Champagne Supernova

"There's no room at the inn". The words you only want to hear at Christmas not after travelling "half way around the world" at one o'clock in the morning

The day had started well. For once in my life I was organised.  Boarding passes printed, hotel confirmation printed, driving license packed, passport packed, parking booked, car hire sorted, collected my euros.  All done.  Now all I had to do is wait for Joe to return from the Shambala festival, de-louse him, wash and dry a few of his clothes, complete the packing. Yes! Joe and I were off to Marbella, Spain for a week in the sunshine.

I really needed this break.  I had been working hard for the past few months coupled with the house selling I was feeling frazzled .  I also knew there was an onslaught of work to look forward to when I returned so just needed to get away and do nothing.  I was really grateful that Joe was coming the ultimate "do nothing" companion.

During the morning I had only one nagging doubt.  I had contacted the hotel to let them know we would be arriving late.  Their reply was not what I had expected which was basically "we have no booking in your name".  I contacted the booking agent straightaway.  After making the necessary calls assured me "that there was a slight oversight on behalf of the hotel, but all was resolved now.  The hotel knows you will be arriving late.  Enjoy your holiday"

Good. Bish! Bash! Bosh!  Off we go

Joe arrived home at 2:30 looking very much worse for wear.  Very tired, smelly and wet. Nonetheless he was in good spirit.  Bag sorted.  We were off to Bristol Airport to catch our plane to paradise.

All was going well!  Too well!  As anyone who knows or has ever travelled with me "things" happen - very randomly.  Leg breakages, trampling by horses, jellyfish.  That's only with Richard.  The list goes on and on: snow in Madrid, RAF escorting a flight full of Celtic fans down to Cardiff airport; being stuck in Ibiza airport due to French air traffic strikes which I also relate to the birth of Joe (not what you're thinking); baggage going missing etc etc etc.  At one time it reached such a point that work colleagues would ensure they never travelled with me.  Val, my ever suffering PA, would just be waiting for the phone call from me which always started "you never guess whats happened this time....?"

Any way that was then this is now.  Start of a new era.  Flights taken off on time, landed in time, bags have been collected, car hire sorted, navigated from Malaga Airport to Apartmentos Princesa Playa.  What could go wrong? Nothing I thought as I confidently strode into the hotel lobby.

I bounded up to the reception to be greeted by the overnight porter.

"Ola [always good to greet the natives in their language].  I'm Paul Watson and I would like to check in"
My beaming smile soon disappeared.
"Sorry sir, we are fully booked"
" That maybe so.  But I have my confirmation to say I have a room"

The porters next statement was truly remarkable.  He pulled out a confirmation with my name on it, showing the account was fully paid but still he told me
"We are full!  Sorry! Come back tomorrow and we will sort it"
Volcano Watson erupted.  You may have heard it

During the next 20 minutes I had just ranted at the porter and the Reservations Manager.  Their only response was " I had been lied to by the agent and Expedia". Not that they had cocked up, had actually been paid for my stay but had overbooked. My protestations came to nothing

All I could keep thinking is where were Joe and I going to sleep if we couldn't get into this hotel? The options were the Ibiza Seat hire car, find hotel or in a stable in a manger.  Luckily, if there was any luck to be had, we found a hotel just around the corner.  It wasn't the best but hey what choice did we have. Although we had to leave the room by 12 noon

Whilst Joe was catching up on his sleep I contacted the agent first thing in the morning letting rip.  Panic ensued.  They would get back to me.  To cut what seemed a very long morning story short we finally got a call at 1pm that we were booked in the Melia Banus Hotel, Puerto Banus.  Home to the rich and famous plus Joe and I for a week.

The hotel were made aware of our nightmare and we were upgraded.  Private reception, private snack and drinking area, lovely room.  Basically it means we have drunk as much champagne as possible for diddly squat. Joe has eaten so much smoked salmon I'm sure he will be trying to swim upstream in the nearest river very soon.  The agent also sent us a little gift which in itself was bizarre:  rice pudding with cinnamon, three prunes and bottle of water presented on a nice wooden tray.  Bizarre.  I'm sure it must mean something in the region.  Additionally there was an apologetic note and the promise to reimburse me for our troubles.

Now Joe and I are enjoying the holiday. Having fun not by doing very much.  Just what we ordered.  Not even going think about the journey home!

The Watson Meal Planner wc 11th August 2014

Monday - Pasta and Chorizo Pasta and chorizo recipe

Tuesday - Fish fingers, chips and beans 

Wednesday (Dad out) - Singapore noodles, chicken, oriental vegetables and black bean sauce
Thursday - gammon steak, new potatoes, pineapple, sweet corn and peas
Friday - lemon sole
Saturday -  TBA
Sunday - Sunday lunch

Changes

Changes are on the way.  I have spent too long waiting for things to happen and not going with my own instinct.  My overall aim is to find some sort of happiness.  I know that this is going to be a different flavour to that I had with Caroline and will not be as intense.  However, some of the changes are not panning out as I had hoped. 

There are going to be a few bumps on the way.  I’m reaching a bitter-sweet point, like many parents, where the “little bundles of joy” are exiting their teens and are becoming more and more independent.  Georgina and Joe are reaching that point.

The month long back packing adventure in Thailand has boosted Georgina self-confidence tremendously.  When I look back only as recently as six months ago it’s as though I’m almost looking at two different people.  So organised, so driven not wanting to sit still for a second and so helpful.  Some would say “a miracle” when compared to Georgina early teenage years.

 

Whereas, with Joe its different.  I’m convinced I don’t see the real Joe.  He saves the real self for when he is with his friends.  However, I have seen glimmers of the maturing Joe.  I will treasure the moment seeing Joe looking so proud and pleased of himself when he moved into his student digs down in Falmouth.  Lately, I’m starting to see his determined character coming through and he is developing his own views.  Definitely maturing although he still needs to get off his backside.  Joe knows where he’s going.  One day he will let the rest of us know. 

So they’re both growing up.  Both of them will be back to Uni at the end of September to start their second year.  For me it’s more of a psychological and emotional move.  One way or another they’re not around much anyway as they’re with their friends.  It’s the way it should be.  However, I had that twist in my stomach that told me that this time it will be different.  Both of them will be making their own decisions and won’t want any of my insight, if they ever did.  I’m reaching a crossroad.  Whatever happened this was always going to be a time of change that would have been building over a number of years.  I remember years ago every time Caroline watched Mamma Mia she would cry her eyes out when the song "slipping through my fingers" was sang by Meryl Streep as it brought on thoughts of when the kids would be flying the nest.  However, Caroline and I would also talk about the new found freedom “when the kids have grown up”. I don’t suppose we were that different to many other families.

 

Recently I have taken some decisions which will hopefully breathe new energy into me and set me up for the future.  I needed to change direction in some aspects of my life that I thought were not taking me in the right direction.  A big one concerns my role with FD Centre.  I have decided to resign as their Regional Director but continue with them in a different capacity which allow me to do perform a wider variety of work.  I am grateful to them for taking a chance on me at a very difficult time and together we have had some successes.

I have now changed my estate agent in order to get more umphhh behind the selling my house.  There is no reason why my house hasn’t sold.  It’s a fantastic family house ideally set.  There’s no way I  would ever have chosen to move if circumstances were different.  I have decided to engage with the estate agent Edison Ford who have demonstrated to me a much more proactive approach than many other estate agents.  The approach is less down to chance.  Well!  We will see.

There is so much going on at the moment.  My biggest relief is that the kids are on a clear path and doing so well.  No matter what happens I will be around for them and there’s no doubt their mother will be guiding them.  The kids will still be around.  I guess that the Bank of Dad will have to remain open, that they will remain on the payroll for a couple of years and Chez Watson will require spare rooms.