I have a new episode for Bluey, it is called “Early Dinner”.
Need an early dinner to allow me to go back to my hotel and relax
The episode would go like this.
Chilli has a work getaway organised. Bandit would look after the kids, Bluey and Bingo. Chilli kisses everyone goodbye and starts her journey to the city. Chilli then has to decide; does she meet up with her workmates or does she stay and relax in her hotel room?
She decides to stay in her hotel room and relaxes with a warm bath, then watch her own tv while eating dinner from room service. The episode ends with Bandit being super busy with kids wanting to constantly play and Chilli falling asleep in the star position on her bed in her hotel room.
Now cut to actual real life and not a Bluey episode…
A few weeks back I met some of my teammates in the city for dinner and an early morning start for a HUGE strategy day at work. While deciding where to meet and the time I explained if it is not good for the others, I would be perfectly happy to get dinner on my own and spend the time in my hotel room doing my own thing.
Image from https://mr-heeler.tumblr.com/
I know this sounds very antisocial but as a busy mum to three kids, finally being on my own was wonderful. I did want to meet up with my colleagues but also would be very happy not to as well. I was conflicted.
Once I divulged this to some of the ladies I work with, one told me she totally relates. She then told me, if I wanted to just stay in my hotel and not meet up that was fine too.
One suggestion was to have an “Early Dinner” so that I can socialise and still have me time at the hotel.
Before kids, I would have never entertained an early dinner and now that is fine and a good idea. And yes, perfectly acceptable.
What a dilemma! Socialise or be antisocial? Or finally, have some me time and relax!
Have you been in this situation before? Spoiler alert: I ended up socialising and did really enjoy it as well as finally being on my own in my hotel room.
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The kids are at vacation care today and the original plan was to have a full day to myself. However this has been changed due to our visit tomorrow to the Maritime Museum. Since we live a while away from the city, we are staying in a hotel close to the museum to make it easier on everyone. I have told the other family to meet us at 10am outside the museum so staying nearby will help to not make it such an early start. If we drove from home it might be a 6am or so wake up call, and that is not on!
Since I had already booked kids into care they are only having a half day and at the time of writing this they should be on their excursion to the pool. I dressed both kids in their swimmers and had all their things ready for their adventure at the pool.
I am doing some things at home and then will pick up kids. After I dump most things at home all of us will make our way to the station to catch the train to the city. Then we will get our connection to the light rail to go to the hotel.
Did you know?
You can purchase light rail tickets when you get your train tickets. YES fabulous….. and all organised before I start the journey.
I decided to get the train tickets before I pick up kids later (nothing worse than fussing around with kids and money at the station, while worrying about when the train will come) I went to the automatic machine and realised that I could also purchase light rail tickets as well. How amazing and I also got the family deal. One kid travels free! So I have got the train tickets and also the light rail tickets before we go anywhere. Talk about organised!
Do you stay somewhere closer if you are off somewhere special? Do you do it due to living further away or just as a treat?
The girls are smart and have figured out we are most likely staying in a hotel, but have no idea where and how close we will be to the Maritime Museum. I think the kids will be super tired from swimming, a train trip and then the light rail, plus a small walk to the hotel.
Hubby has the bags and other heavy things and will meet us later after he gets off work. We have used the kids new suitcases they got for Christmas as we did not need much for an overnight visit to the city.
I am hoping to be able to visit the kids playground at Darling Harbour after our time at the museum and have organised a change of clothes as there is water play and the kids will most likely end up wet. The last time we were there the girls had a blast!
Have you been to the Maritime Museum? Did you enjoy it? I will write a full and more in depth post after we experience everything tomorrow. Do you love the Darling Harbour Playground? What is your favourite bit of it? I love the fact that it is free, and for all kids of different ages. So great to see a city incorporate activities for kids that are accessible and fun.
Thanks to the Maritime Museum for the family passes to make tomorrow possible and I am sure we will have an amazing day.
The Hydro Majestic is an icon, and a wonderful old hotel that is located in Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia. It has a long and interesting history.
The Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
Great view from the The Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
Did you know?
The hotel began as the Belgravia Hotel which was fully complete in 1891. It was created as a health retreat.
The Belgravia Hotel in 1910. Image from Wikipedia
Mark Foy who was a wealthy retailer purchased the hotel in 1902 and wanted to create a hydropathic sanatorium due to the belief that under the land there was mineral springs. (It was found that the springs did not exist and possibly if they did it had dried up years ago. Mark Foy had mineral water imported from Germany. Fancy the cost of doing this! Apparently the water was imported in steel containers and when it arrived tasted terribe! Yes how awful after doing all this. Although guests were told to drink the water due to it being good for their health)
Mark Foy successfully petitioned the NSW government to change the name of the town from Medlow as it was at the time to the now name of Medlow Bath. I did not know that there was another town called Medlow and Foy wanted to have no confusion over the name. However some think he wanted the name change to make the town and area sound more prestigious. (I suppose you cannot blame him)
In WWII the building was turned into a hospital for US Troops
The hotel has heritage listing and got it in 1984.
In 2008 the hotel was purchased by The Escarpment Group. It has been closed since 2008 and has been refurbished and updated to bring it back to its former glory.
Inside the wonderful Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The Escarpment Group has worked tirelessly to bring this much loved part of history back to her glory days. “A team of highly revered heritage experts, architecture specialists and designers were enlisted, with particular weight given to examining and respecting the Hydro Majestic’s social history and heritage. The plans add the 21st Century layer, mindful of the past, but always with a vision of the future.” (Hyrdo Majestic Website)
Finished places to sit and rest at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The girls have always known the Hydro as what looked like a castle. I have been there before but the former owners did not do the place justice. It was run down, terrible and just a poor reflection of what it could be. I was so excited to know that a group had invested the money, time and energy into making her glow again not just for their gain but for the area.
I have thought that the dome on the casino reminds me of Taronga Zoo, well the older part of the Zoo. It could be similar architecture but it makes me think of the time I went to the zoo with my grandad.
Having the Hydro up and working again is great for the Blue Mountains and for Medlow Bath. It draws people to the area, it shows you what can be done, allows crafts and produce from locals to be sold, gives locals more jobs and of course we now have a lovely venue for lunches, teas, drinks and conferences/gatherings again.
Stunning areas to dine at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The first part of the hotel re-opening is the food and store house or otherwise known as the Hydro Pavilion. The pavilion is where you can buy local produce and goods that is all from the Blue Mountains and surrounds. I cannot wait to go there and to check it all out.
This weekend the Hydro is having High Teas in The Wintergarden like they did last weekend as they are slowing opening all areas soon. I would have loved to have gone but think with two kids a fancy high tea would have been wasted on them. I am waiting to book with the Boiler room for lunch.
Stunning areas to dine at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
By the end of the year the second part of the refurbishment should be finished and the accommodation will be open for the public. Cannot wait for that to happen. It has been a big job and I must say that it looks amazing from the driving back and forth I have been doing.
Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
The kids always comment when we drive past, “Mummy, they are working today! Geez mummy they are doing a good job!” “Wow, they have the roof on mummy!” “Look, windows and lights now!”
The girls have marveled at all the changes just like we have. It has been amazing to watch!
Great view of the detail of the ceiling and lights at the Hydro Majestic. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
I have made a promise to the twins that when it opens I will take them to the new hotel.They are super excited and cannot wait to go and explore and see all the changes close up. The pictures are just lovely to drool over and I so see myself in a fancy dress sipping a cocktail or two here. (A night with just hubby and me is in order soon)
Stylish refurbishment bring the Hydro back to life. Image by David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism
Feel the urge to have a peek at the Hydro? Wish to have some High Tea? Then give the Hydro a call.
I’m sure I am not alone, getting sick of watching the same kids programs over and over again. Not other SpongeBob Square Pants, Octonauts or Peppa Pig! Please can we watch something different? Movies are stuck on the same one currently, “The Little Mermaid” Ohhhhhhhh it is hard to keep up the enthusiasm for the same show that you have seen a million and one times! Trust me it feels like this is the amount I have sat there. Insert fake smile to child here! Of course I would love to watch Peppa Pig again, Yes after that we can have a SpongeBob Square Pants.
So I decided to see if there was an old show that I like, that would be kid appropriate. I decided on Fawlty Towers. Not sure if the kids would think it funny, but I loved it as a kid as John Cleese, Connie Booth, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs made the characters fun, made me laugh and love them.
Fawlty Towers for those that don’t know is about a couple that run a hotel in Torquay, England. Basil and Sybil Fawlty own and run the hotel with help from Polly and Manuel. Sybil manages to find ways to avoid work while ordering Basil around. He is a rude man that gets annoyed, angry and yells at customers of the hotel. Mr Fawlty also ends up running around in a flap trying to please the Mrs with jobs that he is supposed to have done but never gets around to, or ignores, or runs out of time due to issues with customers or the hotel.
There are many episodes where Basil loses his cool and has a temper tantrum. However it is never bad to watch, more slap stick in origin and hard to watch without laughing yourself silly and bringing tears to your eyes. Hubby and I have been in a fit of giggles that were uncontrollable and just could not stop! The show although obviously shot in the 1970’s has not lost the edge it had then, the episodes still hold up in 2013 and are just as hysterical now as they were then. Well that is my opinion.
Now you might think that this show might not be entertaining for four year olds (this was the age that I started them watching it), and now five year olds, but you are very wrong! They love it and ask repeatedly for us to put one of the episodes on, their favourite “The Wedding Party”.
While we were away we had episodes copied to our laptop for the girls to watch before bed, they giggled their heads off and so did we. Also when we were at a winery they were playing with a toy phone, and asking for Mr Fawlty. I overheard this and could not stop laughing. This has happened the local doctors, both kids were pretending they were the Fawlty’s, one was Basil and the other was Sybil. Interesting.
Now the kids ask to watch “the angry man who jumps up and down in the office” this is how they refer to Basil Fawlty. Weird how they have taken to it and glad that it now breaks up their shows with something that mummy and daddy love to watch also.
How many times do you think you have watched some of your kids shows? Is it a trillion or more? Let me know. What show from your childhood have you introduced and they love also? The girls also love “The Muppet Show” so that is great. Send in your comments.
