We are OFFICIALLY too big for a hotel March 5, 2012

I need an answer to a question that has been bothering me for some time now. Where can I find hotels that offer suitable accommodation for families with 2 or more children?

It’s something I keep meaning to ask every other parent on the planet but somehow, never get around to. The issue always seems to raise its head when I am pressed for time and in desperate need of confirmed accommodation for our family, but don’t have the spare 3 weeks necessary to conduct in-depth analysis of where I should be looking and which rooms should I ask for. I need the Holy Grail of family accommodation.

My husband’s younger brother is getting married in Bath this summer, and as we are anticipating some sort of family dinner the night before the big ‘I do’, we’re planning on making a weekend of it.

So, we need accommodation for 2 adults and 3 children, in or around Bath, one of the tourist hotspots of England. Surely this can’t be too hard?

Oh foolish twinsmummy. Do I never learn?

My father in law passed on the details of the hotel where he will be staying which is also the same venue where the bride and groom will spend their first night as Mr & Mrs. I checked out the website and was delighted. It’s a divine looking boutique hotel, housed in a Georgian townhouse in the heart of Bath city centre. There is talk of organic breakfasts, luxury toiletries and egyptian cotton.

There is no talk of children.

Undeterred, I contacted the hotel who confirmed that they could put an extra single bed in one of their larger double rooms, but 3 extra beds? Sorry, no. They don’t have interconnecting rooms so the only option is for us to book one double and one twin room.

I’m not comfortable with the children being alone in a room whilst we’re in another, so the reality is that twinsdaddy would end up sharing a double with the big brother, whilst I enjoyed the twin room, with the twins!

Whatever way I look at this option, it just doesn’t appeal.

It’s also an eye-wateringly expensive way of spending two full nights without any sleep!

It’s always the same dilemma. Family rooms only ever cater for 2 children, meaning 3 children are meant to occupy their own room unsupervised. When the twins were still in cots we managed to just about get around the issue by asking for an extra bed for the big brother, and then wedging the travel cots in whatever floor space remained. Depending on the hotel in question, this meant the girls spent the night pressed up against desks, tv cabinets, between wardrobes, or on one occasion, with the cot firmly inside the en suite bathroom.

I did have one thought which was to share the children out among some of the other wedding guests. We could keep the big brother in our room as he’s the least likely to bounce on our heads at 5am; and then offer up the twins to whoever fancies a sleepover with a 3-year-old.

Any takers?

 

Twinsmummy goes to Australia March 10, 2011

The reason I’ve been a bit quiet lately is due to the fact that I’m currently on holiday in Australia.

No husband, no children. It’s a strange experience.

I optimistically packed my trusty Macbook thinking I’d be writing witty little blogs every day, given I’d have loads of free time with no children to look after.

But a funny thing has happened. We’ve got no wireless broadband in our beach house, which definitely limits the writing opportunities; but I also haven’t had much in the way of free time.

My best friend is getting married, and as her ‘right hand woman’, my role is to be on hand to help with all the last minute preparations. And there have been quite a few.

It’s over 10 years since I got married, so I’ve forgotten just how much needs organising. We’ve had outings to deliver cake ribbon, to make nail appointments, to book restaurants, and taxis.

We’ve talked about timings, and the weather, and the timing of the weather.

We’ve thought of Plans A, B and C.

It’s all been rather exhausting.

I’m starting to think that maybe bringing up three children isn’t such hard work after all.

 

Pre-Flight Nerves February 11, 2011

Four weeks today my best friend is getting married and I’m going to be her bridesmaid.

Frankly, I think I’m a little too old for the whole bridesmaid shenanigans, but she assures me it’s just a dated title and my only duties will be escorting her to the spa the day before, opening the champagne on the morning of the big “I do”, and remembering to pack her lipstick in my clutch bag.

I refuse to even consider being labelled ‘matron of honour’, so if anyone asks, I’m the ‘best woman’.

At least she’s chosen a good location for it. She’s getting married on the beach in Sydney with a small, select group of friends and family in attendance. There will be great food, good wine and hopefully, fabulous weather. And no children!

Yes, I am attending the wedding without my ‘plus 4′.

The original idea was to take the entire family down under and make a holiday of it. But that plan was ruined by dull issues such as my son’s impending SATs, the fact that it’s term time, and the minor problem that to fly all 5 of us over to Sydney is only marginally less expensive than NASA’s space programme.

In a moment of weakness, my husband said that I should take the opportunity for a break from parenting duties, and head to Australia alone. I think as the moment draws ever closer, he may be regretting that decision, but I keep assuring him he’ll love the experience of holding down a full-time, incredibly demanding job whilst juggling the parenting of 3 equally demanding children.

Meantime, I’m having a few concerns of my own. I have no worries that the children will be absolutely fine. Grandma is flying out for the week to help out.

Big brother will be at school for 5 days, and the girls at nursery . I have written list after list detailing feeding, clothing, homework and play routines.

The freezer will be pre-stocked with stocks of low-resistance meals for all and I’m ready to take a more relaxed view of television and chocolate consumption for the week.

No, the thing that’s concerning me is how I’m going to cope. I have never been away from the girls, and only away from the big brother on a handful of occasions. Usually for 1 or 2 nights at most.

This trip is a rather epic 7 days mostly because it takes a full day to get there and back, meaning I’m only in Sydney for a mere 5 days.

I remember the first time I left the big brother it was for a work event on the Gold Coast. We were living in Singapore so it was a reasonably long flight that took most of a day. When we landed, I remember thinking that it would be my little one’s bedtime and having an overwhelming urge to just sit on the plane and fly back to Singapore to be with him.

As it was, I was staying at the Versace hotel for 4 days, so as soon as I arrived and checked into my rather decadent suite, my yearnings somewhat subsided!

So, I’ve got just over 3 weeks until I leave Dubai on my big trip east and the pre-flight nerves are setting in. I suppose the thing that worries me more than anything. What if they don’t even notice I’ve gone?

Bridesmaids and Buses June 7, 2010

There’s a saying about buses and how there’s never one around when you want one, and then two arrive at once. Now I wouldn’t know anything about that as I don’t do buses, apart from the ones at the airport that you really have no choice about, and I still complain about those. The point is, I’m starting to think that it’s the same with being asked to be a bridesmaid.

The last time I was a bridesmaid it was 2002, and I have to say, I thought that was my final go. It was my fourth time as the flower-wielding, dress-holding, tissue-waving support act and I loved every minute of it. However, with my two best friends married off, I thought I’d probably done my bit for the sisterhood.

I have attended many other perfectly lovely weddings as a guest, but it’s just not the same as being on the inside. Being part of the ‘bridal party’. Getting to sit at the top table. Feeling obliged to crack open the champagne the minute you arrive at the hairdressers.

And let’s not forget, when you’re merely a guest, you have to buy your own dress!

When my sister announced her engagement a few months ago, I did think that she’d probably bypass me and go straight for the cute factor by asking my twin daughters to be flower girls. But no. It seems she wanted the old girl after all.

I like to think it’s because she couldn’t imagine walking down the aisle without her big sister at her side to support her, but if I’m honest, it’s probably got more to do with the fact that unlike my daughters, I’m toilet trained and can be safely left at a table with a knife and fork.

So, bridesmaid duties take 5 are starting to take shape. My sister has seen a dress for her and dresses for us. Frankly, I’m not sure she needs my help at all given there’s another 13 months to go until the wedding and aside from sending out the invites, she seems to have it all under control. However, I am a bridesmaid, and I’m sure that nearer the time, I will be an invaluable asset in the dress-holding and tissue-waving department.

It was all exciting stuff and I was pretty happy with the situation. I had something really lovely to look forward to being a part of.

And then my best friend asked me if I’d be her bridesmaid. Next year. In Sydney.

Well, what’s a girl to do…

Simple really. Start looking at flights. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Star Wars April 25, 2010

My son is going through a Star Wars phase. He watched the original film about a month ago and since then, all conversations have revolved around saving the galaxy.

This morning, I went downstairs to check that he was wearing his school uniform and not his Optimus Prime or Spiderman costumes, and found him in the play room drawing out battle plans on his blackboard. Only after lengthy explanations of who was shooting who, was I able to get him to the table for breakfast.

After school, he roped the twins in to his new game. Twin 2 is R2-D2 because she can’t speak and makes funny little noises which in fairness shows a level of perception I haven’t credited him with before. Twin 1 is a Wookiee - I daren’t ask why.

He spent about an hour leaping around the nursery with his lightsaber getting frustrated that the girls weren’t embracing their roles fully.

To avoid further friction, I suggested a walk to the park so he donned white PE shorts, a white t-shirt and white trainers so he could go as a Stormtrooper. He swooshed and swiped his lightsaber all the way there and all the way back whilst at the same time briefing me on the latest battle strategies.

His enthusiasm seems to know no bounds. We Skyped my future brother-in-law to congratulate him on his engagement and he very sweetly asked my son if he would like to be one of his ushers on the big day. Not one to miss an opportunity, my son quickly asked if said duties might involve being dressed as a Stormtrooper. I cringed a little, smiled and said that ushers didn’t generally turn up as Stormtroopers.

I’m not sure I should have bothered. My soon to be brother-in-law seemed quite taken by the thought of a Star Wars themed wedding. Unnervingly so.

So the only real issue is, who’s going to tell my sister she’s going to be walking down the aisle as Princess Leia?