Like the philosophy of never working with children and animals I have always vowed never to go away for the Easter Long Weekend and never holiday with relatives. This Easter Long Weekend I broke both of these cardinal rules.

We left Thursday lunchtime and joined the mini-traffic jam up the F3 to Lake Macquarie. We had made a decision to have Easter away with mum, her friend B and my sister J a few months ago and after much brain bending internet research settled on Rafferty's Resort as our holiday destination. As we drove up on Thursday afternoon it was raining steadily and we hoped this wasn't a sign of things to come (OK, OK we need the rain but surely some fine weather could be organised for our first, and potentially last, Easter weekend away).

Luckily Thursday night's rain was the last and we awoke on Friday to a beautiful, blue-sky day. Not only was it clear but it got warm and stayed warm. We were able to enjoy some time by and IN the pool on each day we were there. Who could have guessed that we'd be swimming in mid April?!

To backtrack a little Rafferty's Resort is a fantastic place, especially if you want a family holiday close to Sydney and/or if you're into boating or other lake-associated activities (which I'm not, just for the record). It's set on a large property right on the lakeside and is made up of various cottages and terraces, all relatively new and modern and well equipped and presented. We had rented a 3 bedroom cottage which was spacious and very comfortable. There are 3 or 4 pools around the property so you're never very far from a pool. There is a large, resort-style pool with a cafe and playground which we really enjoyed because the lake is just on the other side of the grass where we sunbathed so you have sparkling pool on one side and the huge, shimmering lake on the other - very picturesque (to use a word I acquired around 5th class and just never find enough reason to use in day to day conversation).

Friday after some morning sunning and swimming we took off to Swansea (the closest town) for some fish and chips by the lake. After the usual argybargy with mommie dearest over who was to pay we took our steaming, delicous smelling parcels of deep-fried goodness to the nearest park and kicked back in the sunshine. Just gorgeous!

Saturday, after some more sunning and swimming we enjoyed a decadent lunch of a cheese and pate platter on our verandah. Then mum and I headed off for our appointments at the massage clinic. I was so looking forward to a lovely massage and facial and was only slightly perturbed when we were greeted by MEN. Nothing to say men can't do this job but I've never had a man do a facial before so I was just a touch apprehensive. My apprehension proved pointless as I was soon enjoying a wonderful massage and facial - with my eyes closed I couldn't even dwell on the fact that the therapist was a hairy, tattooed Scottish-accented bloke. I could however dwell on the fact that my mum in the cubicle next door just couldn't shut up. She was chatting up a storm next door, asking her bloke where he lived, how much work there was and 20 other questions. Despite the armotherapy and the relaxation music there was still part of me which was clenching her teeth and mentally screaming "shut the f*#k up, mother!".

J had her appointment after us and upon her return we all got dressed and went to the "nice" restaurant for dinner. We decided on sharing a range of tapas dishes which proved to be somewhat of a disaster as my darling Jay just couldn't get his head around a meal of tiny morsels and was half expecting a giant steak to turn up at any moment. On top of that we had to endure an inefficient kitchen struggling with catering to a full restaurant and a wedding in the marque next door. Jason finally had enough and took the kids home (and I had to bring his dessert home in a doggy bag). The final insult for the evening was having our coffees served with paddle pop sticks instead of teaspoons. What the??!! The poor young waitress confessed at the end that they just couldn't cope with the wedding and that the restaurant had only hired another couple of staff to cope with the 150 people at the nuptials next door. How much do I hate cheapskates?!

Sunday we expected a cooler day and decided to head up to the Hunter Valley wine region. It was a lovely drive up there but it soon became apparent that no-one, apart from my sister, was in the mood for any serious wine tasting (being a non-drinker I had volunteered to be the designated driver on the way back but my driving skills were not required).

Because we were so malnourished at this point (!!!) we decided to have an indulgent lunch at the first winery we came to. I think we were tempted by the myriad of glowing reviews plastered to their front window, most of which commended this particular restaurant as the best in the Hunter Valley - high praise indeed! All I can say is there must have been money changing hands here or we were particularly unlucky on that particular day. Either way the whole experience sucked. The restaurant officially opened at 12 noon but the staff, who until that point could be seen dilligently setting tables, disappeared and we all stood around for 10 minutes in an absolutely empty restaurant wondering what on earth was going on.

After we were seated all went well until our food actually arrived. Mum and J's gnocchi, one entree sized, one main sized were exactly the same size! Not only that but both conceded that it was a disgusting dish, with the gnocchi almost raw (I have to say the one I stole off J's plate tasted good to me but what do I know!). My own pork belly was truly delicious and Jay seemed to enjoy his lamb. After the meal was taken away we impatiently waited for the desserts mum and B had ordered earlier. We were keen to get to the grower's market up the road which closed at 2:00 pm and were getting very antsy when there was no sign of dessert by 1:30 pm, almost an hour and a half after it was ordered.

To cut a long story short, after some very unsatisfactory encounters with what can only be described as incompetent staff, we left sans dessert... and managed to arrive at the markets at ten minutes to two, when only a few stalls were still open. Nevertheless I was able to buy some gorgeous marinated olives and locally made olive oil and Jay got some beautiful chili sauce. By this point, and after our misadventures at the restaurant, everyone was a little tired and p'd off so after a quick stop at the fudge shop where we stocked up on fudge, rock lollies and hot chocolates we took off for the drive home.

There was a small moment of pure fun in the car on the way home when J and I (accompanied by Will) sang along to Robbie Williams' "Come Undone" very loudly. A truly spiritual moment. Then I p'd J off by wanting to listen to "Sexed Up" but obviously she wasn't up to it just yet (so SORRY J!).

Monday morning we cleaned up and repacked the cars and headed home (after yet more argybargy with mum about money - sheesh this family has a complex - as an example, she put money in baby M's nappy and rang me on the mobile on the way home to tell me to get it out before it got peed on - mad or mad, you be the judge!).

Overall, despite the moments of family chaos and madness, it was an enjoyable and fun long weekend. I think we all enjoyed each other's company for the most part and it is an experience I could possibly recreate again - maybe next Easter?!