Holiday-ay!

It's been a rather hectic week but at last I have got to Friday and I'm about to start a fortnight's annual leave. I'm going to Crete (to Bali, pronounced "Balee", on the north coast between Iraklio and Rethymnon) for one week of it, and relaxing at home for the rest.

I booked this period of leave several months ago, long before our team at work discovered that we were going to be a member of staff down for the foreseeable future. I feel, to be frank, like an absolute cow. I'm leaving my colleagues to try and do, not four people's work between three, as we are currently doing on a daily basis, but four people's work between two. Ouch. But the thing is, I did book my leave ages ago, and I am knackered and stressed and desperately in need of a break - and we have no idea how much longer we are going to be short-staffed... and I simply couldn't bear to knuckle under and cancel my holiday. I'm sorry, ladies; you'll get the chance to stick me in it too, later in the summer, if you want.

In the meantime, as I type this, the thought that I am now free for two whole weeks is beginning to sink in. It's settling into my shoulders and back; all the tension starting to trickle out, at the thought of being able to do nothing but sit in the garden and read for an afternoon if I want to; of finally finishing sewing the poppy-patterned top I've been making for months; of going to the London Wetland Centre to listen to reed warblers and sketch ducklings and goslings... of painting and writing and listening to music and just chilling out...

I am torn between treating myself to supper out tonight or buying something nice to take home to do a share-supper with my flatmates (who are both also stressed). I think I'll do the latter; let's spread the happy mood around a bit. Something nice and mediterranean, with lots of herbs and garlic, and a pudding of some sort, and a bottle of plonk...

I don't know how often I'll have internet access for the next fortnight, then, so I'll say goodnight and see you in two weeks!