On the 3rd worst holiday ever - pity party

[BlowDryRat]

TLDR: we are in Cornwall, staying in a caravan with walls so thin I can hear the DC breathing at night. All the pre-planned, booked months ago activities have been cancelled because it won't stop F-ing raining. Everywhere else is rammed or fully booked and wonders why we didn't book months ago We resorted to taking the children to the cinema on Tuesday, then to an English Heritage place exactly the same as every other English Heritage place that doesn't take me 5 hours to drive to. Today we are at the Eden Project. DD keeps trying to steal leaves and flowers and whining for ice cream. DS just wants a rest or to go on the zip wire,which is fully booked and I didn't pre-book because we did zip wiring last week. I'm allergic to all the rare plants and keep sneezing. All the ice cream is made with weird stuff.

I've paid a grand to live in a caravan, doing things that I could do within an hour of home. I can't wait to go home. I know lots of people are 'going on holiday' by camping under their imaginary dining table this summer but

Oh I feel for you! Can you go home early or is that too defeatist? What's the forecast for the next few days?

It sounds shit. Nothing wrong with complaining your holiday is shit. Especially in the rain.

However... re booking things, yes you should have. We recently went away and as I googled things to do, I checked covid measures and booked accordingly (feeding rabbits, renting a rowing boat etc,).

Boardgames, Uno, play in the rain, go home early...

I’m going Cornwall in august and honestly threads like these are making me considering cancelling 😭😭

How old are your kids?

I really feel for you.

We were in Cornwall last week when it was blistering, and I know how lucky we were it’s fucking awful when it’s raining.

If you have a car, check the forecast all over Cornwall. I’ve been for years and it can be pissing it down in Newquay but then clear skies in St Ives. It’s worth driving out a little and the beaches are lovely even if it’s overcast x

To be fair, you don't know months in advance that the weather isn't going to be good? And

We are away in two weeks and can't get an accurate forecast yet. Its a seaside holiday so very weather dependent

Tell me more about the icecream.

I did book things, many things. The phone calls cancelling them all started on Monday. The weather's just too bad for water-based activities. We walked along the beach on Tuesday, got absolutely soaked and had to put up with DD wailing the whole way. Even DS asked to go back on the bus.

We could go home early but I'm pissed off as it is. We're just trying to make the best of it. I've never been to Cornwall before and wish I hadn't bothered.

Where in Cornwall are you?

We had a holiday like this a few weeks ago. It was awful. Grey too. Got a call from school to say DD needed to self-isolate, so we had to leave. Honestly I was relieved!

Could you leave early and visit Longleat en-route home?

The DC are 11 and 8. We're breaking the rules by allowing DS in the play areas at the Eden Project (under 10s only).

The ice cream is mostly dairy-free or uses sugar alternatives. It's Cornwall, home of clotted cream

OP, if it's only the 3rd worst holiday, would it cheer you up to tell us about the disasters that got spots 1 and 2? At least it's better than them?

How about an Escape Room?

Marazion. We've been to the Mount We had a lovely couple of days when we first arrived (and, TBF, an amazing week at PGL in Torquay before that). I'd booked loads of water sports, boat trips, bike rides etc.

@BlowDryRat

The DC are 11 and 8. We're breaking the rules by allowing DS in the play areas at the Eden Project (under 10s only).

The ice cream is mostly dairy-free or uses sugar alternatives. It's Cornwall, home of clotted cream

You must have found a shop or stand selling Kelly’s? They’re everywhere in Cornwall and use clotted cream.

That's a shame OP, Cornwall is a bit dull if you don't like wet weather.
However as someone said it can be very localised - I'm live close to the EP and it's been a perfectly fine week, hardly any rain. Certainly not enough to keep us out of the water - but tonight's amber weather warning might change our minds.

@Thislittlefinger123

OP, if it's only the 3rd worst holiday, would it cheer you up to tell us about the disasters that got spots 1 and 2? At least it's better than them?

1st worst was in Wales with exH and two small children. It wouldn't stop raining (sense a theme?), exH was an arse, we didn't have enough money and the accommodation was mouldy.

2nd worst was camping after splitting up with exH when the DC were 5 and 2. I was so knackered that I packed up the tent and took the DC home a day early.

There's plenty of lovely, dairy- packed ice cream outside the Eden Project.

Thanks for sharing, did it make you feel any better?? Would Cornwall be worse with exDH adding to your woe? Is that a bright side??

Are you looking for indoor suggestions?

Ugh. I feel for you too
I am worried this will be us next week

lighthearted
It could be worse op. I once ( when an older teen ) did a 31 hour bus trip to the Costa Brava. Mt then Best friend announced on arrival that she had " forgotten " her travellers cheques and the hotel was based on the one from The Inbetweeners film.

My friend posted this from Crantock yesterday, seriously OP - check the weather for the whole of Cornwall and have a drive out. Your holiday can still be saved

Arf! The bright side is that we aren't camping.

Plymouth Aquarium Is amazing of it isn't booked up..good for a wet day. Also have no idea if it is open but there is an indoor clip and climb at the big motorway services on the way to the eden project. We go down to Devon to see family pretty often lovely in the sun but not so great in the rain