All days are an adventure. Mother’s Day 2023 proves to be another day filled with the mix of love, joy and frustration that are reflected in most days, for most mothers.
I’m allowed to sleep in. In previous years, the boys haven’t been patient enough but this year, they’re happy enough to wait for 7:30am when I have to get up anyway. Oskar the cat needs his insulin and this is a mum job, even on Mother’s Day.
As I’m tending to Oskar, I hear distressed whispers in the kitchen. Soon I hear someone turn the coffee machine on so I figure everything must be alright in my world. Coffee soon arrives and I sit down to make some calls home – mum, Grammie, Nannie and my sister – to wish them a happy day too.
During this time the doorbell rings and the kitchen activity picks up again. It turns out the eggs were left out of yesterday’s grocery delivery and I’m impressed by their foresight. Now, half an hour later, the issue has been rectified and mum’s favorite French toast is under way.
We finish off our calls with more well wishes and then my lovely homemade breakfast arrives on the table, along with gifts and a stunning bunch of two dozen roses. I’m one very lucky mum!
Peach Bellini candle, new mascara and a selection of shea butter hand cream accompanies my French toast smothered with fresh strawberries and cream.
After breakfast (and perhaps another coffee), we pack up and head to the beach. The rest of the morning is spent poolside at The Palm’s W Dubai.
Our Dubai days are warming up after the beautiful weather of our extended early spring. It’s a perfect day for a swim, with the sea at a delightful 27℃, the pool at 32℃ and the air at 36℃.
The pool is first. It’s designed in ‘steps’ with cabanas and little poolside pods interspersed between the different pools. Some are connected, with water overlapping from one into the next. Others are separated by walkways making it a maze of bathers, cabanas, children playing and sunbathers lounging.
After some time, splashing, dunking and floating, we head down to the beach for a walk. There are some people out on efoils (a motorised hydrofoil surfboard). The boys are excited and I admit, they’re rather mesmerizing. As a mum though, my immediate reaction is ‘no’. Too dangerous!
We return to our sun lounges in time to get changed and head into Liv, the poolside restaurant offering a relaxed family brunch. Relaxed atmosphere it may be, but the food is still first class with a huge salad bar and offerings such as roast & trimmings, grilled meats & vegetables, cold seafood, sushi and hot Asian offerings. The pulled beef waffles are particularly good, as are the Gin Botanical cocktails.
Eventually the dessert bar is too hard to resist, especially after I sample a few of Harley’s selections. Donuts, an assortment of cakes, mousse, brûlée, pannacotta and, of course, gelato. I chose a berry pannacotta which is excellent and can’t resist the raspberry gelato as an accompaniment.
After lunch, the boys head off to the kid’s club and Jason & I sit and partake in another botanical mix. There’s a very laid back vibe and we’re not rushed off our table. In fact, the excellent singer and dance/mine pair of entertainers, keep us fixed, proving ample excuses to extend the lunch just a little longer than absolutely necessary.
Eventually we round up the boys and it’s time to head off. It would be nice to take up where we left off from the sun lounges a couple of hours ago, but the day has marched on and Jasper has a football match to get to. The end of the day is marred only by Harley’s lost yo-yo* and the inevitable tears that accompany such a thing. Such are the joys of motherhood.
Good To Know
W Dubai, The Palm currently runs Liv’s Sunday Brunch which is something special for everyone. Brunch includes complimentary access to the pool, beach and kids club so come prepared to spoil the whole family (fur babies excluded).
Would I Return?
Yes.
* The lost yo-yo was eventually found and, after a subsequent trip, recovered. The tears, however, are lost forever!
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