Monday 24th February – Friday 28th February – 8th meeting of 2020
Monday 24th February 2020 – Day One
We went off on our annual break early this year as it was near impossible to get a date in May/June that we could all make so armed with coats, hats and scarves we all met at Hall Place, Bexley to join the Jay and Kay Coach holidays to Warner’s, Cricket St Thomas, Chard, Somerset.
We were a group of 15 so took up quite a space on the coach. We had six of the ladies and their husbands and with our three widows it made a different group to our usual format! This is the eighth time we have had this type of holiday so our group are very happy to share a few days away together.
Quite a dry bright morning when we left at 10.15 and our driver Shaun introduced himself and gave us a outline of excursions etc. for the next few days. We had a short stop at 11.30 then onto an hour lunch stop at one o’clock. Unfortunately the cafe that we choose for our lunch had staff shortage so didn’t have a lot on the menu but the soup and roll was delicious! Back on the coach and a good journey and arrived at Warner’s at 4.45 pm.
We all got our keys and went to our rooms and met for dinner at 7 o’clock and after a drink in the bar went to the restaurant for our evening meal. After this we went to the Pavilion ballroom and watched the cabaret show of Bohemian Rocks. This was excellent, performed by the talented Team and featured the songs of Queen. Very good singing and dancing show.
After this there was music and dancing but we made tracks for our beds at 10.30 after a long day travelling.
Tuesday 25th February 2020 – Day Two
We went to breakfast at 8.30 am and one lady said her room was cold and a few of us had problems with the safes so we reported it to reception and pleased to say it was all sorted quickly.
At 11 o’clock we boarded our coach and went the short journey for half-day excursion to Clarke’s Shopping Village in Street. It was a wet cold morning so shopping was probably the best thing to do! Everyone went there own ways and I along with two of the ladies did some shopping then stopped for coffee and cake, after all it was Tuesday!!
We left at 1.30 pm for the journey back and on the way went through sun, rain, sleet and even snow – we experience all four sessions in one journey – quite weird. The sun was shining very brightly when we arrived at Cricket St. Thomas so a few of us decided to go to the Cricket House, Terrace Bar to sit on the sofas, in the sun and enjoy a wine and chat!! It was nice, very relaxing and an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon on holiday! Cricket House is a wonderful building and was used in the television series ‘To The Manor Born’.
We went to dinner at 7 o’clock. The food throughout our stay was very good. Plenty of choice and variety. We could have waiter service or self-service and there was always a roast along with dishes from around the world, plenty to choose from.
Then into the Pavilion for the show which was a singing act Lorna Adams. Before the show started there us dancing sequence, modern and line dancing which I joined in. She had a varied repertoire of hits from classical, musical theatre and modern pop. A nice act but unfortunately a water leak from the ceiling went onto four of our group who got wet and went to their rooms before the end of her act.
The rest of us stayed until the end of the show. After this some went to their rooms and some stayed to enjoyable the music and dancing and have a night cap.
We all enjoyed our first full day in Somerset.
Wednesday 26th February 2020 – Day Three
After breakfast we set off for our day excursion. Weather was bright, sunny and dry but a cold wind. Our first stop was Dorchester where we had two hours. It was market day so we wandered around. It was a large market with stalls selling all manner of goods. Lots of fruit, vegetable and flowers stalls. Cleaning products, clothes and also an antique indoor market. It was a very good market. I had never been to Dorchester and found it a very nice town and we found a very nice coffee shop for a pasty and drink.
Then back on the coach and a ride to Weymouth. Again I had never been there and really liked it. Although windy it was sunny so we had a nice walk along the promenade and looked at an a wonderful sculpture carved out of the sand. Many competitions are held here because the sand is very fine and perfect for making models. We walked along the High Street and then made our way to the Harbour where we got chips from Bennett’s the fish and chips shop which had been recommended by a policeman we had spoken too. We sat by the bridge at the harbour and ate them and kept an eye on the huge seagulls that were watching us very closely. From here we found a nice pub and enjoyed a wine for the ladies and beer for the man before we got back on the coach for the journey back. We got back to Warner’s at 4.30 pm and as we got off of the coach there was a flurry of snow!
Dinner was at 7 o’clock and from here we went into the Pavilion for the evening entertainment. The resident band Distinction Live was playing and a lot of people dancing. The show was Bruce Thompson Comedy. He was a very good comedian and one-man band. Very very funny and entertaining. Silly jokes and songs and defiantly focused on the age group he was entertaining!
We stayed for a while after his act to have a drink and dance. I joined in the line dancing and really enjoyed it.
Our second day was very full and we all enjoyed our time.
Thursday 27th February 202 – Day Four
Today was a free day to spend in the hotel. So after breakfast we all split up and did our own thing for the day.
Four ladies had booked for the Tai Chi session at 10 o’clock. Quite a few of us did the Backstage Tour at 11.15 am which was lead by two of the entertainment team and was very interesting. We were taken to the back of the stage and saw the dressings rooms of the girls and the boys and told when star such as Jane MacDonald and Alfie Boe are there to entertain they are given the girls dressing room and the staff all share the boys dressing room which must be a really tight squeeze! The tour finished with a demonstration of the box which is a small room where all technical moves take place, lighting, volume, curtain, extended stage and much more.
Four of us had booked for the Archery coaching. This was really great. A good young man giving the instructions and advice. We all managed to hit the target with not all but most of our bows. A good experience which I was pleased to have done.
Three of us ladies then went to the Pavilion to take part in Conundrum Corner a quiz. We were given a sheet of paper with 30 logos of products on it and we had to identify them. We managed to get 24 right and it is amazing how hard it is to identify everyday objects!
We all met at 6.30 pm for a pre-dinner drink in the Terrace Bar on our last night and managed to disrupt the room by getting 15 chairs together! From here we went to enjoy our last dinner at Cricket St Thomas.
The show for our last night was ‘A Tribute to the Music of Michael Buble’. A very good show with Billy Matthews one of the Entertainment Team. He told us of Michael’s life and sung many of his songs. A very good show which was followed by the residential band Distinction Live playing and singing music for social dancing. We had a very good ‘last night’ before going off to our rooms to pack and get a good night’s sleep before the journey home in the morning.
Friday 28th February 2020 – Five day
All up bright and early today to make sure we got our cases outside our doors by 7 am for the staff to take them and load them on our coach.
Breakfast was early at 7.30 pm and thoroughly enjoyed by us all. Then just left to say our goodbyes and thanks to staff and then boarding our coach for 9 pm. Everyone was on the coach in time so we set off on time.
Weather was dry but overcast and our journey home had sun, lots of rain and wind.
We had two stops on route a short coffee stop and an hour lunch stop. Our journey was good and many of us had a nap or two on the way!
We arrived around 3.00 pm at Hall Place and with our taxis ready and waiting for us we said our goodbyes to each other and were taken to our homes by the taxis. A really good service given by Jay and Kay Coach Holiday.
We all really enjoyed our break and said how quickly it went by. It was great to see so much of Somerset and surrounding areas and have the services of Shaun our driver. I think this is a great way to travel as no one has to worry about driving and Jay and Kay are an excellent company along with the services of Warner’s Leisure Holidays making it a perfect holiday!!