Sprog due on 8 May 2012...
Discussion
So my wife is expecting our first child on 8 May 2012, about 5 weeks prior to my intended leaving date for Le Mans 2012, dropping to 3 weeks if she is a bit late...
I had suggested I still intended to go, and whilst she would be very disappointed, I suspect I could arrive at La Sarthe with both nadgers still intact if I chose to.
Is it realistic to think I will still feel able to go once the little 'un arrives, or am I or another planet? This would be my 4th consecutive year at LM and I absolutely love it, but it would mean missing out on some important family time etc. I have done the usual bulk of the organising for my party (15 this year), but they will be happy enough to go without me! (Sniff)
Alternatives to the usual 5 day/nights away could be flying in just for a couple of days including the race or a solo car journey, again on say the Friday until Sunday instead of leaving Wednesday night and returning Monday night.
Would be grateful for experienced fathers' views!!
Thanks
I had suggested I still intended to go, and whilst she would be very disappointed, I suspect I could arrive at La Sarthe with both nadgers still intact if I chose to.
Is it realistic to think I will still feel able to go once the little 'un arrives, or am I or another planet? This would be my 4th consecutive year at LM and I absolutely love it, but it would mean missing out on some important family time etc. I have done the usual bulk of the organising for my party (15 this year), but they will be happy enough to go without me! (Sniff)
Alternatives to the usual 5 day/nights away could be flying in just for a couple of days including the race or a solo car journey, again on say the Friday until Sunday instead of leaving Wednesday night and returning Monday night.
Would be grateful for experienced fathers' views!!
Thanks
One of my boys was born on 9th June 2008 so I've been having problems with Le mans dates ever since (took him with us in 2009) Last year I got a local train to St Pancras Thursday lunchtime, then Eurostar to Lille, TGV to Le Mans and tram to track. Walked in the Tertre Rouge gate halfway through daylight qualifying. Cost me £92.00 one way including local train that I booked as a single payment on Eurostar. Then came back with others Monday lunchtime. Worked really well. Door to Track in 7 hours. If you need to get back quick then Ryanair from Tours to Stansted £30ish. Did that in 2010. If you can leave your bulky stuff for the others to bring back and just travel with hand luggage even better. Good luck!
By the way my 1st son was due in May so I went snowboarding in the middle of March. Got back just in time when he arrived at 34 weeks. He was fine once he put on a bit of weight but I'd have been in so much trouble if he'd come a week earlier
By the way my 1st son was due in May so I went snowboarding in the middle of March. Got back just in time when he arrived at 34 weeks. He was fine once he put on a bit of weight but I'd have been in so much trouble if he'd come a week earlier
Edited by Printertosh on Thursday 24th November 00:30
My boy's birthday is 19th June. Just managed to get away with it this year, just. Looking forward to him being old enough to take with me. Admittedly, I missed Le Mans when my other half was expecting - it was just too close. Depends on your relationship with your other half and how guilty you'd feel!!
Slightly different for me as our first is due in the next couple of weeks, so will be six months old come Le Mans. The mrs isn't really interested in the race at all, but fingers crossed, the plan is for us to have a week down there prior to the race (we camp about 10KMs away from the track at a nice campsite that's quite family-friendly) and then the remainder of my usual group to come as usual Weds/Thurs for the weekend. At which point other WAGS will arrive, they can do girly wine drinking with the kids whilst we commute for the race as usual.
Finger crossed...
Finger crossed...
OP - in my experience and opinion, as the father of a six week old, you would be best to skip it this year. Especially if you have a crew of 15 as the group trip is obviously well established and you can get back on it next year no problem. 6 weeks in I've been out to the pub a couple of times but IMHO its too soon to leave your partner for several days, except, perhaps, if she can muster good family or friend support as someone else suggested. We're not overly cautious or timid parents by any means but you really can't understand the disruption until you experience it, and having 2 people most of the time makes it an awful lot easier. Just my 2 cents!
My nipper was born on the 7th June this year, needless to say I didn't go.
In my opinion, even if it all goes swimmingly you're still going to required at home. You might even want to.
This year I watched the race on Eurosport on my iPhone, I saw more racing sat at home on the sofa with my little girl than I have in eight years.
Next year I'll be there with bells on and future calendars will be clearly marked to avoid similar shenanigans.
In my opinion, even if it all goes swimmingly you're still going to required at home. You might even want to.
This year I watched the race on Eurosport on my iPhone, I saw more racing sat at home on the sofa with my little girl than I have in eight years.
Next year I'll be there with bells on and future calendars will be clearly marked to avoid similar shenanigans.
Thanks for the comments guys - a bit of a mixture! I'm certainly less sure about going having thought about it a bit. I think the only way might be if there is friends/family available to help, but even then I might not feel like going cometh the day.
The prospect of watching the race live on TV is quite an appealing one as well... even if not the same as the sights, sounds and smells of being there.
The prospect of watching the race live on TV is quite an appealing one as well... even if not the same as the sights, sounds and smells of being there.
Coupe_bloke said:
even if not the same as the sights, sounds and smells of being there.
You still get to see some of the sights & hear some of the sounds watching on telly, you just lose a bit of the atmosphere.
The smells were, for me anyway, quite different but strangely reminiscent of the portaloos in tertre rouge.
Great Dane said:
Remember the "No Sex September" slogan... it will not only be '12 but the following years for the birthdays....
Dammit - after laughing at some of my mates who made that mistake, karma has come back to bite me.Due date - 16 June. I've told her to aim for 3pm on the Saturday for either the start or them crossing the finish line.
She doesn't realise that I'm still going to sticker up the car for the run to the hospital!!
There have been a number of people discussing how to make a proper stay at home Le Mans party... May I suggest that you:
- sleep in tent in garden for 5 days
- have a big flat screen and pa system with RLM
- don't use the washing facilities in your house
- use local park as toilet - you can use the flower beds for the 'stand up jobs'
- sit in plastic chairs for hours on end drinking lukewarm stubbies until you fall over
- eat barbecue food only - even for breakfast (eat remains from the night before)
- excercise on a threadmill walking distances that feels like if your feet are about to drop off
Magic
- sleep in tent in garden for 5 days
- have a big flat screen and pa system with RLM
- don't use the washing facilities in your house
- use local park as toilet - you can use the flower beds for the 'stand up jobs'
- sit in plastic chairs for hours on end drinking lukewarm stubbies until you fall over
- eat barbecue food only - even for breakfast (eat remains from the night before)
- excercise on a threadmill walking distances that feels like if your feet are about to drop off
Magic
Our 1st baby is due on May 3rd. I would say this was a hard choice this year but it really wasn't . I know where I need to be. I'm sure if I'd said I was going she'd be fine but with a month old baby at home it just didn't seem fair. Plenty more years to go and I need to build a new car for the next trip!!
Had to miss last years trip for the first time since 2001. Our 2nd son was born on the 22nd June so it was never really on the cards from the day we found out my wife was expecting. First thought was "s
t. What about Le Mans" and I'll confess that while we were in the hospital whilst she was in labour I did sneakily check the dates for next years race... As others have said, the first 6 weeks are quite hardcore so I'd give it a miss next year, bank the brownie points and watch it on TV with a few beers. You'll be up most of the night anyway!! Hope all goes well chap. Enjoy Le Mans 2013.....
t. What about Le Mans" and I'll confess that while we were in the hospital whilst she was in labour I did sneakily check the dates for next years race... As others have said, the first 6 weeks are quite hardcore so I'd give it a miss next year, bank the brownie points and watch it on TV with a few beers. You'll be up most of the night anyway!! Hope all goes well chap. Enjoy Le Mans 2013.....Had to miss last years trip for the first time since 2001. Our 2nd son was born on the 22nd June so it was never really on the cards from the day we found out my wife was expecting. First thought was "st. What about Le Mans" and I'll confess that while we were in the hospital whilst she was in labour I did sneakily check the dates for next years race... As others have said, the first 6 weeks are quite hardcore so I'd give it a miss next year, bank the brownie points and watch it on TV with a few beers. You'll be up most of the night anyway!! Hope all goes well chap. Enjoy Le Mans 2013.....
t. What about Le Mans" and I'll confess that while we were in the hospital whilst she was in labour I did sneakily check the dates for next years race... As others have said, the first 6 weeks are quite hardcore so I'd give it a miss next year, bank the brownie points and watch it on TV with a few beers. You'll be up most of the night anyway!! Hope all goes well chap. Enjoy Le Mans 2013.....Had to miss last years trip for the first time since 2001. Our 2nd son was born on the 22nd June so it was never really on the cards from the day we found out my wife was expecting. First thought was "st. What about Le Mans" and I'll confess that while we were in the hospital whilst she was in labour I did sneakily check the dates for next years race... As others have said, the first 6 weeks are quite hardcore so I'd give it a miss next year, bank the brownie points and watch it on TV with a few beers. You'll be up most of the night anyway!! Hope all goes well chap. Enjoy Le Mans 2013.....
t. What about Le Mans" and I'll confess that while we were in the hospital whilst she was in labour I did sneakily check the dates for next years race... As others have said, the first 6 weeks are quite hardcore so I'd give it a miss next year, bank the brownie points and watch it on TV with a few beers. You'll be up most of the night anyway!! Hope all goes well chap. Enjoy Le Mans 2013.....Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff