Family cut themselves out of my son's life

ClootiesMum

Can you drive Wiggy? You can sometimes get good car hire deals that would make it easier to get yourself, Wiglet, Waglet, luggage and buggy to the caravan?

GobbledyGook

It'll only be a big problem for a year or two Wiggy. Once Wiglet is slightly bigger you'll not have the buggy, he can help with his own bag and he'll be easier to amuse in his seat with books/toys. He'll also be able to help you keep the dog amused on the train.

Is there anywhere within an hour of you? If there is then maybe Wiglet's Dad could give you a lift if you went on a weekend or day he wasn't working and paid him petrol?

meritaten

look in the 'red top' papers - sometimes they have fantastic deals in holiday parks! especially if you can go 'out of season'! It sounds naff but I do know people who have gone on these and really had a great time!

duchy

Out of season can mean proper summer just not school holiday times and a lot of them aren't naff at all .

jjj1980

Meritaten's suggestion of using the holiday offers in the papers is a fantastic one. I've done these for the past three years and my daughter still talks about each holiday and can't wait to go again.

Not sure which part of the country you are in Wiggy but we went to the Primrose Valley Haven park and the Butlins in Ingoldmells last year and my daughter, now 4, loved every minute.

Although it's really only been me and my daughter since I had her, as her father never helped with whilst still living with us, the Butlins holiday was the first time we had been on holiday just her and me. It didn't worry me but I knew my mum was apprehensive as she didn't want me to just be sat on my own if my little one was playing etc. as it turned out, she made friends with a little girl on the first day, they were inseparable after that and me and her mum became good friends. So much so we took the girls for weekend to Manchester together before Christmas and have lots planned for throughout the year. You never know, it might do the same for you! We might even end up on same park at same time!!

Go for it, it's amazing been away from home with the little ones, as you are excited for the holiday and they are seeing all these amazing sights for the first time.

mountainofdebt

do be carefully about these offers though.....the £9.50 headline offer is just that - to grab your attention.

I know a couple of people who've been on them and they've had to pay extra,especially as they've taken a dog, for various bits and bobs which makes the deal more expensive than just £9.50!

wiggywoo9

Hi thanks for all the advice. It isn't so much the cost as I can save up easily, its just the logistics of having to get a dog from one place or another, that will take him, the actual travel (we'd have gone via national express without dog) and keeping costs low as I have a special little one's birthday in a few months plus getting ready for next Christmas!

meritaten

yes, but saving on the cost of the holiday could mean you could afford a 'dog sitter' or transport to/from holiday park!
I can understand why you want a 'family holiday'! its a milestone isn't it? and he will be of an age where he can really have fun! Plus its something YOU can plan, on your own with the luxury of doing exactly what you want when you want to do it!
I would though factor into savings some driving lessons Wiggy, not only will it increase your chances in the jobs market it will give you so much independence.

jellyhead

You can pay an extra £20 to take a dog on one of the 'Sun' holidays.

They run them 4 times a year I think, and you can find out in advance what the service charge is per night (for gas, etc) and then the charges for entertainment passes (to get you into the swimming pool, disco etc). If there are only 2 or 3 of you, you still have to pay the £9.50 for 4 people.

There are usually threads about them, so you could ask for advice on where to go that's close to the train stations, for example. You can take Waglet on the train, I presume? I often see dogs on trains when I take my youngest on holidays.

There is a promotion running at the moment - if you are interested I might be able to get you a code for booking online. You just type your own name and address over the name and address that they have on file (for the person they sent the code to in the post).

If not, somebody will no doubt remind you when the next promotion is on - there's no hurry - Wiglet is still young

Dimey

Driving lessons are a great idea. It will give you so much independence and freedom. They are pricey but if you budget a step at a time, you'll manage. I bet you'll pick it up easily.

You can hire a cheap car whenever you need it and when finances allow you can get yourself a cheap but reliable run around.

It will give you more options career wise in areas you can't currently get to and some jobs will need the flexibility of travelling by car. You never know, you might even land a job that supplies a company car or gives a financial car allowance. Admittedly unlikely in teaching but maybe in social work.