Anthea Turner How I See It...

Hello,

February is coming to a close and if I point my nose into the air à la Moominmamma (I love Tove Jansson’s books) I can sniff holiday thoughts flying through the air.

Over the last week, three people have all said the same thing to me: “Have you made any holiday plans?”

Well, you are talking to the person who never makes holiday plans until the very last minute but yes, I am thinking about them. This late booking habit is due to the fact that for over 30 years, I’ve been a freelance paranoid media type who never quite knows where their next job is coming from. I’m scared of booking a trip because if the job of my dreams comes in I’ll have the dilemma of a) Cancelling, and so letting others down or b) Going, and not fully embracing the gorgeousness of the trip because my work ethic is high and I suffer badly from Catholic guilt which is a holiday killer.

YOU FANCY GOING WHERE? What I did find interesting though, post the eye of the Covid storm, is that when answering the holiday question, my mind didn’t go straight to a Piña Colada, Factor 30, sun hat and flipflops. No, the words that actually came out of my mouth were, “I really want to go to the Orkney Islands and then possibly St Davids, Wales.” Mark’s face was a picture.

Now this doesn’t mean that twinkling Greek Islands won’t get a look-in, but don’t you think as a nation we have started to view our own country and what it has to offer in a different light? Or is it age that has renewed my vigour and enthusiasm?

Something that inspired me is Michael Portillo’s Great Coastal Railway series. I’m enthralled and totally inspired to follow every journey our wandering ex-Government minister has been on. Together with Julia Bradbury and every other walking programme I’ve watched they make me realise that I really ought to see more of the country I call home; not because of the pandemic, but because I want to.

MY IDEAL JOB The other upside of this type of break is you can do lots of short trips. So if you have commitments, you can pop back, keep the wheels turning, then off out again. Or maybe the solution for me is to get the job of Mr Portillo’s chief suitcase carrier, looking after his vast array of brightly coloured clothes. My packing and sprucingup-for-camera credentials are A-star!

Love, Anthea X