Mummy me-time is so so important, but can be really hard to come by. Last week I had a very much needed day of Mummy me-time and it really was wonderful. Hubs’ business was up for a Learn Direct award for the number of apprentices they hire, and having won the regional award they were invited to the National Awards at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London. Lovely! Hubs and his business partner thought it was a good opportunity for us wives to have a day in London too and as soon as my parents agreed to babysit both kids, I jumped at the opportunity.
So I put a pretty dress on and did my make up and we very excitedly headed off on the train down to London, though it was a bit weird too as it was the first time we had left LM with anyone other than one of us, for the whole day. Eek!
We headed straight to the Kensington Roof Gardens and I have to admit I was excited as for a long time I have wanted to see what this place was like, and well, as expected, it was gorgeous. So many beautiful flowers and so serene and peaceful considering we were in central London. Loved it!
Unfortunately (Fortunately?) us wives weren’t invited to the awards ceremony so we headed off for a bit of a natter instead. And where better to go for lunch than to the Harvey Nicks roof terrace? If our husbands were having some posh fun, why shouldn’t we? It was lovely to catch up as we never really see each other without kids running around (they have 3 girls), and our husbands are so close that we hear about what each other are up to via them, but not directly if that makes sense!
Anyway we opted for some lovely food and a gorgeous bottle of wine, which the waiter clearly thought was a little OTT… “a bottle???” haha. Put simply, it was blimmin’ lovely. I have to admit I felt very decadent and about as far from my normal day to day life as possible. Sipping a chilled Chenin Blanc and eating mussels on the Harvey Nicks roof terrace, getting a little tiddly, sharing stories about kiddies, motherhood, and of course our husbands 🙂 It was lovely to just really relax for a change and get to know each other a little better.
Then we heard the good news from our husbands, they won the award! So they came to join us for a little celebration with some yummy petit fours and some martinis to taste, which was great fun.
Much as we would have liked the afternoon to continue it was then time to head back across London to get the train home to see our lovely kiddies. We had a fab day in London, both spending a bit of time together and apart, and, much to our relief the kiddies had a wonderful day with their grandparents… and the grandparents loved it too and have said they would do it again! Hooray! Time to book in some more days off 😉
What a lovely day. We had a grown ups day out in town last week too – lunch on the Southbank, various drinks in various pubs just because we could, dinner out somewhere posh and a hotel stay all paid for by my father-in-law for my husband’s 40th. Trouble is, now I want to do it all again!
x Alice
#TwinklyTuesday
Sounds fabulous! And well-earned. #twinklytuesday
Ahhh good for you guys getting a trip out, and well done to hubby for winning the award!
Sounds like a really lovely day out!!
#twinklytuesday
What a lovely, lovely day out!! Spending time — as a grown up — doing ‘grown up’ things, every once in a while is just what’s needed isn’t it? My boy and I always go to one festival every year without our littles (usually Glastonbury) and the freedom of not having anybody to answer to — except for yourselves — is just lovely.
Plus it makes you miss your babies too and treasure them just that little bit more when you’re reunited again! 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday — hope to see you again next week! x
Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
Wow what an amazing day out, the roof gardens look incredible. Glad you had a wonderful day x
Looks like you had a lovely day out. I love London. Wish I lived closer. #bestandworst
Oh my gosh I could really use a day like this – have been very close to snapping point myself lately and sometimes you just need to get away from it all don’t you? It looks and sounds like the perfect day. So glad you got to do this and bureau for grandparents!! Xx
Sounds like a lovely relaxing day and the pics are lovely. Congrats to your husbands too 🙂
#bestandworst
Sounds like a fab day – and you definitely need some time off every now and again! #sharewithme
Amazing and that rooftop is lovely!! So pleased hubby won the award – bet you were all thrilled. Love the way you ordered a bottle of wine. I think this day was well deserved and well needed hon. Thanks so much for linking up to #bestandworst and see you soon xx
Jealous! Sunshine, time with husband and SALAMI! My dream day. Can’t believe I’ve never been to Kensington Roof Gardens.
The roof garden looks amazing, a little oasis in the middle of the city.
What a wonderful way to spend a day. I need to book myself some mummy me-time, I’m definitely inspired after reading this 🙂
#ShareWithMe
Glad you had a wonderful day! We all need some down time now and then.
Sounds like it was fabulous and very well needed, but I totally get what you mean about wanting it to last longer.
Hubby and I have a day out on Friday for his birthday, but by the time his folks get here and we leave it’s gone 11am, and we’ll have to be back by 4pm otherwise they’ll hit rush hour traffic on the way back. Which basically means the kids will have a great time with Granny & Grandad, then kick off big time once we get home… BUT I know from previous experience that those four and a half hours will be worth their weight in gold! We need a break, even if it is only every three months for a few hours!
HUGS lovely xxx
What a lovely treat for a hard working mummy. You did London the right way! Getting dressed up and enjoying posh nosh, love it! I felt a wrench when we left ours for the first time (I cried) but it’s a well-deserved break x
What a lovely day! Good for you for taking the opportunity to have some grown-up time; it’s so important but I think we are often made to feel guilty about it! Lovely photos too! #sharewithme
What a gorgeous day! I think I need to plan one of those in… #bestandworst
What a lovely time together and it’s great to have time to get out as a couple and enjoy some quality time spent. Sounds like you really needed it too so it’s a great that you had such a great time. Life is so busy it’s nice to relax and enjoy the time off. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Lovely. Having a little alone time sans enfants like this isn’t so much a luxury as a necessity. It’s amazing how even a few hours of time like this can make such a difference to recharge the batteries.