Hello there people of the internet, I’m Ross.
You know that, don’t you? Do I have to keep saying “I’m Ross” or is it just a waste of time? The last thing I’d want to do is waste anyone’s time with unnecessary text. Like people always say you have to grab people’s attention really early on and then keep it. So if you just waste time talking shit everyone will quickly get bored and find something else to occupy their attention. So I won’t be doing that.
Anyway…
Having a Little Clear Out
Ah yeah, that’s it. I was basically just emailing to say that I’ve added a bunch of things to the “Sale” section of the website. If you fancy having a nose then feel free. It’s basically more of the “wintery/autumnal” type scents or one’s that I’m like “screw it you can go in there”.
I am actually looking forward to getting back up the unit after being away for a week. It doesn’t take long before I miss doing content and dicking about. I guess that’s a good thing, right? If you miss your job then it can’t be too bad? Speaking of being away from the job…
Recapping Bluestone - a Mini Review
So I said the other day on stories that we didn’t massively enjoy Bluestone this time, and most of that just came down to how the kids were I guess.
But if I’m super honest, I think part of that was down to Bluestone. For whatever reason, this time it just felt like there was an awful lot of money grabbing going on. Like you couldn’t turn around without there being something being sold to you.
I get it, they’re running a business. I know from their perspective it’s all about getting you in the door and then upselling the bollocks off you.
But people pay enough to go there already, and money is super tight across the board for everyone that people just can’t always afford all the added extras. And to have them literally IN YOUR FACE all the time is hard on the kids.
For example, in the Serendome - one of the play areas they have - has SIX places to be able to buy things from in a pretty small space. Then on top of that they have their cloud theatre in the middle that has extra things on that come at a cost. It’s one thing putting on things and charging for them, but it’s another thing entirely when you bring the kids out who paid, have them all dressed up as pirates, to have the other pirates come out and parade around before going back in.
It literally felt like they were going “Hey all you other kids, your parents could let you in here but they’re not letting you!”
Even the entrance of the Serendome is sandwiched between two gift shops that had stuff on display on the outside. It felt like all you wanted to do was walk to the sodding park and had to say no to the gift shop, no to the waffles, no to the milkshakes, no to the pirate show that would’ve cost us £45. By the time you’re at the park the kids are half pissed off at all the no’s they’ve had.
Then we feel a bit guilty for not giving them the “full experience” and buying stuff.
Then their little Myths and Legends trail can piss all the way off. Usually they use their lake or forest to do a loop so you arrive back where you started. Nah, not this time. Instead they had us walk a very long way - especially for a 2 and 5 year old - and instead of finishing back where you started, you end up at Camp Smokey. Again, it’s like they’re going “Ha! Got you here, now buy stuff”.
I think you have to learn from other businesses
The one thing that pisses me off at times with businesses is that they often do things that would probably piss the people off who are doing it. Like for example, no one likes spammy shit emails off businesses, right? So why do them? I hate getting bullshit sales emails so I don’t do the things that piss me off. Instead I generally talk shit to you 😂 - I’m not sure what’s worse to be honest.
Yes, I’ve gone with “Having a Little Clear Out” as the title to this newsletter under the hopes that some of you might think “fuck it, I’ll have a look”. But I try to not make it just about that because it’s shit.
Like all that pushing for money that Bluestone has done, has just made us think “right I don’t want to come back” so fat load of good all that pushing for extra money has done.
Maybe it’s just us.
Maybe it’s still great and the people going there had a lovely time and it was just us who felt like this.
I don’t know.
Maybe it’s also on us why the kids played up
Sometimes it’s easy to just go “ah the kids are knobheads” when they’re playing up. It’s a lot harder to look at yourself and wonder why that might be the case. Are they playing up as they’re vying for attention as they’re being ignored? Are we just shitter parents now that we have three kids that all want attention, food, play and everything else? Possibly.
I think it’s hard being a good parent all day to 3 young kids. After a while your patience just drains from you. Then things quickly snowball. You feel worse and that you can’t be arsed. The kids get more pissed because you don’t feel up to much. They then listen less and don’t care as much. You then get more annoyed. And thus the circle continues.
It’s hard to just step back and go “ok, start again”.
Mainly because you’d be “starting again” about 20 times a day.
Anyway…
Basically, to sum up in a short and concise way:
We’ve added stuff to the sale section, Bluestone was a bit shit and we need to do better as parents.
The end.
Thank you for reading! I would write more but I don’t want to kill you.
Much love,
Ross & Rachel x
I think everyone feels like that when you go on holiday with kids, and whilst I get that these places need to make money, if there isn't a decent balance of extra expensive and included in the already extortionate amount of money you will have paid to be there... it isn't worth the time! If you go on holiday, spend hundreds to stay somewhere and then have to take out a second mortgage to actually have any form of a good time then it's not really a holiday anymore in my opinion. We've never tried bluestones, but not sure I want to after your review! Also - if you don't 'start again' at least 15 times a day, you have alien children and should get them checked out
Hi Ross I think every parent feels like this at some point. Like you just aren't doing enough but you have nothing else to give. I know you have touched on this before, but I truly believe this is where you need a bed time routine. The kids are happier as there well rested and you are happier because you have had time to turn off been a parent for a bit. I love my kids to the moon and back but you need time away. Think it's one of your things you need to research. Much love Lisa