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Sunday 3 March 2013

Bring on the sun!!!

Looking out the window at the dull grey sky, feeling the cold gnawing at my bones, praying that it doesn't snow for what seems the cadgillionth time this year, I make an executive family decision - WE ARE GOING ON HOLIDAY!!!!!!!
No ifs. not buts, I need a break away, I need some sun, i need to feel the waves lapping at my feet and feel an ice cold glass of something alcoholic running down my parched throat!! And no sitting on the edge of the bath with a glass of luke warm pinot will not cut it thank you very much!!!!!

So , out comes the lap top and I begin trawling through my dream escapes..... the Maldives, an African safari, a cultural journey across Europe, oh the possibilities!!  ...... 'mum, mummy, mum, mummmy' its like the Titanic hitting an Ice burg!!! Hmmmmm, slight modification needed to the search engine .... must have family entertainment.  And this is where the real fun begins......Hubby and i have a bit of a con flab as you do about our options - well, me talking at him whilst he nods in between watching the rugby six nations (maybe not the best time to have an in depth conversation I know, but at least I have more of a chance getting my own way as he is not really paying attention!!! You have to pick your moments for the best results!!!

Therefore we have two real options for our (ahmm my!!) summer jaunt, A or B????? decisions decisions decisions !!!

A) is an all inclusive resort in the sun with five swimming pools, slides, food 24 hours a day, towel service, evening entertainment, alcohol on tap in a four star restaurant for the grand sum of £5000 - sounds glorious (if not a bit expensive!!) right! but on the down side, we will be in the same room for 2 weeks. All four of us in a box for 14 nights!!!!!! 14 nights of a dull glow from a lamp as No1 son is a little concerned about the dark (not scared, just concerned he tells me!!) . 14 nights of the diva talking in her sleep and because we will be so close trying to get into bed with us. 14 nights of sir snoresalot with nowhere to escape to!!!!AAARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Also these types of holiday can become a little regimented.... up at the crack of dawn (my kids don't sleep late remember!!) breakfast, pool, lunch, pool, dinner, evening entertainment , bed and repeat... so much so you feel you are on a conveyor belt and cant get off!!! And the food at these all inclusive hotels is usually buffet style with a side serving of chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

B) is to hire a villa for a fortnight. Complete freedom from routine in the sun!!enough room for all of us to have a room each where we can get away from each other if necessary, a private pool all to ourselves - heck we could all go skinny dipping if the mood takes us!!We can eat what we want, when we want (only disadvantage would be muggins here having to prepare it!!)  The villa would be in Spain close to family so there would be the added distraction of children close in age whom my two know (no awkward shyness that means you have to be on 'play' duty for the first three days!!  i would have other people who I know to talk to (again none of that awkward trying to make friends with people round the pool) if hubby begins to bore me.  There would be no tipping to guarantee your favourite table close to the bar and food, and no fighting over sun loungers!!!

The only down side is 24hours in a car with 'are we nearly there yet?' - a song my dad taught them a few years ago - which goes something like this...'are we nearly there yet?, are we nearly there yet? I need a poo, I need a wee, are we nearly there yet? I'm hungry' then repeat, often and loudly, to any particular tune you fancy at the time!! Lovely.

I remember as a child driving down to Spain on numerous occasions, reading in the back of the car, eating a picnic in a garage forecourt, weeing over a hole in the ground (got to love the french service stations!!) It was an adventure! No d.v.d player, no Nintendo, no ipad, no ipod. Just a family all together in a car, perfect!!  Obviously I'm glamorising because if you speak to my dad, it was all arguing in the back (you are on my side, don't touch my things, stop pulling faces) arguing in the front ('No, this is the best way around Paris' We are heading towards Toulouse not Bergerac!!) numerous toilet stops and of course the infamous song 'are we nearly....' you get the drift He He!!!!!!

But I digress, whats it to be ?? Option A or B, luxury or freedom? A day of purgatory or 14 disturbed nights?
What a choice to have to make. My head is pounding just thinking about it, I need to lie down in a darkened room or maybe a mini break in the Cotswold's to discuss the finer points with hubby, now what was that website on country estate breaks???????

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