The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Once unremarkable trips now imbued with wonder
We are in a state of giddiness at Penman Towers as we plan to embark on our first trip away since before lockdown started. I’m not talking jetting off to an exotic resort, just tootling to stay with family – a journey I used to make with great regularity but now seems to hold the promise of an intrepid adventure after so many months of venturing no further than the supermarket.
My sister and her husband have been as careful as us and we’re all now sitting on empty nests, so we thought a get-together would be in order, plans for travelling further afield having been abandoned long ago for both households.
Who could have predicted that the new brave, adventurous explorers of our times would turn out to be families who’ve decided to go on a package holiday to a resort in Europe post-lockdown?
Not me, I’m afraid. A break without any international travel feels more manageable at the moment. So we’re off in a couple of weeks, but the anticipation is already off the scale.
“Stay as long as you like” said my sister. “We’re all working from home, so we can suit ourselves when we work and there’s plenty of room.
“It’ll probably be quite boring for you though, as we’re not doing too much, what with staying away from crowds etc.” Boring? Boring? Being in someone else’s kitchen? Even, weather permitting, someone else’s garden? I can’t think of anything more exciting just now.
Even the journey, seeing scenery that’s not within five miles of here, seems like an impossible dream. Also, there’s the longed-for treat of being with other family members for more than a socially distanced cuppa in the back yard.
After all those months of enforced bonding with my nearest and dearest, staying over for a few days means new blood to “enjoy” hearing our news and views and to have the opportunity of playing endless board games with me. On reflection, they might change their minds quite quickly on the “stay as long as you like” offer.
“
A break without any international travel feels more manageable