It was mid December and I was feeling the urge for a holiday. Some people are shopaholics, others are addicted to cigarettes or chocolate. Me... I love searching for holidays. It's quite sad really. I have spreadsheets on my laptop with holiday ideas. When I say ideas, it's probably more complicated and in depth than an "idea". I have costs of flights, hotels, car hire, things to do etc... Quite detailed information. Even route maps for road trips sometimes! It makes me happy. Plus, it makes sure that I get a good bargain. Two years ago I organised a 4 week road trip around the north eastern states of the USA, I tried to price it up with a travel agent, just to make sure I couldn't get it cheaper with them. The price they quoted was double. Go Emma!
So anyway, back to what I was saying... I was ready to get something set in stone. I needed that holiday. In between classes I had started to look for bargains. The temptation of a new holiday was mounting!
Then Ryanair had a sale. 16 euros for a one way flight to Milan. Too good to resist! I took out my card and booked it. Only problem... I hadn't consulted the husband.
I rang his mobile number, maybe he'd be on break.
"Hiya, so... I've found really cheap flights to Milan at Easter. Only 16 euros, not gonna get cheaper than that are we? Shall I book them before they go?"
"Uhhh... yeah. Whatever you think."
"Fab, I'm glad you said that. I've already booked them."
He's a good egg, that husband of mine.
That was it! We were going to Milan. No return flight, no accommodation booked. I'd sort that out later depending on our budget.
I'd always wanted to go to Italy. Wine, pizza, pasta, history, romance and of course, in Milan, aperetivo. Who doesn't love a free buffet when you buy a drink? Perfect.
At first, it was just a cheap weekend away. Then, it turned into a week. There was too much to do and see. Plus flights looked quite cheap. You HAVE to take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Don't you think?
Before I knew it, it was time to go home to Wales for Christmas. I couldn't wait to see my beautiful family and friends.
However, it was the worst Christmas of my life. I spent a lot of that Christmas in the hospital visiting my Nan. I knew something wasn't right. Sadly, after a horrible illness, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on the 6th of January.
My heart broke. She was my last grandparent and the only one I can say that I truly knew well. My others had died at quite an early age, before I was an adult. I can't really remember much about them. The thought of my Nan fading away in my memories was torture. I loved having long conversations on the phone with her. She used to say the funniest things and she could talk A LOT. As I told her when I was a kid, "It's good to talk isn't it Nanna?" and I really meant it. My Nan could talk for Britain! Now feelings of guilt swept over me. Why didn't I call her more often?
Ian came back to Spain to work. I had the luxury of being able to work online so I stayed in Wales until after the funeral.
I hated being away from Ian and missed him a lot. We're not a "lovey dovey" couple, he's a pain in the bum sometimes. But, I love him.
The events of Christmas put a lot of things into perspective. During our time apart we made 2 decisions:
1. We'd really enjoy this holiday, after all, you don't know what's around the corner.
2. We'd "see how it goes" and "stop trying not to have a baby."
I came back from Spain and threw myself into planning our holiday. What was originally a weekend getaway turned into a trip to 5 separate countries for 14 days. I organised the train travel and booked the Air BnBs. I also roped in Candice, one of our best friends, to come with us. The more the merrier.
I couldn't wait to try a different beer in every country, try local food and sample the nightlife! It would soon be here. I went on a diet to prepare for the inevitable weight I'd put on during the holiday.
Then, came one of the biggest shocks of my life. (Should have seen it coming really, but sometimes I'm not that bright!)
I felt weird. My Nan had just died, so it's normal, right?
I decided to check a few possibilities. The answer of me feeling "weird" was a big fat positive on a pregnancy test. I did another, just in case, a few days later.
Cue me staring at the tests in disbelief and the husband walking around like he's an alpha male. If anyone has met Ian, you'll know he's the most relaxed person IN THE WORLD. Apart from when it comes to packing a suitcase (but that's another story).
I just couldn't get my head round it. We've been together for 12 years. Over the 12 years, we'd never gotten pregnant despite forgetting the odd contraceptive pill here and there (irresponsible, I know, but it happens) Now, at the ages of 32 and 35, we get pregnant the first month without contraception... It seemed a bit too easy.
Within a week I was 100% certain I was pregnant. Along came the sickness. Buckets of it, literally.
The first few weeks were a blur of praying the sickness would ease, sleeping, not sleeping, trying to eat something and, of course, vomiting. Lots of it. Who knew you could throw up water? I certainly didn't. The weirdest part of early pregnancy for me was my new found super hero power. Super human sense of smell. My kryptonite being onions, garlic, all meat and the smell of dog. Nasty combination.
11 weeks passed, the sickness didn't. The thought of the holiday had changed. How could I get through 14 days of sightseeing and enjoy it? Italy without garlic? How would I cope? The thought of getting on a boat in Venice made me heave.
Preparation. That's how. Preparation had to be the key. In my suitcase I packed cereal bars, bread sticks, chewing gums, mints and other goodies that were on the "food I can keep down" list. I'd carry bread sticks and cereal bars in my handbag and whip them out when nausea reared its very ugly head.
Soon, we were in the car travelling to Alicante airport. Armed with a bottle of water in one hand, cereal bar in the other. Stop 1, Milan. Here we come!
So anyway, back to what I was saying... I was ready to get something set in stone. I needed that holiday. In between classes I had started to look for bargains. The temptation of a new holiday was mounting!
Then Ryanair had a sale. 16 euros for a one way flight to Milan. Too good to resist! I took out my card and booked it. Only problem... I hadn't consulted the husband.
I rang his mobile number, maybe he'd be on break.
"Hiya, so... I've found really cheap flights to Milan at Easter. Only 16 euros, not gonna get cheaper than that are we? Shall I book them before they go?"
"Uhhh... yeah. Whatever you think."
"Fab, I'm glad you said that. I've already booked them."
He's a good egg, that husband of mine.
That was it! We were going to Milan. No return flight, no accommodation booked. I'd sort that out later depending on our budget.
I'd always wanted to go to Italy. Wine, pizza, pasta, history, romance and of course, in Milan, aperetivo. Who doesn't love a free buffet when you buy a drink? Perfect.
At first, it was just a cheap weekend away. Then, it turned into a week. There was too much to do and see. Plus flights looked quite cheap. You HAVE to take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Don't you think?
Before I knew it, it was time to go home to Wales for Christmas. I couldn't wait to see my beautiful family and friends.
However, it was the worst Christmas of my life. I spent a lot of that Christmas in the hospital visiting my Nan. I knew something wasn't right. Sadly, after a horrible illness, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on the 6th of January.
My heart broke. She was my last grandparent and the only one I can say that I truly knew well. My others had died at quite an early age, before I was an adult. I can't really remember much about them. The thought of my Nan fading away in my memories was torture. I loved having long conversations on the phone with her. She used to say the funniest things and she could talk A LOT. As I told her when I was a kid, "It's good to talk isn't it Nanna?" and I really meant it. My Nan could talk for Britain! Now feelings of guilt swept over me. Why didn't I call her more often?
Ian came back to Spain to work. I had the luxury of being able to work online so I stayed in Wales until after the funeral.
I hated being away from Ian and missed him a lot. We're not a "lovey dovey" couple, he's a pain in the bum sometimes. But, I love him.
The events of Christmas put a lot of things into perspective. During our time apart we made 2 decisions:
1. We'd really enjoy this holiday, after all, you don't know what's around the corner.
2. We'd "see how it goes" and "stop trying not to have a baby."
I came back from Spain and threw myself into planning our holiday. What was originally a weekend getaway turned into a trip to 5 separate countries for 14 days. I organised the train travel and booked the Air BnBs. I also roped in Candice, one of our best friends, to come with us. The more the merrier.
I couldn't wait to try a different beer in every country, try local food and sample the nightlife! It would soon be here. I went on a diet to prepare for the inevitable weight I'd put on during the holiday.
Then, came one of the biggest shocks of my life. (Should have seen it coming really, but sometimes I'm not that bright!)
I felt weird. My Nan had just died, so it's normal, right?
I decided to check a few possibilities. The answer of me feeling "weird" was a big fat positive on a pregnancy test. I did another, just in case, a few days later.
Cue me staring at the tests in disbelief and the husband walking around like he's an alpha male. If anyone has met Ian, you'll know he's the most relaxed person IN THE WORLD. Apart from when it comes to packing a suitcase (but that's another story).
I just couldn't get my head round it. We've been together for 12 years. Over the 12 years, we'd never gotten pregnant despite forgetting the odd contraceptive pill here and there (irresponsible, I know, but it happens) Now, at the ages of 32 and 35, we get pregnant the first month without contraception... It seemed a bit too easy.
Within a week I was 100% certain I was pregnant. Along came the sickness. Buckets of it, literally.
The first few weeks were a blur of praying the sickness would ease, sleeping, not sleeping, trying to eat something and, of course, vomiting. Lots of it. Who knew you could throw up water? I certainly didn't. The weirdest part of early pregnancy for me was my new found super hero power. Super human sense of smell. My kryptonite being onions, garlic, all meat and the smell of dog. Nasty combination.
11 weeks passed, the sickness didn't. The thought of the holiday had changed. How could I get through 14 days of sightseeing and enjoy it? Italy without garlic? How would I cope? The thought of getting on a boat in Venice made me heave.
Preparation. That's how. Preparation had to be the key. In my suitcase I packed cereal bars, bread sticks, chewing gums, mints and other goodies that were on the "food I can keep down" list. I'd carry bread sticks and cereal bars in my handbag and whip them out when nausea reared its very ugly head.
Soon, we were in the car travelling to Alicante airport. Armed with a bottle of water in one hand, cereal bar in the other. Stop 1, Milan. Here we come!
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