Weekend Away :: Day 1

A weekend is not a long time to be away from home, I was gone for exactly sixty hours. At least I think it was sixty (4pm Friday to 4am Monday, is it sixty? Did I get it right? Gawd my head hurts with the effort of thinking that through). Anyhow, not a huge long escape but quite enough. Enough to enable me to completely unwind, relax and recharge in delightful surroundings, and with extremely good company. I would dearly have loved to go away somewhere with J, but as he was a pretty essential part of The Childcare Arrangements  I had to leave him behind to hold the fort.

My weekending partner was a very, very good friend of mine :: twenty two years we've been friends. We met as teenagers in our first year of student life, we pretty much know each other inside out, and we have holidayed many times together in the past.

So this is how it happened :: back in August my friend skipped off to spend a week in Mallorca (Spanish Balearic Islands), staying with friends who have a villa out there. She went alone as she had recently split up from her long term partner and needed to get away for a while. She enjoyed her time there, but did confess to getting a little bored layed in the sun by the pool all day. I told her I would give anything (within reason) to spend a few days lounging by a pool doing very little, the very idea of it was hugely appealing. In fact the more I thought about it, the more I began to want it. The thought of being away from home, of being away from the responsibilities of Motherhood for a while, of flopping around in the sun doing very little, of getting a whole nights sleep made me feel giddy with delight. I began to think Envious Thoughts. I began to whine a little and exclaim how long it was since I had a break away. I began to rather desperately crave a little escape to the sun.

So one day over a coffee she says to me :: I'm planning on going back out for a weekend in mid October, do you think your J would look after the children so you could take a break and come with me? Did I? Why YES of course I'm sure he would, and yes yes I would love love love LOVE to go with you!!!

J gives the idea his blessing and oh my, I am beside myself with the thrill of it all. Let me at it, when can we book flights, show me photos of the villa, can we, can we, shall we, yiippppeeeeeeeeeeeee, I'm going on HOLiDaY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dates are confirmed and flights are eventually booked. Holy-moly I'm really going, it's really honestly going to happen!!!! I was incredibly excited for a great many weeks. The very thought of it kept me going through some difficult sleep-deprived times.

Finally the day rolls around and off we fly, arriving late at night. We hire a car at the airport and drive away from the hustle and bustle of the main holiday resorts...down increasingly smaller and smaller roads until we feel like we were in the total middle of nowhere. It's pitch black when we arrive, about 2 in the morning. But the sky's clear and the stars are twinkling and it feels warm and the air smells enticingly foreign and holidayish. We sit on the terrace in the dark, drinking wine and chatting with the wonderful couple who've so generously welcomed us into their beautiful Spanish home. I can't wait for the daylight.

I sleep in. Nine o'clock I surface from a very deep sleep in a very comfy bed. Words cannot describe how wonderful it is to allow ones body to wake when it wishes. No crying alarm clock, no agenda. Feels so good, and despite the late hour I rocked into the bed, I positively bounce out of it, run to the dining room and fling open the shutters to see what the sky looks like. Blue blue blue, it's going to be a beautiful warm day.

We eat breakfast in our pyjamas beside the pool. I think that I might burst with happiness and contentment.

I take a stroll around the garden (still in my pyjamas I might add, luckily the owners of the villa have left for work and there's not a soul around).

I wander amongst the trees, marvelling at the olives and almonds and figs....

....ahhh the figs are so perfectly ripe and sweet, we pick them from the tree and enjoy a beautifully fresh, sweet mid morning snack.

Such beauty everywhere, I just adore these flowers. No idea what they are, but I love them. Very un-English.

The remainder of the morning is spent out shopping for essential supplies of food and drink. We return back to the villa with our fresh produce and concoct a wonderful lunch to eat outside...

Such a simple lunch, but so memorable. Fresh ripe tomatoes, wild rocket, torn up strips of Serrano ham and grilled melty goats cheese, drizzled with local olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Scrummy.

The afternoon passes in a haze of warm, lazy snoozyness.

I lay by the pool, close my eyes and drift in and out of dreams. It's absolute bliss.

I'm not sure how long I lay drifting in and out of sleep, maybe two hours? Three hours? More? But eventually I begin to feel hungry again and we make plans to head out for dinner. A quick glass of chilled rose wine first though eh? Just to begin the evening PrOPerly?

We drive out to the coast, to a popular holiday resort called Puerto Pollensa. Lots of yachty things going on here with a large marina for the yachty things to happen in, but there is also a lovely beachside promenade lined with bars and restaurants. It's all very refined and relaxed and stylish.

We stroll. We amble about and take it all in. Then we choose a place to eat (quite posh actually, my friend has quite grand ideas) and then we stroll some more.

We ooo and aahhh at this amazing sand castle. And I think of the Little People and I miss them a touch.

But it's been the most wonderful day, the stuff of my dreams. And best of all, I still have another night of Uninterupted Sleep to look forward to, as well as a Day 2.

Fabulous.

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Comments

[Ivan]

Looks like THE perfect weekend getaway. Any chance you could share the links. I'd love to visit everywhere you mentioned with my wife.

[Tracy Roe]

Hi Lucy,

I was just wondering whether you could teel me whether the place you stayed at is a rental and if it is, whether you could maybe send me the details? I'm looking for somewhere for a spring holiday and this looks perfect.

Thanks,
Tracy

[mahek]

hi
I love the way you write...
Great to enjoy without the responsibilities of home and family...
These flowers are hibiscus flowers and are very common in India , They are usually offered to our God LORD GANESHA and when you go to the temple of lord ganesha you will find garlands made with these flowers being sold .
They come in other colours as well like yellow,orange the most common being red....
Its so nice to see a typical Indian flower in foreign land thanks for sharing...

[Holly]

Lucy,

Thank you for sharing your holiday with us. I truly feel like I just went on a mini vacation myself. Lots of hugs!

Holly

[geovanna]

Hi Lucy:

you gave good that you deserved holidays, it's good to get back to our home with more vigor.

This plant is called Hibiscus, Malvaceae is family and warm environments, here in Costa Rica have all varieties and colors.

Greetings

Geovanna

[marta]

the redflower was an HIBISCUS,very popular flower, saludos desde España, (Basque Country)

kisses

[Helen]

What fab photos. You sound as if you've recharged your batteries. Well done you.

[Zelda]

wow!!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful time. The figs looks yummy mmmmmmmm.Love Zelda

[SYLVIA MUÑOZ]

HI!! JUST I WANT TO TELL TELL YOR THAT THE FLOWER NAME ITS "OBELISCO" AND I HAVE A LOT OF THIS FLOWERS IN MEXICO IN MY HOUSE THEY ARE VERY PRETTY.
SISSY

[Meredithe Clark]

Hi Lucy, so glad you're back in form and that you enjoyed a well deserved holiday. Looks like excellent fun! The flower are hibiscus - which no doubt several people have already mentioned. Looking forward to more stunning photos. Cheers, Meredithe

[Patsy]

Beautiful!! That is one of my Fav things to eat for Lunch or Supper too.
Just like out of a book.
The Figs looked yummy.
Thank you for letting us go on your vacation.
It is good to get away but even better to come home again.
XOXO

[Janette]

wow - again xxxxxx

[bernice]

Pollenca is one of my favourite places. Its beautiful in the evenings. Sounds like the oerfect r&r. Enjoy it.

[MamaLezlie]

The kiddos are so much easier to love when we've had a break, aren't they? I always think so!

[esther jane]

how absolutely delicious to have a weekend away!!! I have 3 young children (with another on the way) and words cannot describe my longing for such a getaway, with only me to look after! someday. and i must say, bravo to your husband for holding down the fort!

[The Garden Bell]

God Bless you my Friend. I really really don't know how you do it after my last four days. This trip was soooooooooooooo deserved and it looks like you had an absolute fab time.

I adore your new "do" too.

Off to see what else everyone is up to.

Adios Amigo,
Kate

[ghada]

it's lovely
your post and pic make me dream
to tell u the truth I felt relaxing :)))
close my eyes and smelled the sea
it's lovely place actually
we should have a time for our self ,as u sad to recharge our battery :D
great vaccation

[Sonic]

Oooohhhh, sounds bliss! I can only imagine how peaceful & relaxing it must have been being just you (I have a 4yr old, 18mths & 12wks...might be a little while before I get a w-e away!!!)

[jane]

i felt as if i were there you describe the day so well! what a wonderful treat, and it is to CONTINUE another day! yikes! baited breath til the next installment! jkj

[Kristen]

Oh! How wonderful! I am so, so glad for you. :)

[Pj]

It is so good to have some me time, no matter what age your children are - I would love to escape from my teenogres at the moment! :) Hope you have re-charged your batteries and that your weekend away has put the bounce back into your step. Lovely photos. Best wishes, Pj x

[eva]

Those beautiful pictures are almost as good as being there

[Jill]

WOW! How lucky are you! Any place you can go for a walk and pick ripe figs must be heavenly. Can't wait to hear about day 2.
Jill

[Emily Carter]

Holy cow - so happy for you!

[Ariadne]

Thank you for sharing your Mallorca weekend with us,I am looking forward to reading about day 2. The flower is Hibiscus we have got lots in Greece also in pink,yellow and white. I was amazed that there are still figs on the trees in Mallorca. They have finished here.Ariadne from Greece!