Woburn forest Center Parcs during the pandemic

 Center Parcs staycation during the pandemic

 

As a family, we decided to take a UK break, as we usually do during early autumn, to Center Parcs at Woburn Forest. 

 

2016 was the year my twins were to turn sixteen. Quite a milestone age, I had booked to go to Center Parcs for the first time with Mum and Dad, to celebrate their birthday, one weekend after the big day. Sadly, Dad died the day after their birthday and you can imagine there is a whole other story linked to the events of that week.  After speaking at length to customer services (at such a tricky time) they did agree to let us reschedule our break to the following September. And that’s the year we began our love for a few days away at Center Parcs.  I had high hopes back then but when we walked into the lodge for the first time, with our little dog on his lead, we were impressed.  

‘Lisa, you never told me this place was like this, it’s amazing,’ I text my friend, who was less expressive than me and replied, ‘oh yeah it’s lovely Lou.’ That was an understated text. 

 

Every year since 2016 we have returned early September and had a wonderful time. 

 

I’m a fan of travel but the UK always has my heart too. In some ways, I’m glad to see the Staycation business doing so well. We have such beautiful countryside and beaches and often you can find great standards of hospitality.  Without the aeroplane travel and stress that goes with it, I think sometimes it can feel more relaxing to stay closer to home.

 

Quite by chance, we didn’t book for 2020. A lot was going on at home and I thought we would ‘park’ the idea for a change and of course, when lockdown happened, we didn’t take any action. As things began to open again, I felt as if I was being called to drive to Cornwall and stay there for a while. This was a very odd feeling, and for some reason, St Ives keeps coming into my reality but I have no connections with St Ives or do I know anything about it or anyone who lives there. That mystery is still to be unravelled. I will go.  I’m thinking, VW camper van for a month next August…2021, the year of so much hope. More pressure on that than the 2019/2020 new years eve whispers of, ‘it’ll be our year.’

 

The swimming pool area and outside steam in the rapids

October is a great time for spotting fungi - where are the fairies?

 

My YouTube channel audience is always interested in my travel journey and for some reason, I thought I would have a look online to see if there was any availability at Center Parcs.  There it was, a reasonably priced, swanky hotel room for two. Jasmine and I were going! My son was busy at work and couldn’t get any time off which was a pity but nonetheless, we would go, work, relax and workout. 

Something at his work changed suddenly and he was able to take a week off. We changed our accommodation to a lodge and got excited. 

 

And here we are now. Sitting at the dining room table, chilling out after a couple of very busy days collecting content for you guys. I know some of you read these posts because you want to hear the stories, and some of you want to know something.  I’m going to guess you might want to know if it’s safe here or not. 

 

Personally, I have never stayed in accommodation which is so spotlessly clean.  Even the toaster has no crumbs. I feel safe.

The social distancing measures are totally in place. We have to scan the QR code at the entrance to every building and wear masks everywhere inside. Except in the swimming pool (where we are due to leave and visit in ten minutes so I will be back with more details). 

The housekeeping services are not being carried out during the stay but instead, new towels are being delivered outside the door and we can leave dirty ones there to swap. 

We are all so used to the hand sanitiser stations now and of course, they are dotted around the place in great quantities. 

 

Swimming is rather different. They are limiting how many people can go in the pool at once. We all have temperature checks on the way in and the showers are out of use. Towels cannot be taken inside the pool area but rather must be left in the lockers, and the minimum stuff is to be taken into the locker area too. We were directed to different areas within the changing rooms to keep everyone apart. It’s excellent! They gave us different colour wristbands to wear which showed a time slot. We were allowed two hours in the pool areas and we could take two visits per break. All pre-bookable via the internet. You HAVE to book everything and the place is completely cashless. 

 

Well done Center Parcs. I’m impressed.  I’m still nervous.  And we have watched the usual TV for the first time in years. We usually stick to YouTube or Netflix and yet there aren’t those channels here, just the depressing news and other anxiety-fuelling shows.  I don’t like them but the news has brought us up to date. Things in the Covid world are not looking good right now but those who are doing what they can, however they can, are doing a brilliant job.

I've never slept so well!

 

During our Spa time, I was shocked that a guest said to a staff member, ‘it’s a pain that we can’t use the saunas isn’t it.’

‘Yes, but I promise you we are following guidelines and doing all we can to make sure we get everything open as soon as we can. The management are almost in tears over it.’

I felt sad.  How sad this situation is. How so many are affected by it.

 

But we have something. Anything right now is better than nothing.  I will be creating a YouTube video soon detailing how I found the trip and the crazy energy shift I have had since then. 

Aqua Sana was a very special experience

Some fun times

Fun and affordable ideas for Christmas...

This Christmas is a worrying time for many. Lots of people have been impacted financially and wonder how we are going to get through Christmas and what are we going to do to make some gifts happen with a limited budget? How can we make gifts that little bit more fun and yet still spend less money? Do you have ideas for this year?

Of course, we might be limited too with seeing our families. Who knows by then? I have a few ideas in this video which you might be able to consider. Have a think outside the box this year. Can we make it even better than before through a more thoughtful approach?

What does a day in my life look like?

 For the first time in a very long time, I have vlogged a wonderful day in the life vlog. in this one you can see me and Jasmine chatting about life, trying to find some autumn decoratins from the Range and not managing to and I also coloured Jasmines hair a wonderful shade of ash blonde! Then right at the end, I received a wonderful surprise which was astounding! I really hope you enjoy this VLOG, I think you will.

I have a week in the life to come really soon! Find out more about me on Amazon: My amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Usher/e/B00C1KEE5E My website: http://www.louiseusher.co.uk Check out more of my life on my social media platforms: *Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/louiseusherwrites *Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/louiseusher *Blog: http://www.louiseusher.co.uk *Nutrition: http://lusherlifenutrition.blogspot.co.uk *Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/loulusherlife *Pintrest: https://uk.pinterest.com/lusherlife/ *Podcast: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/autoimmune-diet-and-me/id1023129375?at=1001l626&mt=2&ls=1 -Did you know I'm a keen writer as well as a blogger and creating these videos? Books: My amazon author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louise-Usher/e/B00C1KEE5E Motivational Merch: Mugs, t-shirts and stuff http://www.cafepress.co.uk/profile/108959736 If you’re a brand and want to get in touch: Email: lusherlifenutrition@gmail.com

Silence please - censorship of the voices

 During my time as an undergraduate student, there were really tough times.

I can't begin to share the stories here with you piece by piece but what I can say is, I had an amazing support network from the team at STAART.

They are the cohort who help with issues around disability and related issues but it goes so much further than this. We become a listening ear for each other and a place to feel free from judgement. Still now, I am in close contact with the STAART members despite graduation. 

Working within this team was amazing. Open days would see wide eyed students coming up to the table with me and other colleagues waiting to answer questions from those with worries on how they would deal with university. 

A newsletter is now lovingly put together from those of us who remain a part of STAART. My opinion is that I am not sure I would have reached graduation without STARRT and the support - and I don't know of another university with this offering. 

Have a read of the inspirational newsletter here where you can see my story Silence Please.

https://docs.gre.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1720855/staart-newsletter-sept2020-v.2..pdf

Follow STAART on 

Facebook   University of Greenwich - STAART

Twitter       @GRE_STAART

Doing some inner work

 Where does the time go? We know it actually hasn’t the real ability to fly as such but this year is behaving so oddly isn’t it. 

Do you feel like you are in a dream? I do. A bubble perhaps.  I keep saying ‘back in the summer’ when i actually mean, ‘at Easter,’ - because the weather was so incredible and I seem to have lost track.

Which leads me nicely on to this long awaited blog post. It’s been too long.  As thou know if you are an original follower of this blog, i adore writing these posts but life has taken over so much recently.

It’s time to brig you up to speed and start to share with you all of the wisdoms i have been learning in my abs sense on this website.

The past few days i have been off of all social media except for my YouTube channel. The reason? To do some ‘inner work’.

The law of attraction is the reason this blog was born but i have completely got that one sorted now. I’m a powerful manifester but it has sure taken a lot of work to be able to step into my skin and say that. So it’s time to go deeper and begin to connect to higher powers than me and the results are outstanding. I feel totally different.

People are giving me more time in their daily passing of life, smiles, chats, people chatting in the queue and generally making me feel like I have illuminated their day, the location and the moment. Nice beyond words.  I am incredible thankful for my life right now and I feel I have so much to catch up with - I will spend some time bringing you up to date on this blog. 

This year I had a serious health scare and manifested the cells going away; a miracle if you like. I thank my higher powers for this ability every day. I am super blessed.  I have also allowed some wonderful trades into my house to create the loveliest space I could have dreamed of and the work has unfolded flawlessly. The workmen have been helpful and kind and I have learnt so much from them.  This will all be released on YouTube and documented in this blog and I have been asked to release a book about it!

Currently, I am offering FREE coaching for my viewers and subscribers.  Yup, completely free. If you just want to pop me a question via email, that’s fine. We can voice note or if you are local, you can shout me a coffee and we can have an hour of health or life coaching. Anything you feel you want to chat over.  If i can help you, I will. 

The biggest news of this year so far in my professional life is the release of the book Covid-19 How it made us feel.  If you haven’t heard about this collection of stories from a mix of authors you can read about it here.  I joked about with other people saying, you watch, this will end up a best seller and guess what - your wish is my command, said the universe and we went straight to bestseller status. Crazy isn’t it! 

I loved writing, editing and publishing this book. Holding it in my hand now is just a wonderful feeling and i have so many more books to come.  Get yours by clicking here. 

The house renovations have taken over but now the coffee shops are open more mainstream in my local area, I can take the laptop and get writing freely. I love it. 

Life is certainly a blessing right now. Yet a rocky ride. I’m human, just as you are and together we can learn to ride those waves and get ourselves the best life we can manifest. As always, I will help you with sharing my tips here.  I wish I had a little more time for writing just now but  this really was a one shot chance at getting my house sorted and renovated ready to launch head on into my full time writer status.  I will be back more than ever before really soon but in the meantime, reach out to me with your questions and don’t forget to leave comments on my YouTube channel as I have always responded to every one on there.  

Remember, if you are struggling, this is your time on this earth to own the place in which you are stepping in to yourself. You’ve got this.

Much love, as always

Louise xoxo