What makes the perfect family holiday?
Even though the boys will be 3 years old, in less than a month’s time, I don’t have much to reference in terms of our ‘perfect family holiday’ as we haven’t actually had one yet.
And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a pity party, we’ve had some lovely, lovely weekends away and done some amazing things, together as a family.
We’ve been on camping adventures, to festivals and on day trips.
We’ve played on a beach.
The boys haven’t been in the sea yet but we were lucky enough to go to to Bluestone in Wales , for four days last year, and they went in an amazing wave pool.
They’ve even played in the snow and built a snowmen (albeit, in our back garden and not on the slopes of Tignes).
But as I look at all of these pictures it strikes me that, even though they mark exciting little milestones in my son’s lives, they’re just a little bit *flat*.
The scenery is more ‘turgid’ than technicolor. And on closer inspection, it dawned on me that they’re all lacking in a couple of vital ingredients.
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Colour And Sunshine.
Now I’m a sucker for colour in all it’s guises.
From the sunniest, happy inducing yellows, to soft and delicate shell pinks. I love every colour of the rainbow and all the shades in between.
I work with colour — in my day job — and write about it constantly, here on my blog, in the form of my Pantone series.
Colour surrounds us. Although very often, in our everyday lives, we don’t stop to pay it any attention.
We’re all so busy — trying to get to somewhere on time, making supper, shopping — just living life in general, that we sometimes forget to take a step back and admire the scenery.
Then we go abroad and the pace slows down. And glorious colour fills our eyes, like an assault on the senses.
Cobalt blue skies, clear aquamarine seas or mountains topped with heathery purple and violet. Vibrant markets, colourful stuccoed buildings and lustrous fruits and vegetables.
The Perfect Family Holiday
Overseas holidays seem to treat us to a kaleidoscope of colour, that seems to be lacking, here a home.
I think sunshine has a big part to play. That magical star, that radiates it’s warmth on our planet, changing flat grey skies to blue.
Adding light to everything and bathing all it touches in a golden glow.
Sunshine gives the sea it’s sparkle, makes the grass seem a little greener, the sky bluer, sand yellower. Gives the snow a sprinkling of glitter and just makes everything a little bit more colourful.
So on reflection, that’s what would make our perfect family holiday.
Sunshine and colour.
Perfect partners, they go hand in hand.
A bit like my beautiful boys.
To illustrate this even further, I’ve made a little film.
This is our family’s entry for the #MarkWarnerMum 2016 Family Ambassador programme in the ‘Craft’ Category! For more info on their fabulous ski and sunshine holidays visit Mark Warner.
Wish us luck!
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Congratulations on becoming a fellow mark warner mum Caro! I absolutely loved your post and the video and I was really hoping you’d become an ambassador as your entry was so beautiful. So excited to be on the 2016 team alongside you. Very exciting year ahead :) xx
Ah pet!! Likewise!! I’m absolutely THRILLED for us all! Your beautiful photos were SO inspired — I’m so, so pleased for you.
And me ;)
You’re so right about colours standing out when you’re abroad. Thinking about all the colourful houses in Florida and the amazing colours in India – not that I’ve been there yet.
We’re just trying to work out how we’ll be able to go anywhere with our newborn. Camping with buggy and travel cot and stuff for her big brother – all the travel essentials. Probably won’t need the passports this year. :)
Aah bless you — we haven’t been abroad yet with the boys. They’ve just turned three and this year will be their first time on a plane! We’re off to get their passports this weekend — so excited! Travelling with newborns is such a headache isn’t it? But its such a finite time — enjoy it lovely. There’ll be plenty of time for travel when she’s a little bit older! x