11 minute read
Parents get lost
PGL Holidays are a must-go for any family wanting adventure at the heart of their stay. Amy Merrywest, her husband Peter and their daughter,
Penny (age 9) visited PGL Bawdsey Manor in
Suffolk and pushed themselves out of their comfort zones for three days of exhilaration.
PGL offers a whole host of different style breaks – including school clubs and kid’s activity holidays. When we visited last summer, the atmosphere on-site was nothing short of wild, so it was easy to see why the children were visibly carefree and full of joy.
We started our trip on a Friday and after an easy journey through glorious countryside, we were greeted by friendly smiles, fun music and jolly banter. Our holiday team were assigned to us and from the get-go, they were the life and soul of our stay!
Bawdsey Manor is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty near Woodbridge on the Deben estuary. There are more than 140 acres of grounds to explore, including a picturesque beach with panoramic views along the coastline. Bawdsey Manor is a grade II listed Victorian mansion built in a range of styles, surrounded by historic parklands and beautiful gardens.
Built in 1886, the manor was originally owned by Sir Cuthbert and Lady Quilter, and after a brief requisition by the Devonshire Regiment during World War I, it was later acquired by the RAF as a Radar Station.
Our accommodation for the three-night summer stay was in the barracks – a dormitory-style family room, steeped in school-trip nostalgia. We were assigned a group of about 15 people and we stayed together for our activities throughout the whole holiday. This was a great way to make new friends (for both the kids and the adults) and it gave the experience a real sense of camaraderie.
Did you know?
10:30pm – Bedtime. Our room was really quiet and that was probably because everyone was so worn out that they all went to bed early.
Penny’s PGL diary Friday 2pm – We arrived early afternoon, got settled in, spent time unpacking and then explored the grounds until dinner time. 7:30pm – Evening activities. These were so much fun! We played a game where everybody was split into four teams of about 20 people in each. We had to use our bodies and any object we had on us to make the longest connecting line across the games courts. Everybody instantly bonded and it was then that we made friends that we stayed with throughout the whole holiday. We are still in touch now. We also completed a task within our group where we were given lots of random objects and a filled water balloon. We were asked to use as many of our random objects as we wanted to build protection around the balloon. The idea was that at the end, the water balloon was dropped and if it didn’t break you were the winner. We didn’t win. We were pretty bad at that game! Saturday 7am – Time to get up. Mum, Dad and I all felt great and I was very excited to start the day. 9am – Beach Walk. This was a gorgeous walk all around Bawdsey Manor. We learned all about the history of the building and played the Sly Fox game while we walked around. Lots of funny songs were encouraged and we even saw a seal in the bay. 10:30am – Trapeze. This was really high (6m/19.5ft) and each person was given a detailed safety briefing. All participants were encouraged to do the activity, but there was no pressure if we weren’t keen. There were some families with SEN children and they were really pleased that their kids had real autonomy over their decisions and boundaries. My mum decided not to go on this and she was pleased to not be pressured. Dad and I did it and it was amazing. The instructors were great with nerves and got the best from everyone. We had to climb to the top platform on the trapeze and then stand up on the wooden platform. We then had to jump off the platform and touch the giant ball before we fell. All on ropes and harnesses. We had great fun and everyone felt super proud.
12pm – Lunch. All food was always simple, canteen style. Mum was impressed by the clear diagrams on the whiteboard that detailed all the allergens in the foods. There was always something that I wanted to eat and they had most bases covered for fussy eaters.
1:30pm – Group Challenges. My whole family loved this. We had a selection of three different challenges. Mum said they were a bit like a rustic version of the Crystal Maze. Brain teasers that got us all working together and thinking. The leaders encouraged us kids to speak up and take part, as well as take charge, too. One example: there was a platform with a roped-off area around it. On the platform was a wooden log. We were given two ropes and we had to get the wooden log off the inside platform, and out of the roped-off surrounding area without dropping it. I was really pleased as it was my idea that actually worked and we managed to complete the challenge.
3pm – Abseiling. This was another activity that Mum wasn’t keen on doing, but Dad and I took part. I like the fact that the staff were helping us and encouraging us to do it. It felt great when I got to the top, plus we got to have lots of turns.
7:30pm – Evening activities. This time we had a treasure hunt. Mum said: “This activity mainly enthused the men and kids to bring out their competitive side and us mums drank some Prosecco at the bar! Lots of fun.”
10:30pm – Went to bed for another silent night’s sleep in our bunks.
Sunday 9am – Archery. Finally, a ‘scary’ activity that Mum took part in – and she absolutely loved it. The instructors made it clear that safety was very important. Each person took turns shooting at the targets. Mum’s shooting was pretty good!
10:30am – Climbing. This was similar to abseiling in that the pulley rope system slowly lowered the climbers back down. Each person could climb as high as they wanted on the huge wall and then lowered themselves down in abseiling style. Because I had already done abseiling one day one, I wasn’t scared at all. I even jumped off and down the climbing wall James Bond-style!
1:30pm – Rifle
range. We had lots of safety briefings and had lots of turns to perfect our techniques. Mum and I got a bullseye and we loved this experience. We even learnt how to do a six-gun salute, which was very hard to get right. We all wore goggles and had to remain seated at all times. The instructors were great with showing us how to improve.
3pm – Giant Swing. This was so high! We were clipped into a harness and bolted to a big metal bar, two or three people at a time. The bar was on two ropes like a swing and the rest of the group was responsible for pulling back the swing to the desired launch height using a long pulley rope. Once the desired height was reached, the people on the swing would pull the release cord and we screamed with delight as they swung us through the air.
7:30pm – Evening activities. We did some crepe-making activities and then we sang songs, drank hot chocolate and ate marshmallows around the campfire. There were lots of hilarious songs and we were really belly laughing.
Monday 9am – Raft building. This was brilliant! We learnt how to make a raft with six barrels, six ropes and two logs. It was sturdy and we felt very proud of what we had managed to build. We then went on the river to try it out, but we didn’t distribute our weight properly (in our excited haste to get on the thing) so we tipped over. Everyone fell in the lake and that kind of made a great ending to the week. It was warm and most people ended up staying in for a relaxing dip! 10:30am – Fencing. Our family found this a bit boring. We played some fun warm-up games, but most people ended this one early. Not the best activity, but Mum said it wins some points for being original because none of us had ever tried fencing before!
12:30am – We had lunch and went home. Lots of lovely goodbyes, we made lifelong friends and the staff were really kind. A very cheery goodbye from them!
PGL 2023 Family Adventures are now open for bookings
Did you hear? We’re dropping the price of our Family Adventure Holidays in 2023 by 25%?
Same BIG adventures, new LOWER prices! We’re doing our best to make the PGL magic more affordable for everyone. Plus, to help you spread the cost, all you have to pay at booking is £45pp deposit - with the final balance payable 12 weeks before you travel. Family breaks start from just £159pp.
At PGL, we’re the experts when it comes to adventure. That’s why so many families across the UK choose us when booking a family adventure holiday. Choose from a 2, 3 or 4 night family adventure holiday at two of our fantastic UK locations and experience endless thrills and activities for the whole family to enjoy!
Each of our centres has an individual personality and setting, made extra special by our awesome staff members, who are there every step of your family adventure holiday.
Our family adventure holidays are all-inclusive, meaning that when you book with PGL, ensuite accommodation, 3 meals a day, a full programme of daytime activities and evening entertainment are all included in the price.
For more information or to book, visit pgl.co.uk or call 0333 321 2114.
How to spot chickenpox
Chickenpox is a common children’s illness but you can get it at any age. The main symptom is a spotty and itchy rash on the body
The stages of chickenpox
1. Spots appear on the body, they may spread or they may stay in one area 2. Spots then start to become blisters that are filled with fluid - they are very itchy and can burst 3. The spots scab over. When you have chickenpox, you may also get a temperature and generally feel unwell. This can make children feel quite miserable
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
When to speak to a healthcare professional?
Speak to your GP if you are concerned about your child or if you are not sure if they have chickenpox. Seek immediate advice from 111 if • The skin around the blisters is red, hot and painful • Your child is dehydrated • You might have a newborn baby with chickenpox • Symptoms suddenly get worse • You are pregnant and have not had chickenpox before, or have a weakened immune system and have been near someone with chickenpox
How to treat chickenpox
Piriton can help relieve the itchy rash of chickenpox but there are other things you can do to help make your child more comfortable: • Paracetamol can help relieve pain and fever. Speak to your doctor before giving ibuprofen as it may cause a serious skin infection • Get your child to drink plenty • Help them stop scratching with gloves or by cutting fingernails • Dress them in loose clothes • Bathe them in a cool bath – make sure you pat them dry rather than rub
What do I do about childcare/ school?
Chickenpox is infectious from 2 days before the spots appear until they have all scabbed over – this is usually about 5 days after spots appear. You should keep your child away from childcare or school until the spots have all scabbed over.
What do I do if I get chickenpox when pregnant?
It is rare to get chickenpox when pregnant as most people get it during childhood. If you do get chickenpox while pregnant it can cause the baby to be ill when it’s born. Seek advise from 111 if you are pregnant, not had chickenpox before and have been around someone with it.
