Hoburne Torbay, Grange Court, Grange Road, Goodrington, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 7JP
 
"You're gonna like this site, not a lot, but you'll like it," joked Paul as we pulled up onto this very steep site at Goodrington, near Paignton. I think Paul must have made the sea view I requested when booking vanish also. The pitches were cramped and sloping, and the toilets were not the cleanest we had ever seen. But the sun had come out and the heat wave started. Though initial impressions of the site were not so good, our opinions changed as the week went on.
  
Next to play a call was our old friend Luciano Pavarotti. He was appearing as Sunday night cabaret in the family entertainment bar. He warmed up in our awning practicing the words to the "Sammy the Seahorse" song.

To the tune of Hey Baby:

"Hey Sammy, (Ooh Ahh)
I wanna know oh oh oh, if you'll be my friend"
etc. etc.

He went down a storm and the kids loved him, and his dance routine with Sammy the Seahorse and Larry the Lobster was a sensation. On the whole, the entertainment for children and adults couldn't be faulted, the bar was reasonably priced and had beautiful views over Torbay.

 
What an unlikely combination! We couldn't believe that Anne Robinson and Acker Bilk enjoyed caravanning together in their late 70's Super Sprite. Acker Bilk spent much of his day practicing his clarinet. It was quite nice to listen to at first, but after listening to "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night" for the ninety ninth time it became quite tiresome. Hence we couldn't believe it when Anne came across to ask us to keep the noise down and be more considerate. Nearly all the caravaners on our row were having a joint barbeque and chat and warming our feet on the chiminea in the balmy heat of an August evening. Surely that's what caravanning is all about! All the kids were asleep and the conversation hushed. And it wasn't even midnight. What could have possessed party pooper Anne to interrupt such a civilized jolly gathering , maybe she was jealous of Pat and Deb's brand new caravan, or Becky's chiminea. Whatever the reason I hope she wasn't too offended as she took the walk of shame back to her van to the display of bared backsides, and accompanied by cries suggesting that Acker may wish to insert his clarinet up a suitable orifice!
  
  Our final guest was Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell. Though normally critical, he was impressed with the sites indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room, snooker room, indoor and outdoor children's play areas. He even took the 15 minute walk to Goodrington beach, as he needed to buy an inflatable ring for the pool, and thought the prices there may be more reasonable than the camp shop. Like us, he really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the site and how everyone, with the exception of Anne, chatted and got on. We really enjoyed our week at Hoburne Torbay, despite initial impressions, and made many good friends.