A ROMANTIC FAMILY HOLIDAY VISION

‘Romantic’ in the Oxford Dictionary is ‘characterised by, or suggestion of, an idealised view of reality’… 

This week we have a little trip to the sandy shores of Abu Dhabi…

I have a romantic vision of our time off together: relaxing and fun, rather than just memorable! Baby won’t know where he is of course, but all the new experiences I long for him to study, enjoy, smile and gurgle about! And obviously we’ll all relax and return home refreshed and renewed…

Going away used to be simple. I had a knack for finding what I love in a hotel… Unique and boutique with vitamin sea, as the blog tagline used to read! But we have a new normal and a new happy traveller calling the shots, everything is new, different and just a tiny bit unknown…

This trip took five months to plan, well, five months to find a hotel! So this is my (slightly tongue in cheek) moment by moment hopes for our trip!!! Experienced parents don’t laugh… Just send advice on how to reach this zen like state I lust after…

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I would love to arrive at the airport and relax with a glass of fizz while baby plays happily 

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I would love our plane to depart Heathrow on time

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I would love it if the cabin crew adored the baby and offered him cuddles

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I would love it for baby to snooze happily in his sky cot for the night flight

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I would love our luggage to arrive promptly and the airport transfer to be swift and safe

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I would love an afternoon team nap after a morning acclimatising by the pool

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I would love our suite to have good curtains for baby to nap, while we relax on the terrace outside

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I would love the hotel food to give us interesting weaning options so I can avoid using Ella too much…

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I would love to use the hotel nanny so we can have supper to ourselves one night

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I would love for my packing and my milk and food order from Boots to have everything covered

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I would love to read some books on my kindle and keep up my exercise regime

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I would love for baby to enjoy all the extra swimming sessions and the sand and sea too

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I would love most dearly for us all to get into a new routine and relax and play and sleep in equal measure

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I would love to be able to waft around as a carefree mummy, relaxed and calm

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What actually matters isn’t the minutiae, but that we love the new normal. We obviously will, even if there are some bumps and surprises along the way! Baby won’t remember the first time he felt sand or went in the sea, or that he travelled in style. But he will revel in having us both there with him for 7 days, making the most of the opportunity. There’s no ideology  or romanticism in that, just love. I simply cannot wait to leave for the airport… Baby gets to fly his first First too! Just the small matter of packing our cases left to do, something I very definitely don’t love!