Could this be the holiday from hell for me and my family?

[spidermama]

I have four kids under 7. So too does my friend. We both have babies, and we're both particularly hard up at the moment. She recently moved to France and invited us over. It sounded like a good idea at the time and I managed to find a Ferry crossing for £150 return. So it's all booked. Hooray! My kids have never been abroad so it'll be really exciting for them.

So why do I feel a sense of impending dread?

The logistics scare me to start with. One kitchen, two eccentric women, eight small children (including an autistic 5 year old boy and two small babies), two slightly depressed men.

Thank God the wine will be cheap.

Any other tips on retaining my sanity? Or should I cancel now?

The big question: how many bathrooms.

go for it --- how bad can it get when you are with friends in same boat and with loads of wine?

Good question. I'll ask but I'm guessing it'll be one. (gulp!)

Nah,go for it. If all else fails you can write a 'I'm mad,me' style article about it and flog it to a magazine. Will your dh be with you. Bloody hell,you're brave. I'm pissed off because my dh has top go to Ankara for three days next week. I have to either go with him and be cooped up bored senseless in a hotel with my two or stay here in Van,cooped up in a flat with them,knowing he won't be home at the end of the day.

Is there a pool? That's what would really worry me.

No pool but very close to the beach.

I wonder if I ought to discuss possible flashpoints with my friend beforehand, or just deal with them if and when they arise.

Beach and wine. It'll be fine.

Still need clarification on bloke situation....

Kids and mate
Could end up with hate

I'd go for the hotel if I were you moondog. A change is as good as a rest etc. It'll probably have a swimming pool won't it? Plus no cooking and cleaning for you for two days.

The blokes are fed up because they're currently failing to provide properly for their families. My dh is an actor and has had several near misses and lots of time off this year. Her bloke has given up a job he hates and is considering his future.

Yeah,will do I suppose. Sounds so ungrateful,but I'm bored with hotels. Yes,there will be a pool though and we all love swimming. And i don't cook or clean when I'm here! (Although do plenty of both in UK.)

Just pissed me off when dh said 'It'll be an adventure!' Snarled back 'You look after a baby and a 4 year old for a 12 hour stretch in a strange place alone and tell me howmuch fun it is.'

I'm a miserable old boot.

But will the blokesbe coming too?

Yes. All one big happy family. (gulp)

Brighton beet.

I don't know. Do you live in Brighton then?

I'm 39. We used to live all over South London and most recently in Brixton. Dh is an actor and has done loads of theatre and a fair bit of telly. I don't think I know a theatre director with four kids.

Are you still theatre directing, even with four kids? Good on you. I was a journo but am sahm at the moment.

I would like to give up my job so I could contemplate the future . . .

But I'd settle for drinking wine in France near a beach . . .

Wow! Good job Beetroot. I'm trying to think what you may have seen my dh in. He was in Lear a couple of years ago with Timothy West. He was also in a very long running West End show (not the Mousetrap) for a year recently. Otherwise it's been mainly telly.

We get by quite well normally with the odd sticky patch, and I love that he's at home a fair bit. But the unpredictable nature of his job is hard to deal with now we have kids.