Wet Wet Wet - Graeme Urwin

Over the month of August, the family had a bit of holiday.

For the first week, we decided to do the usual UK bit with my mam & dad in Scarborough, but were not too impressed with the weather forecast.

However, off we went, staying in a small hotel on the south bay. My daughter Charlotte (Chalk) had her friend Bethany (Bat) to accompany us, and they were very excited as the car got near to Whitby. My wife Aly (Paper) and I (Wizard) were looking forward to a great break, and we started by having Fish n' Chips in Whitby - fantastic.

We also did the open top bus tour, and jolly good it was, with lots of interesting facts.

By the way it rained.

Then off to Scarborough. My parents go to the Spa there for the music, and are happy to go to 2 concerts a day and just chill.

Our job of course was to entertain Chalk & Bat. It went something like this - breakfast - beach - simulator - amusements - swimming - lunch - simulator - ride on the donkeys - beach - simulator - back to the Hotel - shower - say hello to parents - out to dinner - simulator.

I have to say it was still raining.

Now I've mentioned the simulator a few times here - are you with me? It's a machine you sit in and you feel like you are on a roller coaster or whatever. The kids absolutely loved it, and to be honest we did too.

We also went to Bridlington, and there they had an amusement park with rides as well as a huge 'London Eye' type wheel. It was very high, but we did go on it, saying a prayer while the capsule swung in the wind over 240 feet up. Good views!

The rain kept coming.

We did get some sun it must be said, and we had a weekend at home before we set off for the second week of holiday.

The second week was me combining business with pleasure. I had a new client to see in North Wales, and on the Monday off we went.

I have to report it was raining.

The client meeting was Tuesday night, and we stayed in a lovely Hotel near Caernarvon. The next morning we visited Port Merion, an amazing creation by an individual who wanted to build a 'fantasy' village. Those of us over 50 may remember the series The Prisoner from the late 60's - I am not a number!

We stayed for many hours as it is really a most incredible place built in the Italian style. The chap who built it spent 50 years of his life creating it, and died in his 90's in the late 70's.

Unlike Italy, we were rained on.

Then off to Alton Towers - no not the bit with rollercoasters, but Splashworld. This involved guess what? Lots of water! Chalk dragged me in and we spent over 3 hours getting totally soaked on slides and all sorts of things. Great fun!

Our tour then took us to Kent for me to see another client (who I have known for 20 years), and we stayed a few days seeing old friends and also went to see Mamma Mia the movie. What good fun! If you haven't seen it, go!

The good thing 'daan saath' though was we had very little rain, it was even gloriously sunny on the Saturday. Paper was very happy sunbathing in Broadstairs on the beach, and little Chalk did her favourite thing - swimming!

All too soon it was over, and the journey back was ok. No rain

Oh well, back to the real world.