Thursday 23rd December

Everyone arrived at the hotel safely today, settling into their rooms and getting to know each other. We enjoyed a fabulous 3-course gala dinner, and then a few of us chose to relax in the bar. Everyone had a chilled evening and got a good night’s sleep, excited for the holiday ahead!

Friday 24th December

Today we went on the Forrest of Dean steam train. Santa came bearing gifts for all of us, including a lovely mug. We enjoyed our lunch together on the train and had a great time! After the train ride, we decided to go hunting for souvenirs at the gift shop. Later in the evening, we had a lovely jacket potato for dinner and then a group of us went to the local church for a carol service, meeting Wendy and Geraint there. After returning from church, those who were hungry had soup and some breadsticks for a little late-night snack.

Saturday 25th December

Christmas Day today! We kicked things off with a delicious continental breakfast, before having some time to relax and open our presents. We wore our party hats to Xmas lunch, enjoying the lovely food, pulling lots of crackers and telling bad jokes! In the afternoon, Father Christmas came to visit and brought us all gifts. His festive helper, Neil, was riding around on a snowman; Nathan and Gill enjoyed chasing him! Everyone chose to relax later on, doing arts & crafts whilst watching Christmas movies. We finished off the night enjoying a buffet dinner and dancing at the disco!

Sunday 26th December

Today we decided on a relaxing day. Some of us chose to do Christmas crafts and colouring, whilst others watched festive movies and chilled out. We had some lovely sandwiches for our lunch, and then played some games of bingo after our dinner, it was a well-deserved relaxing day!

Monday 27th December

This morning, we relaxed in the Founders room, doing art & crafts and watching some more movies. After another round of sandwiches for lunch, a group of us went into Coleford where we enjoyed a cuppa, coffee and hot chocolate in a local cafe. This was followed up by a trip to the cinema, where we watched the funny film ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’. We all had a good laugh and agreed that it was a great film! In the evening, after dinner we enjoyed a dance to the evening entertainment.

Tuesday 28th December

This morning, after breakfast some of us went to the pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, enjoying a fabulous roast dinner at the theatre before. The rest of the group chose to relax in the Founders room, doing crafts and colouring or watching a movie. After dinner, we all sang karaoke, everyone had a great time singing their favourite songs!

Wednesday 29th December

Today everyone who didn’t go yesterday headed off to the panto We all thought it was a great show, joining in with all of the audience applause! The Xmas dinner was lovely, rounding off a day of great fun. Those back at the hotel relaxed, watching some movies whilst doing arts & crafts, there were some beautiful drawings! In the evening, after dinner we played some more games of bingo.

Thursday 30th December

Everyone had a chilled-out day in the hotel today. Some of us worked on more of our arts & crafts projects, whilst others played some games with Neil. A few of us enjoyed watching a movie. We enjoyed a fantastic 3-course evening meal, before Alister, Karen, Michael Pauline, Simon, Stevie and Thomas went to visit Sudeley Castle, spectacle of light. The gardens and castle looked beautiful illuminated in the night sky, where we met fairies. Those who didn’t go to Sudeley sang karaoke, it was great fun and a really memorable evening.

Friday 31st December

This morning, after breakfast Jenni, Natasha, Keith, Pat, Alister, Terry, Nathan and Jocelyn all walked into town to do some shopping at the sales! Meanwhile, Karen, Darren, Richard, Leo, Simon, Tom and Stevie all headed out on the minibus to find some wild boars! Whilst they didn’t manage to find any, they saw a deer and managed to get some fantastic photos. Michelle and Sarah did some crafts whilst the others chose to relax and watch a movie. Later on in the evening, we all got dressed up for the impressive gala dinner and disco, seeing in the New Year and dancing until 1am.

Saturday 1st January

This morning after brunch, a small group of us went to the Rising Sun Inn to watch the Forest of Dean Morris dances. They even let us join in with the last dance, everyone agreed that they’d had so much fun! We returned to the hotel for lunch, crafts and time to pack. In the evening, after a delicious 3-course dinner we enjoyed a disco for our last night!

Sunday 2nd January

This morning, after breakfast we all said goodbye to our friends and mage our way home. We all agreed that we’d had a fabulous holiday to the Forest of Dean together, and we can’t wait to go away with Options again soon!