So it was our anniversary a couple of weekends go, ten years together five years married and in this day and age something to be proud of. We always celebrate our anniversary by having a nice meal or going away and in the years before Meadow was born, have enjoyed some lovely September sun with breaks in Spain and Bulgaria. Last year we opted for Wales (as we had never been there before) and Meadow had her first stay in a hotel and a swim in the Olympic size pool in Cardiff as well as a visit to Barry Island. This year we had no plans what so ever until a friend offered us their Uncle’s caravan in Peacehaven just outside Brighton the week of our anniversary and we thought that sounded just the ticket. We got there and they weren’t joking when they said it had a sea view – the site was beautiful and overlooked the sea. After settling in we headed out for a ‘romantic’ anniversary meal in a local gastro pub- the food was gorgeous but we ended up eating our meals separately and taking it in turns to take Meadow outside to keep her amused and out of the way of the local Friday night revellers, in reality we were relieved to get back to the homely caravan and watch dvd’s!

I’ve never thought about it before but I now understand why Meadow loves caravans so much, everything in them is just perfectly sized for her like her own mini house!  She was running around till her heart was content opening and closing all the cupboard doors and playing in the miniature bathroom and getting up to no good in the tiny shower. Whilst there we tried to have a BBQ but this was a very bad idea and we ended up eating the food inside as she kept trying to touch everything… including the (hot!) disposable BBQ, the utensils, uncooked food aaand drinks! Just typical toddler behaviour really! After a quick visit to the Sealife Centre which didn’t hold Meadow’s attention at all (give it a few years and she will love it -at 16months she was more excited by running around than what was inside the tanks!) we went shopping in Brighton and she was in her element in the Disney shop quickly leaping on a huge Mickey Mouse and wrestling him to the ground, much to the staffs amusement. We ended up leaving the Disney shop with a Minnie Mouse hoover and she decided she didn’t need a bag but proceeded to use the noise making, ball churning, Dyson look-a-like up and down the shopping centre! As if the buggy wasn’t over laden enough with all her bits and pieces in it… we now had a pink light-flashing hoover too!!!

Meadow adored a Sunday morning stroll on Brighton Pier; the amusement arcade was a huge hit with all the flashing lights noises and cuddly toy vending machines! She found a car with her favourite character – Hello Kitty in it and proceeded to climb up, jump in and give kitty a huge kiss – so cute! We bought sugar mice as gifts for a few of her friends from a shop on the pier but then quickly had to leave as she decided she didn’t like the planks and seeing the sea below us! We soon settled her down with some chips on the pebbly beach but quickly realised no weekend breaks or holidays will ever be as relaxing again as they were on previous special occasions but the joy on her face when she does like things makes up for it! That huge pink hoover comes in handy at home when I want to divert her attention and get some real house work done and the shells we collected that are now in her bedroom are a reminder of our 3 day adventure!