They're 2, They're 4. They're 6, They're 8

Since we've spoken last, i've done quite a bit of stuff! I spent my Wednesday morning with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. It was a great show, and even better, i've had his theme song stuck in my head all week.. "They're two they're four they're six they're eight, Shunting trucks and hauling freight, red and green and brown and blue, they're the really useful crew! All with different roles to play, Round tidmouths or far away, Down the hills and round the bends, Thomas and friends!" After starting my day with Thomas, I then got to spend some time with Ludo! Ludo is the big green dinosaur, in the new Butlins advert. Thursday I had a 'Big Art Attack' with kids 5-8. We traced our hands and got to decorate them with sparkles, tissues, markers, anything messy really. Then we put them all together to make a big art attack. I love doing these sessions because you get a lot of one on one time with the kids, and they become your friend for the week. Its amazing how you can make their day by just coloring a picture with them. Its pretty sweet. Later that day after a few other details, I spent some time in the Puppet Castle, on a jungle adventure! It was pretty awesome! Friday I hung out with Pingu for a bit, then said good bye to all of the families, as it was time for the adult weekend to begin!

Friday afternoon I was on reception again, checking in the parties, and then off to three hours of 'Road Map'. This is part of Butlins training that we do, helping us understand the culture and ways of not only Butlins, but of being a Red. After training I was off until Sunday morning. Friday night we started off at one of the other accommodations playing party games and then heading out to Center Stage. The accom was packed and it was a really great night out with the other reds. Saturday morning started off with a hangover, but I was up and ready for some shopping with my british mama. We went to portsmouth which is just about a 30 minute drive and it is a cute little town with a mall and lots of shops. It was a really good way to start my day. Unfortunately I only had about 3 hours sleep to last me until Sunday. Saturday night was one of the other Reds birthdays, so we went to her accom for predrinks. By the time we left the accom, after many rounds of "we like to drink with canada", I didn't last too long at Center. I was ready to go home, so in my heels walking down the stairs with Louis, I wiped out. Tumbling down a few steps in my heels, and hitting my ribs off the banister. At the time, I laughed it off, got to main floor, took off the heels and walked home. Sunday morning I woke up with a bruise on my left ribs, and my left leg from my knee down to my ankle is bright blue. My right ankle is somewhat swollen and it is in a serious amount of pain. My training on Sunday went from about 1130-4, and then I spent the rest of my night relaxing and watching friends, as I literally had no energy left in me. Monday morning all of the adults left, and it was the beginning of another family week. Because school is in now, it tends to be a lot of younger kids and the resort is only about half full. I worked reception and then Center Stage which is always a good time. Center Stage's show was Lazy Town which I got to see for the first time, and then I took a picture with Stephanie, Sportakus and Robbie Rotten. It was really good. Tuesday I spent the day on activities with my room mate, Chloe. It was so much fun as the activity sessions were small and we had a lot of one to one time with the same kids. It was really sweet. This brings us to today. So far I have hung out with Dino and Darwin which are two little Dinosaurs. One is green, and the other is orange. They are best friends that were born at Butlins. Im now off to swan the skyline, and then tonight I am in Center to watch Street life and Festival. Have a fabulous day! xo

Circus is Over!

Another amazing weekend at Butlins. The theme for this weekend was clowns.. not to my personal excitement. I struggle with the idea of thousands of people fully dressed up in weird unmatching suits, neon coloured hair, awkwardly large shoes, painted faces and odd props. The whole thing just freaks me out. My weekend began on Friday working reception in the Skyline. For two hours, guests come to me with their information and booking number, I find their name and give them the keys to the room. While doing this, clowns that had already checked in, were surrounding the area. I met a really nice clown, who told me he was the only American clown in the resort. He thought that I was american as well, which offended me slightly, as I am Canadian, and apparently no one can tell the difference. Most of the families that checked in, didn't actually know that it was a clown weekend, and to no surprise, most of the kids were absolutely terrified. Friday night, I worked in 'the Zone' with Nathan, another red. There ended up being about 6 kids that showed up, aged 13-17. We spent a few hours playing on the Wii, Xbox, watching music videos, and playing pool. Then I had the rest of my night off. Lucky for me, I had all of Saturday off, so I stayed far away from the Skyline and avoided clowns at all cost. Sunday I worked a lot of the kids club type activities. I had stage school in the zone where I learned how to spin plates, played some games with younger kids, and taught them a dance with Tiffany, another red. There was a clown parade in town so that is where all the clowns went, even though it poured down rain. Monday, everyone left, and a new crop of families moved onto resort. I worked the main gate for a few hours and met a bunch of new resort safety guys. Then I spent some time with Billy the Bear, then swanned the Skyline. I worked in Center Stage that night as well, and it wasn't too busy. Today I watched 'Little Big Club' with Pingo's fun fitness, Bob the builder in Sunflower Valley, and Barney too! I'm now off for a few hours until I go into the Skyline tonight for Tots Disco.

After work tonight, a bunch of the reds are going to Hatters I believe. This is one of the bars in town which when busy turns into a good night out with cheap drinks. This week the resort isn't too full so it gives more of an opportunity to bond with families, and make a difference in their kids vacations. We can add 'sparkle'. Friday all of the families will head home, and then its another adult weekend. This one is Soul & Motown. On Saturday its one of the girls birthdays so we are all going out in fancy dress I think. Should be another good night. I don't work much this weekend, but I do have activities training, so hopefully I can move into being an Activities Red soon! Since I have a few hours off now, Im going to watch 'The Little Rascals' and enjoy a cup of tea. As always, everything here is great, loving life!

Keep Calm & Drink Wine

Well.. where to begin? My first week of work went amazingly well, full of families, everything was crazy busy and I learned a ton of new things. We shut down for a few days and I had the opportunity to learn some of the party dances. It was alot to take in and still busy, even though resort was closed. While being shut, its pretty much reds bonding time, so I got to know alot of my coworkers better. The past weekend we opened for an adult weekend. I think we have these once every 6 weeks or so. This theme was the 70's. Basically groups of the same sex come to Butlins for a weekend of binge drinking, hen parties, and getting rowdy. They check in, and hit the bar. By the time Center Stage opens at night, everyone is pissed, and in the strangest outfits. The 70's attracts a bit of an older crowd, but 20's to 30's come too cause its a cheap weekend to get together and get drunk. I lucked out and only had to work reception on Friday, checked some guests in, and had the weekend off, to experience everything it had to offer. It was outrageous and you would have to be here to be able to understand how ridiculous it gets. Sunday, everyone checked out and we were closed again for the week. When resort is closed, they open up one of the bars for us. Jak's is just music and drinks, Hotshots has bowling, and pool. Predrinks are almost always at L9 which is another accommodation. And if no one wants to hit one of our bars, then we will either go to Sheiks (or vision nightclub) which is right on the pier, or Ground Zero (club lush?) which is just in town a bit. It has basically been a two week party, non stop. I've gotten to know tons of people and had amazing times drinking with everyone. I don't think i've ever drank so much wine, and played so many games of 'never have i ever'. I've picked up the nickname 'Canada' and i'm rarely called Carlie anymore. I'm good with this, as long as no ones calling me a yankee.  My Butlins experience is like a University experience but instead of exams and essays, there are kids clubs and arts and crafts. Best time of my life.

After the adult weekend, I packed my bags up, and moved two rows forward. I now live with 3 other girls and I love it! My room has white walls with phrases written in black. I have a big wardrobe and 'Keep Calm' boxes for my tshirts. The washroom is tons of bright colors and the living area has red accents with brown couches and dark cream colored walls. I'm really enjoying my new accom and everything else that is happening. The one downfall about being here, is the rumors. Its like i'm back in highschool, but worse! There are about 500 staff that live on resort, and rumors spread like wildfire here. I've had a handfull go around about me but ive tried to sort them all out, as none of them have an ounce of truth. Luckily, the people I work with have backed me up and made me feel better. No matter where I am there will always be rumors, some people need to just mind their own business. On a positive note, I had a meeting with my boss about my probation, and I am now officially a redcoat! She had tons of good things to say about me, and now I can breathe easy that I got the job. It would have been an expensive flight home. All of entertainments team are getting sweaters made up for us. They will be any color we want, say our name or nickname, and then a phrase. I am getting a white sweater, with red writing, and "Baby Canada" on the back. As I am the youngest Redcoat, and the only Canadian to ever be a Red. Love it!!!

The resort opens up again today for the clown weekend. Yes, that is correct.. Over 3000 international clowns will be walking here for the next 3 days. I am not overly excited about this. I work reception in a little bit, and then at night I am on the silent disco. A silent disco is one of the bars opened up with no music playing.. everyone wears headsets and they have 2 different stations with different songs. Everyone is dancing to different songs, and its entertaining as hell. I have also signed up for DJ'ing so hopefully i'll be trained on that soon too. We get new uniforms in a few weeks I think, as right now we are wearing last years which are the white skirts, retro style. I actually really like them, but the new ones are nice as well. I have tomorrow off to do a bit of laundry and practice my party dances. I am so glad that we are opening up again because my liver can't handle anymore partying!! I need a break, and my bank account needs to have more coming in then going out. Sorry this was such a long update, I'm going to try and update it at least once a week from now on.

So to everyone back home, this has been one of the most amazing months of my life.. I'm more than happy and can't wait for whatever is about to happen next. xox