Holiday limitations

So here we are: the first school holidays since hubby took his new job (bar Christmas, but that doesn't count as we never go away for Christmas - see Christmas (no) holidays). I've already mentally adjusted myself to the lack of holiday time since he started the job - as I said in my last blog (what's really important), the regular quality time together more than makes up for it. However, what I'm still struggling to adjust to is the accompanying lack of holiday money. Sadly, it seems we are yet to find that elusive job that pays you a fortune and lets you have a life. Or even a job that pays a reasonable living wage to live that elusive life with. It seems that having evenings and weekends free goes hand in hand with not really having any money to spend on them.

It wouldn't be a problem if it was summer. Days out in summer are generally free - the park, the beach, a country walk. Eating out is easy - let's go for a picnic. Even holidays can be cheap, as we've proved countless times with our camping extravaganzas. Winter is different. The beach doesn't really have that same appeal - but soft-play, swimming, bowling and the cinema all cost money. A country walk is doable if the weather isn't too awful, but it's not the same without a nice pub lunch to warm up. Picnics don't really work unless you like spending ten minutes trying to open a packet of crisps with numb fingers. And the only holidays that really appeal involve spending thousands to jump on a plane and head somewhere warm.

So here I am faced with half-term on my own, with two children, no husband and not a lot of spare cash. Not a new situation for most people, I'm sure, but a shock to the system for me. A quick look at those handy Facebook memories shows me I was in Newcastle visiting my sister this time last year, and the year before that, I was in Jamaica. Best not to dwell on that. My first answer is to invite some of the children's friends round - the children get free, weather-independent entertainment and I get time to get some work done (another advantage/disadvantage of not being on holiday) - everybody's happy. But, the thing is, it's my birthday this week. I haven't been on holiday since October. That's a long time for me. I'm feeling deprived.

So I say to my husband: 'Instead of a present for my birthday, what I'd really like is a holiday!'

Of course, we both know that's not going to happen. But I am happy to settle for a night away. He books a precious day off work and we debate where to go. For just one night, there's no point in going more than an hour or two away. Where can we go that's nearby and will give us cheap/free daytime entertainment? The answer is obvious: London. It's an hour's drive away. It has tons of free museums. Job done. Of course, staying in London isn't so cheap. However, you'd be surprised - I was! - at how cheap you actually can get it. With a bit of research, I managed to find a Holiday Inn (London West) for £54 for the night for four of us, with an extra £9 for breakfast (again, for all four of us!). It's not central, but it's only a couple of minutes' walk to a tube station and then just fifteen minutes into the centre.

I am disproportionately excited. It's just a cheap night in London. But the last few years have made me reassess what's important and appreciate what I've got. Everything's relative, and a night away with my family is still exciting. Okay, it's not Jamaica or Australia or even five weeks in a tent in France, but it's still time together. And, regardless of anything else, I do like to get away, so it's still a mini-holiday somewhere else. Despite the limiting weather, despite the limited time and despite the limited budget, I know we'll have a great time. I have no intention whatsoever of giving up on holidays - I'll just become the budget break blogger!