Thread: I am having momentous thoughts...

It's like this. For the last two years DH has signally failed to get any time off in school holidays. This was ostensibly because everyone else booked it first but I suspect had more to do with him wanting to book romantic breaks with his gf instead. So I have gone on holiday with the boys by myself all bar him joining us for a few days and spending most of it bickering with the boys, staring at his phone and leaving me to organise everything. They were cheap holidays too, one camping, one at a friend's house, lots of low cost activities, two or three meals out, some fish and chips. Also I am currently living like a scullery maid in a room with no windows between the workshop and utility room, but that's my own silly fault.

So this morning the PGL brochure came and I flicked through it and thought how the other half live and put it to recycle. Then I got it back out again and daydreamed about taking to boys to the Scottish centre on the Isle of Arran, and put it back in the recycling. By the time I had finished at Tesco I had got to the point of "hell, I want to take them." It would cost about £1300 for the three of us. BUT that's all found apart from the travel to get there. And though I usually do cheap holidays, we do still have to spend money on some attractions, petrol to drive around, food, etc.

DS1 wants to go to Scotland anyway because he likes the Scottish Tourist Board adverts. I was thinking of taking them on a train trip to Oban or Mallaig. DS2 is old enough to do the activities now. I am imagining pony trekking and canoeing and mountain biking and sea shore safaris, things that let you see the scenery.

Supposing DH gets the hump. On the other hand, he might have left by then!

I used to do PGL when I was a kid and enjoyed it. I thought centre parcs was hell on earth but this would be us all doing things together and far fewer people there, and really feeling like you were holidaying IN the place you were, and with it all paid for I wouldn't wince at every extra activity.

Am I just having some sort of mid life crisis reaction to the situation I'm in? It is very unlike me to react to being miserable by spending stupid amounts of money. Has anyone else done a PGL family holiday?

I've never been, but it sounds amazing! Do it! If hubby gets the hump, hard cheese on him (or you could say - "your welcome to join us if you can get the time off work....")

GO FOR IT! ~YOU AND THE BOYS DESERVE THIS!

go for it and sod him! I'm still not clear why you are being so considerate towards him when he has failed to prioritise his family -financially or with his time - for so long. It is not good for your boys to see you so beaten into submission.

Any back to pgl, the accommodation and food might be a bit basic but lots to do. Friends did one and enjoyed it. They often have good late deals though so you may want to negotiate. . If he later wanted to join you I suspect the rooms could accommodate another anyway.

Originally Posted by lizs

If he later wanted to join you I suspect the rooms could accommodate another anyway.

no, if he says he feels we should do something as a family I am not going to let him spoil PGL! Rather not go at all!

Anyway, had forgotten how vehemently opposed to the idea of PGL DS1 is his initial reaction was to walk out of the room shouting that no way was I making him go on a PGL holiday, if I wanted to go I could go with DS2, and refuse to listen to any persuasion. When I said I had been excited about it all day he conceded that he would come and looked at the activities. He thinks it will be "instructors yelling at you" like when he had school residentials. But it rather took the wind out of my sails if I'm going to have to fly in the face of family opinion!

At the age of 41 I finally see the attraction of going on a holiday where I don't have to spend it cooking, driving, planning, walking up and down hills to the shower block...

We always get late special offers on the kids holidays but I've never seen them for the family ones. Will have to see how things go on. I don't usually start nagging DH about getting time off in the school holidays until after Christmas.

20% off and a £20 M&S voucher. Boys and I are going to Isle of Arran next August. And have bought a family railcard which will more than pay for itself just on that one trip.

And have told MiL and she thought it was a great idea.

bloody brilliant

what is PGL?

PGL = Parents Get Lost ! They run mainly kids residential activity holidays, often at ex Pontins type accommodation. in Uk and abroad, so are used by schools, Brownies/Guides/Scouts etc a lot but they also have some weeks in school holidays at certain centres for family breaks. All inclusive and with a choice of activities depending on faciltiies at each one.

My girls go to a PGL camp every September with the school for the weekend, they love it!! You should go, stuff the other half. X

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