Ingredients:
- 3 single, independent, strong-willed (stubborn?
) 30-something women - 7 day trip up the coast
- 9,587,348,972 different interests
- 2 x roosters and a hen who start their dawn welcome at 4am
Method
- Mix all ingredients together well.
I’ve known Friend B for fifteen years and Friend A for about seven. They are two of my closest friends and they’ve known each other for around five years, through me. The three of us have lived on our own for quite a while; we’re all pretty independent and we know what we like and want. We are also quite different people, with differing interests. One of mine is sleeping in late during the holidays – a plan that was pretty stymied by our feathered neighbours*.
I’ve travelled with both of them (the girls, not the chickens) before and had no reservations about doing so again. So it was a bit of a surprise when we had some tension – although perhaps a little conflict was inevitable – on our trip last week. It ranged from going in super-tolerant ‘I don’t mind what we do – what do YOU want to do?’ circles to a little bossiness, thoughtless comments and (probably unintentional) obvious impatience.
Added to this, I had the worst PMS I’ve had in years, which makes me tearful, neurotic and pathetic. My two friends, who are lucky enough not to suffer from it, couldn’t understand that it was just the hormones talking and instead practically diagnosed depression and advised me to see a therapist. A little over-reactive, I thought.
Anyway, I’m home again now and loving the peace and tranquility of my own space, but a little sad that the perfect holiday I’d hoped for was a little fraught.
* The chickens were actually very funny. The roosters had the most comical wannabe crows ever (forget cock-a-doodle-do…) – accompanied by what could only be described as a ‘constipated look’.
I am sooo excited. Tomorrow I set off with two girl friends, SM and DV, for a week long trip up the coast. We’re taking the scenic route, which I’ve not done before, and are planning on stopping off at a number of quirky one-horse towns along the way.
).
