THE kids are at home for the summer holidays. I love the summer holidays at the beginning and then wane by the end.

The thing I love most is no early mornings.

My children love to lie in, which is a luxury. Of course, on the downside, they don’t like to go to bed.

These are special holidays because my son is coming home, and for the first time in a decade we don’t have the threat of a military posting hanging over us so we have some stability.

Personally, I don’t mind moving. I love new places, new faces and adventures. I have lived on the open road for as long as I can remember.

I hope I don’t get ants in my pants now things are more stable.

On the bright side the summer is going to be dedicated to clearing out the clutter and creating order in preparation for the autumn term. I am excited because my son can join the Scouts and do after-school clubs, take swimming lessons and have friends that he will grow up with.

My daughter can too, although she has not been passed from pillar to post in quite the same way.

The good news is that there is plenty to do in Wiltshire over the holidays. Even on our doorstep, the children are never short of adventure.

We love to go to Salisbury market together and wonder at the delights, Wilton House is a great day out, not to mention Longleat, Farmer Giles Farmstead, Tisbury open air swimming pool and the Salisbury Odeon – the gothic cinema has a certain magic and charm.

There are picnics in the fields, lovely walks around Stourhead, and even the park keeps them occupied for hours.

And the beach and the New Forest are only an hour away if we run out of things to do around here. So this summer’s plan is to de-clutter and then cram as much fun and outdoor time in as is possible.

My daughter and I love brambling and hopefully the blackberry bushes will fare better this year than last.

Already we are eyeing them up trying to work out where will be the most fruitful because we are definitely going to be “jamming with Bob Marley” as we like to say.

Last year we made Harvest Moon Magic Jam – the best jam in the world.

The apples, pears and blackberries were all harvested from my garden on the eve of the harvest moon.

Wiltshire is the best place in the world to make incredible jam. Don’t take my word for it – try it for yourself. This year’s harvest moon is September 22.

n Writer & journalist Clare Macnaughton latest book is available on Amazon worldwide. A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline is an honest account of a decade of being married to an RAF officer serving in the British military.

Follow Clare on twitter: @amodmilitarymum Blog: amodernmilitarymother.com