For the past 7 years I have been in a whirl of babies and toddlers, nappies and potty training but with Sebby growing up and now starting pre-school I now have a small window of time to myself.
When the kids are young I am the parent who cannot bear to leave them for even an evening out with the hubby, never mind a day or over night stay. Last month we had a weekend break without the kids for a friends child-free wedding and had a great time letting our hair down without worrying where they were on what they were doing.
This Saturday my plans involved packing the goody bags for BlogOn in Winchester but Hubby came home from work looking quite serious saying I had to change my plans.
As you can imagine I was not too impressed and assumed he had to work, but no – he had won tickets to the Chelsea v Arsenal match at Stamford Bridge. I could not stop grinning once I found out and a few phone calls later we had arranged childcare and made plans to travel up to London with a fellow fan and friend.
I have not been to a football match since 2011 when Kian was a player escort at Wembley and although that was an incredible experience watching our son walk on the pitch at Wembley, we had taken a baby Eliza and toddler Isaac and it was not a good atmosphere for young kids so I left at half time and hubby stayed with Kian to watch the rest of the match.
Between us, hubby and I have won or bought a few tickets to matches in the last 4 years but he has taken Kian and not me as I didn’t want to leave the baby, but now it was my turn to go to Stamford Bridge again.
Last year I wrote a post about falling out of love with the beautiful game, I didn’t seem to connect with it anymore. Being at home meant no office banter and my twitter feed is more Mummy Bloggers than Chelsea fans these days so I didn’t really see any tweets in my timeline during matches.
A trip to Stamford Bridge is all that I needed to find myself again and remember how much I enjoy not only spending time with my husband, but also my love of football.
We stopped for a quick drink in The Goose, which was packed full of Chelsea fans. I have to admit that my knowledge of the current team is not as good as it should be, but none of that mattered. We chatted tactics, rumours and all about our favourite matches we had been to, before heading into the ground for the match itself.
Our tickets were in the Upper West Stand (above where Abramovich sits) and we even had padded seats. The atmosphere was electric. Our stand was more corporate and did not sing as much as the Matthew Harding and Shed end although we did give joining in a good go, so much so that Hubby has lost his voice!!
It was a feisty match with no team performing particularly well, but we got the result we wanted and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I took my small camera and barely took any photos which is most unlike me as we concentrated on enjoying the match, jumping up and cheering for each goal scored.
I love days out with the kids and wouldn’t change them for the world, but sometimes you need a day to do something you enjoy without worrying about where the kids are.
This is me and I am glad to be back, although we won’t be going to matches every week, we will certainly go more often and thank you to Yokohama Tyres for their great competition!!
P.S. The Blog On goody bags got done on Sunday instead, in case you were worried ;0)
Last weekend I was in That London for my birthday – and was treated to all manner of lovely things while I was there.
One of the treats was my first EVER trip to a football match – and it was Arsenal vs Stoke.
I don’t like football, and nobody in my family is a football fan, apart from my brother, who is an obsessive Carlisle United fan – so my whole knowledge of football comes from him – and Carlisle United, and their grounds, don’t exactly inspire a love of the game!
So I wasn’t expecting to love my trip – but was willing to do it for the experience, to say I’d done it just once, and to show I was willing to try things I claim to hate.
In the end I had a really good time (helped by the guy at halftime giving me a birthday shout out!) and Arsenal won, which pleased the person I was with VERY much, the atmosphere was great, it’s MUCH more interesting to watch in person than on TV, and I came away thinking that maybe I don’t hate football after all, and that it was a fun experience I wouldn’t object to repeating. I don’t think I’ll ever be a die hard fan of the beautiful game, but I do think I’ll watch more games, and go out of my way now to try to instil an interest in my boys, because I think growing up not knowing anything about football is weird for boys going through school!
Glad you had a great time, and that you’re getting to connect again to something that clearly means so much to you.
It looks like you had a fantastic time at the match. How lucky that you have won a few sets of tickets, I love the atmosphere at football matches.
aww honey so pleased you got some you time and you and hubs had a super time … i so need to do this with my hubs .. its all babies, bumps and bills and we are boring!
So pleased you are managing some you time. I used to love footy too but I’m a Liverpool fan 😉 Since having kids it has been pushed to the back of my mind but maybe I’ll take a leaf out of your book and rediscover my love for it xx
I think that there is a season for everything and I totally understand not wanting to leave the kids when they are younger. I am learning to try and find some me time everyday. I haven’t been to a football match for an age
Aww you both look so happy in that photo!! I’m glad you got to go to the game again and re-connect with your hobby. It’s important to have something that is just for you, in a busy mum’s life.
Can’t stand football but it’s nice to have a day out without small people! Glad you had fun!
That’s a lovely photograph of you both, you look so happy and relaxed. The last football match I went to was a Charity Shield at the old Wembley, Man Utd vs Chelsea so that should tell you how long it’s been since I went. I love the atmosphere of any live event but I can’t stick watching sport on the TV at home, apart from the Olympics and the odd bit of athletics. It either needs to be on a big screen in a big bar or I need to be there to see all the action live. So pleased you got this bit of ‘you’ time, it’s so important as parents to spend time alone and together x
Ah, you’ve made me remember I used to be a season ticket holder (at Wolves!) and I’d quite like a flashback to the time when we used to go to lots of matches! Glad you got some quality you time 🙂
Aww it sounds like you really got to have a you day and enjoy yourself fantastic! x
Lovely photos of the pair of you. It must have been nice to get away and have some couple time.
I haven’t been to a football match in six years now, back when AFC Bournemouth was struggling for survival! I’m so pleased you had such a good time and that you’re love for the game has been reignited. I do like watching games but I’m not a die-hard fan as such.
I’m pleased that you had a good day. I went to an Arsenal match with my 10 year-old son a couple of years ago. I was very nervous about it but it was a fun experience and I’m glad that I went – my husband had bought the tickets but then had to go away for work.
I really enjoyed reading about you and football Chelsea Mamma! You do look so happy – time away is golden isn’t it.
Ahh Kara it must have been so nice to escape just the two of you. You look SO happy! Really pleased you had such a great time. We should do it too really (although maybe not a Chelsea game – husband’s dad was in the RAF and the first team he ever saw was Liverpool!) x
Aw you look so happy!! I’m the same – not very good at leaving the kids but definitely want to start doing it more now they’re getting a bit older.
So pleased you got to go together, what a wonderful surprise too.
oh how lovely that you got to go away and do something that you love buyt haven’t been around for a while… and you had comfy seats. Very posh footy viewing. Love the photo of you both. Big beaming smiles
I think every now and then a break from the kids (and them from you!) does no harm at all. Looks like you had a great day