Wednesday 5 October 2011

Holidays...

In this fast-spinning world, just as the leaves are starting to fall, I find my thoughts drifting towards my next holiday. Even in a world where you can buy a bikini in February but not a jumper, I would really be ahead of the game for Summer breaks - No, I'm thinking about a New Year break. I've not done this before and I'm starting to wonder why not.

Where might I be going for my luxury break - Southern Spain, Canary Islands? No. Gloucester, England. The reason it's a "luxury break" is it's not in a tent. We've tried camping for several years now, mainly because we got a dog and thought the outdoor life would be more enjoyable for her. Unfortunately, she hates camping. She can't tolerate getting cold or wet any more than we can. She spends a lot of the holiday refusing to get out of the car. I have never seen a dog as happy as she was when we returned from a particularly wet weekend in Wales - wriggling in ecstasy on her back on the sofa, then she slept for about 16 hours. In fact it's a standing joke that without fail as we approach our destination rain falls like stair rods from the sky, to the point where the windscreen wipers can no longer cope. We usually sit in the car for a while, bracing ourselves before trying to pitch the tent: "It'll pass in a minute", "Yeah..."

We considered getting a caravan, but would need to get a new car to pull it, so lets face it the combined cost equals a lot of holiday money. Also, as a friend once said to me, "I don't understand caravanning, I mean you wouldn't go and spend a week in the smallest room of your house would you?" She had a point, but clearly did not understand the allure of the great outdoors! So the decision was made to try to beat the weather gods this time and we've booked a cabin. Ha! No more wet and cold for us! Snug as bugs we will be, watching the rain pouring down outside...

Yes, we'll still be in this country which some don't understand - surely the point of a holiday is to "get away"? Well, yes, but I'm such a sad sap about aforementioned dog that it would break my heart to put her in kennels, and she overheats too quickly in hot weather, so no point chasing the sunshine! Might as well stay in good old Blighty. Besides, it means I don't need to squeeze into a bikini for my holidays anymore. Well, I could but it might look a bit seedy with a mac and wellies...

Despite them sometimes being a disappointing disaster, I think my main motivation for holidays is "absence makes the heart grow fonder" - not of those nearest and dearest (they'll be coming with me), but my own bed. Nothing nicer than sinking into my own bed after time away. So whether you're back-packing, luxury cruising or (like us) having an expensive fiasco only a few hours from your own doorstep, I hope we can metaphorically click our heels at the end of it and remember "there's no place like home!"

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