As I sit down to write this I am in awe of the huge task ahead of me. It feels somewhat daunting that at 10pm on a saturday night I have just set up our blog when really I should be tucked up under the covers listening to the summer rain or dreaming about the crochet bunting I've been wanting to create.
However, here I am. I really should make it quick!
So it begins when Em and I decide a 40th birthday party is just not going to happen. Should we perhaps treat ourselves to some time away? Just 2 friends, without our men or our children, catching up, laughing, crafting, eating, op shopping, market-ing and sleeping in. All according to our own schedule and whim? Oohhh yes pleeeaase.
How lucky are we with the love and support of our families we do it and we do it well. And that is what has inspired this whole blog thingy. So let us guide you day by day through our journey, 40 - 40.
THE PLANNING
THE PLANNING
How do we do this? Where do we go? How much do we want to spend? How will our families cope without us? Will our men be ok with the kids? How long do we go for? Oh the questions we asked ourselves and others and the guilt we felt for the numerous weeks of planning our 'fortieth retreat'. Guilt- enormous amounts of guilt! Guilt for being away, guilt for spending money on ourselves, guilt for being and feeling completely indulgent for a whole week! It's a big thing for a mother to leave her children. Even if it is leaving very well behaved children with very competent, loving, capable, wonderful fathers who have support mechanisms in place. The guilt. We felt it regardless of want or need to feel it. Nonetheless, we move on.
Initially we were looking at a short flight. Hobart, Sydney, Byron- the beach- oh yes. With much research and air fare watching we come across cheap flights to Auckland. Only minutely more costly the flying to Hobart and much cheaper than flying to Byron. Unreal, let's go, we can do it. A stamp in the passsport for our 40th- awesome. Booked, paid for, many hours scouring the net for just the right place to stay- got it, booked- WOOO HOOO!!!! Ahhh, now for the waiting. More surfing the net for farmers and craft markets, places to eat, wool shops etc etc. the only thing bothering us was that due to tight security we wouldn't be taking our crochet hooks on board- blah! imagine finally having 3 hours to ourselves and NOT being able to crochet. Man it will do our heads in!! The universe, however, had other plans.
THE REALITY
Just 2 weeks before our departure the airline called to say our flight to Auckland had been cancelled- (WHAT!!)- and we could change the flight or get a refund. You've got to be joking. Really!! A short conversation with Emma revealed that due to other circumstances there were no other suitable flights therefore we cancelled the flights and were back to the drawing board. HMMM..........what now.
THE SOLUTION
A few panicked phone calls and some time spent in the Waiting Place and we had secured a week in an amazing apartment at the Cape Schanck Resort that belonged to a lovely friend. We had been there before, a few years ago, and remember it being a really fantastic apartment with everything you need and more. Thank you Jules, we're so soooooo grateful. And the Mornington Peninsula is laden with treasures and the enticing Peninsula Hot Springs. We're in business!!!
Initially we were looking at a short flight. Hobart, Sydney, Byron- the beach- oh yes. With much research and air fare watching we come across cheap flights to Auckland. Only minutely more costly the flying to Hobart and much cheaper than flying to Byron. Unreal, let's go, we can do it. A stamp in the passsport for our 40th- awesome. Booked, paid for, many hours scouring the net for just the right place to stay- got it, booked- WOOO HOOO!!!! Ahhh, now for the waiting. More surfing the net for farmers and craft markets, places to eat, wool shops etc etc. the only thing bothering us was that due to tight security we wouldn't be taking our crochet hooks on board- blah! imagine finally having 3 hours to ourselves and NOT being able to crochet. Man it will do our heads in!! The universe, however, had other plans.
THE REALITY
Just 2 weeks before our departure the airline called to say our flight to Auckland had been cancelled- (WHAT!!)- and we could change the flight or get a refund. You've got to be joking. Really!! A short conversation with Emma revealed that due to other circumstances there were no other suitable flights therefore we cancelled the flights and were back to the drawing board. HMMM..........what now.
THE SOLUTION
A few panicked phone calls and some time spent in the Waiting Place and we had secured a week in an amazing apartment at the Cape Schanck Resort that belonged to a lovely friend. We had been there before, a few years ago, and remember it being a really fantastic apartment with everything you need and more. Thank you Jules, we're so soooooo grateful. And the Mornington Peninsula is laden with treasures and the enticing Peninsula Hot Springs. We're in business!!!
