The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

Swine flu is a total bitch – but what makes it even worse is that it ruined a holiday I needed/wanted more than you could ever imagine.

To make it worse, I found a post I had written PRIOR to my departure that detailed what I was expecting to feel when I got back … shows what I know eh.

So enjoy reading what I thought I’d get out of my holiday, safe in the knowledge that in reality, I ended up being more underwhelmed than Jill when she said “I do”.

Hello lovelies – how the hell are you?

Hope you’re well – even though I know now I’m back, you’re probably all rushing for some anti-biotics at this very moment.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone who took up my reverse blogging challenge – I’ve not read them yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve come up with and I’ll write my 2 pennies worth directly on your blogs/comments.

Despite not writing a post for almost 2 weeks, I was actually only away for about 6 days – and whilst it went in the blink of an eye, I’m almost happy it was so short.

No – it’s not because I am a [1] workaholic [2] sad bastard … but because having such a short break meant if I didn’t abuse every second I had, I’d end up letting something I really craved slip quietly away into the distance.

Why?

Well I’ve said it before, but the pressures and expectations we now place [and have placed] on our lives means that for many of us, the purpose of a holiday has changed from a period of exploration and discovery to one of recuperation and rest.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Now there’s nothing really wrong with that – and if people want to spend their precious 2 weeks holiday eating, drinking, sleeping, shopping and sunbathing then that’s cool, even though I can’t help but think it’s quite like what we probably all do at home albeit with better weather/different fashion – but for me, doing this is pretty sad given ‘a break from the everyday’ is something we seemingly all covet so highly.

OK, I’ll be honest, part of me would have loved 6 days of sleep and slobbery and if I’d been away for 3 weeks, I’m sure I’d of tried to mentally organise my time so I got this ‘in’ … but because I didn’t have the luxury of time, I made sure I did things/met people who were new and fresh rather than purely focus on the [admittedly lovely] old and familiar … and you know what, despite now resembling a Dad who has had to raise 8 kids on his own for the last 10 years – I feel I’ve had a much longer break than I actually did … not because I’m physically refreshed, but because mentally and emotionally I feel energised.

I’ve said it many times that my parents have always pushed me to experience a life, not a lifestyle – and whilst I’ve generally been pretty good at maintaining that, it’s only when you actively force yourself to explore life – you realise how little you know, how many great things there are still to experience and how much you’ve let the pendulum of your work/life balance slip into the danger area.