Being a mum is the hardest but most rewarding rollercoaster ride I’ve ever been on.
Whilst I was pregnant with Everleigh I had a hormonal bout of anxiety that I was suddenly going to lose myself, that somehow during the labour I would give birth to a new identity: Mum and the person I had been would vanish during a night feed. When I told the midwife my concerns she told me not to worry, many mums-to-be go through this phase as their lives are about to change in ways unimaginable so it’s understandable you want to grip on with your fingernails to the person you are, scared of the unknown.
Turns out that the transition wasn’t that scary. I was too knackered for the first half of my daughter’s life to worry that I may have lost what made Katy, Katy. But as we both built this new relationship, figured out a sort of routine and managed to get more sleep I became conscious of a desire to still want time to myself. Time to recharge my batteries, time to not be switched on to mum mode and time to do the things I loved to do before I had a baby. After being the Backpacking Bridget Jones I wasn’t ready to totally give up my independence just because I was now in the (mother)hood.
The things I didn’t want to give up were namely travelling, eating cake, reading books and ticking off cool new places. Boy, do you appreciate these things so much more when you can’t do them whenever you like and without a small life form attached to you in some way. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED hanging out with our mini adventurer during our Skandi road trip but it’s nice to unclutter your brain with the goings on of a small person whenever the rare opportunity presents itself.
So, wanting to schedule in some well earned Katy-time I grabbed my friend Jo (another recent member to the motherhood club) and decided to tick off a new destination as well as embrace this rare experience of being childfree for three whole days. A lifetime. Also a kind of baby moon, as I am in the second trimester of bambino numero dos! (More on this in a later blog post).
We drove down to Portsmouth to catch the Wight Link Ferry over to Fishbourne, Isle of Wight. As it’s part of the UK you don’t need a passport, I definitely did not fall for my husband’s gullible set up and bring mine. Ahem. A speedy and hassle free forty-five minutes later we pulled up to a drizzly terminal, hoping that the weather app that promised sunshine over the next two days wouldn’t be a lie.
England’s largest island, the Isle of Wight is just 6km away from the mainland and home to over 140,000 people. We were staying at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor on the south of the island. Founded in 1832 this historical gem of a building is one of the oldest hotels on the island. It oozes class and style, from the piano in the lobby to the impeccable service in the chandelier lit dining room. There was an older crowd of guests but many were clearly repeat visitors who appreciated the heritage and attention to detail here. I’d recommend taking a walk up the gardens to a look out point over the sea to watch the sun set (or rise!) - they even provide gourmet picnics and blankets. Tres cute!
Wanting to wake up our baby-brains we soaked up some culture at Osborne House, this stunning, sandy-coloured English Heritage stately building was the former royal residence and rural retreat of Queen Victoria. A place to escape the stresses of Sovereign life thanks to the jaw-dropping views over the waters, immaculate landscaped gardens and decorative rooms previously used to welcome guests. It is also where she died in 1901. Nowadays you get to experience life upstairs and downstairs as you climb the many steps inside, gawping at the huge pieces of art or even, in my case, getting some nursery inspo!
I liked the kitsch beach feel of the town of Ryde (the largest town on the island). Take a walk down the pier over the award-winning beach for salty chips wrapped in paper or wander up the hill to the well-established selection of shops. We grabbed a bite to eat at the trendy Artisan bar then sort of fell into the flagship Liz Earle shop. The company began on the island after Liz created products for friends who couldn’t get enough, years later, and stocked all over the world, this store still stands in the same place where it all began. My skin has taken a battering since being pregnant so it was wonderful to try out some new products (hello, iconic hot cloth cleanser) but without getting the hard sell from the lovely Ali who worked there.
That evening Jo and I got our glad rags on (heels and everything!) and dined at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant. We were spoilt for choice thanks to the locally sourced menu and extremely attentive staff. My starter of gin-cured mackerel was a taste sensation, followed by steak and triple cooked chips then a cheeky cherry soufflé. We fell into our beds full, happy and looking forward to getting a great night’s sleep - no nappies to change or bath time routines to stick to. Winning!
Part two of our Mums On Tour mini break coming tomorrow! Thanks to Tourism South East and Visit Isle Of Wight for hosting our stay. All views 100% my own.
