Well, it’s down to ten days to go.
Back in January a gang of us decided we’d go on a sun holiday together. I remember it well, it was in this really nice Italian restaurant in Belfast. We were all out for Ulla’s birthday.
Cyprus seemed to be the first choice for most of the crew, so it was decided. I’ve never been, which makes it all the more exciting for me.
Years and years ago (back in 1986 actually) I went on a family holiday to Greece. To be honest my six year old’s impression of the place wasn’t all that positive, but we were based in both Athens and in a quaint little town in the countryside called Lamia. Athens is hardly a holiday destination hot-spot; well it certainly wasn’t back in 86.
Anyhoo, Cyprus it is for this year’s sun holiday. There are eight of us going, Fred, Sam, Baldy, Suzie, Windy, Mandy, Ulla and me.
The place we’re going to is called Protaras, which is supposed to be a really nice spot. There was a lot of research done before we finally booked… seems like ages ago!
Ulla has been to Cyprus before and she really loved it. That’s a good enough recommendation for me! We both enjoy the same sort of things while on holiday. As long as there are plenty of bars, nice places to eat and good music to be heard… we’re happy.
Baldy reckons the trip is going to be “heavy” and I have a feeling he is right. Most of us have been away skiing together in the past, and if the rip-roaring sessions we had there are anything to go by… well… God help our livers. The difference with this trip is, there will be no cause to ease off at a certain time during the night. On skiing holidays, the very odd time I get a pang of sense and decide not to have a double last round, or to call it a night at some point to allow me to get at least a couple of hours kip… There will be nothing like that in Cyprus. You stop when you fall, and that’s it!
Of course, I am dreading the flight. It’s a long one, and I absolutely hate flying! While growing up the thoughts of going on an aeroplane excited me, and I had no problem with it. For some reason about seven or eight years ago, I developed this really intense fear of the whole experience though. The sense of relief I feel once we’ve landed is unbelievable.
In addition to all this, there is my constant struggle for leg room on planes. I think they design aircraft these days to comfortably accommodate people who are less than five and a half feet tall. Anyone over that height is going to be in trouble. So, coupled with my fear, I’m expecting the whole flying experience to be pretty nasty. Maybe I’ll just get hammered.
Ulla has no problems with flying. It doesn’t frighten her, she isn’t tall enough to have an issue with the seating… She usually just nods off. Sleep is something that I just can’t do on planes.
Ah well, once we get the whole travelling bit out of the way, I’m going to love every second of the holiday. Like I said, I’ve been away with the gang before… It’s going to be savage. I doubt the crappy local beer in Cyprus will put us off, although we did get a little spoiled in Germany last time. We’ll be hard pushed to find a decent Weizen in Cyprus I dare say!
At the moment I’m trying to decide which books to bring… I’m in the middle of a Shaun Hutson at the moment, and loving it! Wish I’d saved it for the holidays. Got a couple of biographies in the queue though, Michael Jackson, Meatloaf etc… Maybe one of those… Long live Trash Literature. I love it!
