A Modern Mother

Going back to Uni, Four Season Style

Did I tell you I was going back to school? It’s true. Last Thursday and Friday I hit the books at Four Seasons University, learning what it takes to run a luxury hotel. I got to turn down beds, create chocolate treats for younger guests and even got a glimpse into the financials.

OK, it wasn’t real Uni, but it sure felt like it (even though I sat through lectures in the comfort of the Four Seasons country estate in Hampshire.) All that tasting beluga caviar and Scottish smoked salmon really tires one out! I was knackered by the last session on Friday afternoon, a “speed dating” exercise with representatives from 15 different Four Seasons destinations.

Bedruthan Steps: Sustainable tourism, young families and a cracking good breakfast!

Review post

The Bedruthan Steps kindly asked the Modern Family to spend the weekend in Cornwall at their family eco hotel. Perched on the cliffs between Padtsow and Newquay, the four-star hotel is a beautifully renovated 60s-style building and a tribute to sustainable tourism. It has long been known for being innovative, including being one of the first to use grass roofs to improve views (and insulate rooms). The green theme is evident everywhere, including the locally produced handmade organic soap and shampoo bars and fairtrade coffee/tea/hot chocolate in the guest rooms. You are reminded to only ask for clean towels/linens when you need them and the electrics are based on the key system – to ensure lights are left off when you vacate the room.

*This is a pic of Mawgan Porth Beach, which is right below the hotel

Thank you Avis for trying harder

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Our car is in the blink. The electrics conk out after a few hours on the road. A big thank you goes to Avis for loaning me this French beauty to use for the week. The Peugot 308 nipped down the M4 to Cornwall with style and it wasn't one bit surly.

I usually dread the whole car rental thing (think at an airport after a long haul flight), and was pleasantly surprised at how easily this one happened. My main tip: opt for a home delivery!

Thank you Avis, you do try harder.

A Modern Mother screams on the parachute drop!

 

I spent this weekend in Disneyland Paris on a press trip to launch their new Magical Moments Festival, where you can star in your own adventure. Here I am in Walt Disney Studios Park Playland starring in my very own Green Army Men Parachute Drop Adventure. Enjoy!

Disney Magical Moments Festival: Star in your own adventure!

Press trip

 
Wednesday marks the launch of the Disneyland Paris Magical Moments Festival, where you can step into the spotlight of your favourite Disney classic. Here's a pic of me entering the set of Monsters Inc. Scream Academy. #youwouldnotbelievewhatwasbehindthedoor!

A Modern Mother goes to Center Parcs and loves it!

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I love the concept of Center Parcs: Abandon your car, adopt bicycles and do lots of stuff outdoors with the family. Fabulous. Sign me up please.

Center Parcs kindly asked the Modern Family to try out their park at Longleat Forest. I've outlined our experience below and put together a few tips for packing and getting the most out of your trip. Net is we loved it and would go back again (and again, and again and again).

Longleat Forest open in 1994 and is located in Wiltshire, about 1/2 hour south of Bath. It took us less than two hours to get there, which is a huge plus for a weekend getaway. I was surprised that of the park's nearly 800 units were occupied on the brisk March weekend we visited, but apparently winter breaks are popular because of the off-season prices.We had lots of family time, loys of ourdoor time and really felt like we had a break from our regular routine. 

Have kids, will travel

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The most wonderful thing has happened to me. I've been mistaken for someone else. The Four Seasons has been in touch and they want me to write for their new family blog Have Kids, Will Travel. The best part is that we have to try out a resort!

We get to spend the weekend at their Hampshire property and pretend we are Mr. and Mrs. Muck, with mucky kids. Get this, we even have an itinerary!

Christmas at Disneyland Paris

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Disneyland is magical.year-round, but at Christmas it is simply spectacular.

Jet lag as explained by my six-year-old

Mummy I have a weird feeling, like I'm not used to it here.

What do you mean sweetie, are you really tired?

No, when my head is on the pillow it feels like it wants to get up and walk away.

Photo credit: abnetsel

A weekend getaway in Santa Cruz

I don't know why we haven't done this before. Santa Cruz. It's only 40 minutes from where we stay in California. There is sun, surf, restaurants that serve local lobster and an Edwardian Boardwalk. We go on day trips all the time ... but until now, never made a weekend out of it.

Khaled Hosseini's flea market

 

The San Jose Flea Market, made famous by Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, is not far from where we are staying in California. One of the reasons the book resonated with me was because of the author's connections with Silicon Valley, where I grew up. I visited the flea market as a child, and remember the stalls, often manned by families.

The Disneyland Resort California

 
My first visit to Disneyland was when I was two. We drove seven hours on Interstate 5 from the Bay Area to Anaheim in a Ford station waggon (that's an estate for you Brits). Being only two, I don't remember much about that trip, but it left its mark. Mention Disney to me, and from the back of my psyche images of Tinker Bell casting her wand upon Sleeping Beauty Castle magically appear. During my childhood, we made several more trips to Disneyland as a family, and as teen, I looked forward to grad night, when graduating seniors were granted exclusive use of the park. I went to “Cal State Disneyland,” the nickname given to CSUF because of it's proximity to the park. Disney has always been part of my life, and I've always associated it with wholesome fun.

Kids bored this summer? Try these tried and tested recommendations

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Summer is always a challenge with kids. Lack of routine, changeable weather and lots of free time can take its toll. Sure there are lots of places to go, but many are expensive and it can be hit and miss finding a winner. Recommendations are always appreciated. When supersavvyme.com first contacted me about their idea of creating a summer guide where mums would contribute their most economical and fun tips to keep kids entertained during the summer, I knew it would be a huge success.

My perfect day in San Francisco, kids included

Everyone has their own idea of a perfect day in a favourite city-- a secret haunt, restaurant, coffee shop or that special view. If you get it right, it's like putting on your favourite sweater. I lived in San Francisco in the 90s when I was single, upwardly mobile and thought I was the luckiest person in the world. If I squint, I can just about remember it. Now I live in the UK and have three gorgeous girls (ages 5, 6 and 8). Of course I wanted to share my favourite city with them. Oh, just an aside, please never say Frisco in my presence.

So what's my perfect day in San Francisco?

 
Drive down Lombard Street. Enter at the top of Greenwich.

Holiday pics from Normandy

 

We spent halfterm in France, in the Calvados region in Normandy, near the D-Day landing beaches. This is Gold beach at Arromanches, one of the British landing beaches. The structures you see in the distance are the remains of a Mulberry Harbour, which was a temporary harbour constructed during the allied invasions. 

Review: The Citroen C4 Picasso Does Normandy!

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The PR folks over at Citroen asked if the modern family would try out one of their cars for a week. What serendipity! Driving a French car on our halfterm holiday in France might actually get us more street cred. We needed a vehicle that could accommodate six people, so we picked the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, a 7-seater MPV. This sleek black version arrived on our doorstep. Don't you just want to pet her?

Review: Keycamp Houlgate

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About a year ago, the lovely PR folks over at Keycamp asked if we might like to try out one of their caravans in France. As most of our holidays are at my parents house in California, we gladly accepted. Then came the long process of picking a destination! We finally settled on Houlgate, on the coast in Normandy near the D-Day beaches. With the girls still on the young side (5, 6 and 8) we didn't want to spend the entire holiday driving south. Houlgate is just a 3 hour drive from Calais, or 40 minutes from Caen.

First impressions:

Houlgate is a lovely beachside town, and the La Vallee campsite is not too far from the town centre (a 20-minute walk). The facilities are squeaky clean and include four swimming pools, a games room, laundry room, and playparks. We had never stayed in a caravan previously, and while space is tight, it is functional. If you think of it as high end camping, it's downright luxurious.

Interrupted travel plans

When my grandmother was eight, she went on a trip to visit her grandparents in Switzerland. It must have been quite an adventure for the little girl who lived in the tiny California city of Santa Maria; a train ride across the United States to New York and then a week long sea voyage to France. The journey ended with an overnight train to Locarno, in the Ticino region of Switzerland.

Like so many other Europeans in the late 1800s, my great grandfather Frederico left his homeland to make a new life in America. Most immigrants couldn’t afford to go back to see family, but Frederico had made the journey once before; returning to marry his childhood love, Pia, “the most beautiful girl in the village.” Fourteen years later he returned again, this time with Pia and their four children. He wanted to show off his new family.

The Isle of Wight -- a trip into the past (free wi-fi included)

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The Isle of Wight's Tourist Board is promoting the Island as a family friendly destination and asked if the modern family would please visit and report back. Who could refuse that? I had no idea though, that on the 55-minute car ferry from Southhampton to East Cowes that I would be transported back in time. 

Head on over to my review blog to read the rest...

Paris update: A big thumbs up to daddy!

So, I went to Paris this weekend and had a wonderful time with my friends (see video). When I came back -- with a slight headache -- I found daddy and the girls cuddled on the carpet playing chess, the kitchen fairly clean and the dryer droning away quietly in the background. I quickly went outside and checked the house number. Yup. Right house. To rub it in, they were all smiling contently. Didn't miss me a bit. I have to admit to being slightly annoyed: Why didn't I do this years ago??

I'm going to Paris. Without the kids!

It's taken me seven and a half years to get to this point: I'm going to Paris with my friends.  For three whole days and two nights. Without kids. And I don't feel one ounce of guilt!

I'm leaving our girls (7 and 1/2,5 and 4) with hubby. He's perfectly willing and capable.

However, the girls are a bit concerned.

"Mummy, what are we going to eat? Daddy only knows how to make sandwiches."

"I'm going to miss you. Who's going to do my hair for Emily's disco party?"

"Mummy, please take a picture of the eye-full tower for me."

The last comment was from our middle one, she could care less about food or the way she looks and is aware that being with daddy will mean she'll get to go to bed without washing her hair and lots of trips to Tesco for those horrible magazines with cheap plastic toys.

Meanwhile, we (six mums) have planned fancy dinners in Michelin-stared restaurants, leisurely afternoons watching Parisians from the end of a coffee cup, markets, museums, and lots of things that are hard to do with squirming kids in tow.

We leave Friday on the Eurostar and I'm not leaving any instructions. The girls know where their clothes are kept (even if daddy doesn't) and I don't care if they go McDonalds three times a day.

God only knows what I'll come home to.

Photo credit: sepblog

Want to know how a middle class family got on at (the new) Butlins?

 

So exactly how did a middle class family get on at the new Ocean Hotel and Spa at Butlins Bognor Regis? Read on to find out...  and if you don't want to follow the blow by blow events ... skip to the end for the net ...

The ultimate work at home mother!

We are spending the summer holidays in California, I just couldn't look another English one squarely in the eye. It's great being here because in addition to sunshine on tap, we have lots of family to help entertain three small girls AND it gives me loads of time to visit old friends.

Two of my favourites are Ramona and Deepak, who just happen to own the Nicholson Ranch Winery in Sonoma. Ramona (pictured above in her "put-put" all terrain vehicle) grew up on the ranch with a herd of roaming cattle, horses, chickens and a lama. She had the foresight to plant grapes in the early 90s and when she fell pregnant with her first child, she gave up her job at a risk analysis software company to embark on the winery project full-time. When her first son was born 1995, she'd juggle taking care of grapes with taking care of baby.

What time is it?

Turning on my side for what seems like the 10th time, I try to wiggle into a comfortable position. But it's no use, I'm not ready to surrender. In my mind I lift my head, peer past the pile of half-read books, and peek at the green neon digits on the clock. It must be well into the night by now. But my eyes are heavy and the connection between mind and movement doesn't happen.

The cold doesn't help. Forced to breathe through my mouth, my lips feel like sticky flannel and there is an undeniable trace of soreness in my throat when I swallow. What time IS it? My head still doesn't move. It stays still on the pillow. Instead my brain makes a running leap out of my body and starts doing laps around the room, bumping into my cream coloured walls and crashing into the walnut dresser.

Thoughts on long haul flights with children

I used to dread long haul flights with children.

It started when I was single and dating future Scottish hubby. Due to our geographical locations, seeing each other always involved sitting for long periods in an airplane. Though I've never liked flying, the trip did offer 10 hours of reading time, or perhaps an opportunity to catch up on sleep.

On one of these trips, I realised that flying with children was not desirable. After picking up a skinny cappuccino and the latest "Hello" and settling down at the gate, I spotted a family with three small children -- two of the kids were running around unsupervised, and the parents looked like they were trying to covertly change the baby's nappy in the pushchair. I pretended not to notice, looked down at my magazine and hoped, PRAYED I wouldn't be seated next to them.