*This post includes a gifted experience. All opinions are my own*
Would you believe that I studied towards a geography degree? Once upon a time, I thought that geography was my calling (probably because I knew a lot of flags when I was 10). When it came down to choosing what to do when I went to uni, I chose Geography because a lot of the exams – up to that points – mainly required you to retain facts. When it came to the actual degree, there was far too much talk about clouds, map navigation and dealing with statistics to see me through more than a year and a half.
I say this to say that at one point in my life, I was the geography guy. Today, it’s crumbled. A couple of weeks ago I was telling people that I was going to be taken for a particular weekend because I was going to Scunthorpe. I told at least five people, who spread the news (for whatever reason) to even more people. When it came to the day and I needed to put the destination in Google Maps, it hit me that I was completely off and that we were actually on our way to Scarborough. (Which, as it goes, is actually just down the road from Scunthorpe). It’s proof if you needed it that my geography is lacking these days.
We haven’t taken the boys to the beach since a Skegness trip fresh out of the first lockdown. It was long overdue. Since then they’ve asked so many times when we’re heading back and this opportunity just happened to come our way at the perfect time – also when the weather was on our side too.
Experience Freedom blessed us with a huge luxury glamping lodge to rest our heads in and we couldn’t have asked for more. We have stayed with them before, but this was a massive upgrade in accommodation and gave all of us plenty of space to chill, play and sleep. Ours was a 6-person lodge, for which we used one of two pull-out sofa-beds and a double bunk bed at night.
As well as all the standard stuff – like great seating (inside and out) – we also had an oven, microwave and even a dishwasher. It properly felt like the kind of place we could have stayed at for the week. For the couple of nights we were there, it had all the things we needed for a full self catered glamping experience in a great coastal location.
In terms of what we got up to beyond the lodge, I mean we were at the seaside, so we did what we’re supposed to do:
- Made sandcastles
- Played in the arcade
- Enjoyed the fair
- Ate fish and chips
- Bought rock to bring back to everyone at home
The quick trip up north was a great reminder of how much we can do with the boys, without needing to leave the country. Although I know we’re bound to go on an overseas holiday soon, this was a great warm-up to introduce them to this kind of thing and to show myself and Hollie that they’re not little anymore and we can really push them to do so much more. So watch this space to see what’s next.
