30.12 - Heading Back Home

This morning we didn't put any alarm and we woke up calmer and started packing our stuff. It was the last time we had breakfast in this hotel and then we also still went once to the pool. Today the jacuzzi was also in use again. I profited especially from the sauna and the hamam. After returning back to the room we took all our stuff, checked out, packed the car and head out south.

Now it was time for the thing the children (and I) have beet waiting for all the time, to visit the Build A Bear shop and fabric a soft toy. It's some kind a tradition of this family to get a Build A Bear when traveling to places where that exists. The children have been telling me a lot about Build A Bear and I also got myself one. The children all chose one and got also a lot of accessories and clothes for their soft toys. I had hard to choose mine but finally decided to have a classical teddy without buying any extra stuff for him. You could yourself help to stuff up the toy and decide how hard or soft you want it to be. Before getting it sewed you take a small heart, give it a kiss and put it inside your soft toy promising it a home and giving it your love. I can tell there weren't many 18 years old getting themselves a Build A Bear.

After we four had fabricated our toys we brushed them and then we all registrated us as owners of our certain soft toys. You had to enter a lot of informations because if you would loose your teddy and someone it, it could always find back to you. If you wanted, you could also make a "birth certificate" for your toy and register it a name. I called my teddy Louis. When you paid, you got a small house of carton as bag for your furry friend. It was a lovely process and I feel really lucky of my purchase. Seldom, but sometimes I believe that materia can make you happy. I don't remember when I the last time got myself a toy.

Louis is for me more than just a souvenir. He's a friend for life and a memory of the time I've spent away from home now and will support me in both better and harder times.

We all continued lucky our voyage with the destination Hastings. Everyone except Anthony and Clé slept a bit. In Hastings we had a picnic in the car on a parking place and then we went to walk a bit in town. Originally we wanted to visit the place of The Battle Of Hastings but it was closed during the week now in winter. We drove down to the sea to see the beach and the sunset and then we made ourselves on the way back home. 

Before getting to the highway the roads were tiny and the view over the English countryside beautiful and then the dark fell. When the girls do something stupid and Céline tells them to stop, it seems to have much more effect than when I tell them the same. In the car the children watched movies on iPads and Céline knitted. We went also home by the Eurotunnel. The children and I amused ourselves with our new furry friends

Arrived in Calais we went straight to eat to the closest fast food place, which was in this case Quick, ok, not bad. I had a chicken burger and and fried cheese (Leerdamer) balls. Again an experience with a new fast food chain for me. 

It was already late, the girls slept in, Martin read, I wrote a letter and then we played with our soft toys until we got home. The children went straight asleep and the parents and I organized our stuff a bit but went then also quickly to bed.

The trip was lovely and I'm very happy that the family was okay with me joining them. I enjoyed their company and hope they didn't feel too bothered about me being there too.