then all was not lost. The impressive factor at this point was the “can do” attitude. It would have been very easy to have dismissed my polite request with a “sorry, its set in stone and I can’t change it”. To be fair Katie was honest and said that it might not be possible to change at that late stage but was willing to get on the phone and speak with someone who could help. The long and the short of it is that we dined in Coast restaurant that evening and are expected back for the rest of the week. Thank you for you effort Katie. Much appreciated.

The afternoon was taken up getting our bearings. It was really strange for me seeing the place again. For all I really did not recognise the place and the visual stimulus was not helping the memories I did recognise the buzz around the place. I remember 22 years ago a feeling of being somewhere different and excluded from what was going on with the rest of the serious world. That sense of isolation from normality was familiar today walking past the Sun and the Moon pub towards the Skyline Pavillion with lots of other families doing exactly the same thing. Families that were in a similar position to us. Infants and young children running about, laughing, some crying but mostly people just enjoying themselves. Going for a wander we found some of the places that we had seen on the website that we thought might be good for the three of us. One thing that I did notice was the contrast between the old and the new. Some of the buildings and attractions did look like they had aged a bit and were, dare I say, a tiny bit shabby on the surface. But then again they were absolutely heaving with people who were really enjoying themselves. I like to think that the aged look is  testament to good old fashioned entertainment and a nod to the glorious past. Plus, I had already had a great experience at check in so can see straight past this matter of trivia. Then there were the clearly newer bulidings and developments incorporating the refurbed accomodation. The place has definately come on a lot since I was last here and certainly has upped its game considerably.

A new experience

Now that we were on holiday we decided that we should do some family bonding. This is not easy with a 3 three year old as the attention span is the weak link. However we felt that ten pin bowling might be the thing that keeps the family unit together. We had never done this before and with so many things that have gone so horribly wrong in our attempt to entertain our offspring, it was a risk. Having donned the shoes which were strangely confortable, had the bumpers applied to the lanes and brought in the metal frame to push the bowling balls off we were ready to play. Now, I am not certain if it was the idea of hurling a heavy ball from a metal frame, the danger of dropping it to see the effect or the thought of running down the alley that injected our little boy with the enthusiasm of the all American game. Whatever the fuel, he loved it. I suspect this had something to do with knocking over the pins at the other end. For the record. he did attempt to escape down the lane.

Ten pin bowling for 3 year olds.

"I know the ball is twice my weight but it will not beat me!"

 By the time the bowling was done, Thomas was doing his best to fall asleep. A bite to eat at Coast restaurant, hire a stair gate then back to the apartment. I will go into more detail about the restaurant this week. For now, fab!

Whilst Sarah was getting Thomas ready for bed, I was attempting to erect the easy to use, no assembly required, instruction free stair gate. After 20 minutes of chin rubbing, head scratching and profane mutterings that Families would definately not recommend, the gate was up. Thomas fell asleep quite quickly in his new room and we were not far behind him. It has been a long day with the early start, the drive and then the orientation. Then there was the ten pin bowling and the passing go on the slot machines. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Have you been to Butlins at Skegness or anywhere else? Tell us about it by writing a review at www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

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May 31st, 2010

Butlins Skegness, 1988. The original staycation

Looking back  on family holidays as a kid, I can honestly say that we were the original “Staycation” family. We never took a holiday abroad but then again not many people did then. There were the odd few people who went to Spain. I remember clearly one person in my class going to Bulgaria. Not the most obvious choice at the best of times back then but was memorable for the fact that they went some 3 months after the Chernobyl disaster in the Ukraine. With the rest of Eastern Europe doing their best to run West, they were gladly hurtling East in search of the sun.  Must have been one great salesperson and one hell of a deal!

We never had that problem as my parents were keen to holiday in the UK. My Mam and Dad had a great holiday years before I was born in Newquay. So, in 1979 they decided that they should go back. This time with me in tow. 5 years old travelling some 350 miles in the back of an Austin Allegro. 2 weeks of great weather only marred by my tonsillitis that struck not long after we arrived and subsided not long before we were to come home. Memories of which my parent still regale today. Other holidays included Scarborough, Blackpool and Torquay. However the holiday that I remember the best is the one in which we went to Butlins at Skeggy. I was 14 years old, freakishly tall and thin and had possibly the worst haircut going. By today’s Premier League footballer standard however I was ahead of my time. I went with my Mam, Dad and 7 year old brother. It was August 1988.

Yazz and the Plastic Population were at No 1 with “The only way is up”, Liverpool were champions of the Football League Division 1 and Who Framed Roger Rabbit was big at the flicks. I was getting ready to start my GCSE’s but that was not until the September. It was sunny August and we were travelling this time in a light brown Vauxhall Cavalier to Skegness. The holiday was booked at the last minute as there was a special deal on at the Co-Op in Wallsend. It cost £80 for all four of us and was for a self catering chalet. My Mam assures me that we stayed in Silver accommodation in the Roman Village. She also has a vivid memory of there being a packet of Bachelors “Supa Noodles” in the room waiting for us on our arrival. She was never certain if this was something thrown in by Butlins to ensure that its self catering families had at least one meal or if they had simply been left by the previous family. I quite like to believe that they were provided as part of the holiday. I mean, who does not like Supa Noodles? The first day was taken up with unpacking and finding our way about. It seemed huge as a 14 year old and the amount of stuff to do was endless. I was heavily into sport and signed up with just about everything. Football, Badminton and Athletics featured heavily. I remember playing football all week with the same bunch of kids and at the end of the week playing the Red Coats. This is a vague memory though. What I do remember was playing exceptionally bad consistently through the week. The coach who took the training and arranged the games was a fella called Arthur, I think, second from the left on the below photo. I seem to remember him having some past life with Arsenal. At the end of the week we were all called for the official team photo. I would love to know what they are all up to now.

Butlins AFC

Where are they now? Especially the lad at the front

The bad photos did not end there. I was presented with a certificate which I think I earned for playing Badminton. Not sure what I had to do to get it. I assume hit the shuttle cock back and forth without injuring anyone. Mind you it could have been for anything. Sadly no one can remember and the certificate cant be found.

Cant remember what I had to do to get it but I look pleased with myself.

Come on. No one looked good in 1988

Receiving certificates is pleasant enough but there were other things on the go through the day that my brother Kevin got involved with. As a 7 year old he loved his bike and was delighted to find a BMX course with ramps and jumps. Usually you had to make do with a brick and piece of wood but not here. There were even crash helmets to wear! I remember not being able to get him away from the BMX track. I was not quite as into it but then again there is nothing graceful about a gangly 6ft teenager trying to peddle a BMX quickly over a ramp. Really, I am a realist.

Stopping for a photo on the 500th lap

Hitting the ramp at 50mph despite the sign clearly stating a 10mph limit

Swimming was more my thing and was the thing for 75% of the family. 25% of the family could not swim and therefore would not entertain going into the indoor pool. This was a shame as it was the only thing that would get my brother off the BMX track for a while and reunite the family as a unit again. Then one day we managed to do the impossible. Something that is still talked about today yet has never been repeated in 22 years. We got my Mam into the swimming pool. All three of us kind of held up our Mam above the water as she was dragged through the water. The terror of this rendered her limbs motionless yet her mouth still worked.  Needless to say it was a short flirtation with the water but one which she remembers clearly. Not because of the panic of not being able to swim but the near broken neck trying to get out of the pool. Probably a good lesson learned. Mam was much more at ease at the outside pool watching us from the safety of a chair.

Poser!

Again...Poser!

Evenings were great fun largely because we were able to stay up and wander about. Me and my younger brother were happy to entertain ourselves for a while which was was good for Mam and Dad as they could relax and have a drink on their own. On one of the evenings Mam and Dad went to see Berni Flint in cabaret. I am told that he was a big name back then having won Opportunity Knocks in 1977 and having a No 1 hit single. I don’t remember it at all but will have a look on iTunes to see if I can find him. Failing that, Google!

Bingo was a much loved game in our house growing up, especially my grandparents so the offer of a game of bingo at Butlins was not passed up. Just as well as on the first night Mam and Dad won £40. Half of the cost of the holiday. Happy days! Fresh from the win and hungry for more they went back another night and won another £40. The price of the holiday paid for by the Bingo and Butlins! Me and Kev were probably at the slots trying to get the petrol money back.

So there you have it, in a nutshell, our family holiday to Butlins in Skegness. August 1988. Memories of a really happy holiday that I hope we can repeat for my family when we go in the near future. I am sure that things have changed drastically since then but realise that people still want the same things no matter what the decade is. They want a great holiday at a great price and where everyone, young or old, is catered for. We cant wait for our holiday to Butlins if not for the pool or the live entertainment, then for the prospect of complimentary Supa Noodles in our room. Gorgeous!

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May 29th, 2010

We’re all going on a summer holiday…No Cliff Richard though.

One thing that strikes us during the day to day running of Familiesrecommend is the amount of places to go that our users find on their doorsteps totally by accident.  For a lot of families the idea of  holiday time means booking flights to foreign climes and going in pursuit of the sun. We are not knocking that at all. We have travelled a lot over the years and place a great deal of stock in the benefits of travel. We have learnt a lot in terms of languages, customs, religions and generally getting on with people. Skills that if could be passed on might make people more tolerant to others and allow them the chance to accept that diversity is an opportunity and not a threat. However, economically and in recent weeks, geologically, the airline industry has come unstuck and people are not quite as keen to go through the body scanners and watch the crew perform the safety demonstrations. Add in striking cabin crews and record company losses and it really does not inspire a lot of confidence. So, people are now looking  to spending their hard earned cash and holiday time nearer to home. The tourism industry coined the term “Staycation” last year. It was a buzzword born out of the poor economic climate but is still going strong in 2010 and does not seem to be going out of fashion anytime soon.  Now we could have been accused of jumping on the staycation bandwagon and only holidaying at home because of the wider problems and not through choice. I accept that this is a good point. However, we have a very young family and foreign travel is not a practical option. Couple this with the great resource that we have in the website (we use it too) to find great places to go and things to do,  it is what is commonly termed a “no-brainer”. I take issue with the over use of this term as it seems to me to be factually incorrect. If no-brains were used in the making of a good decision then surely the outcome is down to luck or fate. Both of which can’t be relied upon all of the time. Surely it should be a “brainer”

…Anyhow. The point is this: Holidaying at home or “Staycationing” has been made an awful lot better by places upping their game and making themselves indispensable especially in difficult times.  The benefit of this is that when times get better, people don’t forget the great times they had on their doorsteps and think twice about going abroad.

With this in mind the decision to take our family holiday in the UK was made. The problem was where and what? We have in the past stayed in a cottage in North Yorkshire and had a cracking time. In fact had it not have been for that holiday in 2008 Familiesrecommend would not be here today. We have also taken different days out over the holiday period and had a good time too although this is a strain especially on whoever drives. Then one night the epiphany came.  We were watching the telly when an advert came on that we were aware that we had seen before but not really taken any notice of. It was for a Great British institution that has stood the test of time since 1936. We were watching a vibrant, colourful and energetic advert for a place that had been dragged willingly into the 21st Century and seemed to be adjusting well to it. It officially had our attention and we loved what we were watching. Great looking accommodation, activities to keep our young son entertained and restaurants to cater for everything. Perfect. We decided that we were going to Butlins!

The genius part of this decision was that we had inside information. I had been to Butlins before. Skegness to be exact and had a great time. I went with my Mam, Dad and Brother. I was 14 years old, had a bad hair cut and listened to very bad music. It was August 1988. Memories were awakened by everyone on this holiday. Then it happened. The photos were found…

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