The little birthday vacation

Published on by ortensia

In the last few years, we always take a little family vacation over the second week of the school Easter holidays. This year it coincided with my birthday, and I was very excited to celebrate my birthday away….until reality hit me.

The day of my birthday we had the ferry booked for one of the Aran islands. The travelling husband, thinking that three “women” would take ages to get ready, set the alarm clock unreasonably early. When we got down to have breakfast the percolator in the bar had not even finished brewing the coffee, and the waiters were still preparing the buffet. We arrived at the ferry nearly an hour early. Plenty of time to go to the loo but also to drink more coffee and tea, in the only coffee shop around and needing more bathroom trips. That was not a problem; after all, we had lots of time to waste (In the bathroom) and could not go anywhere because it was raining outside.

Despite his attempt to conceal his mistake in time management, it was evident from his puffy eyes that, like us, even the travelling husband could have done with some more sleep. Of course, he would have shot himself on the toes rather than admit it, but we knew it and made the best we could to let him know it too ! When the ferry eventually arrived, the sun made its appearance as well and like in an old movie where miracles happen daily, my gang’s brain woke up too and they remembered what day it was: halleluja, happy birthday to me.

So far the day of my birthday was not going according to my expectation and I kind of starting to regret not being home having some “me birthday time” alone. The only “me birthday time” alone I had during the day , in fact, it was when I was left behind because I pedalled too slow. Now, despite the incredible beauty of the Aran islands, spending my birthday massacring my butt cycling up and down and experiencing the four season in just one day didn’t sound right.

When back to the hotel, I must admit that they all made an effort to celebrate me in the evening: they gave me my pressies and brought me out for dinner, but we were all so extremely knackered, after been out and about for 12 hours, that we had no energy to speak, not to mention to blow candles. When the cakes arrived, we all ate as fast as we could already dreaming the moment when we would have laid our heads on the pillow.

The following morning we got to sleep a bit longer and even if well rested, I woke up with an unpleasant feeling of having missed my birthday. On my phone and there were thousands (no I’m exaggerating,remove at least two zeros….may be three🙄 )of messages that I missed because in the island there was no reception and that I didnt check,once back , because struggling to keep my eyes opened. The day ahead of us was another long day, but nothing like the previous one, and we also made it back to the hotel early enough to indulge for an hour in the spa. While the girls and the travelling husband immediately dived into the swimming pool, I patiently waited for the inside jacuzzy to be free. (The outside one was not an option because it had started to rain). On the warning sign it said that it could hold three people, but not really unless they were leopricans. Two sets of standard legs were all it could fit. I still have the bruises from all the kicks the gentleman he was in there with me gave to my poor legs.Well, not that he had left bruises free, of course. We endured in a sort of under water wrestling for a good few minutes until we agreed to take a side each to stretch our lower limbs. And still, the “stretch” word is an overstatement. The other problem of that jacuzzy was that it bubbled only for fifteen minutes, so at regular intervals of time someone had to get out and re-push the power button. In this case, that “someone” it was me for three times until I left but not before asking my jacuzzy pal if he wanted me to push the button again. He, out of gratitude or under the effect of heavy drugs, ( I haven’t decided yet but I’m keen on the second one),looked at me and said: “you have the figure of a model.” Now, I know a compliment is a compliment, and you take it no matter what, but this one was so absurdly untrue, despite the poor man natural tone. It was so unreal that I couldn’t even get pissed with the travelling husband for his reaction when I told him: I simply joined his spontaneous loud laugh.

That night we were all in excellent form, and so we decided to give it another chance to my birthday. In fairness calling celebration what we had the previous day required a lot of imagination. We all happily had the whole birthday treat again, but this time we chatted, I blew the candles, they sang me the happy birthday song and then myself and the travelling husband also indulged ourselves with a couple of kids free birthday drinks.

Next year I’m not sure I want to spend my birthday away again but if it the downside is to have to celebrate twice maybe it is not too bad as it sounds.

P.S

No pics of the traveling husband because he is a privacy obsessed person , but I swear he exists 😎

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79 thoughts on “The little birthday vacation”

    1. Thank you so much Linda . I’m so happy you wrote here because it’s been a few weeks I m trying to reach your blog but can’t find it in the reader.Then I look for comment from you in Lisa or Darren or Dominique posts to go to you through them but found nothing .Now I can catch up 😀😀😀😀😀💗

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Oh no! I hope my blog isn’t incognito now. That happened to me with a blogging friend and I found out I had unknowingly changed a setting in the Reader so I didn’t get email notices anymore!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Enjoyed this post very much.

    I have relatives in County Clare whom we (my wife & I) visited 25 years ago. Spent some time in Galway but unfortunately didn’t get to the Aran Islands. Love Ireland — in all my travels, I found no friendlier people (at least, 25 years ago, they were!).

    BTW, there’s a classic 1934 semi-documentary film titled MAN OF ARAN which I’m sure you’d find interesting (unless you don’t like old movies).

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you for reading and commenting.Its a matter of fact that I love old movies and I’ll definitely check the Man Of Aran out.I only knew “Ryan’s daughter”.
      P.S
      Irish people still are the most friendly. I love them deeply .Hope you will have the chance to come back and visit the Aran😀

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  21. Happy Birthday to you, Sabina! It is unfortunate that you had to be “spending my birthday massacring my butt” but it seems it ended well enough. That line had me howling! Question – have you also had the accompanying lack of any feeling and then the imminent prickly sensations emerging to the nether regions after you got off the bike? lol 🙂

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  23. First, belated happy birthday
    Second, Lovely photos.
    Third, oh Ortensia, yoju really expect a ma to admit something? You expectations are high. Next you’re going to tell us you expect a manm to stop and ask for directions. lol
    Belated happy birthday

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    1. I m a woman full of hope……but ….so …it is a general man thing not to ask for directions then?😱It’s not only the traveling husband….it would’ve the same with any other husband your saying?oh certainly that doesn’t worth to change😂

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  29. Belated Happy Birthday wishes. I’m smiling. I know, it’s not very kind of me but your bike ride anecdote is hilarious. I always enjoy reading you, whether on your blog or your book. Keep well.

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