DOLLYS UK HOLIDAY BLOG
MONDAY
I dream of the day I can escape this nine to five life and take the ultimate and unique UK Holiday road trip. I would explore everything the UK had to offer, hire a retro VW camper-van and surf the beaches of Cornwall and Devon, sail The Lake District, walk the glens of Scotland, try a spot of Glamping in Sussex and perhaps a night of luxury in a boutique hotel in London. I am a bit of a luxury and gastronomic freak so maybe sampling a few Michelin starred restaurants with rooms along the way and a stop off at River Cottage and Rick Steins Empire in Cornwall should be on the agenda. Today I will start planning, tomorrow I will think of resigning from my job ....
TUESDAY
Today my feet seem a little itchier. Watched Ade Edmonston's The Dales last night - lots of fresh air, hills, farmland and walking. A far cry from here. Will be sure to add The Yorkshire Dales to my hit list of special places to visit in the UK. Not brave enough to resign as yet. Anyway still have to hire the camper and sort that holiday itinerary. Maybe I'll resign tomorrow.....
WEDNESDAY
Just heard headliners for Latitude Festival near Southwold, Suffolk. Elbow, Jack Dee, Paul Weller. I love Paul Weller, he reminds me of my teenage mod days where I wore the parker, had the badges and danced to northern soul on a Monday night. Southwold looks like an interesting place to visit, Festival or not. I hear they have a quirky pier, great beach, some wonderful restaurants and pubs and lots of boutique shopping. But the best bit is you can tour The Adnams Brewery. Looking forward to Suffolk. Got told off today for wearing my flip flops, not professional apparently, tomorrow I'll wear my swimsuit that will get me sacked. One step closer to the extended UK Holiday!
THURSDAY
What a beautiful spring day. Days like this bring me one step closer to my UK holiday road trip.
Busy searching the camper hire companies today. Has to be an attractive retro VW. perhaps in cream with orange seats. Must find the perfect camper for the perfect trip.
FRIDAY
Too tired to think UK holiday road trips tonight. Have taken to the Crabbies Ginger wine instead!
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
The weekend saw me delving into the UK Festival Calendar. Will it be music, culture, food, literature. I couldn't believe how many festivals have sprung up over the last few years. Also surprised to see Glastonbury cancelled due to lack of portaloos (?) and The Big Chill too - two of the biggest music festivals in the UK calendar. Am currently fancying a trip to Bestival in September because of the great 80's line up of Earth Wind and Fire, Gary Newman and New Order. Actually the Isle of Wight has a number of festivals including The Isle of Wight Festival (another music festival) and its Garlic Festival so I could be there a few months... Must purchase the hot pink Hunter wellies!
MONDAY
Back to work again, still there, turning up every day but mind is obviously still on the UK holiday. Spent morning searching web for possible Camper-van hires. Really want a retro VW with shiny leather seats, comfy bed and good cooking facilities. UK Travel Boutique a choice of over 30 campers, wow! Are there any hot pink camper-vans out there? I guess I need one from Norfolk, Suffolk or Essex. Looking for the camper that offers daily hire so I can try it out first too - after all I find it difficult driving my Smart car.
TUESDAY
Found my potential camper. Going to have a look next week and I'll be one step further to putting the final touches to the ultimate UK Holiday. Have a number of types of accommodation on my list - want to try it all - a gourmet restaurant with rooms, a luxury B and B, roughing it camping, glaming it Glamping and perhaps a couple of weeks in a unique and boutique self catering apartment. Everyone is laughing at me at work, they don't think I will actually get into first gear in the camper let alone tour the UK. Written my resignation just haven't handed it to anyone yet. Maybe tomorrow.... Sound familiar?
THURSDAY
Well I thought I would never do it but I have. As from tonight my UK Holiday dream is underway. I spilt a cup of coffee all over my boss's trousers today, as I scrambled to clean it up I burst into tears. This resulted in a 2 hour chat in the board room telling her my ambitions to climb Snowdonia, glamping in a yurt, dancing at a Festival, learning to drive a campervan and all the rest of it. She tried not to laugh at me I could tell she thought I was off my rocker. But she knew I was serious and so that's it, I'm leaving in a week. I obviously wasn't that valuable, I can hear them plotting my replacement already!
SATURDAY/SUNDAY
So Dolly is going to Holiday in Britain just like Judy Dench says in the tv ad. Monday I go to look at the camper and I'm really excited. Have been listing all the glorious places to visit on Uk Travel Boutiques website. There is a fantastic tree house and a glamping in a shepherds hut in Sussex so I have already booked a ticket to the Vintage at Goodwood in July. itinerary is filling up nicely, work is forgotten and I am holidaying in Britain (even if I haven't quite left home yet)!
TUESDAY
Took a look a the camper today out in North Norfolk. It wasn't quite what I had in mind. Nice but not quite the luxurious VW old retro campervan I was expecting. Heading down to Essex tomorrow to look at some more.
THURSDAY
Found my camper and it's too cool for me! Now I need a new outfit and some Todd driving shoes so I look the part. All booked and setting off on my UK trip late next week. Surprised at actually how cheap a camper is to hire. Would be great to own a retro VW but have you seen the prices? Hiring is the way to go.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Itinerary nearly sorted. With a bit of research it's amazing how much interesting stuff there is to do in the UK whilst on holiday. Mountains of free stuff in London too. Wondering if I am going to get around all those Museums that won't cost me a penny (17 at last count). Apparently one of the most touristy things to do in London is get photographed in a red phone box! I'll need a friend that day.
TUESDAY
The Holiday in Britain is well and truly planned and I have started to pack. Need to travel light. Have founds lots of clever holiday shopping bits and pieces on UK Travel Boutique's travel shop. There is a whole Glamping shopping area and I have ordered a few gadgets and gismos for my outdoor adventure including a pair of all important glamping socks. Anyway must get on with filling my suitcase...
THURSDAY
Couple of days and I am off. The Glamping socks arrived today and have also discovered Joules wellies socks perfect for a night in a campervan, yurt, bell tent or shepherds hut or just wearing my wellies when I camp the farm I have in my itinerary! I'll miss you all, but can't wait to tour the beautiful UK. How many people get the chance to holiday the UK for months on end, that's assuming my pennies last! This will be all my savings spent but holiday memories, a few photos and postcards are worth so much more than pennies in the bank.
SATURDAY
And I am off! Currently tootling down the A140 (stopped in layby to write this of course) in the old but very beautiful camper. Vintage holiday gear on and of course the faithful flip flops. May be 9 degree out there but it's not putting me off. I'm on holiday!
SUNDAY
First stop, Glamping in Suffolk. Beautiful views over Suffolk beaches, watching the sun come up with my whistling kettle, anticipating that first morning cup of tea. Glorious... Later I'll make my first boutique holiday stop to the quirky seaside town of Southwold.
MONDAY
Southwold, I'm here! Not that I am noticed in the glamorous Easter crowds. This is a small quintessential English seaside town and I would suspect much quieter than it usually is today. But it is bustling with bank holiday fever and today I am enjoying the crowds. The town is beautiful and full of boutique independent shops. I spot a charming 1950s bus go by the high street and then spot her again by the pier. People are getting on, the curious me follows the crowds. I'm on Tillys Tours of Southwold and I was right she is a 1959 old bus built in Suffolk now running tours of Southwold. We are treated to all the highlights - The Pier, The Electric Picture Palace and The Harbour with its fishing huts selling fresh fish and chips and at the end of the harbour Coastal Voyager who offer high speed boat trips into Sole Bay. Maybe I'll save that one for tomorrow. I demount the bus feeling fabulous and glamorous which for some reason which sends me into a number of boutique clothes shops. I try to remember my budget, after all this is only my first stop on my UK holiday tour and I am living in a camper, there is only so much use I can get out of an expensive dress and heels, but its too late! Maybe I need to book myself into a boutique b and b for the night. I stumble down the high street in my new heels looking for a special place to stay!
TUESDAY
Would have loved to stay in the Restaurant with Rooms, Adnams Swan Hotel who have been welcoming Southwold visitors for over 300 years but budget wouldn't quite stretch! Considered one of the cute beach huts and even under Southwold Pier but I could do a little better than that. The Blyth Hotel as you enter Southwold was a great choice. A boutique, simple and stylish hotel with 13 bedrooms that gave me the treat I needed. Great little bar and restaurant I had lovely confit of Norfolk Duck (even though I was in Suffolk) and their own homemade strawberry cheesecake which was sublime! I then made my way to the bar for a couple of mojitos. Don't ask me what happened next, I have trouble remembering.
WEDNESDAY
After a days rest I head a little further south and stop in the picturesque town of Aldeburgh, still in Suffolk. Here the beach is pebbly and little fishing boats align the shore. Shopping and eating here is a pleasure with some quaint little boutiques and most importantly one of the most famous and popular fish and chip shops in the country. A long queues aligns the high street and I join it patiently. It was worth it, fish and chips and a cup of tea watching the sun go down on the Suffolk beach was glorious.
THURSDAY
Still in Suffolk, my little campervan tootles inland towards Saxmundham and I am looking for Snape Maltings home of the beautifulfully crafted concert hall. There is also supposed to be boutique shopping in the form of unique home gifts and furniture, clothing, galleries and antiques as well as a deli and restaurant. Again I am not disappointed. I browse the hall which hosts several festivals including a Music and Poetry festival. There is a full program of wonderful events throughout the year and although I am not here long enough to catch a performance this time around, I will be back...!
