A holiday but not in the motorhome

What to do? No motorhome, due to the mishap with the truck.  And two disappointed children, excited as they were about the accident.

First stop, and first choice of Jackson and Isabel, was a visit to Bluewater.  Yes a shopping centre.  But not to the clothes shops.  Oh no, destination toy shops and such like, plus a meal out, at Zizzi, for pizzas.  So equipped with £5 for each child, we set out to look in every toy shop, video shop, electronics shop, and book store.  After four hours I told them I had had enough, and needed to go home to rest.  But we had a good time, and the pizzas were delicious.

The next day we packed a picnic lunch, and set off in the car to visit Bletchley Park, the home of the WW2 codebreakers, and the home of the Museum of Computing.   Bletchley Park is south of Milton Keynes.  

A very long drive, there and back.  It would have been a short drive from the campsite in Milton Keynes, but no use crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. 

After 2 1/2 hours, including half an hour at an overcrowded services stop, dealing with the toll queues, no changing lanes this time, plus a very busy M25 and M1, we finally arrived at Bletchley Park. 

First stop, the Museum of Computing, looking nothing like its smart neighbour, Bletchley Park, the very smart looking museum, the one that received millions of pounds of public money to upgrade buildings and displays.  And who put up a fence and locked gates, to stop people taking a short cut to the Museum of Computing.  There is much dissension between the two establishments. 

But the Museum of Computing holds the rebuilt Colossus, the computer that broke the final German codes which ended WW2.  What a beast!  Jackson and Isabel were impressed.

And then we went to the part of the museum where there were plenty of old computers and games to try out.

When I visited the museum on a Sunday there were volunteers there to help with the computers but as it was a Thursday there was no one there.  Consequently we entered the wrong words into the BBCs and Acorns and messed them up.  Sorry about that.  Instructions, and no mouse, makes for difficulties for modern users of technology.

Then we went over to the Bletchley Park entrance where we ate our picnic lunch in the park and Jackson and Isabel had a play in the playground.  I must admit this museum is very impressive, with its reconstducted huts, immitation Bombe machine, mansion and audio visual displays.  The beautiful landscaped gardens are beautiful on a sunny day.

On the way home, we drove via Tring, in the rain, and picked up Lucy who was coming to stay for two days.

We arrived home, in time for a quick dinner, before the start of Britain's got Talent.  Not my most favourite show, but this was holiday time for the children.

After a game of Uno, which I won, it was time for bed.  Complaints from Lucy, Jackson and Isabel about it being too early for bed fell on deaf ears.  If it was time for bed for me, than it aas time for bed for them.  They were all asleep in minutes.

Breakfast in bed for all three children.  They do like this.  Signs of growing up.  Too fast. And a check for messages on telephones for Lucy and Jackson, of course.  It was then back to a game of Uno for the three of thsm.  And coffee for Walter and me.  Must get our priorities right.

They are never too old to play with Lego either.  Still a popular choice.  No matter the age.

After that it was off to the swimming pool and flumes for a few hours.  At least I no longer have to get into the water with them anymore.  I watched from afar, nice and warm and dry.

A final treat, a visit to McDonald's for some food, not good quality I know, but appreciated by our hungry three.

It turned out to be a really enjoyable holiday, and the cousins got to have time together, which would not have happened if I had taken Jackson and Isabel away in the motorhome.  So all ended well, afterall.