I’ve had a fantastic business idea that I think might make me millions. As I write this I am sitting in a beautiful lodge in the Mendips on a Hoseasons holiday park (other holiday parks are available). We are here for a week and not only is the lodge ideally situated for a bit of cultural sightseeing but the onsite activities mean I only have to refuel the children occasionally to ensure that they are energized and I rarely see them. Also with us are both my mother and my husband’s mother – not as scary as it first sounds as they seem to get on well together, can both make a substantial hole in a decent bottle of white wine and are prepared to child mind allowing hubby and I quality time in the evenings as well.
However, I digress, we have just been to Wells Cathedral; a building of great stature built in the 12th century that shows off some of the most amazing architecture. It is wrapped in the inevitable café and gift shop containing modern extension but to all intents and purposes it is breath-taking. Not that anyone under 16 would be interested – they are all still plugged into their headphones or on their ipods or other equally addictive devices. Around the corridors of the cathedral, patiently waiting for their parents are clusters of curved spine, hunched shoulder individuals more interested in YouTube than the achievements of Somerset stonemasons. They have been dragged from their festering, school holiday pits, forced into the back of the car, marched from the pay and display car park and told ‘Ooohhhh look at the ceiling.’ or ‘Who would have thought they could have achieved this all that time ago?’ Trust me – the kids don’t care and the parents are only increasing their own stress levels by trying to make them care.
So here is my idea. Virtual holidays. You should be able to download a county app. starting with the traffic jam on the M5, a quick overview of the surrounding countryside with different weather (yet to be seen by our plugged in friends as they are always – well – plugged in in the car), a brief summary of the more interesting places in the county such as Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, Wells Cathedral etc. and then back up the M5 all without leaving the comfort of your own home. Thus ensuring that the children get a suitable knowledge of the counties of Britain, parents don’t have to drag, push, bribe or force their kids out of the house and everyone remains stress free. A secondary bonus is that the money saved by not actually going anywhere can be put towards a proper holiday when the children are old enough to travel alone! It’s a Win-Win situation as far as I can see.
