Friday 20th October – Final day

 

 

Our room was really hot all night long. I still managed to sleep. Yet our shoes were still wet through. We got up and went downstairs into a lovely breakfast room. Mum and dad had an English breakfast whereas I just ate sausages, cakes and a muffin. Dad wanted a hot chocolate however; the machine was out of order. Once finished we headed back to our room and packed our stuff.

 

Dad had paid for parking until 5pm today. This was very handy. We put our stuff in the car, and then proceeded on foot into town. There were signs saying that the road outside the hotel would be closed at 2pm for 45 minutes for a running race. Dad made a mental note.

 

We had just made it to the main shopping street when I heard a cry of joy from my dad. Across the road was a Leonidas chocolate shop. Dad crossed the road and went in; I think just to make sure it was the real thing. He didn’t buy any chocolates then you see, as we would have had to carry them around all day. As it was still early, we walked down the main shopping street stopping in shops which were open.

 

We made it to the cathedral 7 minutes before it was due to open. By the time Dad had taken our photo outside the cathedral, and had walked around part of it, the doors had opened. At £15 for all three of us, we all felt that it was very expensive. We did, however, have nothing else planned in Exeter therefore we went in. The Cathedral roof was really high and I loved all the pictures in the glass windows. Dad pushed me around in my pushchair and mum sat down. I have to say that it was very impressive building.

 

Once out of the Cathedral we continued on our way until we reached the end of the main shopping street. I have to say that I like Exeter a lot. The streets are pretty clean and interesting. We went back past Waterstones where dad went in and bought my holiday present. It was an alphabet wooden jigsaw which I very much liked and couldn’t wait to play with it. Dad got his Leonidas chocolates and a bottle of coke whereas mum had a slice of pizza. It was at this point my mum and dad split up. Dad went in search of two game shops whereas mum and I did some clothe shopping. Given the fact that mum had just eaten, dad was away and I hate clothes shopping, I felt it safe to fall asleep.

 

When I awoke both mum and dad were looking around Exeter together. Dad had found the game stores but purchased nothing. Mum had bought some clothes. Dad then went into HMV and bought the ‘Greatest Showman soundtrack’. He said that he would play it all the way home. I just hoped it was good!

 

I was finally allowed out of my pushchair as we went into a small ‘banana-shaped park’. We walked all the way from one end and back. It was a lovely park and had a ‘Cambridge feel’ (not sure what that is as I haven’t been to Cambridge) as there were quiet a few students around. With this done we decided that it was time to leave Exeter. The weather had been amazing and hot, and we wanted to make the most of it. Looking at the clock the time was 1:45pm. In 15 minutes, the road outside our hotel would be closed for almost an hour. Worst still, I had just left a small deposit in my nappy not thinking anything about it.

It was like a military operation. Dad got the car ready and put the pushchair away while mum took me into the hotel and into the changing room. Once ready, we were out by 1:57pm … phew.

 

With it still being early, none of us wanted the holiday to end. We therefore decided to drive south, to a National Trust house called the ‘A La Ronde’. As I got pushed towards this house, it had 16 sides. Apparently, it was two unmarried sisters who had the house built on something they had seen, and loved, in Europe. As there were so many precious things inside, I had to wait outside as my parents took turns to look around. I therefore sat outside and chatted to the nice lady who opened the door.

 

Both mum and dad really liked the house. They both said it was very interesting. I can’t wait until I am a little bit older and I can take part more!

 

With that, the time was close to 4pm. We all agreed that we now had to say the holiday was finished. Reluctantly we all got back into the car and headed up the M5 to Bristol where my dad got petrol. After Bristol the skies darkened and the weather became horrible. The rain was so intense that, apparently, quite a bit of the midlands flooded. I actually didn’t notice. Staring out into the dark, flooded night, I thought about the flowers at the Eden project, King Arthur and his castle, Doc Martin, Lands’ End, my sea gull, the Minack Theather, Dunster castle and being pushed up that hill in St Ives. But most of all, I thought about the sea … wondering when I would be going back to the beach again.

 

Toodle pip!