We’re back and everyone’s still in one piece although I think my children might’ve starting growing gills and webbed feet judging by the amount of time they spent swimming. We had what some might consider terrible weather the whole time we were away with a lot of rain, especially on the drive up there, but we got in two long swims mornings and afternoons each day and I guess that’s all that matters to the kids.

We stayed at “The Islander” resort which is right on the Noosa River. It’s a reasonably priced family friendly resort, close to all amenities as well as having everything you could possibly need in the resort, especially when you have young children. The accommodation was a 2-storey townhouse with 2 bedrooms, TV, DVD player, dishwasher and all the creature comforts of home. The resort is set in beautiful tropical gardens which I just adore and had pleasure looking at all the beautiful species of bromeliads and other tropical plants.

Originally I was ‘flying solo’ with the kids (yes, I know – a kamakaze mission) because my (now ex) husband had to work on the weekend but as it turned out he didn’t so he arrived by lunch time on Saturday and stayed until Sunday evening, which was such a nice little break for me. I really didn’t mind it that much on my own with the kids. If I wasn’t in the pool with them, I was watching them ‘like a hawk’ in the water. They were so well behaved, it was a pleasure to take them away. They weren’t perfect, for example, finding it hard to get used to sleeping in a new place so a few late nights but other than that, it was great.

While my (now ex) husband was there, I managed a walk along the riverfront, reading the entire paper from front to back and a browse around the beautiful homewares shops and boutiques surrounding the resort.

But it was all about the kids and swimming and swimming they did. They’d swim for 2 hours at a time, morning and afternoon but boy, did they sleep well.

It was a great 5 nights away. It’s never long enough but then sometimes it’s just enough. I always miss my bed nowadays. There used to be a time when I’d sleep anywhere just for the sake of a weekend away. Nothing like home, the dogs, the routine and now we can concentrate on preparing for Christmas celebrations after a nice relaxing time to get over the busy year.