I do like to be beside the seaside

We've had a couple of weeks away in opposite sides of the country recently.

Firstly we spent a week in a caravan in Walton on the Naze in Essex. We stayed at the Naze Marine park in a caravan that belongs to friends of ours. I love caravans and infact one night we realised that the caravan we were in was actually better than our house! It had three bedrooms which meant Ava had her own room and the living room was bigger than ours and had more sofa space. I was considering squatters rights and moving in.

Walton on the Naze is just the right amount of tackiness without being too much like Blackpool. It's got a lovely beach with some very cute beach huts and a pier that is great if you have children (not too expensive or busy).

We had some pretty good weather and were joined for a couple of days by my mum and dad and then by my mother in law and her parents.

Sam was in his element and was able to go swimming every day and go to the club at night. We spent most nights being entertained by X Factor rejects dressed as giant rabbits or singing 90's rock tunes. All around you could see harrassed parents with their cheap cocktails and bottles of pinot grigio grinning and bearing it for their kids (obviously the pinot makes things a bit easier).

We were there during the carnival which consisted of a fairground set up on the local green and a rather surreal parade along the main street.

We had a great time, sometimes a good old fashioned british seaside holiday is what you need. No airport stress, no unbearable heat and a good old knees up.