Would I be completely insane to go away on my own with my 18m old to a cottage with no central heating in October?

[spicemonster]

My CM is taking 3 days off at the beginning of October and so I'm going to have to take the time off work to look after my DS. I was thinking about just mooching around here and chilling out but there is a cottage we could go to in Cornwall for a long weekend. It's dirt cheap but is a long drive and has no central heating, only a coal fire in the living room. From memory, there are also electric heaters but obviously they eat leccy.

I've never been on holiday on my own with him before. Would I be better off waiting and going away with him next year when the weather's a bit warmer for our first ever holiday experience together?

Just got back from there. Not much sun!
If it was me it would depend on just how far you have to drive. Sounds like quite hard work for a weekend ... I'd be tempted to chill this time, wait til ds can appreciate the beaches! My dd is 3 at Xmas, and she was a bit scared of the sea at first, but soon grew to like it. I doubt she'd have liked it at 18months. Without wetsuits etc it's pretty cold ....

Go!

Absolutely. If you think you'll enjoy a few days on your own with DS, go for it. I love having proper time on my own in DS - it's completely different to when DH is around.

I'd wimp out just coz of the drive. think heating would be ok in early oct if you took jumpers. coiuld you not take the phone off the hook and pretend you are on holiday at home by doing easy meals treats etc? or do you need a holiday? if so go for it , a change of scenery can be great.
(i'll just sit on the fence a bit more now...)

what is a long drive?? I think if its less than hour and a half I would probably go

yes, good idea (hello Nemo ) under an hour and a half, go for it.

It's going to take me 5 hours to drive it. I don't mind driving that distance but it's a lot of driving for a long weekend isn't it? Would be pretty miserable if the weather isn't very nice I guess.

I'm a single parent so I'm always on my own with DS ninah - not that I don't enjoy it but we quite often spend weekends mooching about London with not a lot on.

We have got some friends who live a couple of hours away who might appreciate a visit. Or might not mind too much if we descend on them for the weekend

5 hours? Ooh that's a different matter. Long way for an 18 month old. I used to have to take DS on a 4 hour journey and it wasn't good.

Can you take the friends with you to the cottage?

I'd go - think a change of scene would be good and I love country cottages when it's cold out- will your ds fall asleep in the car?

Go for it. You'll both benefit from the change of scenery. And my 18mo adored the beach last week - it was about the only place he's been too recently where he could run off in any direction and shout at the top of his lungs without me having to Gently Guide him.

It sounds as though it does YOU good to go there too - if you'll love it, pack a few jumpers & fleecy balnkets and your DS will love it too.

Have fun.

I can't take the friends (although maybe they would like to come - but they live by the seaside anyway so not sure they'd want to pack up their dog and 3 cats to come to cornwall!). Today I found out that the car I've ordered is arriving before that weekend which does make it slightly more appealing - I was going to have to hire a car which was going to be a hassle + expensive.

I do like the idea of it. I really, really love it there.

Well, personally i'd infinitely rather spend three days inserting red hot needles into my eyes, but each to their own, eh

I would do it. Leave late afternoon so he can sleep in the car on the way down. Put him straight into bed when you get there. Then sort out the bags etc in the morning.

If you're worried it's too far could you not find a cottage somewhere closer to London? Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk all nearer and have beaches too.

WOuldn't worry about no heating, I have no central heating and make a real effort not to turn any heaters on until after the end of October. Take hot waterbottles, extra blankets and jumpers.

Sounds lovely. As you say, you really really love it there- sounds like a clincher to me!

Isn't it better in lfe to regret the things you do do, than the things you don't do?

ps. If the car you want doesn't arrive in time, you could consider taking the train from Paddington to the SW (Exeter, or even Penzance) and hiring the car from there. That's what I do- it's quick and easy. I am going to Devon even later in October- wrap up warm, there'll be lots of bracing things to do!

gillybean can we swap children???

"Leave late afternoon so he can sleep in the car on the way down. Put him straight into bed when you get there".

If I left late afternoon with my 18mth old he would just sleep for an hour or so then wake up and be clawing at the windows.

And then not go to bed til 10pm.

5hrs is way too long IMO on your own with a child that age (unless you really had to).

You will have to stop everytime Ds wants a biscuit or throws his drink/toy on the floor.

For us at the moment (was same with DS1) 2.5-3hrs is absolute maximum car journey.

DS2 will sleep for nearly 2 hrs if it's his afternoon nap time but after that will only last max. 30 mins and that is with his older brother to entertain him.

Heating not an issue though to me.

I also think that 3 days non-stop 'alone' with a pre-verbal child would send me to the loony bin.

Remember, there will be NO respite!

Sorry to be all doom and gloom but we have friends with similar age twins who braved a 2 week holiday (7hr drive).

Let's just say they regretted it.

And there were 2 of them (adults I mean).