Our Premier Weekend!

 So, we FINALLY got around to using our fancy restaurant voucher from Secret Santa on Friday night. It had actually expired a month before, but after the obligatory groveling phone call, we booked a table and sorted the sitter.
 Alright then, that's not EXACTLY how it went down... You see, I had come across the voucher, immediately after throwing a (totally justified) strop, about a certain person's apparent inability to make even the most basic of social plans, concluding with,
'Oh, and you needn't think I'm booking my own birthday meal again this year, cos I'm not.. unless of course, you've it all organised already?'
 (As if). Cue exaggerated feigned innocence from me, and predictable 'caught in the headlights' shiftiness from him. 
Later on, I strategically positioned the voucher next to the kettle with highish hopes, but a few days later, I quietly backtracked and rang the restaurant to do it myself. I did the whole grovelling thing, only to then sheepishly discover, that my less than subtle hint HAD indeed been heeded. Proof that a well placed metaphorical boot up the arse does actually work... sometimes.

Our room

Then it just so happened, that soon after that, I got an email from Premier Inn, offering me and my family a weekend in any of their hotels. I know-tres exciting! (Back story-Premier Inns are sponsoring the 'Family Life' category in the MAD BLOG AWARDS, and as one of the finalists in that category, they offered this lovely freebie to little old me.)
Unfortunately, and to cut a very long story short, it turned out that our super size family was too big for their family rooms. So instead, it was decided that the two of us would stay in the Premier Inn in Belfast's Waring Street, in the hip and happening Cathedral Quarter, after our fancy meal out on  Friday night. Then, after a day out in Belfast on the Saturday with the kids, all of us would have dinner in the hotel restaurant that evening. Sure, it would've been rude not to....
I suppose that I should mention at this point, that Belfast's most gorgeous 5 * hotel also happens to be on Waring Street, and on passing it, it took ALL my willpower to focus on the purple Premier Inn sign further up the street, and not get waylaid by all it's 5* fabulousness....but, believe it or not, I was glad that I did.
Honestly, from the moment we arrived until the moment we left, I don't think I've met nicer, more welcoming staff anywhere (and just for the record, they had no idea of my superstar status!) It's true -from Rachel on reception, to Marty in the restaurant, to lots of others who just chatted to us and the children, everyone was friendly, helpful and chatty, without being fake, in your face, or just too much. In fact, they could teach many fancier hotels a thing or two!
Our room was huge, bright, and spotlessly clean, and the bed turned out to be super comfortable- always a bonus! Once we were settled, Loverboy went down to the bar to get us both a glass of wine, and discovered that if you bought 2 glasses, you got the rest of the bottle free! (Now you won't get that in Fancy Schmancy up the street!)

Gotta love the brekkie!

 It must be said though, that breakfast next morning in the Thyme Restaurant was the piece de la resistance. It was self service, with Costa coffee, the freshest of cereals, fruit, toast, muffins and all the cooked breakfast goodies as well. I was only sorry that the kids weren't there to enjoy it too, because for them, nothing says 'I love you' like an 'all you can eat' breakfast!
 (The only minor downside was my unlucky view of the next table- each time this Lovely leaned forward, I was treated to more of the same!)

The view...now that's some craic!

After collecting the kids from my mum's, we headed into the brilliant St. George's Market, where I could happily have put in the day, but we'd pre booked tickets to the  Titanic Museum, and honestly, it was world class. Informative, emotional, exciting-everything a museum should be. If you get the chance, go. Afterwards, when we stood on the exact spot where her keel was laid and gazed into the water where she was first launched, it was surprisingly moving.

Then it was back to the Premier Inn's Thyme restaurant for dinner with the kids. We had the meal deal, which was 3 courses and a glass of wine or soft drink for £22, and the kids had an great selection to choose from for £4.25, or £4.75 with dessert. (There was even a baby and toddler menu for up to 7 months and 10 months+!) The food was tasty and seemed to really hit the spot- proof were the clean plates afterwards!

Add caption

But the big question is-would I go back to the Premier Inn and pay for it this time? For a family break, the answer is a resounding YES! In terms of a child friendly, great value hotel,  it's top of its field. (We stayed recently in a Holiday Inn and there was simply NO comparison).And the icing on the cake was definitely the staff- in Waring Street Belfast anyway. 
So that was my weekend..did you get up to anything yourself?

Ride On....

Christy baby-it just wasn't meant to be.....

I'm supposed to be on the road to Drogheda with Loverboy right now. Oh yes indeedy, we had dinner plans, Christy Moore tickets, an overnight in a hotel and a lie in scheduled. Followed by breakfast and newspapers and endless coffee refills. In a hotel. Did I mention that? One dark, tipsy, Friday night last Autumn, an evening with Loverboy and Christy (you know what I mean!) helped chase away the SADs when Spring seemed so far away. But the best laid plans and all that, because it just wasn't meant to be.

Gutted....

My mum has been under the weather this week- nothing too serious- but despite her inevitable protestations, I knew that the addition of five little houseguests was way too much for her and I pulled the plug. So, instead of flying down the motorway, tall skinny latte in hand ,(yes, I'd penciled that in too), I'm sitting  in the kitchen on the couch. Teletubbies is on- the same episode that I've seen at least 20 times- and it's a horrible rainy day outside. My revised plans for the evening now entails cutting all four boys hair, followed by a production line of showers and hair washing. It also includes making up beds, cooking dinner and washing uniforms. In other words, except for my barber shop stint, it's like any other Friday night round here. No big deal, it's only that my expectations were a little higher and a bit more self indulgent, I suppose. A bite to eat, a few cheeky wines and a bit of 'Ride on' and 'Lisdoovarna', courtesy of Christy. Followed by that aforementioned lie in and brekkie. Ah well!

But sure, you know, it's not all bad- Luke is snuggled up beside me, and I've just had a yummy slice of chocolate cake and coffee made with hot milk, just the way I like it. Loverboy has finished work early and we're going to tackle the boys grooming and bathing requirements between us.  And for the first time in ages, we have a quiet weekend ahead which, after a month  of mad busyness is pretty special in itself. I'm also fairly sure that Christy will sound almost as good in our kitchen later on, especially after I get stuck into that bottle of Oyster Bay in the fridge! Oh and here's a little note I got from Rory this week which made my heart melt and my face smile.... Happy weekend everybody!