I know I should be excited about going back to South Africa for a week on Friday and I am.
I am thrilled that I am going to see my father and step-mother and I’m going to show my son the country of my birth. I’m spending time with my two sisters and my father and that is a precious rarity. It will be great for the five minutes we get along before we fall back into past patterns and start to dwell on that incident from a billion years ago. In that way we are really much the same as any other family just with a few added dysfunctions.
And while I do have some bubbles of excitement there is some stuff I need to do before I go that is standing in the way of full blown euphoria
- I have to get over my fear of flying
- I have to get over my fear of going back to South Africa
- I have to find a suitcase that is small enough to appease the luggage gods with whom I am travelling and big enough for me to exploit the Australian dollar/South African rand exchange rate.
- I have to get my dog to understand English and then understand the concept of my still loving him even though I am leaving him for a week. I will also need to get him to agree that he can go for a walk with Mr Pencil (who is not coming to South Africa with us) either that or have no exercise at all for a week. I think I know which one he will choose.
- I have to lose about three kilos while still embracing the joys of stress eating
- I would like to be more toned by Friday as well so there’s that
- I have to try persuade Mr Pencil that he is missing out on the trip of a lifetime while hiding the very full and regimented schedule from him*
- I have to find shoes that are light, comfortable, suitable for casual and smart wear with a heel that is high but not too high.
- I have to pack
- I have to learn to deal with having to share my space with 10 people for a week
- I have to stop making lists of first world problems
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So yeah, I’m almost ready.
Any tips for a neurotic holidaymaker? Keeping in mind I am holidaying with my family who have not holidayed together since 1999. And this time I do not have my husband with me – the man who keeps me balanced, and dare I say it, together.
*Because there are 11 of us this trip has been planned with military style precision including bookings made at restaurants, excursions planned, shopping trips prearranged. There may or may not be designated swimming/toileting and breathing breaks
I hear you on so much of this. Flying is one of my biggest fears. My brother and husband used to both work for a large airline that may or may not have had a kangaroo logo and they LOVED to regale with tales of things they would do to scare the bejesus out of passengers like walk up to a plane parked next to a fully loaded plane and bang on tyres with big mallets for no reason other than that it scares passengers. My husband when we fly together (which has been a while) likes to tell me what that noise is and whether it is good or bad. He also likes to tell me that he has Computer Based Training to fly certain types of planes. I usually reply through gritted teeth that if he is required to fly the plane that I am getting off or they will have to restrain me to a seat!
Your family sounds exactly like mine. The family patterns are so ingrained aren’t they. I was reading about some things that happened within my family over the weekend and they weren’t pretty and my mum likes to heap the guilt on in layers and just when you think you are done she will heap on just a little bit more. Oh the issues from millions of years ago sounds like us, Mum hangs onto something for a lifetime and then when she decides it is done then it must be done for everyone!
You will have an amazing trip and remember it is only a week even you can do that. Make sure you take anxiety medication with you to help with the flight and well the scheduling.
Take lots of photos (of food if nothing else!) and I am sure that we will be here for you if you need us from there!
Thanks Cathy xxxxx
Oh love…I know this is not the right answer to give…but from one nervous flyer to another all I can say to you is: champagne. We are off to Ireland in April so I’m sure you will see a similar post from me and you will tell me about your amazing holiday and that I, like you, will be fine.
Lisa
My flighty mates tell me that makes it worse lol honestly I’m too busy trying to hold on to my seat I’m too scared to eat or drink. I have been known to cry the entire flight from Melb to Syd from fear so much so the flight attendant sat next to me on landing to hold my hand!
C xo
I will share my Xanax with you xxx
All envy from me Lana. I have to wait until July for my trip to RSA. I am however stressing over the bats that like to share ones accommodation in Kruger. In reality I stress over this from one trip to the next. You will not believe the change in OT airport.
Enjoy.xxx
So looking forward to Woolworths at the airport! xxx
We always pay them a visit. Also the shop that sells Toblerone. We buy a bag full for our friend in Marloth Park because it is so much cheaper than what we buy here.xxx
Have a great trip. You will love it !
Just breath and remember only a week and then back to everything 🙂
I’ll miss you lots, but I would rather have root canal without anesthetic. Bon Voyage my love, and hurry back with at least a small piece of your sanity intact.
Lana, as an ex Qantas staffer of 28 years, I can tell you that the crew has a vested interest in not crashing. 😉
You have more chance of being drowned in the Sahara than of anything going wrong.
Bon voyage.
The flight is nothing compared to the destination 😉
Xanax for the flight. 2 small bags rather than one large one. A hotel for the duration- bunking in with family makes it so much more stressful. Even if you spend every waking moment with them, having your own space to retreat to for sleep is vital. Good luck!
We are all holidaying together so hotels all round – with no space to retreat 🙁 xxx