On holidays

By PD Martin

I’m on holidays again. I did consider simply re-posting my summer in Oz blog from last year, because I’m pretty much doing the same thing!

Well, not exactly.

Every year, we head down to the Mornington Peninsula on Boxing Day (26 December) and stay for quite a few weeks. I used to spend my summers down here (since I was two years old, when my grandparents bought a small holiday house) and now my little ones are enjoying their summers by the beach, too.

This year and last year, our ‘go home’ date was dictated by Grace’s school holidays. So we’re here until almost the end of January.

We do pop back to Melbourne for a few trips, like our traditional Australian Open tennis day. That’s today!

So, it's pretty much been:

• Beach
• Relaxing on the deck (eating)
• Beach
• Relaxing on the deck (eating and drinking)
• A walk or two 
• Beach

You get the picture, right?

Then last night was the tennis (sorry about the poor quality pic). We saw Williams (Venus) vs Cornet and then Ryan Harrison vs Djokovich.

Unfortunately the men's match was extremely one-sided and when you go to these matches you really feel for the guy who's getting his ass whooped. At least, I did. It must be so hard to be playing in front of so many people and have the first set gone in just 20 minutes. You can feel the disappointment, the frustration.

Anyway, I'm off to the tennis and my family is waiting so I'm out of here. Mind you, it's going to be a scorcher today...39C which is just over 102F. Loads of sunscreen and hats today! Then tomorrow it's back to the beach.  

We’ve got another ten days on the Peninsula, so I’m guessing we might hit the beach and relax on the deck a bit more!

Are you still on holidays? If so, what are you up to?

Comments

[Richard Maguire]

Enjoy your holidays, PD. 39C. Wow! Last time I checked, it was -5C here, and the snow hasn't let up since Monday.

Great that you can just drop in to watch the tennis. I have to get up at 1 A.M. CET to see it on Eurosport. But it's worth it. The Australian Open is my favourite of all the slams. I've just watched Federer win his match. Lucky you if you were there.

[PD Martin]

Hi Richard. Yes it's great to be able to go every year! Didn't get to see the Federer match and our live tennis is done for now but I'll be watching more on the TV and won't have to get up at 1am! It was a great day out yesterday but very very hot :)

[Zoë Sharp]

Hi Phillipa

I'm with Richard on the 39degC - wow. It's below freezing here and there's snow on the ground, but I'm wrapped up warm and happy to be sitting inside scribbling.

However, I do envy you those beautiful beaches. Walking along a beach at sunrise is one of the transcendental experiences of life, I think.

Enjoy!

[PD Martin]

Yes, the beach is great...although my beach experiences (with a 20 month old and a 6yro) aren't quite as serene as walking along a beach at sunrise. Guess I could escape early one morning!

Happy scribbling!

[Reine]

Sounds wonderful, Phillipa. I'm only a teensy bit jealous. No vacation here. Nope. All gone. Decorations stored in the garage. Found the wooden wreath for the door. And the box of tree ornaments. Next year, then. Until we do have another vacation, um... in June, ... we'll get our new security lights installed and see about lowering some light switches with new over-sized toggle pads. What fun!

Oh. Wait. Lance is confessing to Oprah. It isn't tennis, but it is a huge new sport.Taking bets, here. How much did Oprah pay Lance to confess on her show? Poor guy. Outta work and all. "Bless me Oprah, for I have sinned." Little prick.

[Allison A DAvis]

"Quite a few weeks...." Sigh. I waited 10 years for my three month sabbatical. Never do I get "quite a few weeks." I'm lucky if I get a week. And almost always at the beach. But my vacations are all about writing because I don't have work sucking all my time and energy. But even during my three month sabbatical, most of the time was spent in sight and sound of the ocean...staring out at waves is a great relaxer and perfect to clear the head.

[Floza]

Spending summer near beach is an awesome experience and also is the most enjoyable moment of life. And if one is there with family then the happiness increase twice. You have chosen best place for traveling. Your kids have enjoyed both beach and the game also. http://www.rentalholidaysitaly.co.uk/