Getting Ready to Go

Do excuse my hideous toes but holiday fever is beginnng to grip me very tightly. We are actually going abroad! Not for a few more weeks yet but preparations are in full swing here.

Its seven long years since we went continental, preferring to take our babies to the rugged Cornish coast for rock pool pootling where the heat wouldn't trouble them too much. Turns out the heat never bothered them at all, not for seven whole years to be exact apart from the odd occassional day.

So last year we decided that we needed some sunshine and we'd save up and go back to a little Spanish village we went to on our last foreign sojurn. It was such a perfect idyll and I'd always wanted to return.

We did have a little think about Greek Islands or Italian villas but we knew we wanted the sea, a sandy beach and a quiet place to stay and not to take any risks with our hard earned pennies and to know we'd like where we were heading.

Every time I think about going my stomach flips and I feel as excited as I do for Christmas! After this dismal summer all I want is to see our chaps splashing about in the warm water, hear the waves lapping against the boats in the bay and see the sun glint on the surface of a blue, blue sea.

The water here is famous for being crystal clear and is a bit of a centre for snorkelling and diving. Not sure I'll be doing much of that but the idea of being able to swim in the sea everyday is so exciting I can't tell you. I adore sea swimming and don't get to do it often at all, I can't wait.

I've been practice packing. The rules and regulations have changed a lot since we last flew and we're only taking cabin bags which is a bit of a challenge but we're staying in a lovely apartment right on the beach with all mod cons so I don't need to take too much and can wash and dry what we need.

Books have been purchased and some lovely thin Turkish towels, perfect for packing and quick drying.

I've turned back to Miss Read recently for some simple, delightful reading in these hectic, frantic summer days. In Farther Afield she goes to Crete and well, I'm inspired. Not sure I'll cut quite this figure on the beach but will definitely be wearing my hair this way with a silk scarfe.

So frocks have been chosen,bargain faux Birkenstocks purchased, tiny bottles filled with toiletries and day dreams stored.

We will be on this little beach in this blue bay before long and I don't think I've needed a holiday more. Where are you off to this year?