A summer staycation was our seasonal holiday of choice for last week’s family break, an event perfectly timed to coincide with the country’s soaring temperatures. Favouring a glass of wine by the paddling pool over packing chaos felt particularly idyllic, and provided an excuse to explore Northumberland.
The week kicked off with a girl’s trip out for Lyla and I, an extra special hen soiree at Bamburgh beach with my friend Beth and her Mum Imelda- a day designed to celebrate the bride-to-be’s upcoming wedding. Hours were spent playing in the sea, eating a posh picnic and sampling Lyla’s delicious sand cocktails.
Post-picnic I wondered about cutting carbs out for a few days, the idea being a slimmer tum for summer. This short-term fix may have worked had we not tried to take the sides off Theo’s cot-bed the next night. After several hundred rounds of ‘Peppa Pig’ complete with startlingly realistic ‘oink oinks’, I realised little rest was going to be had here. With hindsight, simultaneously battling both the no-sleep monster and the no-food rage is a winning formula for super deranged mother.
Not one to do things by halves, I abandoned the diet and headed to Carlo’s in Alnwick, the North East’s finest fish restaurant. We then drove to Alnmouth beach with our fish and chips, eating lunch by the dunes and throwing in an ice-cream for good measure. Family fun continued with Lyla and Theo running loose around The Alnwick Castle and Garden that afternoon, happily crashing John Deere mini tractors into each other whilst Chris and I marvelled at the grand cascade waterfall.
At the end of the week we escaped for a date afternoon, venturing into Newcastle sans children. Sitting on the balcony in blazing sunshine at our favourite city eatery Café Paradiso, we enjoyed good food and time out. That and my new most cherished items- carbs and peace. I returned refreshed and excited for the rest of our staycation.
Who needs a flat stomach to hang by the paddling pool anyway?