Was with Phil, Paul, Mark, Baldy (aww poor chap), Toddy, Fi, Lou, Debs , Jyte & Inger
(The German exchange was in town. I so remember Jyte (Kruger)... she was very loud, very flirty and wore the tightest of jeans I had ever seen. She taught me how to get in such tight jeans.. lie in the bed, thread a cord through the zip end ... beathe in (you couldn't breathe afterwards) and pull.... my it worked a treat back then)
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7-7-77....this year we will have a 09-09-09.... ok small things amuse small minds lol
I wondered if anything exciting happened that day apart from me going to the fairground....
Apparently Felix Vasquez an American Municipal employee was born. Who? Yes I thought that too..... in 2005 he caught a 3 week old baby that was thrown out of a burning building from the 3rd floor .. wtg Felix.
I couldn't find anything else significant ...
So here is Top of the Pops that day ... The Jackson 5 were number 2 in the UK charts. (just watched MJs memorial thing... some very touching tributes indeed but just couldn't get my thoughts away from how his 2 sons and his dad chewed pink bubble gum all the way through it!!!! Is it a British thing and respect that you would not chew gum openly at a funeral/memorial??)
Just had a text from Annie Mouse (spooky as I mentioned weird dates in this post) ... because this year we will have a time that is 12:34:56 7/8/9......
Whitley (one of the head teachers) went mad about our uniforms.
We must wear nylon checked shirts (we had leaned to wearing white cotton cheesecloth shirts) and tights
Temp is 85 degrees in the shade... (ahh the summer of '77 a heat wave)
Had a lot of homework
The Germans are over on an exchange
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Have loved watching what I could of this Wimbledon fortnight ... and particularly enjoyed this afternoons men's final... nail biting stuff that had me wanting both to win, they were so evenly matched ... but well done Federer I was cheering you on.
I took these photos from the comfort of my Mums front room... aren't wide screen TVs fabulous lol
In 1977 I went to Wimbledon with school (23rd June)... the one and only time I had been . We spent 12 hours on a coach and I remember it being a soaring hot day and us in our school uniforms... click here for the previous post I have done on this.
It has been a pretty busy weekend starting on Friday with Teen's Prom at Old Trafford (Manchester United's football ground... I think they go there as Nobby Stiles son was one of her teachers)
We have had a pretty stressy build up the Prom (there was non of this in my day just an end of year disco in the sports hall, no fancy Prom dress just a maxi dress from Chelsea Girl and teachers walking around with torches catching folk snogging in corners lol).
Firstly the dress we had ordered didn't arrive until the Wednesday .. and that was only because I wouldn't leave the shop until they went to collect it. The fake tan got caught in the rain not long after being applied. The shoes were slightly different colour due to one being on display in the shop and the other never seeing the light of day (Mum to the rescue with cream nail varnish saved the day there ... I knew my time working in a shoe shop would benefit me one day)
However. after all the grief the end result was staggering... she looked gorgeous. As did all the Teens .. it certainly brought a tear to my eye ...
Fed the birds (a duck, sparrows, starlings, seagulls, several doves and pigeons) with the last of the loaf... watched as other folk did the same soon after ... there will be some fat birds at Butlins
Off for last full English
Sent Teens off to get trolleys... only needed 2 for the way back.
Dropped off Twilight DVD and key cards
Teens went off for their last mess around in the Splash Water World place and to buy gifts to take home
& I went for my second 3 hour total chill pill spa session.
It was fantastic because for a while I was the only person in there... and then there were only 5 of us for the rest of the 3 hours.
I spent ages lying in the hydrospa just floating in the bubbles. I swam a lot and I am pleased to report that my shoulder op in October has certainly worked .....
Read my book curled up on a huge leather sofa drinking cappuccino ...ahhhhh
The Teens were waiting for me as I emerged from the spa and we headed to the car
It was then that I realised I didn't have a map book or directions home!!!!
As it was so well sign posted on the way there I took little notice of landmarks or village names.... I think the first 30 miles were pretty zigzag across Lincolnshire but we saw some beautiful scenery.... most strikingly fields of red poppies... my Teen commented it was like a scene off the Wizard of Oz.
I knew we had to head towards Grimsby .. which we did... I am sorry folk who live in Grimsby but I know how it got its name ... my it was grim there
Everything was going swimmingly until 10 miles east of Leeds and we came to a complete halt on the M62... and it was stop start for about 50 miles until we came off the motorway for home. I hate that type of driving, it is so exhausting... one minute you are doing 70mph then you are breaking to a complete halt .. take your eyes off the road for a second and you could rear end shunt... all in all the journey home took 5 hours instead of the 3 it should have taken ... hey ho I was still chilled after 3 hours in the spa :-)
So that was it ... the holiday was at an end. We came home to blazing sunshine so I had another 3 days chilling at home before the rude awakening of being back to work.
I would like to thank very, very much the Butlins Team at Skegness for a wonderful stay and FuelMyBlog for this rare opportunity of 'product testing' it is certainly a once in lifetime offer and we all really enjoyed every minute ...
After breakfast we went to the fairground that is situated within the Butlins site. It is fairly small and has about 6 /7 rides, a simulator (or 'stimulator' as Teen called it!!!!), dodgems and a go kart track plus some bouncy things.
Most of the rides are free and run by happy Butlins people... I managed the carousel, the Rockin Tub and the 'stimulator'... which had me crying laughing
love this picture of the Teens having huge belly laughs on a kiddy ride :-D
As it was the last afternoon we decided to do what fav things we wanted to do... the Teens chose the indoor pool and I chose the beach.
I walked for 3 hours along the shoreline...camera in hand, shoes off .. feet feeling the sand and sea between my toes... bliss
There are more photos over at my flickr account do take a look ... loving the groynes...
In the way back to the apartment I went to visit Jackie the Resort Director to thank her for the lovely stay at the resort but unfortunately she was having a day off..... so thank you again we have had a ball :-)
When I got back to the apartment I found the Teens chilling in the lounge watching 'Twilight' which they had hired.......
In the evening we had yet another lovely meal and we went off to the Reds ... for the last time. The show was tremendous. It was called the 'The Big Red' where all the Red Coats performed songs from shows such as Hairspray and Moulin Rouge. Also dance routines emulating 'Diversity' who won Britain's Got Talent this year. The performance was polished and professional... in fact one zillion times better than the act before 'Off Limits' who when we walked in we thought it was a karaoke session going on .... (I have a short recording on my phone of them but I really couldn't inflict that on my readers)
As per usual I came back to the apartment whilst the Teens did their own stuff. As we all know the news about Michael Jackson broke.... but about 5 hours before he died one of my icons form the 70s also passed away .. Farrah Fawcett.
I had heard she was ill but I must confess I hadn't realised how ill she was. Being a 70s teen I was brought up on a diet of Charlie's Angels.. it was one of my 'must' watch programmes and Farrah was my favourite ... all that beautiful hair .. I so wanted to be her back then. Such a shame.
On arrival we were given a ticket which we handed into the bar
In return we got a locker key each.. not a bad exchange
The exchange got better ... in the locker was a really cozy dressing gown, a towel and some white terry towelling slippers.
All I can say is wow.... it was such a relaxing 3 hours. The Teens loved it too. We swam, we did the sauna... in fact all that was on offer. The hydro pool was my favourite... letting the hot bubbling waters give you total 'chillax' moments.
There are even free drinks on offer tea, coffee, water, sparkling drinks... and you can buy snacks and alcohol too.
I am actually thinking of booking a 2 night mini Spa break with a few friends when I celebrate my next significant birthday ... I think it will be great fun.
After 3 hours I felt so relaxed ... definitely a great tonic when you have a busy life and are in need of complete brain and body download. The cost of the 3 hour session is £20... a bargain indeed... so much so I booked another sesssion for me on Friday.
In the afternoon we decided to venture out of Butlins...(not sure if that is allowed lol) I had fully intended on driving along the coastline but instead I took a right instead of left and ended up in 'Fantasy Island'.
No nothing like the TV series but a huge rollercoaster with a market underneath it .. very bizarre.
Did I go on it I hear you ask?.... did I hellers like... do I look that daft...[don't answer that one lol]
Teens bestest ever friend said she would like a go and Teen and I simulatiously said 'I'll hold your bag!!'
Needless to say 2 Teens in a market with reasonable priced high fashion clothing = 'let's look at EVERY stall and get an outfit for tonight' ... 'oh and shoes too'... ... ...
Finally back at camp... we got ready for the evening.
We went to the 'Centre Stage' this evening. I must admit I didn't like the place as much as the Reds.. it was very busy and soooo hot in there.
The show was funny, involving kids volunteering their dads to do stupid things for prizes.
I made an early dart home this night because to be honest I was completely exhausted ... all that swimming and sea air ... the Teens were even home early too......
Butlins Handy Hint 3 ~ don't get the towel you are given in the Spa soaking wet (Teens towel seemed to have absorbed the contents of the pool).. I requested if I could get another one and was told quite definitely .. only one towel per customer and if I was given another one then the people later in the day wouldn't have one...... quite bizarre I didn't know towels were on ration.
Oh and in addition remember your own towel for the shower after you have finished.... mmm I was so busy making sure the Teens had everything I forgot mine :( doh!!!
Had one of the best nights sleep I have had in ages... that bed was sooooo comfortable.
The sun was shining and the birds were singing ... bliss
Went for breakfast
Brilliant choices again from full English, to kippers and freshly made omelette's. Also fresh juices and unlimited tea/coffee & hot chocolate, fresh fruit and yoghurt
(as I took this photos Teen said in a disapproving voice... 'well that's normal behaviour'... ahh result .. embarrass your Teen lol)
Well I mentioned yesterday that we should be so lucky to be able to take advantage of the outdoor pool .... well we were... it was scorcing hot
The Teens went to the indoor Splash Water World and I queued up for the outdoor pool (I know I queued ... & I don't 'do queing' as a rule.)
It was just like being in Spain ... as soon as the gates opened people ran to get the tables, chairs and sunloungers... oh yes I don't 'do running' either.
I strolled to a table with an umbrella, got a couple of chairs for the Teens and a sun lounger for me.
And there I sat and read for 3 hours... fantastic
The Teens popped out to see me and disappeared again ..... I went to get an iced coffee from the bar and when I came back one of the chiars had gone... cheeky !!! I made that fatal mistake I left it with nothing on for 5 minutes!!!!
At about 13.30 we all went back to the apartment to get a snack then it was out to the beach.
Back to the apartment to get changed for dinner and the evening entertainment. The Teens had sussed that when it gets later people dress up more so that was the plan that evening.... we ate later and just got to the Reds as Mikki Jay was about to start.
Ironically Mikki Jay is a Michael Jackson tribute act (if you click on the link there is a short video of him in action) and we did discuss between us whether the real Michael Jackson would sound as good as he did live when he appered in London on his tour in July..... as everyone know tragically 2 days later MJ passed away so we will never know.
[when I came back from Butlins I flicked through my 70s stuff and there was nothing about MJ in any of the 70s annuals I have .. how strange but I found a short piece in 'Video Superstars annual 1985.'
Thrilling Michael Jackson
'Unquestionably the greatest impact on the video scene, Michael Jackson's Thriller started an avalanche of spin-off. After the recordalbum came the pop video, then the Making of Thriller on a handy cassette programme'
Singing, Dancing Showman
Michael has been in show business for most of his childhood, and all of his adult life. He has always been awe-struck by Disneyland, and as if to make up for his lack of conventional childhood he's createdhis own fantasy world in the Jackson family home.
He has a popcorn making wagon, soda fountain bar, ice cream machine, and a menagerie of a Llama, three parrots, a boa constrictor and two pairs of swans. His own private wonderland.
Essentially a shy person, in interviews or large gatherings, it is only when on stage, or in front of the cameras and lights he comes into his own.
At 25 Micael Jackson still has a lot of energy to burn up, in the way he knows best - as the singing, dancing showman of the pop/soul/disco scene
Sadly he only had another 25 years before he did burn out completely but I fear that the burn out probably started to happened not long after the late 80s.... ]
Butlins Handy Hint 2 ~ when you go down to the beach at Skegness take proof you are staying at the resort or you won't get back in. We were lucky, although the Teens did come with me, it was orginally going to be me on my own... so I was going to leave everything with them and just take my camera and a bottle of water...... mmm I wonder what the result would have been if I couldn't have proved my residency?????
Stopped at Doncaster Services for sandwiches and a cup of tea (yes I took a flask.. tee hee)
Arrived at ButlinsSkegness at 14.00 (I must say the signage when getting nearer was super... as in more or less 'Butlins -> this way')
Teens were so excited (Teen took her bestest ever friend with her, unfortunately my mate Annie Mouse couldn't come with me as she couldn't get the time off work... I did suggest she 'threw a sicky' but I knew that was a big ask of anyone)
Through the gates I was directed along the 'green line' to the check in for Gold Apartments.
We were met by a very happy chappy in a yellow Butlins shirt who showed us were to park and where are apartment was.
Ooops it was on the second floor and no lifts (remember the beginning of the post... a car like a Tardis!!!)
As we couldn't get in the apartment until 14.30 we went for a quick explore... ooo an outdoor pool (we should be so lucky that it will be that hot), a huge indoor adventure pool 'Splash Water World' with tubey type slides, wave pools etc, the Skyline Pavillion, a huge under cover area with amusement machines, a bowling ally, cinema, foody things, a stage and lots more ... loads to do.
[oh Bob the Builder is pretty big at Butlins. Overheard a little lad about 6 years old who was gazing up at the statue "Mummy, I don't think that it is really the real Bob the Builder. He has just put that there so we know what he looks like when we meet him"... seems about right!]
We got back to the apartment at 15.00
I stood at the bottom of the stairs with the 3 trolleys (yes 3 trolleys!!!!) whilst the Teens ferried up the contents of the car (ahhh I knew I brought the Teens with me for some reason lol)
Wow it was gorgeous, immaculately clean ... 3 bedrooms so the Teens had a sleeping room and a dressing room, kitchen/diner, lounge area and bathroom.
Mid un pack there was a knock on the door. A lady stood there and said 'I have been asked to bring you these'
How lovely, I was and thoughtful.. thank you (oh the glitter ball is mine btw... well as 70steen the ball had to come with us lol).
Once unpacked we sat down with a cup of tea and planned our evening with the aide of the 'infunmation guide'.
There are 4 areas of Butlins for entertainment.... The Skyline Pavillion, Reds, Centre Stage & Hotshots.
We decided on the Reds for tonight.... with the Red Coat Chris Tarrant's Gunge Show, Bob Wooding First to Burst Gameshow & Music with Superfreak.
But first fooooooood!! ooops rewind first a glass of wine.... I know having a glass of white at 16.30... well I am on holiday.
Being in a Gold Apartment we ate at the Yacht Club. I must say the food and service through out the week was first class. Each night there was a soup starter, a choice of a traditional carvery, fish and chips, lasagne, a variety of themed food each day (Chinese one day, Indian, Mexican etc the next), an excellent salad bar and selection of desserts from cheesecakes to apple crumble and custard ... yummmeee.
After dinner we strolled along to the Spa and booked our 3 hour session for Wednesday morning and then into the Reds for our evening entertainment.
Teen at the club
No Hannibal Lecter had not been captured roaming around Butlins... this poor chap was about to be gunged...
I must admit I did laugh at this song.... gawd can I never get away from cardboard boxes... I guess this could be DPs new theme tune
At about 1/2 10 I decided to go back to the apartment and leave the Teens to it... that was the same for the rest of the week send Mum back home & then they could party...I let them stay out until midnight... which they loved.
So day one at Skegness was fabulous and it looks like the rest of the week will be equally as good :-)
Butlins Handy Hint 1..... I hadn't realised that the apartments were 3 storeys if I booked again I would request a ground floor one as you can sit outside you apartment in the sunshine.. plus having a dodgy back I couldn't have lifted stuff up the stairs had I not had the teens with me.
(as I too
Teen at the club
