Half term in Ceredigion

Half term is approaching, and Mole’s usual two full days at preschool that I’ve come to know and love will be no more. I’ve already gotten very used to the respite and the exclusive Hedgehog time that preschool provides, and it’s only been seven weeks of term.

So to off-set this, in short, we are decamping to Wales for the week. By ‘we’ I mean Mole, Hedgehog and I. We are going to stay with Granny Purple Hair who lives in Ceredigion. Mr M&H has to work, but at least he gets to keep the car.

We shall be getting the train, which I am already excited about. It’s a four hour journey from Milton Keynes to Aberystwyth, with one change at Birmingham, which is doable with a buggy and some light packing.

By ‘light packing’ I’m thinking…

1. One small rucsac each, which they can carry with their choice of toys in.

2. My own shoulder strap weekend bag.

3. Hedgehog’s nappy bag.

4. One large canvas bag with three days worth of clothes for Mole and Hedgehog.

5. Picnic bag for the train ride, including colouring books, crayons, games etc.

Granny purple hair is providing the rest.

I’m thinking there will be some pretty awesome views once we get to the Welsh border, plus being able to walk around and get coffee from the restaurant car will definitely help. I only hope to god that the train is not busy. The journey is timed to avoid the rush hour, and we’re not going anywhere near London, but still, I’ve got my fingers crossed. Mole and Hedgehog + bags + buggy in a crowded train = just about the most stressful scenario I can think of.

And what will we be doing in Ceredigion when we get there? Relaxing with wine and sitting in the garden or by the fire I expect. I’ve been reading ‘The Little Book Of Hygge’ lately, which is all about the Danish art of feeling good, and seems to be central to how the Danes survive the long harsh Winters. The main ingredients that I can make out are candles, blankets, a fire, hot drinks, good food and good company. Curling up with a book in a cosy corner with a glass of wine would definitely be hygge. This all sounds perfect for Autumnal living in Wales.

There is a MASSIVE trampoline in Granny Purple Hair’s garden, and I mean massive. It’s quite old and doesn’t have any safety net, so you need to have a couple of adults stand either side of it, ready to do a goal dive and catch a flying Mole or Hedgehog if they catapult off it, but apart from that its fine.

Then there are the beaches, within four miles of Granny Purple Hair’s house. Being October, it’s not exactly going to be swimming weather, but there should be some good beach walks to be had, and I wouldn’t put it past Mole to strip off regardless. Last time we came to stay, she played a game of cat and mouse with the waves, with her naked bottom to the wind, laughing ecstatically and getting sand EVERYWHERE, before sidling up to me and saying in a small voice “Mummy, I’m a little bit cold”.

Looking up local stuff to do on daysoutwiththekids, there are plenty of animal farms, indoor things like The National Wool Museum, and the swimming dome at Bluestone resort, which you can go to for the day. It has a wave machine, a jungle river and a pirate ship. I can’t tell how keen Granny Purple Hair is going to be with the dome yet, she’s either going to go round the jungle river with them 100 times, or stay in the café with a hot chocolate.

In the evenings, there will be candles, blankets, a fire, hot drinks, good food and good company. The aim is to knacker out Mole and Hedgehog during the day, so we can enjoy some hygge at night.

So whatever you do this half term, make sure you get some hygge, Danish style. It’s already working for me.