Countdown is well and truly on!

So I can finally say I go away this time next week. The daily count with the kids is now down to 6 and to say they are excited is an understatement!

We are off to Halkidiki in Greece for a week in the sun and some well deserved family time. This will be our first family holiday travelling by ourselves. The last couple of times we’ve been away we’ve been joined by other family member, which has been a huge help looking after the kiddies, but now we try the whole experience on our own!

The amount of preparation that has gone into working out what clothes are needed, packing everything into as few suitcases as possible and getting the kids to choose which toys they want to take (not all of them like they want to) is like a military operation! Add to that 2 bouts of chicken pox and a cat that has gone missing all in the last month, this holiday is definitely needed!

The hotel that we have chosen is very secluded and just over 2 hours away from the airport. This is the part I’m dreading the most. The excitement of arriving and then having are we nearly there yet for another 2 hours!

We just wanted something family friendly with a nice beach and good weather. The only excursions in the area are boat trips. Not quite the size of boat I am used to though! The area is well known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Athos (Holy Mountain) which is home to 20 Monasteries and over 2000 monks. Access is limited and visits by women are strictly forbidden. The only way to see this magnificent area is by boat, which aren’t allowed closer than 500 meters to the shore.

Besides the Sun, Sea, Sand and Soda (maybe the odd beer for us adults!) The things our daughters are looking forward to the most are spending all day swimming, asking for a pink drink at the bar and having chilli for dinner?! I think that is because the last place we went to was Mexico. Let’s hope she likes Greek food too!

The last request our oldest daughter gave us was to take another family holiday photo. To say she’s not shy of the camera is an understatement!! This was the photo we had taken on our last trip away. I’ll share the new photo on my return.

Speak to you again on my return!