Trees (2) – What We Did Next

Last week, I received a quote from our lovely travel agent for travel to a three-legged family trip, first to The Hague to see my sister, thence to Italy, then home again. I offered it to the family, and they agreed, it would be fine. I could just have said, ‘okay, then, it’s Italy this year.” But something stalled me, and this morning I did a straw poll. I asked my daughter (‘quick don’t think!’) what percentage she would give for going to Italy, and she said seventy, which surprised me. ‘Okay, then’, I paused, ‘How about to Amsterdam on the boat from South Shields, then back home, and then up to Crieff Hydro for a week?’ and that went over the eighty mark. Finally, the killer option, how about Amsterdam on the boat, and then Shetland on the boat?’ and her face lit up. A clear winner.

I suddenly understood that lying around in the sun might be my idea of heaven, but might not suit Seline for a whole week. She might want other things to do, and with our budget stretched, anything other than pool lounging would prove a challenge. Not ideal, even though she tans easily, the swimming would be good, and the food is divine.

Before I could think better of it, I asked my husband the same questions (‘No thinking…I said NO thinking!’) and it was interesting to see the play of emotions on his face. He really toiled with being honest about his preferences. Maybe because Seline is young; maybe because she trusts me not to give out double messages, with her, the exercise was fun and very illuminating. With hubby, it became excruciating, and I could see his discomfort, his dissembling (because he wanted to go with what he thought I wanted….) and some incredulity, given how much I moan about Shetland, that I really would prefer his honest opinion, yes please. He must love me very much.

Hubby’s maternal relations all hail from Shetland; I knew Shetland would be a clear winner. We can take my car on the ferry, visit our favourite relations and just relax and look around. We can book a good hotel, maybe, and have a few extra treats. We can take some trips around Noss to see the spectacular gannet colony. And my daughter can play outside to her heart’s content, jumping off walls, running all over the grass, and generally enjoying being somewhere different with lots to do.

I am actually very pleased that Seline enjoys Shetland. It is her home, after all, as much as anywhere is. And I am very pleased to be listening to what the family would enjoy, and doing my bit for the trees.

Northern Gannet – flying in groups, they look like military aircraft