WINTER WONDER

While Jun/Jul was meant to be our party issue, it was far from a party in my life. In mid-June my worst nightmare happened. I lost my mum to cancer. I've often wondered how people manage without their own mum in their life. My mum was both a mum, a grandmother and my best friend to, especially the last 11 years as she helped me navigate single-motherhood and supported me in every aspect of my life. Without partners we were each other’s sounding boards for basically everything and I still daily think about texting her or calling to discuss something.

It had been a long two months of daily hospital visits, and sitting by her beside all day, so by the time she left us it was almost a relief. Not that it made the pain any easier. Almost serendipitously I had a trip to the Gold Coast planned with the kids and we left the day after Mum's funeral. It was exactly the break and distraction we needed and arriving on a 27-degree day from Melbourne's winter made it all the sweeter.

Destination Gold Coast treated us to three amazing places to stay, a host of fun activities including meeting this divine dolphin, and we popped in to see our friends at Paradise Resort who have kindly given us a 5-night stay to give away to one lucky reader. So make sure you hit the enter button on the next page!

I'm so grateful for such a wonderful holiday with my two kids and even more grateful for having had such a wonderful mum in my life for 45 years.

Sarah Cavalier Editor - MamaMag - @thecavaliermama

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