Sonya's Blog

Sonya Murray is co founder of The Baby Gurus. The Baby Gurus' pregnancy and birth education services range from private individuals to corporate for some of the UK's leading companies.

As a wife and a mother of three, Sonya brings a personal understanding of pregnancy and parenting as well as tips on multi tasking and getting the most of the work life balance. Her favourite online stores are MACCosmetics.co.uk, MarksandSpencer.com, Boden.co.uk, JoJoMamanBebe.co.uk and JoMalone.co.uk.

Trouble in Tuscany...

Published on Tuesday 29th May 2007

Let’s face it most ladies don’t travel light, with everything from Mac make-up to Christian Louboutins classed as core essentials. During the packing for my break away I do wonder briefly if it’s possible to wear 7 pairs of shoes in 4 days……..of course I keep packing them.

I must admit the idea of holidaying without my little cherubs for the first time fills me with both pleasure (the escape part) and dread (they will miss me, won’t they?). On the up side, 4 nights in a Tuscan Villa (www.viadellastella.it) to celebrate my business partner Emma’s 40th sounds just too idyllic for words.

Granny and Grandpa volunteer to take charge of the household and the children are excited at the thought of a few days of generous doses of fizzy drinks and sweeties (normally fairly rationed).

The plan is for 14 of us to rest and relax poolside with various feasts along the way. A rustic Italian evening with a local Tuscan chef has me dreaming of a tall dark and handsome Italian and a fine dining experience.

When Rome greets us with glorious sunshine but no suitcases (they’d taken up residence in Gatwick airport) my heart sinks. The thought of nothing that’s my own conjures up feelings that can only be described as intense. Those who have been to Tuscany will know that shops are few and far between (though there was rumoured to be a Prada outlet).

Luck is in though when we find a supermarket that sells makeup with across the road from it, a shop selling swimwear. I leave with a bounce in my step, a bikini, cherry patterned PJ’s, a T shirt saying “USA beat” and bright pink cheeks.

On reflection our Tuscan trip was a great success and I would highly recommend it for busy mums (and dads). Did Giovanni turn out to be the sun god I had hoped for? Well in a word no. He was a SHE and although not the TDH Giovanni I had hoped for, a fine chef all the same.

Sometimes being a busy mother and business women makes it’s hard to down tools and have a little TLC. But my cherubs managed without us, the grandparents coped and came home feeling revived.

P.S My suitcase…..it arrived just hours before we left. Pity, but it did show me that it’s friends and great company that really matter (not that 7 pairs of shoes wouldn’t have helped).

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