Girl's Weekend!

Simple pleasures with my girls.

I am sitting here writing this in the car before I head back to the beautiful chaos that awaits me at home.

I have been away for 48 hours on a country getaway with 2 of my oldest girlfriends that now live in various parts of Victoria. We have known each other for more than 24 years and even though our lives have taken us in different directions, it still feels like home when we are together. Which doesn’t happen very often.

I am feeling completely refreshed both mentally and physically and cannot recommend a girl’s weekend away more highly. We are all happily married with beautiful children but still need a little time to ourselves. I have zero mum guilt about it (even though my girlfriends did feel a little guilty) but I think we are all heading back to our families with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. I know I can’t wait to give my boys a snuggle.

Other than the obvious venting about our jobs, families and husbands, which I think just goes with the territory when a bunch of mums get together. We re-discovered some of the most wonderful but simple pleasures of life.

On arrival, I was greeted with the most wonderful smiles and hugs from these dear friends. This followed with a night of talking, drinking wine, eating cheese and chocolate whilst cosily snuggled up in our dressing gowns in front of the fire. Not having to dress up for each other is one of the best signs of a childhood friendship. The giggles and tear-jerking laughter that followed was heavenly. Being able to sit in front of a fire and not be constantly on guard for little people getting too close. Not paying attention at all to the clock or keeping an ear out for any waking kids was something the 3 of us were happy to take a break from.

After a slight sleep in, which was nowhere near as late as we had thought it would be, we sat in the sunroom of our cosy little AirBnB cottage and drank coffee with no concern over the time or the plans for the day.

I managed to go for a walk throughout town on my own which was also heavenly. Although bitterly cold, the sun was out, I didn’t have anyone to talk with or a dog to walk, I was able to just stroll at my own pace, lost in my thoughts.

Back at the cottage, we got ready for a lazy lunch at a local winery. With panoramic views of the incoming storm, followed by hail, then back to sunny with a rainbow, we were cosily warm inside by the fire wining and dining.

After lunch we were all feeling sleepy so headed back to the house and decided to relax on the couches, close the blinds and watch an old favourite movie of ours. What a decadence. A movie followed by a nap on a Saturday afternoon!

The evening followed much the same as the previous night with food, wine, chocolate and talking. Who could ask for anything better?

After such a relaxing day we all headed to bed and slept like the dead. We didn’t all wake up until 9 am! What?!?!?!?!?! Amazing! We woke feeling refreshed and all jumped in the one bed for cups of tea and more chats.

Packing up and leaving the cottage we headed out for a lazy brunch before we all headed home. This was bittersweet as we don’t have our next catch up planned so we knew it would be our last chance to gossip together for a little while. We were all off home, but not before many more hugs and “love you’s” and the promise to repeat this adventure the same weekend next year.

We are all happy now to head back to our families but this weekend of love and laughter with old friends was just what the doctor ordered for all 3 of us.

My mum is amazing so offered to have my boys for the first day, then my hubby took them for the next day so I am very lucky in that I experienced no mum guilt. My hubby also got a night to himself and a sleep-in and only really had to be fully responsible for our boys for 24 hours. Surely that’s not a big deal in this day and age.

I am feeling ready to tackle the anticipated mess and chaos that I will surely arrive home to. No dishes will have been done, no beds made, toys everywhere and god knows what else.

But my soul is light and my heart is full. Which is the number 1 aim in life right?

With love to you + your tribe,

Casey x

P.S The house wasn’t quite the terrible mess I anticipated so that was a nice surprise.

Taking the time to rejuvenate your friendships is so important. I want to know that my girlfriends will still be there when my kids are all grown up and have their own lives. I want to know that when I am old and grey, I will still have girlfriends to drink with, gasbag to and end up in peels of laughter with, and let’s face it, probably wetting ourselves!