There's really not much I can write about summer 2024. Charlie spent a total of 6 days with his dad (I believe) I may have got that wrong! But with how it fell, I think he went twice. Luckily we still had support from the learning support worker as the agreement was to be paid for 39 weeks a year however I use this funding over 52 weeks a year for continuity.

Because of this, I was able to work throughout the summer holidays which was a blessing. I'm not really sure what I would do without work, as it is my sanity! I have been very fortunate to only need 18m off work since going back after maternity leave and Charlie is almost 13. However, days when we didn't have Laura, was very difficult to manage.

We do absolutely nothing over the holidays, this is in part, due to the fact everywhere is so busy and crowded and then when it's hot , the sensory processing overload really rears it's head and causes meltdowns too. Charlie being unable to regulate his temperature can cause some real difficulties for us. So summer, isn't a fun time. Normally I set up a pool, but this year I didn't as I wanted to level off the garden and create a positive space for Charlie to have a permanent pool. Unfortunately, this wasn't successful. I had left it too late and the prices of achieving this was £2500-3000 and that's just too much. I would have to the work myself at a guess to get what we would need for the garden. So no pool.

I have visually noticed the absence in a pool this summer. And I don't want this to happen next year again, so I will have to be more prepared. There's no way that a pool can continue to go on the garden without it being levelled off. And ideally I would like a permanent set up, one that doesn't come down throughout the year. I think we will have better summers if I was able to do this.

All was not lost though, we went on a little break away to clumber park in a lodge with a hot tub which was fantastic. And really got me thinking. A hot tub may be more successful than a pool, especially if it's a lazy spa rather than a traditional hot tub with jets. The idea would be that the hot tub feature is used in the winter and then in the summer it could double up as a pool. It's definitely worth a thought. I will look into it a bit more.

Clumber park was lovely, and we were able to take our dog with us, which was perfect for Charlie as he has a really strong bond with our dogs. Surprisingly on the final day Charlie really came out of his shell, walked the dog, picked up the mess (first time ever) and took some bits to the recycling shed for me (2 lodges away) I really wish we could have stayed longer. I think if we had of stayed longer then I feel his confidence would have grown so much more.

The lodge itself didn't have WiFi, and because of this we struggled. On other holidays we have taken the PlayStation with us, but obviously this wouldn't have worked either because of the lack of WiFi. There was also very limited 4/5g so a lot of the area, we wasn't able to get internet through the data service. We won't stay there again purely for this reason. However, I would go back in an instance, and I am looking forward to time in my life that I am able to. No WiFi, limited signal, nothing on site - just a small shop and cafe, to me it was absolute bliss! It really was the best way to take a digital reset and get some brain space. Charlie enjoyed the hot tub, but unfortunately that was it.

No holidays and breaks away booked at all! How will we cope?

Georgina x