..to Center Parcs I was determined to hate it, 'It's just a middle class Butlins, etc..' But it was quite good. It's great if you have kids, less great if sunshine is essential to your idea of a good holiday, (we go to the one just outside Penrith). Enjoy!

BUT take your own food. Prices on the park itself are eye wateringly expensive.

nb - CenterParcs follow me on Twitter now, after I slated their prices for a weekend break in, effectively, Thetford. 2 adults, 2 pups. £749.

Brilliant if you have kids. And deep pockets.

I've been twice - first time someone else was paying, second time we got a very good deal. Can't really afford to go right now, but would cheerfully go back in the future if the money situation changes.

We went with about 10 friends over three chalets. It was ace. No kids between us.

Went back New Year 94. Again, ace. Still no kids.

That pool! I was never out of it.

The food was shocking though. We ate in. Those chalets are lovely. Log fires, surrounded by woods and lakes. What's not to like? Don't remember it being too kiddy either, but now it might be the thing that tipped me over the edge.

Not been back since. The magic remains.

When Twang Jr was 3. I have to say I was loaded with apprehension, and I've never seen so many tattoos, but overall it was pretty good. The pool is fab, the chalet perfectly nice, no cars is lovely, and we didn't get anything like into the woods etc, much as I'd have liked to. TJ went to kids club and loved it, and we had a few precious hours to ourselves - spa, spot of badders, chilling. It cost a bomb but this could have been mitigated by taking own bikes, towels, food etc, all of which they charge you for. Overall, much better than I expected and we'd go back.

Some friends go to a Dutch equivalent which they swear by. Can't remember the name now.

I've been to the ones in Thetford and Cumbria. Enjoyed the former more because it was more of a trip away. Plus I got to go on the water slide and even visited Snetterton for an afternoon's racing.

I keep expecting to hear a voice coming out of a hidden speaker in some trees to bellow "Attention, Number Six! Go to Number Two's house, immediately! And no stopping off at Cafe Rouge for an overpriced bowl of Moules either!" it really is a remarkable place. The centre ville where the eateries are is so reminiscent of Cite Europe at Cocquelles to be scary (I think that"s how it's spelt). And of course, we are in a forest. It"s a very warm night, for mid-October anyway, and the smell from the pine trees is lovely.

Tomorrow we"re off bowling and swimming. More anon.

I keep expecting to hear a voice coming out of a hidden speaker in some trees to bellow "Attention, Number Six! Go to Number Two's house, immediately! And no stopping off at Cafe Rouge for an overpriced bowl of Moules either!" it really is a remarkable place. The centre ville where the eateries are is so reminiscent of Cite Europe at Cocquelles to be scary (I think that"s how it's spelt). And of course, we are in a forest. It"s a very warm night, for mid-October anyway, and the smell from the pine trees is lovely.

Tomorrow we"re off bowling and swimming. More anon.

And he's so tight that the last time he dropped a pound coin and bent over to pick it up it hit him on the back of the head.

We always surmise that if Dave goes to the place, it must be worth it.

Went swimming this am with the Berts. Something got in my eye and it became horribly inflamed and painful. Am currently sitting all on my own at Bury St Edmunds A&E. Round trip by taxi = £70,00, or breakfast for two in Vafe Italia. Only kidding about the last bit.

I had a local anaesthetic directly into the eye about £15 mins ago and suddenly all is wonderful. Instant pain relief is truly a thing of beauty and I think I love the pretty nurse who gave it to me.

Vision in my right eye is a bit ropey at the moment. The Practice Nurse at CP medical centre thought I'd scratched up my cornea real bad, and all this. Going for a further wash-out shortly.

For the cost of a small terrace house up north and we all came down with an horrendous bug that had us stopping for projectile vomiting breaks every 10 minutes on the way home.

Apart from that, it was great.

a couple of years ago. Cost a mint, but could be done a wee bit cheaper with some foresight.
Loved the wildlife - red squirrels, bunnies and ducks outside the chalets.

We've been there this year and last, and I absolutely love it. It's almost like a Utopia: you're living in the woods, no traffic sounds, you open the curtains in the morning and all you see is trees, ducks, deer, rabbits etc. Everyone cycles around rather than driving. There's a free "land train". The swimming complex is fab indeed - and, importantly, is one of very few things you don't have to pay extra for. The restaurants are fine, with the Tapas place being particularly good, and not too pricey.

Overall, yes it is expensive, but if you self-cater, take your own bikes, tennis racquets etc, and enjoy just walking in the woods, it's perfect. And it's great for kids too, obviously.

I spent all of last night in excruciating discomfort. The local anesthetic wore off on the way back from A&E and by God was it painful. Seems I have a majjor scratch down the middle of my eye which covers the cornea and iris. This makes it very sensitive to light and the eyelid only irritates it. However, large doses of codeine-based derivatives plus Starbucks seems to have helped today.

We"re off shortly to see some cuddly animals. This morning we went bowling, which I really couldn't have cared less about. Tonight our friends are on baby sitting duties while me and the exhausted GLW are out for dinner, probably cafe rouge.

Btw, did you know that the land CP is on plus Elveden and environs, is owned by the Guinness family? Have done for about a 100 years, according to yesterday's taxi driver. Well, I never.

This afternoon we're dropping the Berts off at a Pirate Party, for three whole hours! Plenty of time to do the packing and we leave tomorrow! Can't say I've really enjoyed it. Although we did see a deer this morning, about ten metres away, which was very exciting. She seemed completely unconcerned by our presence. I do see a lot of deer at home, but they"re usually lying by the side of the road.