Self catering, Kenyan style

Like friends and family in other parts of the world, we headed to the beach this week to make the most of the kids' two day half term. I thought it was time to try something different from our favourite (and so far the kids only) beach place and booked a small self catering house on Diani beach, south of Mombasa. There was some suspicion of this decision as we definitely have three kids who know what they like and like what they know. But we all agreed that with access to the sea, a pool and our own mini plunge pool it wouldn't be too bad and there were no complaints as we boarded the small 18 seater plane for our flight here - and even the 6am start that is so much part of our routine now didn't cause the usual school day complaints of being too tired to get up, get dressed and get out.

I knew that the house came with people to look after it - pool guy, gardener, cleaner, night guard. But I had assumed they looked after all 8 houses on the compound. Turns out I was wrong. We have a cleaner all day, a chef and another man who generally helps the first 2, sorts taxis when we want to go off adventuring and makes coffee at just the right moment. Then there is the head chef for the compound who pops in to see what we would like the local fishermen to catch for dinner and to collect the cash for any other shopping we need. Plus of course the communal pool guy and gardener, who has been picking fresh coconuts for the kids to drink and then turn into toys for pool games.

On occasion it does feel a bit like Piccadilly Circus and I'm glad a packed lots of sarongs to wear over my swimwear - which is definitely in need of a major overhaul after a mix of high use, extreme laundry and strong chemicals have tested it to its limits. But it does mean we are all very relaxed and have plenty of time to go rockpooling, looking for crabs, snorkelling, swimming, reading and generally hanging out in the water.

And if that's not relaxing enough, the house comes with a massage bed in the garden and a lady called Rose who comes over to do nails, massage and a range of other beauty treatments. Tough life!

Katie has rarely been out of her new bikini, which she bought at H&M in london in the Easter snow and which Jamie and I deemed far too bling to be seen carrying round the shop until it was safely hidden in a plastic bag. Walking to the beach yesterday she wondered out loud why such things were sold in a country that is soooooo cold that she could never wear it there. I fear a lengthy process of rehab will be needed to ease her back to picnics and fish and chips on windy pebbly beaches in Sussex and Cornwall. She may not be the only one who needs it.



Jamie has had fun learning how to prepare crabs, reading and just relaxing.





Matthew has been torn between his Harry Potter book and the pool and has immersed himself in both in equal measure

And Tim and I have read lots, done a bit of running (Tim) and swimming (me) and just generally unwound. We are all agreed we love the beach. I'm already being asked when we will be back at the seaside, and fun as the "self catering" has been the consensus is that next time we will return to our usual haunt.

Anne