The only two times I’ve spent a night away from my family were when I was in hospital for the weekend when I was pregnant with Greg, and when I went to Britmums a few months ago. I don’t get many breaks. You can probably tell that because I count a hospital stay as ‘a night away’.
This is the reason I almost bit my friend’s hand off when she suggested that a few us go away for a shopping weekend in Liverpool. We haven’t even made any plans yet, but I’ve been mentally planning it from the moment she left my house last Wednesday.
Ideally we’d travel by train, because I’m both a bad driver and a bad passenger. It also means we can have a few drinks in the evening and not worry about a hungover car journey the next day.
Since I’m from a town with a relatively small shopping centre, the first thing I’d want to do in Liverpool is hit the shops. I hear Liverpool One is massive and amazing. I’ve been scoping them out and I’ll definitely be heading to Urban Decay, Paperchase, H&M and Debenhams. Those are the shops our town is missing (and the shops I miss the most). I would also insist we swung by YO! Sushi. I don’t really tire from shopping, but I do need sustenance.
How I envision I’ll look when I’m shopping in Liverpool
After we’ve finished hitting the shops, I would want to go back to the hotel for get ready for a night out. Now that I’m in my 30’s, I wouldn’t be after anything too wild, but I would like cocktails. I would also like to try out all the new clothes and makeup I envisage buying (and see if the Urban Decay ‘All Nighter’ foundation lives up to its name). My friend went to uni in Liverpool, so I’m hoping she knows where grown-ups hang out. I’m about 12 years too old for the student bars these days (sigh).
I expect we’d have a lie-in on the Sunday and have an explore of the city. I’m certain I’ll be insisting on a huge breakfast. One of my friends is a huge Beatles fan, but I don’t think we’ll have time to fit in a proper Beatles tour, so I expect we’ll probably do a low-effort unofficial Beatles sight-see. You can’t really go to Liverpool and ignore the Beatles, can you?
I also expect that although I’ll thoroughly enjoy every minute of my weekend away, I’ll probably miss my husband and kids quite a bit. I’ll likely be more worn out after having grown-up fun with the girls than I would if I’d stayed at home, but sometimes it’s all worth it for a bit of break. Parenting is a weird one; you can get so bogged down with parent chores that all you want is a break, then when you get it, you just miss your kids!
I’m off to Liverpool this coming weekend for a girly weekend with my best friends! We are staying over in the centre so we can shop, eat and drink ourselves stupid, haha!
So funny, my mom actually suggested a mother / daughter / granddaughter trip to Liverpool this weekend. Sure there would be time for some cocktails in there but think shopping is the bigger draw.
I think if you go somewhere big to shop, you almost certainly need cocktails too!
I hope your Liverpool,getaway is all this and more. So true about wanting to get away and then finding you miss your kids. Look forward to the post on how it all went. #RVHT
Shopping, good company and a lie in sounds perfect. A night away is an excellent way to recharge your batteries and appreciate what you have #RVHT
I’ve only stayed away one night and I felt guilty the whole time especially in those brief moments when I forgot about them! I have never been to Liverpool but would like to visit one day #RVHT
I’ve never been to Liverpool but a lot of friends say it’s a great night out with plenty of places to eat and wine bars. I really must treat myself to a weekend away #RVHT