This is a recent story that has been shared pretty widely but causes laughter still!

As last year was quite a tough year, we decided to go away in October half term. We booked a lovely Airbnb with a hot tub, next to a golf club in Norfolk, for four nights. The kids were excited for the hot tub, Sean was excited for the golf and I was just excited to get away with my lovely family!

The only fly in the ointment was the five-hour drive to get there. I looked at the route and had thought that on the way we could stop off in Windsor to do some sightseeing and, on the way back, visit Cambridge and do the same. So we loaded up the car and roof box with everything we needed, including Sean’s golf clubs, and headed off on a bright autumn morning.

We bought meal deals for everyone and arrived in Windsor at lunchtime. We drove past the castle and talked about how we could have a look around the outside and enjoy a walk in the gardens (to be fair, the kids weren’t that excited about it!). However, we got to the car park and saw the cost of parking just for one hour and decided that looking at the castle from the car was sufficient!

Everyone ate their meal deals in the car before we set off again, eager to get to our destination. We arrived at about 3pm. Let ourselves into the house and had an explore. Everyone chose their room, and we came back down to empty the car. We got the few bits out of the boot, a couple of games, pillows and Tom’s bag. Then Sean went to open the roof box and held out a hand for the key.

I didn’t have it. Sean and Tom had filled the roof box and locked it. We checked the car, under the seats in the cup holders, in everyone’s pockets. But the truth soon became obvious. The keys were sitting on our key hook at home! My first thought was, how hard can it be to break into a roof box? Turns out pretty hard!

We got a knife out and had a poke around. This did nothing. Next step, google! We found some videos on YouTube but discovered we didn’t have the tools needed. The next best thing was a locksmith. So we called a few. It was now getting on for 4pm and none of them were keen to come out to our remote spot. The one who agreed to come, said he couldn’t guarantee to get into it and would just look, but thought it unlikely he could get in. He would charge us either way!

So change of plan, Sean jumped in the car and drove over to the nearest Halfords to ask if they could help by giving us a spare key or giving us the tools we needed to break in. An hour later, it was getting dark as he pulled up. I’d been entertaining the kids while we waited, only Tom could use the hot tub because only he had any clothes!

We had another go at breaking into the lock without success. We discussed all the options, did we need everything in the roof box? Probably we could have managed, except for the fact Sean’s golf clubs were in there, and that was the reason we’d chosen this location. We went round and round and realised there were only two options left. I go to Halfords, plead helpless female (urgh!), and try to get them to help or Sean drive the five hours back home and get the key. Obviously, we went for the first option.

I didn’t get anywhere with Halfords, although they were very sympathetic but they couldn’t break into anyone’s roof box. So I took the girls who had come with me to buy some swimming costumes and other essentials for that night and headed back, in the dark and rain, down winding country roads to the lodge we were staying in.

Sean had already accepted the inevitable and had something to eat before jumping back in the car and driving back to Bournemouth. He got back just after midnight and got the key out straight away and tried to unlock the box. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t turn! So instead of spending any more time fiddling with it, he went to bed and set an alarm for 6am.

The next morning, he tried again with the key and found it wasn’t just because he was trying in the dark; the lock was officially broken. With no other choice, he got a hammer and chisel and broke his way in! It was harder than expected, but he had managed to make the hole in the picture below.

So he had gotten everything out of the hole and put it all in the boot. Now he had a holey roof box that needed to come off the roof rails. Otherwise as well as a roof box we would have to buy roof bars! Cue, crawling into the box on top of the car to unscrew the brackets! I think he was very glad to be on his own as he did all this! I’m sure his frustration would have been worse if I had been there offering helpful advice! Although, Leo might have been better suited to crawling around a tiny box on top of the car!

Finally, he began the journey back, and arrived in Norfolk at lunchtime. I’d been entertaining the kids by feeding the ducks, soaking in the hot tub and playing card games! As soon as he got in, I sent him out to have a few minutes to himself in the hot tub before the kids jumped in and the holiday could finally begin!

The rest of the time away was really lovely, we went to a swimming pool, visited a zoo and had chips on the seafront. But the holiday will always be remembered as the one with the key drama!