Centerparcs

We just came back from a mid-week break at Centerparcs with my Mum. What a brilliant concept: a huge glass doomed plaza housing a swimming pool with loads of water slides sorrounded by chalets in the middle of a forest. The location was very different from the other ones I have been too: much much hillier. In a way, this was a bonus too.

They fitted my bike with a towable two seat buggy. After cycling up to the plaza every day with two kids in tow I am feeling rather fit...Now I just have to find something else to maintain my current level of fitness!

There were a lot of restaurants too, including a pancake house and Huck's grill. Huck's was outfitted with a soft section for toddlers; children's play-gym attached and a suite of iMac G5s. The G5s were not, as a niavely assumed when I first saw them, so the parents can check their email. Rather, they were all running games like The Incredibles and Cars to further entertain the kids. Needless to say we returned.

Judgement Day is coming, the answering service is calling back

Not less than a couple of hours after I touched down at Gatwick aiport the phone rang. "Must be my Mum" I thought. Imagine my shock when the answering service starts up at the other end. That's right, no longer do companies have the decency to get someone to call you to sell you something, now they just get a machine to do it. At least I hope so, else the answering services have become self-aware and they will soon take over the internet and then the world judgement day style.

What I can't understand though, is how they can have got a wrong number. No I am not Mr James, and no I have never had an account with Nothern Rock (nor has any one else who has ever lived in this property AFAIK). So why on earth does this machine keep calling up?

Answers on a postcard. (Or use the comments section if you prefer.)

It's been a while

Got caught up in job hunting so missed the chance to blog about a lot of cool things we did in St Lucia.

Highlights in a nutshell:

Bay gardens beach "resort". They have really made the most out of what is quite a small lot. Our patio opened out onto the pool - 10 steps and you are in. The other side of the pool was Rodney Bay which is one of the best beaches I have been too. The only downside was the mix-up over the breakfast plan, they ended up double charging us. Simple solution, we cancelled the remaining days and did not buy anything else from them the rest of the stay.

Brig Unicorn. Krista and Sean kindly looked after baby while the four of us cruised down the West coast to Soufriere. Lots of Hydrogen Sulphide (think rotten eggs) and even a Caldera (collapsed volcano). Swinging on the rope on the way back was great, I managed to free dive to the bottom to extract some seaweed to smother Mer's hair in. I did my "Treasure Island" moment at Marigot Bay where we left a bag a few days earlier. Dived over the side; swam ashore (alas no bag to be found) and swam back and was helped aboard just as the ship completed its turn. Most Satisfying. The kids loved the roping swinging and the huge water fight at the end.

Coconut Bay. Wow. The last time we went all-inclusive was the honeymoon, so we kind of knew what to expect. However, this time we were at a place set up for kids rather than couples. Great pool (including pool bar), a lazy river and two water slides kept the kids occupied all day long. Plus a kids club session in the morning and afternoon if mom or dad needs a break.

Who needs a stair climber when you are climbing up real steps all afternoon? Even though they were not very long the slides were quite satisfying for adults too: the secret being the huge amount of water being pumped down them - it has to be the most water I have ever seen on any water slide period.

The food was fantastic, two themed restaurants, a pool grill open nearly all day and then a buffet which changed enough to keep things interesting. The last night the Italian changed the menu and we had lamb which was exquisite. All-in-all a fantastic time, and makes we wonder why Sandals (currently offering 50% off) does not convert one of its three St Lucia locations to "Beaches" so they can get a slice of the family market.