Could it be true? Am I actually writing about my holiday within a week
of returning? You bet I am! Here’s my round up of holiday número dos for 2016.
On the Friday afternoon Mum and I drive to Gatwick and had a quick
drink (my first Koppaberg in MONTHS – I may be exaggerating a little; it may
only be a month and a half) before getting on our flight to Murcia San Javier. We
didn’t land until gone 9pm so we were quite tired, but Dad and Caroline told us
that there was a Rock ‘n’ Roll band playing up in the main square so we decided
to go along. We dropped our luggage off at the villa, quickly got changed and
walked into town. Peter, Shelia, John and Denise (and a few others I didn’t
know) were already up there when we arrived so we joined them for a drink and
some chips. Mmmm, chips… When the band were playing you could hardly hear
yourself think, let alone have a chat, but they were really good. They didn’t
properly get going until late (it is Spain after all) and I think we gave up
around midnight which is an astounding feat for me.
In the run up to the holiday my dad and Caroline asked what I would
like to do while I was out there. My response was an emphatic, “Nothing!” I had
spent the two weeks prior to going away helping my manager to set up a big contract
at work. Although it made the fortnight pass in the blink of an eye, it also
left me exhausted and so I was glad for the opportunity to sit by the pool and
read a few books while drinking WKD Blue and eating Brie and bread (there are
no syns on holiday!). And they were happy to oblige.
The first full day was not as lazy as I had planned, but it was so much
fun! We walked into town to have breakfast at El Artesano and then popped to
the supermarket to get a few bits for lunch. At 11am the horde arrived en masse
for a pool party. When I say the horde I mean Simon, Abi, Ben, Scarlett, Peter
and Shelia. Of course Ben and Scarlett wanted to get straight into the pool and
since no-one else wanted to at that moment, it was down to Auntie Tracy to jump
in (not literally) and keep them entertained. That was easy enough as they
decided attacking me with the water shooters was the most fun ever. I got my revenge though.
After a while Peter came in too and the kids decided we should get into
teams. I say get into teams, but they both wanted to be on mine so poor Peter
got the rough end of the deal as all three of us proceeded to attack him with
brute force. After a while Scarlett started swimming down the other end of the
pool telling Peter that she wanted to be on his team. Traitor! However when she
got down the other end, she grabbed another shooter and started swimming back
shouting, “I pretended so I could get the gun.” I can assure you she did not
learn how to be that devious from me, but I have to say I was proud of my little
double agent.
Eventually nearly everyone ended up in the pool and it was absolute
carnage. Normally I don’t tend to join in that much as I’m not a very good
swimmer and as a result and not overly keen on being in the water, but I am so
glad I did because I had the best time and felt truly happy for a change. I’m
not saying I’m not usually happy, but it was one of those moments when you
think, “Yeah, this is what happiness
feels like.”
We had a break for lunch during which we ate lots of bread, cheese,
crisps and cold meats and after a rest went back in to start it all again. I
don’t know what time everyone headed off, but we certainly deserved our siesta
when the time came. Well, I would have had a siesta, but I was still reading On the Other Side by Carrie Hope
Fletcher and I’d got to the point where I was gripped and couldn’t put it down
so no nap for me. In the evening Caroline cooked the most amazing paella and we
curled up on the sofa to watch a film. It was a fantastic start to the holiday
and I certainly slept well that night.
The following morning we all got up early (sorry Dad) and jumped in the
car to go to the Benijófar Sunday market. It’s quite far away from Sucina, but
it’s huge and there is such a wide variety of stalls. We found somewhere to
have breakfast and then went for a wander. I found a lovely corally pink dress
perfect to wear around the pool and a pair of lightweight baggy trousers ideal
for the hot weather. I suggested getting a cooked chicken to have for dinner
that evening so Dad and Caroline went to buy that while Mum and I stopped at a
stall as I saw a lady doing tarot readings and I hadn’t had one for ages (I don’t
count the ones I do for myself as I not that confident at it). It was really
interesting and I could see Mum nodding or grinning out of the corner of my eye
if the lady said something she agreed with (so I should aim to be tidier - what’s
new?!). I wish I had thought to record it as I’ve forgotten a lot of what she
said, but it was all very positive and matched what I’ve been working on for
myself anyway.
The rest of the week was even more relaxed. On Monday morning we
strolled up to town and had some breakfast at Em’s Bistro before returning to
the villa to chill by the pool and read (I was on my second book by now). In
the evening we went out to dinner for belated birthday celebrations at a German
restaurant called Lilly’s. I had pizza because I hadn’t had one for ages, but
part of me really wishes I’d had the schnitzel as they looked so yummy when
they arrived, especially the house potatoes. I loved my chocolate dessert
though.
Wednesday was our last day and so we had a family day at the beach. We
set off early to beat the crowds and after picking out what sun loungers we
wanted, we headed up to the bar to have some breakfast. After breakfast I
settled on my lounger and got stuck into my book, but the kids kept asking when
I was going to go in the sea with them. I honestly can’t remember the last time
I went in the sea. I dipped my feet in when I went to Thailand, but I didn’t
properly go it. I went in to keep them happy and ended up really enjoying it.
Once we got back from the beach, we showered, finished packing and
chilled out until it was time to go out to dinner. We went back to Em’s Bistro
as it’s one of my favourites, but the grown-ups (I realise I’m a grown-up too,
but I seriously don’t feel like it most of the time) didn’t mind because it was
fish and chips night. After dinner, which included a filling dessert, we headed
off to the airport where we discovered that our flight was delayed by over an
hour. We decided that there was no point in going back to the villa so Mum and
I checked in and then sat and read our books.
My holiday may have been over, but I had another wonderful day to add
to the memory bank on Sunday as my friends and I returned to the University of
Surrey to have a picnic and see what’s changed in the ten years since we graduated.
I am extremely lucky to have such an amazing group of friends. I don’t know how
many people stay in touch with people they met at uni, but our (not so little) posse
seems to be stronger than ever.
It helps that I went to school with Katie, Louise, Nicola and Joyce so
we already had well established friendships, but I consider the likes of Mike,
Becky, Emma, Ruth and Will to be very good friends too. Then there are the
partners that we’ve all welcomed into the fold – Patrice, Ryan, Nicky P, JG and
Claire. It’s like they’ve been there since day one and it would feel so weird
without them. In fact there are times when we all sit there reminiscing and
realise that half the group don’t have a clue what we are talking about as they
weren’t a part of our crazy little family back then.
I want to just take a moment to also mention two friends for life who I
met on my course, but weren’t part of this reunion (the reprobates mentioned
above were mainly Business Management students and two Maths students, one
Computing student and one Language student got dragged along for the ride). I
truly believe that Jo and Emmi will always be a part of my life. We’ve been
through too much together and I love them to bits. *Wipes tears, blows nose and
continues in a composed manner*
Anyway, back to Sunday. We had our picnic in the same spot by the lake
where we had our graduation picnic in June 2006. Everyone brought a packed
lunch with them (I told myself syns don’t count on picnics either, but
apparently they do) and Ruth did a mountain of baking worthy of the Great
British Bake off. After we were all full of goodies, we went for a stroll around
campus to see what has changed. Mike and I used to live opposite each other so
we went off to find numbers 6 and 11 Stag Hill Court before running around to
number 19 where Katie, Louise, Nicola and Joyce used to live. I was always so jealous
that Mike, Graham, Louise and Nicola had the rooms with the fire escapes as we
used to climb the ladders and knock to get in. I didn’t have a fire escape in
my room so if some called for me I actually had to go and answer the front
door. I know I sound lazy. I don’t care.
It was so strange to be back there after so long, but being there
felt so right to me. I still remembered where to go even though so much different
to how it was. Every place where we used to eat or drink has changed in some
way or another. The laundrette is no more. In its place is an extension to the
library and a supermarket. A SUPERMARKET! Could’ve done with that when we were
there. One Stop was tiny and Tesco was a fair old trek. I was most annoyed that
you can now buy hair dye on campus. The strangest thing for me though was that
the building where I had the majority of my lectures is now dedicated to
Hospitality and Tourism. I wonder if you can still study languages at Surrey.
We didn’t go to One Stop or the Bookshop, but I don’t know if I could’ve
handled anymore changes.
So that is a rather lengthy summary of my holiday and day in Guildford.
If you’re still reading this then thank you. Thanks to Simon and Nicola for the
extra photos from Spain and uni. I always get caught up in the moment and
forget to take them. What would I do without you?
As always if there is anything you would like me to write about on this
blog, please let me know in the comments.
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