The last few days before we went away then, starting on the Wednesday was water fight day at Dragon Club. Complete carnage and massive fun, even if Mum did completely forget to issue me with any spare clothes and I had to come home in just my hoody.
When we got home we made flapjacks to form part of our homebaking mountain for Cornwall.
On Thursday we had the Farm visit nursery. They bought loads of cool farm animals but the thing that I was most impressed with was that I actually stroked a real life doggy!
The homebaking production line kicked into action again in the afternoon with chocolate brownies and cookies. We're well stocked up now.
And I got through to the final of the Dragon Club Top Trumps tournament...not bad eh?
So Friday then, last day at nursery and I thought i'd hide my jumper to make things interesting when Dad came to pick me up. I denied all knowledge of it but luckily someone had seen me stuffing it in a tool box and hiding the tool box in an outdoor storage bin thingy. He'd NEVER have found that without a tip off.
And it was also the last day at Dragon Club, it was Caribbean Day, think I got it a bit wrong though and wore my pirate outfit along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean day, oh well, it's a look I can carry off well enough. To celebrate the last day there were double stocks for the grown ups that ended up in a water splashing free for all....great fun. It's been a good three weeks that has flown by so quickly.
Once we got home it was full bore packing for Cornwall and a flying visit to see Slim and Tracey who were very kindly feeding Poppy for us while we were away.
So soon enough we picked Mum up from work and set off, clutching our Travel I-Spy books (which drove Dad mad). John and Sarah followed us down with Andy, we stopped for tea and everything, all proper exciting stuff.
We arrived at the Caravan and it was proper dark, excellent conditions for watching the meteor storm. I stood outside with Owen and Hannah spotting shooting stars while Mum made our beds and then we turned in for the night.....
So staurday morning then, first day of our holiday, all very exciting. We headed up to the camping field to help put Yanna and Fen's tent up and had a drive of Andy's car.
Then we headed off for the beach to soak up some sunshine and do loads of digging of course. We do love a good dig.
I went off for a walk accross the rocks with Alan and Hayley, I was in full robot monkey Ellis mode and made light work of the tricky conditions. Alan on the other hand struggled with achy feet for the rest of the week.
An intrepid group of explorers headed off for the gap in the cliffs and spotted some people enjoying a rockpool higher up in the rocks. We climbed up to have a look, only to find a big pool in a cave with daylight coming from the other side. This obviously needed exploring, so we set off accross the pool (thanks for the lift Owen) and were soon scrambling accross the rocks at the other side before we found ourselves on our own private little beach. We were all very excited to make such a discovery. We returned back to our beach base camp full of stories of our adventure.
Seeing as the weather was so good, Chrissy fired up the BBQ and we had a lovely evening with everyone outside, watchign Joshua run Chard and Oli ragged with his speedy crawling.
Of course there were hotdogs:

We very soon settled into the Cornish holiday mood:

On the Sunday it was back down the beach, we came tooled up with proper exploring gear this time for a repeat visit to the cave. I tested out my mask and snorkel:

Mum helped test the sea-worthyness of our recently aquired vessel (thanks Uncle Den):

And once Ellis was asleep in the beach tent we made another trip. This time we took nearly everyone (including the 'locals' John and Sarah who hadn't seen it before).

I must say a big thank you to John who took on the role of chief tour guide and dragged me all the way through the cave and then all around the lagoon on the other side in the dinghy.

Can't believe I missed out! Still, when you look this good on the beach, who wants to hide away in a cave?

We had a trip out to another beach on Monday, Porthcothan. It was pretty nice actually, especially at low tide when we went for am Andy powered boat trip:

And a climbing and exploring session:

Before we did a good bit of...digging!

On the way back we set off on another adventure to seek an island only accesible at low tide that Andy's mum had told him about. Armed with a ropey map, the dinghy and our flip flops we're were off, rambling through the cow fields (complete with cow pats of course). Turns out that we were going the wrong way and by the time we'd realised the tide was coming back in again. Oh well, there's always next year. We headed back to Treyarnon and went for a swim in the big rock pool.

Tuesday was the day of the compulsory visit to Padstow. We did some crabbing on the harbour wall:

Before heading out for a speedboat ride followed by pasties and ice creams.

Onto Wednesday then, big excitement....the biggest zipwire in the country apparently!

I looked a little nervous before the off:

But once I was on my way I loved it! So I was really rather pleased that they didn't take my wristband and Sarah and I got to have another go for free!

I was too little to have a go. Still, Hayley had spotted Trago Mills on the way, so we called in there on the way back. I got myself a lovely Barbie with my holiday money. She came complete with a set of stick on pink nails for me to wear:

We of course had to have a cream tea at the youth hostel, we love the warm, friendly service....

And the ice creams:

Then came what was the low point of the whole week for me. We had a bucketfull of fine rock pool specimens that got emptied by a silly woman in a case of bucket mis-identification. I was mortified and she didn't even apologise. Still, Mum and I went to the shop and spilt a whole packet of spaghetti all over the floor. That made me feel much better.

Friday was Crealy day! I was so excited to see the goats just inside the gates that I jumped their fence......and landed in a big pile of goat poo! Bit of a false start, back to the car to get changed then.

We had a good time with Kimi and Marny in all the playgrounds and what have you.

Even if the fox was a little scary at the animated chicken show:

Then it was off to the pub for tea, with massive puddings all round!
Saturday then, the end of our first week. Most if the origanl cast had gone home but Alan and Hayley were still about for a spot of rockpooling at constantine:

Andy cleared off on the Sunday once all the homebaking was gone (mum reckons she was sick of it anyway) so it was just us lot now.

We had to entertain ourselves, first up a trip to Bedruthan Steps, which we've driven past a hundred times and never been to! You can see how it got it's name from this picture:

It was pretty misty when we got there:

We had it all to ourselves, the rockpools were great:

Even if I did fall over in them:

Didn't put me off having a good old wade though (bit deep to be called a paddle I think?):

It was a really cool place to play spot the Ellis:

I'm getting all surfy these days and couldn't wait to get in the sea to do a little body surfing like Andy does:

It was such a lovely day we had lunch outside the caravan before heading down to Treyarnon beach for the afternoon. We set up camp and with a little digging had out very own island:

I played on the surf board to get my balance sorted:

While I took to the open seas and caught some lovely waves. I'm starting to get a real taste for it now.

Next up was one of the highlights of the week for me, go-karting! I'd wanted to go for years and now I was six it was game on. Dad came on with me and all the other kids, he loved it almost as much as me. I was of course really good at it and only had one little minor incident with the tyre wall:

Being only three, I had to make do with the battery cars. Psssst, don't tell Ned but they were faster than his go-kart I think:

Of course Cornwall is really all about the bikes not the surf boards. Outside the caravan with my jump:

Riding down to Gary's shop:

I've learned to skid with real conviction. Better get a standing order set up for Chain Reaction cycles tyre department:

Sunset cliff top rides:

And best of all the proper BMX track, on a proper BMX that I borrowed:

And the best thing for me about the BMX track was that I got to indulge my geology passion, here's a few of my rock samples:

The pump track was pretty good too:

I was desperate to have a go on the big track but wasn't allowed because of my stabilisers. Not happy about that, they're coming off.....
I even managed a few gate starts with Dad:

Next stop a proper race I think?

Thanks to our patient pit crew:

I rode lap after lap after lap, until the sun went down and we had to go home. On the way home we saw loads of bats flying about which we loved and topped the evening off nicely.

So that bought us up to Wednesday, and it was chucking it down. We decided the cinema was the best bet and headed off for Wadebridge. Looks like everyone else had the same idea, Toy Story 3 sold out....mum went off to get tickets for the afternoon showing.

And I threw up. Ooops. Smelly. Didn't like it. So it was a quick trip back to the caravan for a change and then back into Wadebridge for the afternoon showing.

We loved the film, really loved it.

And we were very good indeed, enjoying the particularly plush booster cushions so we could see.

No trip to Cornwall would be complete of course without Mum's pilgrimage to Polzeath. Well, we have to let her do what she wants occasionally. We hit the shops and I bought myself a rather cool skimboard with my holiday money. I'd fancied one since day two of the holiday when I saw some older kids with one:

There was a bouncy castle to be bounced of course:

Which found rather tiring as you can see!

We went back to Crealy in the afternoon. It was a fairly short visit though as I plunged into the swamp and filled my welly with manky dirty water:

When I took it off I had all manner of pond life stuck to my sock, I didn't go much on this and as it was towards the end of the holiday the spare clothes bank was running dry so we headed back. We re-grouped and hit the beach in the evening, ready to skim board:

And get some waves:

We stayed until it got dark, I skimmed and skimmed and skimmed. I fell over quite a lot too, but kept getting back up for another go.

Mum gave me a surf lesson as well, got some good ones!

We had boiled eggs for the first time too:

The jury is still out on whether we like the taste of them but we certainly enjoyed cracking the shells and dipping the soldiers.

Then it was our last day and the sun was well and truly back out. We hit the beach hard, especially me, falling off my skimboard.

We dug, we made sand castles, we surfed, we swam, we climbed:

But best of all we had ice creams:

We had a lovley day and eventually had to return to pack our things and leave, well Mum and Dad packed our things, we reclined in the sunshine:

We headed off to the pub for something to eat before we made the trip home. It was supposed to be a nice last meal of the holiday but my ham fisted, clumsy oaf of a brother managed to spill not one but two seperate pints of orange juice and lemonade all over himself and mum.

I was not very popular for some reason, anyway it was soon forgotten (by me) as I fell asleep almost straight away on the way home.

So that was that, all done and dusted.

Yes, i'd like to thank everyone who played Jenga or Nominations with us and anyone who let us drive their car around the campsite.

So we were back home, tired, bored and the washing machine was making a constant whir. We had a trip to the park on Saturday afternoon. Big news, I had my stabilisers taken off my bike...and I rode it.....for a reasonable distance! (video proof to follow) Brilliant, now i'll be allowed on the BMX track.

We also had a bit of a kick about, i've missed my football.

Sunday then, and while me and Ellis were quite happy to slump in front of the telly for the day, Mum and Dad had other ideas and forced us to go out for a walk to Snelsmore, booooring.

Turns out it wasn't that boring after all, Mum knows loads of stuff about the countryside and always has plenty of facts for us and there was also the rope swing in the trees.

Poor old Mum had to go back to work on Monday.

So we rounded up Andy and Owen and headed for the BMX track with Yanna and Fen. I had a lovely time in the playground with Yanna.

While I did lap after lap of the BMX track with the boys, Kin was brilliant at it once Melissa's back was turned.

I had to have a go though and made Dad run around the track with me for at least 6 'Last laps' before I got Andy to accompany me for one final last lap. Dad reckoned it was more tiring than riding his own bike trying to keep up with me.

Which brings us right up to Tuesday, we went out with Grandad and Anne to Bekonscot model village, we had a lovely time, even if I did nearly get my finger chopped off in a gate.

Yeah, sorry about that Ellis. It was even better than going with Mum and Dad because we got to have a go at the radio controlled boats which they're too stingy to pay for.

With all the excitement of bike day at Dragon club last week I decided I wanted to get in on the act. I decided I was going to ride to nursery! I got all the way there under my own steam (well, all except the vey last bit which is a bit of steep hill).
I scootered and Mum had no one to push along, i bet she didn't know what to do with herself.
We had a man at Dragon club that had danced in Bollywood films, he taught us some moves and we loved joining in. He said I was particularly good as well.
We had our second weekly trip to the shops for food, Dad says he isn't taking us again.....
Thursday was Superhero day at Dragon Club. I wore my power ranger suit, with a Batman t-shirt underneath and just to make sure I also had Spiderman pants. We had a milkshake making session, I found it all rather odd though as there was no chocolate? I had to make do with strawberry.
And whilke Ned was having all this fun I was feeling all poorly all morning. I had a good sleep in the afternoon though and felt much better, just as well I did as it was Speedway in the evening:

An Elite League match between the Swindon Robins and the Peterborough Panthers. I got Swindon and Sweden confused though and kept calling them Sweden instead. We had an early victory and Auntie Trish came with us in the car rather than going with the boys, this wasn't just because she had the sweets, we knew she had all the info on the Speedway so we knew what to expect when we got there.

It was madness, and thankfully not as noisy I thought it would be. We loved watching them roar round the track.
Owen and I had a look over the pit wall to see what was going on behind the scenes. Lots of engine revving but sadly no fighting between rival riders. Owen once again came through with the goods by bringing along an air horn, a wonderful device capable of producing even more noise than me. Trouble was I could only blast it when Swindon won a race, so not very often at all really.
After a couple of spectacular crashes the evening drew on a bit and poor old Mum stared to feel the cold. I lent her my snuggling blanket to keep her warm (notice i'm still in a t-shirt):

We had an Australian theme at nursery on Friday, I made a lovely boomerang that I was very proud of and learned all about kangaroo's and koala's.
And we had music day at Dragon club, we had to make up bands among ourselves. I named our band The Supersonic Band and we won the award for best stage prescence! In other words, i'm a big show off. We also had a man that bought all manner of creepy crawlies in for us to see, he had a giant millipede and a real life tarantula!
Dad dragged us off to a BMX race on saturday in Gosport. It was really rather busy but we managed to have a picnic watching some good fast racing. I really fancy a go.....so watch this space!
I was way more interested in the bouncy castle, the playground and the ice cream man:

I got a great big pillow of candy floss instead.
Then after all that we rode on the roundabout in the adjoining park, with several hundred lunatic BMX racer kids....who made it go really fast....surprised we weren't sick.
We came home and watched rubbishy saturday night gameshows...perfect.
Sunday we went to visit Grandma:

We took her for a stroll around the grounds, we saw some lovely butterflies and bumble bees:

And we had a game of football with my pop up goal. We were joind by John, an 88 year old man, he was much better at football than Dad so he was sent of to the subs bench. We drew quite a crowd of 'inmates' which was okay until he took a tumble. He was soon back up on his feet though and placing some lovely shots in the back of the net:

We got home in time for lunch and then I slumped infront of the telly for the afternoon, well the football was tiring.

I decided to 'help' mum clean the inside of the car and 'help' dad do some gardening. One thing that did bring us all together was the visit from the ice cream man.

It did indeed, it was probably the most exciting thing to happen all week!

Auntie Christine and Uncle Ian came round for a visit as well, they bought us some lovely tops and socks.

Yes, the t-shirt's that Uncle Ian got me (yes, Uncle Ian, not Auntie Christine) one had a picture of a cat on it and the other one had a rabbit and they are both wearing crowns made out of sparkly jewels!!!!! I love them to pieces and want to wear them all the time.

So after all my brilliant cycling to nursery last week I let myself down badly on Monday. I got as far as the little shop down the road and decided I was too tired. Mum was running too late to go back and get the buggy so she had to carry me on her shoulders pretty much all the way there while Ned rode my little tiny bike...ooops.

Yes Ellis, oops indeed, mum says you'll never be allowed to ride your bike to nursery again (give it a month or so and I reckon you'll be okay though).

Good old Dad though, he won't let anything so trivial put him off his masterplan. Mondays masterplan was to go to Wargrave BMX track.....i'm glad he did. It was the best track ever and we loved it.

Even I did after a little bit of Calpol and a cuddle.

Another boy of my age turned up and I raced him, then three teenagers turned up and I beat them too! I was very proud of myself and rode lap after lap after lap. Dad reckoned he'd never seen my face so red.

I think thats just about all for this week, see you in two as it's holiday time again...............

School holiday still....yay! Dragon Club is still great fun, even though Hugo has gone off to France.
And i'm still enjoying Ned and his friends visiting me at the fence, I even got a kiss from him today!
Wednesday was different though, we had Auntie Christine and Auntie Trish round to look after us instead. They really must come again, laden as they were with wondeful gifts and plenty of laughs.

They did my dalmatian face paint and took me to Melissa's party (Josh and I were the only boys there!).
And while Ned was out we went to the park so I could show off my climbing skills and show them I was okay on the aerial runway too. I must have made it look easy as they both had a go!
Then when we got home it was serious girls stuff, nail polish, foundation and lip gloss. I looked beautiful of course.
We met Mum for dinner on Thursday lunch time, so obviously it was a trip to McDonalds. I love sitting on the relaly high stools.
I think they're probably a bit too high for me to be truly at ease but I struggle on.
After that it was time to go and get new school shoes, apparently I have a really wide foot, an 'H' fitting by all accounts (whatever that means).
We've had plenty to chat about in the mornings, what with me going to nursery with Ellis before Dragon Club and I think Mum has enjoyed my company. I've also got to meet Ellis' friend Ron from the park too. One morning Mum and Ellis nearly got run over when we crossed the road, it lead me to thinking about if they'd been squashed flat. I told Mum it would be okay as Dad and I would just live together and ROCK!
The big news this week is that I was finally allowed to go out on the bikes after tea with Dad, Owen and Andy, I was rather pleased:

The whole thing kicked off in spectacular style when we picked Owen up, he got in the back of the car with me and immeadiatley cracked open the sweets. I knew it was going to be a good night. I checked out some lines to make sure I knew what I was in for:

Before doing twice as many runs as everyone else:

And having a generally brilliant time dazzling everyone with my two wheeled skills:

I didn't even fall off once. I think everyone was pretty impressed actually. Not as impressed as I was when we went to pub for coke with a straw, a flirt with the barmaid and some crisps before retiring to the terrace for a spot of stargazing. We crept in at nearly 11 o'clock, everyone else was already in bed!

Yeah, good for you Ned, I wasn't allowed to come, something to do with still having stabilisers on my bike or something. I turned on the waterworks big time before I went to watch Seaside Rescue with Mum.

We went to the woods with the Halford boys on friday afternoon, we collected sticks, climbed trees, threw stones into the lake, all the usual stuff.

And I was of course terrorised by every single dog that walked past.....

We got back to their house just in time for the ice cream man to come, what a result!

Saturday was Kin's 40th birthday, he was having a barbecue at his house. As well as all the usual brilliant stuff over there, they had a bouncy castle/pillow fight on a pole contraption too.

I had a couple of tussles but came off second best due to my overly aggressive style:

It wasn't long before Dad and Nick had got me and Abi squared up for a match:

The crowd didn't think much of it due to a distinct lack of action. We cleared off to the playhouse instead pretty sharpish:

We helped wind proceedings down by playing some chilled out piano later in the evening.

Happy birthday Kin, hope it wasn't too traumatic a day for you!

Very quiet day on Sunday indeed.

We watched the film Up, well, I fell asleep and woke up 2 hours after it had finished with a start and wanted to know where the film had gone!

Monday afternoon Dad took us shopping...to Toys R Us, I was owed a present.....

...and I have got loads of money saved up in my money box.

I went for a Disney princess hair styling set with a drier, straighteners, curling tongs, curlers and a brush. All pink. All in a lovley bag. Very me.

And I got a Bakugan starter set. Exciting stuff.

After that we went to the camping shop to show Ned all the tents they had up indoors.

It was fantastic, there were about 40 tents to hide from Dad! He couldn't keep track of us both as we darted in and out from tent to tent...he he!

Then today was Bike day at Dragon club, we had a course laid out, did some fast races and some slow races and then gave our bikes a wash.

As soon as we got there to pick him up I was trying to ride his bike away. Trouble is, it only has two wheels and is a little on the large side.........