Do you have a memory of a favourite holiday?

Isle of Wight 1977.

We always went to Herne Bay (recently featured in the itv drama Joan BTW) which was only about 30 miles down the line for us. We never had a car so something cheap and easy by train.

But in 76 went to the Isle of Wight. All five of us. Last family holiday we all had together. The summer everyone remembers. I remember walking along the cliffs and nothing but brown grass everywhere.

In 77 Dad decided we'd go again but the flat we'd previously used wasn't available so in a rush of madness he paid for a hotel in Ventnor for us all. Then my brother who was fully into 18 year old sullen teenager mode refused to come so just the four or us navigated the trains and ferry to get there including the taxi from the end of the line to Ventnor.

The hotel was owned by an old soldier. It was very Fawlty Towers with a gong sounding mealtimes, very noisy plumbing etc.

And the weather! The opposite of the year before. We traipsed about in rainmacks and bobble hats as it poured down. Even my mum came to a cinema showing with me of YesSongs for an afternoon out the rain.

But I remember the laughs the working out bus routes to just go round the island not getting wet etc etc

We arrived home to my brother having totally rearranged the furniture etc. Dad went ballistic and that was the first of a sequence of them butting heads that led to him moving out not long afterwards.

Dad died 40 years ago this month. We never had another holiday together and the family was splitting apart as us kids moved on.

So without a doubt it's my favourite holiday memory of the family.

My sisters and I spent 2-3 weeks each summer with our grandparents in Poland and all those holidays were fantastic.

But my favourite holiday of all was camping on Dartmoor with my dad. He decided one day that he and I needed a break from the rest of the family. We drove all of 12 miles to a stretch of moorland owned by the ministry of defence and spent three nights completely and utterly alone.

I think anywhere exotic you go as a kid leaves lasting memories