Center Parcs

[Gemini]

As most of you know, my DD3 and family have been gifted a break at the Sherwood Forest Center Parcs, by a wonderful charity called Willow, for seriously ill, young people, between 16 and 40.

With all the sadness, stress worry and life crammed with appointments and treatments, this is a pure joy for us to look forward to.

They have generously given a 3 bedroomed lodge for a weekend, so as well as DD, SIL and little E, me, my OH and GS2 can stay there. DDs 1 and 2, GD and GS1 will come on the Sunday for the day.


Our group chats which have all been more and more bad news, and help needed, often very suddenly, for weeks, are at present mainly filed with plans for this break.
So lovely to have something positive for DD to focus on.
She really wants to use the Spa , and her sisters, my GD and I will go with her. A mobility scooter is also being provided to help DD getting around. She can walk and needs to walk, but it will be helpful in the longer distances getting around in the forest, which DD is very keen to do. OH and I are both likely to hop on when shes not using it!

Neither OH or I have been to Center Parcs before and we are all looking forward to it.

One of my lovely local friends is going to stay here to look after the cats, which is a relief. They would not have been happy at the cattery, which was the other option.

[Oma]

What a nice thing to look forward too Gem,
It will do her and all of you good to get away from hospitals and all it entails for a few days,

I haven't been to Centre parks but all my lot have and enjoyed it immensely,
Our DS and family have spent several Christmas days there .

I hope the weather is kind when you go 😁♥️♥️♥️

[Nanto2girls]

Oh Gem, that is lovely to have something nice to look forward to.

[Daisy]

Gem, what a wonderful weekend to look forward to. I've never been either, but I think the parcs cover a wide area so the mobility scooter will be a blessing.

Charities like Willow (which I confess I'd never heard of) are such a blessing, and I'm full of admiration for the people who have the vision and then bring it to reality in a charity that is life-enhancing at such times.

[Gemini]

I had never of Willow either Daisy.

DDs palliative care nurse applied on DDs behalf. She and SIL were so surprised and moved when they got the phone call telling them about this.

[Oma]

About 28 years ago now one of our twins had a brain tumour that he wasn't expected to survive from,
He did he is now 33 and doing great,
A charity that I can't remember the name of now asked him what he would like to do,
He said he wanted to go on a boat and see whales and polar bears,

They sent Him his twin brother his mother and MIL on a arctic cruise.
I remember SIL said it was freezing but the boys loved it .

These charities are amazing in a otherwise difficult time they give joy and a break.

[Lizzie48]

Gem, can you remember my DH used to do work with a charity for ill people, he even managed to do it whilst he was ill!! I remember them taking a young girl to the big theme park here, she wanted to "marry' her mother there! He told me the poor girl was fixed up with tubes etc but they managed to make it a day to remember for the family.

[Daisy]

We have a local charity set up by very tragically bereaved parents in memory of their only child. They help youngsters (teens) to achieve something they're passionate about, for example buying sports equipment for a keen cricketer/footballer etc, or a musical instrument for a budding musician, or whatever is a financial barrier to a teenager achieving something they are passionate about. The idea is to open gateways that would otherwise be closed. It's relatively small things, but huge to the recipient.

I think it helps the parents, who are a lovely couple, and it certainly benefits the youngsters it supports. I'm full of admiration for people who have the vision and drive to make such a difference.