Sea, Sand and Special Brew

Bestival was pretty much my summer holiday for this year, and it was my first holiday in a hell of a long time. It's not like I have no money, (obvs I'm not minted else I'd be living in a castle somewhere) but Tone can't really leave work for more than one night at a time - he doesn't trust anyone else to run the place, that business is his baby, and I don't fancy heading off into the sun on my own. I'd go on a girls holiday, but Wing is a hard one to keep tamed in London, can you imagine what she'd be like in Shagaluf?!! LOL

It does make my tummy sink when I think about summer holidays though. Everyone's always off to Spain or Italy to soak up some rays with their other halves or with their families. My last family holiday was even longer ago than my last holiday. I got a bit sad earlier when Wing said she was going back to China for a few weeks to see her grandparents. I don’t tend to get het up about my lack of family very often. Living in London near Tone and Mavis is more than enough for me, but every so often I think of my first and only family holiday with my dad.

I think I was about 4 and dad obviously felt some guilt over not being there for me very much. He bundled me in the car and drove to Ilfracombe. It was such a hasty decision that he didn’t even pack my toothbrush or teddy bear.

The place wasn’t very glamorous but I didn’t care. It was freezing (well, it was mid-April) but I was desperate to make the most of being at the seaside so begged dad to buy me a bucket and spade and then an ice cream. I seem to remember my hands turning blue because it was so cold. That was just the way my dad rolled though, nothing ever seemed to be given much thought. He spent most of his time sitting and staring out at the sea chain smoking while I never tired of playing barefoot in the sand. I think we only stayed for 2 or 3 days, I can’t really remember.

We left early because dad had to get back home suddenly. I sensed even at that age that something wasn’t quite right with him. He’d tried to order another drink at the small bar at our motel, but they refused. Screaming and shouting he gave in, grabbed me from playing with my jigsaw and drove us home. It was one of the last times I saw him.

Still, I guess I can try and use my womanly charm to persuade Tone into taking me away. Failing that, I’ll have to deal with Wing’s drunken antics!