Jon Nixey - HolidaysThinking back to my childhood, I always looked forward to September time. The reason? Well that was when we went on holiday! My mum used to go to a day centre for the disabled, Tyleri Court, and each year they would arrange holidays. I remember going with my parents to a number of places, The Osborne Hotel in Blackpool, Bracklesham Bay in West Sussex, Hayling Island in Hampshire, Westward Ho! in Devon, and two of my all time favourites, Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, and Seaton in Devon. I had 2 very enjoyable holidays in the summer of 1983. First of all I went to Lancashire with some good friends, and we stayed with other friends at Nelson, not far from Burnley. One place we visited was Ingleton Falls, which I'll never forget. It was, and no doubt still is, an awesome sight! Only a few days after getting home from Lancashire, my uncle Gary, auntie Elvira, and cousins Jill and Paul, took me to the south of France for three weeks. That was the first time I'd ever been abroad, well with the exception of England! It was quite an experience in a number of ways! Although I'd taken French lessons in school, I wasn't in any way good enough to be able to talk to any of the French people. Before I left, a friend had told me that by the time I got home, I'd be put off fried eggs for life. I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by that! The last holiday I went on with my parents from the day centre was in 1985 when we stayed at Seaton, Devon. For a few years after I married Su in May 1986, holidays tended to be going to Gosport in Hampshire to stay with Su's family, although on a couple of occasions we stayed in a friend's caravan at Trecko Bay in Porthcawl, South Wales. My parents had booked a holiday at the Lauriston Hotel in Weston-Super-Mare, but sadly, a couple of months before the date they were due to go, my mum died unexpectedly. Rather than cancelling the holiday, my dad asked Su and I if we would like to go in place of them. By then, our son Paul was about 3 years old, and this was our first taste of hotels run specifically for blind and partially sighted people. the time we spent there was so enjoyable, and the older guests seemed very happy to have Paul's company. I think his favourite, and probably Su's and mine as well, was Jack, who called everyone "me dook". In 1992, Su Paul and myself stayed at the Cliffden Hotel in Teignmouth, devon, which had been opened and run by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. It was an instant hit with us! Having 24-hour kennel staff on hand to deal with any doggy problems was extremely reassuring! In the early 2000's, Cliffden was closed down while a new wing was added to the existing building. This gave us the opportunity to go to another of the hotels for the blind, and we chose Windermere Manor in the Lake District. As soon as the work was complete at Cliffden, we once again returned to Devon for our holidays. For a number of years now, the 2 guide Dog hotels in Teignmouth and Windermere have been run by Action for Blind People. The service is still good, the holidays still very enjoyable, but, as one would expect, the care and facilities once in place for the guide dogs staying there can in no way be compared to the high standards of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Related Links |