Posted 31st March 2014
Theme for April 2014: Vacations
Hi there folks wherever you happen to be. My
unique (or not so unique) view of the world for April will concern itself with
the onset of the holiday (vacation) season that most of us - in just a few
weeks more - are going to enjoy/experience/suffer/get over as quickly as
possible.
The vast majority of we mortals will stay at
home, of course, that's what sensible people do to avoid all the hassle that
goes with travel today. Unless you have endless wads of notes to ease the pathway
to ensuring perfect accommodation, painless aeroplane journeys, first class
rail seats, or you own an amazing car that will drive itself through congested
arteries to reach your holiday destination, it can be a nightmare!
But hey, why am I sounding disenchanted? The
truth is that I have had some amazing vacations. Has it all been due to good
luck? What was it that ensured I would have a good time - barring the
unexpected? I'll come back to that in a bit.
I have read about some appalling situations,
where a family has arrived at some dump abroad, only distantly reminiscent of
the hotel they booked in the Holiday Destination brochure back home. Dirty
rooms, stinking swimming pools, bugs of every description, bed sheets stained
beyond disgusting - looking like they have never been changed. The food on
offer not fit for human consumption, and staff that seem to suggest they are
doing you a good turn by putting in an appearance - just don't ask them to do
something.
I hope, sincerely that you have not
experienced any of the above when on vacation. I haven't, not yet anyway - and
I think there has been a general improvement all around the planet. There's
only one, no, I lie, two, no three occasions, when I was 'a bit put out' - as
we say - over accommodation and food.
The first time was when the whole family went
on holiday to Majorca in 1985,
