Warm boot recommendations please

[beach chick]

Romney Marsh is gorgeous, has some very pretty villages, ancient churches, nice pubs etc. Dymchurch itself - well, good beach, funfair, amusement arcades, zillions of fish & chip shops, donkey rides on the beach, candyfloss, etc etc etc. I have to say it lacks sophistication!! Hythe is a nice little town. lots of good 'attractions' around - Dover Castle, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Howletts Zoo near Canterbury, a Rare Breeds farm with fab adventure trails and stuff for kids - I could go on.

let me know what you're looking for, like to do, etc etc!

[Cinnamon]

Apart from Centerparcs our last UK holiday was about 13 years ago, to Cornwall & it was lovely.

 

I do realise that we are in a happy & lucky posistion to be able to go away for 2 weeks overseas every year.

Our business means that unless we actually go away (far,far away) Brian never actually stops working.If we were in the Uk, he would leave his phone on "just in case"

He works really hard & needs a couple of weeks break a year just to unwind & chill out. And that means going abroad

 

The weather is a big factor too.We are both sun lovers & the thought of 2 weeks almost guaranteed sun is very tempting.

Its cheaper to eat out as well.In Kos we ate out every night & it was never over £45 for the 4 of us,3 courses & lots of wine

 

Please don't think that I don't care about my girls education because I have taken them out of school for a few days..It is of huge importance to me & if my girls were not so responsible about catching up then maybe I wouldn't have taken them out.

Our school allows 2 school weeks a year for holidays,but as I said before this year is the last one for us as it will be exam time coming up soon.

[BeckyBoo]

Only just caught up with this one and haven't read EVERY comment so may well be repeating something here, I was never allowed a day off and I certainly didn't agree with taking children out during term time. Until last year, when my eldest (the only one at school yet) lost about two weeks of school in the year due to inset days, half days when it was too hot, half days when it was too cold, when it was snowy, when it was icy, often these were closures done at less that a days notice. So if it's alright for them to miss out because the teachers say so then my opinion is that it's alright if you say so. You're the parent, provided they're not missing crucial exams, or really important stuff, family time is equally as important as academic time. Christmas is fun at school altho you're right, they don't learn much, but spending time with family, proper time teaaches them about relationships, family dynamics, consideration for others, generosity, sharing, the social skillls list gos on and on.

 

I hope you have a fantastic time, and your children too.

Sorry for the rant, I got really fed up last year with all the closures (which I can manage cos I work nights) but many other mums couldn't and ended up with real child care issues, yet I got frowned at for Georgia missing one day to go on her summer holiday.

 

Mrs Bertie

[Egluntyne]

I certainly didn't agree with taking children out during term time. Until last year, when my eldest (the only one at school yet) lost about two weeks of school in the year due to inset days, half days when it was too hot, half days when it was too cold, when it was snowy, when it was icy, often these were closures done at less that a days notice. So if it's alright for them to miss out because the teachers say so then my opinion is that it's alright if you say so.

Mrs Bertie

 

Those are good points Mrs B....and I must admit I hadn't considered them.

[Sheilaz]

...Those who disagree must be in the luxurious position of being able to a) take holidays during the school holidays and/or b) able to afford to go away at these times.

 

 

I used to make sweeping generalisations on forums a lot too (but I don't do it so much any more)......

 

Was it something I said? You're a good man, Dan. It's a shame to make assumptions about other people, each life is more complex than what we see on the surface, so how can we judge?

 

My earlier post simply answered the personal question & encouraged Jo to go ahead with what she had booked without worrying, and I still say enjoy yourself Jo!

However, I didn't address the general point this raised, it's such a complex subject.

Despite my earlier post, I largely agree with, and admire, the principled Claret & others stance, and I this is mostly what I abide by & would like to see in others.

As others have said, it is disruptive to the other children's lessons & activities (Poor Harry & Jules!) & must be a nightmare for the teachers with pupils coming & going. Certainly writing & obtaining permission is better than just being off.

 

But, even money aside, every case is different. We simply didn't have holidays unless it was 3 days over a Bank Holiday because we couldn't leave our own business.

 

Those against taking out in term, remember some parents may work in an area which means they can't both take school holidays off ever, if their job is at it's busiest in school holidays and reliant on them.

I made sure that my 1st three never missed a minute unless very ill. Then DD1 was acutely ill for 3 weeks and has never understood maths since.

Later, my second son was chronically ill and received no schooling at all after 14! (That's another story, not for here!)

I now wonder why I had sweated so much for them to be model attendees, I'd rather have had some planned holidays than have them off ill!

 

Now with our 4th & youngest at school maybe we have mellowed through experience & also opportunity.

When my brother invited us to see his opera (he had done all designs & co-developed the overall concept) in Austria we took both girls out of school for 2 days, then again to Munich the following year. They were 5 & 13 and they were certainly educational trips, plus DD1 was studying German! Primary school were very encouraging & the teacher lent Barnaby Bear so he could come back & tell the class about his adventures. We took photos of Barnaby Bear at the Opera, outside the chiming clock in Innsbruck, and of course at the teddy bear museum.

Now, we could have gone as a couple and imposed our children on someone else while we went & had fun (nothing against this for others, it just wouldn't have been easy to do here). Or, we could have all not seen my brother's work, which would have been a missed opportunity.

I also understand Cinnamon's view.

The only note that saddens me (elsewhere, not here) is when people talk about taking a holiday as if it's a right. It's not, we could go our lives without a holiday, it's what you make of every day that's important. It'd be sad to be unhappy for 50 weeks with everything relying on 2 weeks holiday.

 

And, finally, a tiny part of me loathes some aspects of formal education, (but good teachers are the salt of the earth) I'd like to see a flexible system, but that's another story too!

 

So, I agree with everyone really.

 

PS...Just read others, good point Bron...and Mrs. Bertie, I'd forgotten those points...2 days for Buncefield explosion, even though 4 miles away they'd have been safer in school than roaming around the town 2 days for a speck of snow that did happen & another 2 for some that didn't , another because of asbestos being removed next door....

Edited June 22, 2007 by Guest

[The Dogmother]

I have to say, that although Rosie goes to an excellent school, it does tend to close at the drop of a hat as far as weather is concerned. This does annoy me, because most of the teachers and pupils live within walking distance and can easily get to school. As a working parent, it is impossible for me to find cover to look after Rosie at such short notice. We had a letter at the beginning of last week telling me that they'd decided to have an inset day on Monday and close the school because 'the term is such a long one'!!! That really got my goat. This isn't a rant at teachers at all (Annie and the others on this forum), but at the example that something like that sets to the children about working hard and turning up to school/work.

[AnnieP]

We had a letter at the beginning of last week telling me that they'd decided to have an inset day on Monday and close the school because 'the term is such a long one'!!!

 

For your information, not sure how they can do that Clare! Every school has 5 INSET days a year. Period. These dates are set now for the following academic year and submitted to the County for approval. Ours were set about 5 weeks ago for next year. You can't just add them on when you feel like it!

 

Sounds like they are being a bit cheeky to me.... ask for their dates!

[Charlottechicken]

The only note that saddens me (elsewhere, not here) is when people talk about taking a holiday as if it's a right. It's not, we could go our lives without a holiday, it's what you make of every day that's important. It'd be sad to be unhappy for 50 weeks with everything relying on 2 weeks holiday.

 

Thank you for posting this Sheila, and others who have mentioned not having (foreign) holidays.

 

You can hear a pin drop in my office when I go back to work after a weeks leave and someone will ask 'where did you go?' (lack of suntan usually gives me away). 'Nowhere' is my usual reply, and there is an awkward silence.

 

We always stayed with my grandparents for my holidays, who incidentally never had what you would call a holiday, and they were wonderful times! Up until I read this thread I still felt 'odd' at not having (or in fact wanting) a foreign holiday, now I don't feel so strange

[Cinnamon]

This topic has really got me thinking.

Maybe I have my priorities wrong but our family holidays are a HUGE part of our lives.We have been to some wonderful places, seen some fantastic sights & spent some great times together.

We work hard, especially Brian who is a manual worker, & having your own business is not easy.When you are on holiday there is no money coming in

 

Wasn't there some stuff in the news a year or so ago about the travel companies fixing prices to be more expensive during holiday times.Weren't the Government supposed to be doing something about that - making the costs more even throughout the year?

 

What happened about that then?

[Charlottechicken]

This topic has really got me thinking.

Maybe I have my priorities wrong but our family holidays are a HUGE part of our lives.We have been to some wonderful places, seen some fantastic sights & spent some great times together.

We work hard, especially Brian who is a manual worker, & having your own business is not easy.When you are on holiday there is no money coming in

 

If your holidays work for you Sarah then I don't think you have your priorities wrong at all. Different things suit different people at different stages in their lives.

 

I grew up not going abroad, then never had enough money when I started work to go away with friends, now have grown into a totally different way of using my leave. It suits me, but would not suit others.

 

Horses for courses and all that

[Lesley-Jean]

What a fascinating range of opinions on this topic.

 

When I was a school girl (yes, I know, many years ago - the permissive 60s) no one ever look holidays during term time. When my children were at school (they're now in their early 30s) taking time off during term time was still a rarety. I worked in a secondary school (as support staff) for 18 years and we were NOT allowed to take any annual leave during term time.

 

How things have changed

[Cinnamon]

[soapbox]

[i would suggest that foreign holidays do not automatically guarantee cultural enlightenment.

 

I 100% agree with you Dan.

We don't do culture.We don't go to Museums when we are away, we simply see what the Island we are on has to offer.

This is usually beaches, a water park, lemon & olive groves & wonderful markets with unusual produce. Brian & Cleo go fishing while Devon & I laze by the pool. Its all very simple stuff.

Thats what we enjoy doing & I wouldn't suggest for one moment that my children having had foreign holidays are more cultured than any other child (apart from them knowing basic hello/goodbye/thank you/cheers in various languages).

Yes, we could do it here, but chances are Brians phone would ring/it would rain/we would run out of money quickly

 

The holiday for us is to chill out, chat over long meals outside in the evening warmth,drive to pretty mountain villages (& usually get horribly lost!) & most of all spend time together away from the pressures of work that,as self employed people,we inevitably bring into the home however hard we may try not to.

 

Florida wouldn't be for us....not our scene at all.....but I can see how it would appeal to some.

 

Every time Brian comes home exhausted after another 14 hour day I tell myself that it will be OK - we have 2 weeks of NOTHING to look forward to in the sun, soon

 

And I would be as fed up as Debs too

[Hellcat]

Dan, have a care, I never make sweeping generalisations

 

I feel I have upset some folks with my comments.

 

I have taken the children out of school before for various reasons and would do so again as long as it did not clash with exams. I really do believe that children will learn more about life and the value of family time during these moments than they will while at school.

 

For example, when we last went to Disneyland Paris, both the 7 and 4 year old could say good morning, good afternoon, excuse me, please, thank you and a dozen other helpful phrases in french by the end of the week (and still can remember them now). They would not have learned that in school the first week of term!

 

As for Dans comment on the educational value of Sea World, I learned masses about the ecology of the Florida everglades, and the life cycle of the manatee whilst there, making sure I never took a hover boat ride on the everglades. I learned plenty about ecology and the variety of flora and fauna 'under the sea'.

 

Mostly my holidays are taken in Wales, where we have a family holiday home. Its cheap and cheerful and we can paddle in the sea and build sandcastles on the beach. When you havent seen your daddy for 5 months its kind of nice to be able to spend time with him BEFORE school holidays...

[The Dogmother]

We had a letter at the beginning of last week telling me that they'd decided to have an inset day on Monday and close the school because 'the term is such a long one'!!!

 

For your information, not sure how they can do that Clare! Every school has 5 INSET days a year. Period. These dates are set now for the following academic year and submitted to the County for approval. Ours were set about 5 weeks ago for next year. You can't just add them on when you feel like it!

 

Sounds like they are being a bit cheeky to me.... ask for their dates!

 

Thnaks Hon, I might just do that! It was the wording that got me though - I wish that I could just take a day off if I thought that the week seemed too long

[AnnieP]

This is a brilliant thread, as always, discussed with sense and care.

 

From a school's point of view, (I haven't got children of my own), I dislike it when children are absent for holidays during term time, because when they return it is the me who has to run around supplying missed work, tutoring them in my (and their) breaktimes on stuff they haven't understood, doing admin tasks including getting them all the missed letters and passing on info they have missed in assemblies and then trying to fit them into the tasks which may have been set up in their absence.

 

Holidays at the start of Sept are the worst for me: These children miss out on the first few crucial days when they are getting to know their new teacher, bonding with them and other children, who they maybe haven't seen for 6 weeks and new additions and learning the rules and routines of the classroom. That's also the time when new friendships are formed, when seating arrangements are decided, informal tests done to put the children in working groups, new books given out, expectations for each subject gone through, projects started etc. Children who arrive a week later really miss out in my opinion, and often waft around like lost souls for quite a while as they don't know what to do.

 

I cannot comment on whether the children learn more or not in school or on a holiday: That's entirely up to how the parents "do" thier holidays, isn't it? I'm not even sure if holidays should be about learning anyway.. as Sarah says, the only time I ever want a holiday, its to vegetate....

 

I guess its just up to every peson to prioritise what is most important for their family at that time. I'm just saying, schools and teachers generally disapprove of it, and am trying to explain why.

 

 

re going abroad. As a child, I was extremely fortunate and used to go abroad every year with my parents, but to be honest, enjoyed far more the annual week I had on the Norfolk broads with my Aunt . The best family holiday we ever had was in 1977 (Silver Jubilee year) when we decided to be patriotic and have a week in London. It certainly cost as much as going abroad, but it was awesome! I remember it all.

 

Nowadays, we never do holidays: too many animals to think about and as OH used to travel so much, he hates airports and planes and hotels with a passion... so we holiday at home. I am also rather proud of our reduced carbon footprint here. I'm not so santimonious however to turn down a return to Barbados if anyone's offering though....

 

Last year we had a week just walking and cycling in our own area. We discovered places we had never been to, chilled out and had a great time. Funny how all the excursions had a pub en route though.

 

OH too has a job where he is on call every hour of the day, weekends included. At holiday times the phone is switched off and left at home, and his laptop unplugged and hidden . Simple.

[Cinnamon]

Nowadays, we never do holidays: too many animals to think about and as OH used to travel so much, he hates airports and planes and hotels with a passion... so we holiday at home. I am also rather proud of our reduced carbon footprint here. I'm not so santimonious however to turn down a return to Barbados if anyone's offering though....

 

 

Unfortunately I am with him there.

I get horribly stressed before a holiday just worrying about things - will our flight be delayed, will the Hotel be OK, have I packed enough SPF30 ?

But every time we go I get a little better.

When we do arrive I take a good 3 days to wind down & begin to enjoy myself.

This year I was sick while waiting for the coach to come to take us to the Airport for the journey home - just nerves I guess.

 

But, it is all worth it to spend time with Brian & the girls in lovely weather, no cooking for 2 weeks, ditto laundry & housework

 

[Egluntyne]

Him Indoors won't fly......I am seasick and can't abide ferries so our carbon footprint in terms of travel is quite small.

[Charlottechicken]

Him Indoors won't fly......I am seasick and can't abide ferries so our carbon footprint in terms of travel is quite small.

 

The new Government carbon footprint site appears to be broken at the moment due to overwhelming demand but it is available through direct gov if you want to try it in the near future!

[One Man Banned]

well I can't add too much to this other than a mixed view as I get older. Perhaps it should fit around each and everyone's individual circumstances and whether as a parent feels comfortable in doing it. Below is set out how it was for my family.

 

When I was younger I sometimes had to go on holiday with the family, sometimes in term time as a) we couldn't afford to go in term time and b) if all of the staff at my fathers company had to take their families away in the holidays then an awful lot of people would have been without bread (he worked for a bakery as a LGV driver)

 

I don't feel it did me too much harm being out of school for short periods as I think I've done well for myself, yes I could have done better but the opportunities weren't that good for me and our circumstances (only my dad could work so it was no bowl of cherries growing up)

 

Had I made more of an effort and realised the importance of my future I could have stayed at college (dropped out as couldn't afford to buy the necessary) and maybe uni as I still long for a degree to feel like I made it.

 

Not saying it could work for all but it's how it was for me. This is a great thread - lots of strong arguments for both sides.

 

A

xx

[Tina C]

I love this thread. When I was at school (60s-70s) most of our holidays were' free' (at my gran's in Norfolk or a caravan at Rockley Sands, owned by a guy my dad did navigating for on night rallies). There was never any question of us being taken out of school, but that could have been due to the fact we weren't paying premium prices for flights/accomodation. I can't remember anyone else having holidays in term time either. But also, no-one really went overseas and probably lots were the same as us - cheap holidays with friends and relations.

 

We expect so much now don't we? It seems like we think its our 'right' to do what we want, how we want, when we want. A friend of ours took her 6 yo out of school so they could go to Legoland on his brother's 4th birthday. I was horrified. They actually asked us to go out with them for the 6 yo's birthday - I refused point blank and let them know I disapproved. However it turned out that day was a training day so it was OK after all and we didn't fall out over it!

 

I did take Layla out for half a day for my Nan's funeral though.

[mad house]

Well thankyou to everybody who has been understanding!

 

And for those of you who have other thoughts, well I asked I suppose!!

 

 

For the record, I dont agree with taking them out of school and have never done it before. We have been to Florida in the summer holidays and never again...far too hot to do the parks and not fair on anyone. It seems that our school only rehurse for plays (which mine wont be in next year as juniours dont do xmas plays), watch dvds and play..yes maybe a bit of work but Im more that happy to take work with me.