This wee’s topic for The Theme Game is Holiday. Perfect timing for me to let you all know that the blog will be a bit quiet for a week or so. We’re off on holiday on Friday, we’re going to Spain to spend a week with my parents. It’s not just any old holiday though – we’re off to celebrate Mum’s 70th birthday.
I haven’t spent Mum’s birthday with her since they moved to Spain nearly 10 years ago. So this holiday will be very special for us. She’s never spent her birthday with her youngest grandson, so you can imagine how excited she is.
People are always telling me how lucky we are to be able to go to Spain on holiday, to spend time with my parents there. As much as I love rural Spain, I’d much rather my parents were here, the 15 minute drive away, that they used to be. It’s a difficult juggling act, we want to see my parents as much as we can, but even with budget airlines it still costs a fair bit. From January next year, we’ll have the whole School Holiday issue to deal with. When I looked for flights last October, it cost £500 more for us to go during half term week. Madness, pure madness. It’s impossible for us at the moment, to take a ‘holiday’, a sit by the pool in the middle of summer, kind of holiday. That’s the sacrifice we have to make for me not working.
We’ll have a wonderful time on holiday with my parents, there will be lots of Monkey memories to make. Mum will have a birthday to remember, Monkey has a special present for her, a one-off – she’ll love it. He’s started to speak a few words in Spanish, so hopefully he’ll get some practice in while we’re there. I’m sure we’ll visit the local John Deere outlet – again!
But as I’m a real soppy old moo, I’ll end the week in tears. I always do. Not the normal way to end a holiday. I’ll leave Spain worrying about my parents, wishing Monkey got to spend more time with his grandparents, wishing I could just pop round for a cup of tea and a chat. Then I’ll feel guilty, as Daddy P has lost both of his parents, I should be grateful for what I have.
So we’re off on holiday on Friday, adios amigos.
A lovely post, and I hope you have a super time, with lots of fab photos!
You know me, there will certainly be lots of photos
A bittersweet holiday. It’s always so hard saying adios to grandparents/parents at the end of a trip. Have a wonderful time though lovely x
Thank you, yes I try just to be thankful that they are happy and healthy but I do wish they were here!
Bon voyage… Not exactly Spanish but you get the idea. Enjoy! #TheThemeGame
Thanks – much appreciated 🙂
Aww well I hope you have a wonderful time when you are there, but I totally understand why it’s a bit of a mixed bag emotions wise. Sounds like Your mum will love a surprise present from Monkey and they get to really enjoy some time together. #thethemegame xx
It will be a lovely break and I love watching Monkey spend time with his Grandparents.
A lovely post. I hope you all have a lovely time, and your mum has a fabulous birthday. Look forward to reading about it all when you’re back x Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame
Thank you, I can’t wait to get on the plane. Mum is so excited about having us there 🙂
Have a really wonderful holiday. It must be very hard to live so far away from them.
Thank you, I’m not sure what we’d do without Skype to be honest. It’s really helped to give Monkey a relationship with my parents, something I’m not sure he’d have if we only spoke to them on the phone.
I can totally understand your mixed emotions and so much of life can be bittersweet, but I do hope you all have a wonderful time and try not to think about anything other than the here and now. At least for next week anyway 🙂 Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame
Thanks
I live 40 minutes away from my parents and sometimes that feels like too far! I hadn’t thought about all the implications of the super-expensive school holidays – JJ’s starts this September. Its a bit of a tragedy that just as they are getting to an age where holidays can start becoming a bit more interesting they become too expensive!! I hope you all have a lovely time with your parents. #TheThemeGame
Very true, it’s such a rip off. We have a Spanish family as Nursery school who want to go meet family in the Canaries in the school holiday – she nearly died when she saw the prices.
Hope you have a lovely holiday. It is difficult when your parents live so far away isn’t it. The Little A’s grandparents have recently moved to Edinburgh and yes, it is nice to have somewhere to stay but I would much rather they were closer and we saw more of them.
Thanks, yes it’s not easy, but I guess they could be even further away, so shouldn’t grumble really.
Enjoy your time in Spain! Lots of tapas, chorizo and family time… what more could you wish for? x Mel
Thank you, throw in a few olives and some Rioja and I’ll be happy!
Enjoy your holiday Mary
Thank you 🙂
Really hope you had a very special holiday…
I know exactly how you feel, my parents live abroad most the time and it’s tough especially when you witness the amazing fun and connections they have with the Grandchildren whilst they’re around.
Never mind the free babysitting 😉 xx
Thank you, it was wonderful, and yes the connection is a lovely thing to see, instant!