…you realize its been way too long since your last holiday. And it has been an awfully long time. I’ve had a couple of 2-day camping trips and the odd night away but the last proper holiday was my honeymoon in Mexico that lasted 4 days and ended up with us all being put on emergency flights home to escape a hurricane. We’ve been divorced about 18 years so can safely say it been a long time.
So when then the other half says we need a holiday and then books it I was very excited. Then reality set in when I realized I would have to fly again. Now the last flight, the running away from a hurricane one, was a tad bumpy and as we went via Canada it was nearly 24 hours long. Put me off for life but Menorca is only 2 hours so I had to convince myself I could do it.
Then there was the other hurdle of how do you actually ‘holiday’. I have trouble with the doing nothing bit. I can’t sit and watch tv unless as I have something to do as well. Sitting out enjoying the glorious sunshine we had this year was painfully boring so I either gardened or read how-to books. I can’t be doing with crimes, romcoms or anything as I just get bored and give up. All I know how to do is to craft, work and housework.
But we have been, we holidayed and we are back. I totally loved it and already eying up Mark Warners Paleros Beach Resort for maybe the next holiday. yes, I enjoyed it that much, and yes I can now holiday.
So my tips on how to holiday when you haven’t holidayed for an awfully long time are as follows.
Packing – I am ‘be prepared’ and ‘what if’ type of person. So, of course, I packed too much. Cover the basics like underwear, day wear, and evening get-ups if that’s your thing. Now stop there. You probably won’t need that extra cardigan, jumper or extra 6 pairs of knickers. Roll don’t fold. Put things inside shoes.
Flying – it’s perfectly fine to be a bit nervous about getting into a giant tin can and hoping it doesn’t fall out of the sky. First, they cant actually fall out the sky. Secondly, all the flight companies do rather want to stay in business so getting you from A to B safely is in their interest too. Brush up too via good old Google what all the noises are if your newbie. The bottom of the plane doesn’t fall off, its the wheels going down and its a lot earlier than you think they would.
If you are like me and the whole thing just makes you feel ick, don’t suffer and get pills from the chemist. Our journey out consisted of a long car journey, flight, and then a smaller car journey. So I took tablets and topped up when they ran out. No seeing how I felt, just swallowed those babies. Coming back I thought I was invisible and only took one lot. I felt so much more nervous and it ruined the journey for me. Won’t be doing that next time.
Also don’t even try reading or doing anything on your phone. it just makes you feel worse. The ick feeling comes from your head feeling movement and your eyes not knowing where it comes from. Get totally into horizons and anything in the distance outside of the car or plane.
Have something to occupy yourself like mints. My goto is polos. And boy do I goto them a lot. Other half knows to not even try asking for one. They are mine, all mine. Plus when you drop one in your lap is can keep you distracted for ages as you try and find it again by touch alone, especially if your clutching for dear life your just-in-case jumper on your lap.
I was really dreading our return flight because it was in the dark. Remember the pilot will have a Sat Nav system unlike that of a car. And the bit the pilots do actually need to see, takeoff and landing, they have lights so it’s all good. Night flying is also generally smoother as the weather is generally calmer ( more even a temperature) so less roller-coaster feeling. Our return flight was so good I even fell asleep for a few minutes. Yes, it was just minutes but that’s a huge win for me so I am counting it.
The Art Holidaying – be realistic with those you are going with on what type of holiday you want. We are all different so there are people who want action-packed holidays, those who want booze holidays, lazy holidays etc the list goes on. Communicate with each other and compromise if you’re different. Maybe a day each to choose what you do.
I’m still not good with sitting doing nothing. I had a sudden craft idea whilst on the beach and when other half thought I was reading my kindle app I was actually ordering craft stuff for when we returned. But that said I hadnt taken the laptop so I was limited on what I could do and I was probably as close to doing nothing as I will ever be.
Also, it’s your holiday too so stop worrying if everyone else is having a good time and enjoy your holiday.
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