The Best Holiday Ever
Okay, so, now that I have mentioned the news of my engagement to Euan (and updated a few times since that announcement) - here is a day-by-day account of The Best Holiday Ever.
The first part isn't going to be under an LJ-cut. Because Monday was the best day of the holiday. So there.
Monday, 13th September: After forcing ourselves out of bed, packing the rest of our things and waiting around for a few hours, Euan's parents drove us to the holiday destination, Center Parcs (the one in Longleat Forest). Fortunately, we were able to obtain the keys to our apartment practically as soon as we arrived, so we located said apartment and began unpacking after Euan's parents left.
The apartment was gorgeous, even if the kitchen and living room were a little too small (the bedroom and bathroom were wonderfully sized, however). Everything had a warm, cosy feel about it and it was incredibly clean and hygenic. There was a widescreen TV and a surround sound music player, the bed and sofa were very comfortable, and the bathroom was en suite. I may upload my photos somewhen.
After the unpacking had been done, we made ourselves comfortable. During the late afternoon, we got our swimming gear packed, before heading out to the Plaza. We looked around all the shops and went to the arcade so Euan could play DDR, before we went - gasp - swimming!
Yep, the it was the first time I had gone to a swimming pool in about six years. So, needless to say, my swimming skills were rather rusty at first - well, okay, they've always been rusty, but, eh. Anyway, I managed to get the hang of it again (somewhat), and soon afterwards I was going down the waterslides, travelling down the rapids (and panicking every time I was fully submerged by the current), and generally having a wonderful time. Afterwards, we went to eat at Huckleberry's, an American restaurant. I had a chicken burger and a glass of Fanta, Euan had double nachos and a couple of chocolate milkshakes.
Then it was time to return to the apartment and chill out for the rest of the evening - and, of course, that was the night that Euan and I got engaged. =D He proposed to me sometime after 9:00, presenting me with a beautiful ring which has our names engraved on it in Hieroglyphics. It was the happiest night of my life, I think it marked the first time I have ever sobbed with joy. <3
Later on, it was "freak-out-and-hop-around-like-a-maniac" time, as a rather large harvestman decided to crawl up Euan's leg (for those of you who don't know, a harvestman is a close relative to spiders, with long, spindly legs and no abdomen, just a small round body). As I was yelping and panicking, Euan eventually managed to get the thing on the floor and crush it with his umbrella. *Shudder*
But, aside from that unfortunate incident, it was a wonderful, wonderful day.
Now onto the LJ-cut parts.
Tuesday, 14th September: We lazed around most of the day. We kept saying "Okay, let's go swimming soon", but we didn't actually leave the apartment until about 3:00. Heh.
Anyway, we did end up going swimming again. My skills improved somewhat, and Euan, being the nutcase that he is, decided to fully submerge himself in the cold plunge. The temperature of the cold plunge being 10-19 degrees celcius. Insane, I tell you. I also went down two slides which were so steep they were almost vertical. Kind of like those "death slides" you get in adventure play areas, only with water. So, yes, they were fast. And very, very fun.
After this, we went to Huckleberry's again. Euan only went for the milkshakes, wheras I had a side order of mushrooms covered in breadcrumbs and garlic butter.
Then it was time to return to the apartment, where we resumed our lazing around.
Wednesday, 15th September: Early in the morning, we opted to have breakfast at the Pancake House, which was only about a two-minute walk away. I ordered a "Chocolate Heaven" pancake - in other words, a chocolate pancake with chocolate syrup, chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a chocolate flake. In case you haven't already guessed, this pancake was obviously very sickly. Thank frell I only ordered a small one. I ate most of it, but Euan had to finish it off. I just couldn't manage the entire thing.
Later on, after we lounged around the apartment some more, we wandered down to the lake during the evening, and had a small drink and snack at the Jardin de Sport bar. This bar was very, very large and very swish. It's a shame not all bars look as nicely-kept as that. And next door to it was the largest collective of snooker tables and tennis courts I had ever seen.
We were going to go late-night swimming, but we decided against it on account of the cold weather.
Thursday, 16th September: We didn't really get up to much today. We went shopping for gifts (I bought some for mum, dad, Alice and Jem) and ate at Huckleberry's once more, but that's about it (aside from the traditional lounging around - and packing, of course).
The waitress serving us in Huckleberry's must've thought that we were starving ourselves, or something. All we had to eat was a plate of those breadcrumb-covered mushrooms and a container of BBQ beans. She did give us a lot of very strange looks when we insisted that we didn't want anything else to eat. =b
Friday, 17th September: Ah, the last day of the holiday. We completed our packing, watched some television, and left the apartment at about 11:00-ish. We then hung around for a while until Euan's parents collected us (I made sure to hide my engagement ring from them). Then we went back to his house, naturally. Ta-da.
And a wonderful time was had by all (or both, in this case).
The first part isn't going to be under an LJ-cut. Because Monday was the best day of the holiday. So there.
Monday, 13th September: After forcing ourselves out of bed, packing the rest of our things and waiting around for a few hours, Euan's parents drove us to the holiday destination, Center Parcs (the one in Longleat Forest). Fortunately, we were able to obtain the keys to our apartment practically as soon as we arrived, so we located said apartment and began unpacking after Euan's parents left.
The apartment was gorgeous, even if the kitchen and living room were a little too small (the bedroom and bathroom were wonderfully sized, however). Everything had a warm, cosy feel about it and it was incredibly clean and hygenic. There was a widescreen TV and a surround sound music player, the bed and sofa were very comfortable, and the bathroom was en suite. I may upload my photos somewhen.
After the unpacking had been done, we made ourselves comfortable. During the late afternoon, we got our swimming gear packed, before heading out to the Plaza. We looked around all the shops and went to the arcade so Euan could play DDR, before we went - gasp - swimming!
Yep, the it was the first time I had gone to a swimming pool in about six years. So, needless to say, my swimming skills were rather rusty at first - well, okay, they've always been rusty, but, eh. Anyway, I managed to get the hang of it again (somewhat), and soon afterwards I was going down the waterslides, travelling down the rapids (and panicking every time I was fully submerged by the current), and generally having a wonderful time. Afterwards, we went to eat at Huckleberry's, an American restaurant. I had a chicken burger and a glass of Fanta, Euan had double nachos and a couple of chocolate milkshakes.
Then it was time to return to the apartment and chill out for the rest of the evening - and, of course, that was the night that Euan and I got engaged. =D He proposed to me sometime after 9:00, presenting me with a beautiful ring which has our names engraved on it in Hieroglyphics. It was the happiest night of my life, I think it marked the first time I have ever sobbed with joy. <3
Later on, it was "freak-out-and-hop-around-like-a-maniac" time, as a rather large harvestman decided to crawl up Euan's leg (for those of you who don't know, a harvestman is a close relative to spiders, with long, spindly legs and no abdomen, just a small round body). As I was yelping and panicking, Euan eventually managed to get the thing on the floor and crush it with his umbrella. *Shudder*
But, aside from that unfortunate incident, it was a wonderful, wonderful day.
Now onto the LJ-cut parts.
Tuesday, 14th September: We lazed around most of the day. We kept saying "Okay, let's go swimming soon", but we didn't actually leave the apartment until about 3:00. Heh.
Anyway, we did end up going swimming again. My skills improved somewhat, and Euan, being the nutcase that he is, decided to fully submerge himself in the cold plunge. The temperature of the cold plunge being 10-19 degrees celcius. Insane, I tell you. I also went down two slides which were so steep they were almost vertical. Kind of like those "death slides" you get in adventure play areas, only with water. So, yes, they were fast. And very, very fun.
After this, we went to Huckleberry's again. Euan only went for the milkshakes, wheras I had a side order of mushrooms covered in breadcrumbs and garlic butter.
Then it was time to return to the apartment, where we resumed our lazing around.
Wednesday, 15th September: Early in the morning, we opted to have breakfast at the Pancake House, which was only about a two-minute walk away. I ordered a "Chocolate Heaven" pancake - in other words, a chocolate pancake with chocolate syrup, chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a chocolate flake. In case you haven't already guessed, this pancake was obviously very sickly. Thank frell I only ordered a small one. I ate most of it, but Euan had to finish it off. I just couldn't manage the entire thing.
Later on, after we lounged around the apartment some more, we wandered down to the lake during the evening, and had a small drink and snack at the Jardin de Sport bar. This bar was very, very large and very swish. It's a shame not all bars look as nicely-kept as that. And next door to it was the largest collective of snooker tables and tennis courts I had ever seen.
We were going to go late-night swimming, but we decided against it on account of the cold weather.
Thursday, 16th September: We didn't really get up to much today. We went shopping for gifts (I bought some for mum, dad, Alice and Jem) and ate at Huckleberry's once more, but that's about it (aside from the traditional lounging around - and packing, of course).
The waitress serving us in Huckleberry's must've thought that we were starving ourselves, or something. All we had to eat was a plate of those breadcrumb-covered mushrooms and a container of BBQ beans. She did give us a lot of very strange looks when we insisted that we didn't want anything else to eat. =b
Friday, 17th September: Ah, the last day of the holiday. We completed our packing, watched some television, and left the apartment at about 11:00-ish. We then hung around for a while until Euan's parents collected us (I made sure to hide my engagement ring from them). Then we went back to his house, naturally. Ta-da.
And a wonderful time was had by all (or both, in this case).