My mini English getaway started with a torrential downpour on the motorway (of course) but windscreen wipers did little to dampen my holiday enthusiasm and my optimism was rewarded when I opened the door to my beautiful suite at The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu.

When motherhood gets too much I close my eyes and picture a haven like the one hiding behind the big old heavy wood door in Beaulieu; the bed made by somebody else, the perfectly girly wallpaper, the fluffy robe... The decadent bar a mere minutes walk from my room!

Within an hour of checking in I had a glass of vino in hand, and an hour after that a Kir Royale! A glass of champagne, a garden vista and chandelier or two eased me comfortably into twin-free territory.

An aperitif or two later and I walked next door to Monty's for some dinner, pausing briefly to photograph the stone dog on the hotel porch (naturally).

Monty's is a beautiful oldy-worldy wood restaurant with the welcoming atmosphere of a village pub. The fish and chips come highly recommended (by moi!) and the puddings looked great. The chatter of children up past their bed times was a perfect testimonial to the claim that this was, indeed, a family- friendly venue.

A blissful baby-free lie-in was interrupted only when hunger got the better of me. Having briefly toyed with the idea of staying within the confines of my duvet I was glad I had summoned the will power to venture downstairs. The Montagu Arms' breakfasts are worth getting out of a divinely comfy bed for.

Smoked salmon, poached eggs and countless coffees later I was confident I had the sustenance for a day exploring the 'see and dos' at Beaulieu National Motor Museum, Palace and Abbey. A particular highlight was being driven from the car museum to the Palace in the actual Austin 12 taxi that drove my Grandad to hospital when he was a boy.

Meandering round the Palace and Abbey felt supremely grown up but despite luxuriating in my childless freedom I, inevitably, navigated through the day with a Mummy head on and looked somewhat wistfully at the families on their fun day out.

I had been counting down the hours to my baby free adventure in Beaulieu and was looking forward to remembering the pre-mum-me. I suppose it shouldn't have come as a surprise but, as the bubbles in my champagne glass burst, so too did the daydream that I would ever be Katy and not Mum again. The two are intertwined (or should that be inter-twin-ed?) and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Katy Hymas - Mummy Blogger, author and Mum to twin boys age 1
August 2011

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