I woke up at 6.00 am to the sound of rain on the caravan's roof. The plan for today was to take the children horse riding from 10.00 till 11.00 and then start the 300 mile drive back to Brighton. I would have booked the horse riding for the Saturday or Sunday but sessions on these days were fully booked. I was in two minds about it all because I always prefer to begin a long journey early in the morning.
After waking the kids up I cajoled them as best as I could to get them to pack up all their belongings in preparation for vacating the static caravan. This was all done by 9.00 am but it was still raining. I could have taken them horse riding in the rain, and I did bring along the required wet weather clothing. But this would not have been the enjoyable experience I was hoping for, and so I cancelled the riding session. And I was relieved also since this meant we could begin the journey home. The children were sad. They wanted to stay longer - and this gave me some pride. To have given the children an enjoyable holiday. Memories that will last.
If I was concerned the twenty three year old van would not make the outward journey, I was doubly concerned it would not succeed in the return journey. If you are going to see a car stationary on the side of a road with its hazard lights flashing - more often than not it is when it rains. And this journey was eight hours through a soup of rain. For the entire trip the windscreen wipers were swinging at their fastest level. Half a dozen stranded vehicles were passed, and some of them looked to be fairly new. The rusty old van gave me no problems at all. Such a fine old machine she is indeed.
And that was my holiday with three children in tow. A good old fashioned holiday without the crystal glasses and the gilded mirrors. A working class holiday surrounded by families, escaping for a few days, the drudgery of their daily toil, the bills and the grinding noise of a life in the city. If there is a proof that the nomad exists in everyone - isn't this the evidence? To do the vacation - to travel somewhere and live a different life, even if it is only for a few days.
Peace to all
After waking the kids up I cajoled them as best as I could to get them to pack up all their belongings in preparation for vacating the static caravan. This was all done by 9.00 am but it was still raining. I could have taken them horse riding in the rain, and I did bring along the required wet weather clothing. But this would not have been the enjoyable experience I was hoping for, and so I cancelled the riding session. And I was relieved also since this meant we could begin the journey home. The children were sad. They wanted to stay longer - and this gave me some pride. To have given the children an enjoyable holiday. Memories that will last.
If I was concerned the twenty three year old van would not make the outward journey, I was doubly concerned it would not succeed in the return journey. If you are going to see a car stationary on the side of a road with its hazard lights flashing - more often than not it is when it rains. And this journey was eight hours through a soup of rain. For the entire trip the windscreen wipers were swinging at their fastest level. Half a dozen stranded vehicles were passed, and some of them looked to be fairly new. The rusty old van gave me no problems at all. Such a fine old machine she is indeed.
And that was my holiday with three children in tow. A good old fashioned holiday without the crystal glasses and the gilded mirrors. A working class holiday surrounded by families, escaping for a few days, the drudgery of their daily toil, the bills and the grinding noise of a life in the city. If there is a proof that the nomad exists in everyone - isn't this the evidence? To do the vacation - to travel somewhere and live a different life, even if it is only for a few days.
Peace to all
Sounds like you had a fine time and what's more quality time with your kids!
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is a nomad in everyone. There is a 'Holidayer' in everyone but not a nomad.
ReplyDeleteI've thought long and hard on what a holiday is. I reckon it's an escape from the norm. But every holidayer always returns to the norm. A nomad would not!
Excellent reading, keep it up