Wednesday 1 May 2013

Itchy Feet


(Ship moored up the river Fal)

This morning, as I write, sun shimmers on the rippling water, Flushing ferry carries giggling schoolchildren and boats toss gently, itching to be off their moorings. It’s a day for boating, and adventure. A sparkling day when anything could happen.

In one of the nationals last weekend was a piece that caught my eye about secret islands in the Med. Then I started reading A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena de Blasi which is a beautifully written account of a middle aged woman’s love affair with Venice – and how she married a Venetian (and has stayed happily married, for those cynical readers).

She writes so magically, she’s connected to something in my brain so that at 3am, I was feverishly covering scraps of yellow paper with words that tumbled from my mind, insisting on making their mark.

Her descriptions of Venice have given me wanderlust. So, I want to go back to the Greek islands. I want to go to Venice. Portugal, perhaps? Turkey? Another friend’s going to Cuba in November. All these wonderful places to go and see….

I haven’t been abroad for many years. Pip wasn’t keen on any travel that didn’t involve a boat, and our last few trips further afield weren’t a success, so I started organising Cornish holidays instead which suited us well, having Moll.

“I think you should go travelling,” said my Mum, reinforcing my itchy feet. But my two problems are:- 1) finding the right person to go with and 2) if I don’t travel with Moll, finding someone to look after her.

I have four good friends that I know I can travel with enjoyably. (I have been away with good friends and for some reason it hasn’t worked on holiday. My dear husband was one.) Three of these friends are incredibly busy this year embarking on other life changing far flung experiences. The last one I know we’d have a great time but a certain amount of persuasion is needed.

Then looking after Moll – the friend who usually has her now has a place in Portugal, where they go every spring and autumn. So I’d have to go away to fit in with them.

Mind you, as I have to pay for a new roof in the next week (they’ve just finished it), a holiday might have to take backseat for the moment, unless it’s a cheapie. But I’m definitely going. It’s just a question of when and with whom. And life has a way of making things happen unexpectedly, I find. In the meantime I shall have great fun dreaming and planning.

In the meantime, I’m off to Tintagel on Sunday. Not quite Greece, but it will have to do for the moment.

10 comments:

Sally said...

Wanderlust is an interesting phenomenon! It gets me from time to time but less now that we are back in Cornwall. If you haven't been to Venice, do go. It is the most beautiful place!

Sorry I can't look after Molls for you. There must be folks out there who would be happy to! Enjoy this glorious sunshine! xx

Flowerpot said...

Sally - Mr B said the other day when it was sunny, "Why do you want to go abroad when it's like this?" To which I replied, I don't, but it's not always like this! Am just off to enjoy the sunshine now....

Akelamalu said...

I love travelling, as you know, and am lucky in that MWM loves it too. If we could guarantee the weather in this country it would be wonderful wouldn't it?

Chris Stovell said...

I understand that feeling, and the sentiment behind holidays on boats only. But as you so wisely suggest, life has a habit of taking you on unexpected journeys - I think you're due some good ones.

Flowerpot said...

Chris - I hope I'm due some good ones before too long. It will be interesting to see where life takes me - and who with!

Flowerpot said...

Ak - I'm so glad you enjoy travelling and that MWM loves it too. I dont like the idea of travelling alone - I like to share my adventures, but it has to be with the right person.

ADDY said...

Kay treated me to a holiday in Venice for my 60th in 2010. I had always wanted to go there and it did not disappoint. I want to return someday again. Go, if you get the chance. There is nowhere else like it. I shall look up that book you refer to.

Flowerpot said...

Addy - I remember you going, and I would love to go when I can. Enjoy the book - it is truly magical!

Melissa Amateis said...

I was really feeling the wanderlust about five years ago, and so I decided to go visit England all by myself. I'd been there before in college, but I'd gone with a school tour, so I was never properly "on my own." I wanted to know if I could do it, could travel by myself, and get around. And though I had a slight panic attack when I got to England, I'm proud to say that I was able to get from A to B and C and back again to A! It was challenging and hard and exhilarating and wonderful. I highly recommend it!

Flowerpot said...

Melissa - well done you! That is an incredible achievement!