Center Parcs Convert

So this year I was introduced for the first time ever to the glorious place that is Center Parcs. In all honesty I don’t know why I avoided it for these 31 years, because I did it by choice. I did not want to go to Center Parcs! Never had.

I know. Ridiculous. 

After having now been, I don’t know why I denied myself the sweet sweet joy for so long. I know some people will read this and think how ridiculous it sounds that of all the places in the world my new favourite is Center Parcs, but it really and truly is. 

I absolutely love it.

I always thought of Center Parcs as some sort of a healthy Butlins type of thing, and I don’t know what advert I saw for it but I had the vision of it all being under some sort of weird dome. This advert was on when I was a child so forgive me if the details are a little foggy, and I’ve distorted it somewhat in my adult mind. 

I remember two people cycling along the woods, but underneath a dome. 

I thought it was like that film with Pauly Shore; Bio Dome. It was out in the 90’s about people living under a dome! Maybe I watched that film and then an advert for Center Parcs came on and my wires got crossed, but anyway I digress. I didn’t want to go to Center Parcs.

Flash forward a couple of decades, and a death in the family meant a family trip away. Mum wanted to go to Center Parcs, she raved about it, having been a couple of times before, so I thought Ok fair enough let’s go. Our Nan had passed, Flange was sad, she can choose. Flange = Ange =My Mum to quickly explain the name change.

I was excited about spending a week with my family so where we were was not a bother to me. I was just happy to be with them, play some games, and generally just hang out with my nephew Gingey.

From the moment we hit the car park though I was loving it. Trees, trees, trees, as far as the eye can see. I love the woods, so being surrounded by trees was immediately up my street. It might be obvious to others that this is what Center Parcs is, but I’ll take you back to Bio Dome where I thought it was all fake and crap. 

Yes I know it sounds ridiculous!

It is such a wonderful place to get back to nature, be good to yourself, and get yourself off the technology highway which is so difficult to avoid in this day and age, and being as most of us are addicts, we don’t want to usually escape.

You can choose how cheap or expensive you want to make it. For example we joined in on a few activities which bumped up our spending, but we made sure we did things that you don’t really do in everyday life. We did archery of which some excelled more than others. This didn’t stop me and my sister Laura screaming like fools though when we hit the board, transforming our quiet group into chatty expressive cheerers with us.  

We believe we broke the ice for those around us to become a bit more extrovert than they usually would be.

We decided to hit the lake another day so we booked onto a Katacanoe. That as I found out was a 6 man canoe. I would recommend it as it was only £16 for 40 mins and that between 6 is nothing really. Be aware though there has to be a level of communication, skill, and synchronised team work. All of this we severely lacked which led to us going in various directions and narrowly avoiding some near hits with fellow canoers, paddle boaters etc. I would go as far as to say we were a danger to those around us. 

I even finally went on a pedalo, which is not as fun as it always seemed from shore. Combination of tired legs and sneaking ciders onto the lake meant we floated and enjoyed the sun more than anything else.

We visited the sports hall a few times, which can add up depending on how many activities you do, and for how long. The list of activities is endless, and if you’ve got the cash, join in. Like I said though you can keep it cheap. You’re surrounded by nature trails to fill your boots with. The pool is amazing, and the rapids just make you feel like a child again. As long as you don’t mind some near death collisions, and occasionally landing head first on someone’s ass or in someone’s crotch. I got rapids bingo on that one!

It is just a fantastic place to get back to nature, and get back to yourself. Enjoy your time, and time with loved ones. It really refreshes you, and everyone seems of the same relaxed mind set. Everyone is helpful and friendly, and I think if we could just take the ethos we feel when in Center Parcs and apply it to real life we would all live in a much better world.

I LOVE CENTER PARCS AND I DON’T CARE WHO KNOWS!

Don't be Upset, Here's some Meat!

Today the sun was beaming so I decided to take myself for a walk around town for my lunch break. Drink in the sites, sit by the castle, and have a general wander while continually fighting the urge to sit outside a pub and have a couple of ciders. I’m still a bit new in my job for that kind of behavior.

I managed to avoid the alcohol but, while walking back to the office I thought I’d treat myself by stopping in the market and staring at the animals, me. I do this quite frequently at the market or pets at home, but my all-time favourite is Harrods when they have the puppies!

After staring at the animals and not buying a single one- very proud- I started back down the stairs to leave, but as I did I walked past the butchers, and stopped to check out the meat. I know it sounds like I’m in the business of staring at things and not buying it, but what caught my eye was a string of palony. I think that’s how you spell it, I’m not sure. When I was younger I used to love palony. So whenever I stayed with my Nan and Bamps, which was a lot of weekends and most holidays, from, school Nan would always bring me back some from town in her little push trolley.

Sometimes that would be the only thing she would go in for, and it was a fair trek from town so when I look back now it’s one of those little things that makes me smile. I mean she was an amazing Nan without doing all the little things that she did for me and my cousins, but stuff like this she did because it was in her nature to do so. She liked to make us feel special, like when she would aggressively slip some cash into your hand, and when you would decline, she’d squeeze your hand shut, and say “Now don’t upset me.” Nan things like that which will always make me smile.

So while I’m there just staring at this pink meat, the butcher comes up and asks if I need help. To which I replied “no, I’m just looking.” Yes I understand how strange a thing that is to do (standing staring at a counter of meat) let alone say out loud to stranger. I explained the reason I stopped was that I noticed the palony was like the one my Nan used to pick up, and not the kind that’s covered in plastic which I see at most butchers. You know the kind that has the pink plastic and white writing. I never liked this one, and Nan knew never to pick this one up for me. What a dream she was.

 Being a really lovely chatty man he asked after my Nan, so I continued and told him the stories of her visiting town to buy palony for my visits. Before I could even get into a flow talking about Nan I started balling my eyes out, I was still smiling and continued speaking with little sobs like giant burps popping out every once in a while. I must have looked like a crazy person. He was only being polite and then he had to deal with me getting emotional over meat. He must have just assumed I was menstruating, or that I actually escaped from a hospital. So we chatted little more while I cleaned my teary face up with some tissue I found in my bag, I made my apologies and walked away through the market.

I turned to start back on the street when I heard a voice behind me shout.

“Hang on darlin’.” I turned around and the butcher was walking towards me. I stopped thinking I’d left something or dropped something, when he handed me a white bag.

“Have this, for your Nan.” Then he walked away. Wrapped up in some paper was a string of palony. I tried to pay but he wouldn’t take anything from me. This obviously set me off again, and I got back to my desk an emotional wreck, tear stained but laughing at the strangest, nicest thing that ever happened to me.

Not only because I got sad and someone gave me food, which has been a constant cycle in my long chubby life! More so because this was a perfect act of kindness from a stranger. He had no need to come after me, he gained nothing by giving me a gift, he just did it. It made me feel like I was glowing from the inside.

Sometimes we are so bogged down in the negative, in the attitude of people. We forget to be nice to each other and more so we forget the kindness of others. I often do it. The woe is me thing. Not bothering to smile at people or make small talk. It can change someone’s day. Like this made an impact on me.  

It’s nice sometimes to be reminded. Even if it’s just a gesture from a stranger.