How to unwind on holiday…

How to unwind on holiday…?

Now this is a good question! Any tips would be greatly appreciated because I’ve just been on holiday and this has been my attempt at de-stressing…

Day 1:

I love going for an early morning run, I know this might sound a bit crazy, especially when you’re on holiday, a lie in would probably be the most popular option, and in hindsight, probably the wisest. But I find waking up early and stepping outside with the early morning breeze caressing my face almost therapeutic. It’s just me and the open country lanes. As I run, the early sun’s rays gently kiss my skin, I feel free and my legs are light on the tracks. I leave my phone and everything else that ties me to social media and modern technology behind. It’s just me and mother nature. No music blaring into my eardrums, just the rustle of the leaves as the soft breeze gently shakes them awake. I breathe in deeply, my blood now pulsing through my veins and I feel peace.

It lasts for about ten minutes as I’m suddenly aware that there is a wild horse galloping towards me, kicking up a cloud of dust and I wonder if I can reach the nearest tree first and if I’d still have enough energy in me to climb it. But of course I remind myself, trying to keep calm, that it’s bulls that charge, not horses. Or is it?

As the horse nears, I’m revealed to notice that I actually know the horse and that it belongs to a friend of mine. It had obviously escaped from it’s coral somehow and was probably more nervous than I was, and I was, at that point, on the verge of hyperventilating and passing out from the shock of the sudden ambush.

I reach out my hand to calm the horse, who nervously snorts through it’s nostrils, calming as it takes in my familiar scent. I reach for my phone, which of course I don’t have with me and realise that I’m going to have to make my way home as fast as possible to phone my friend to tell him his horse has escaped and is a dangerous 1 mile away from the main highway. Horsey thinks this is a great idea and decides to follow me, so I try to shoo it away whilst at the same time try to keep it calm. Making for a very confusing situation and this is just from my point of view.

I make it home almost setting a new PB for the mile on the way and hunt for my phone, which of course, in my fluster, I can’t find. Finally I see in poking under a pile of clothes and frantically dial my friend’s number. Of course I’m the only nutter who is wide awake at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning, so it’s a groggy voice that answers the phone and it’s a while before a comprehensive conversation takes place, me because I’m still struggling to catch my breath after my two mile sprint and my mate because he’s probably been out all night and obviously thinks the whole incident forms part of some weird dream.

Once I’ve confirmed that my friend has properly woken and is aware of the danger his horse is in, I sprint back to where I’d left the horse, who neighs loudly on seeing me and we wait for the owner to turn up.

I then walk back home, totally shattered. Promising myself a lie in the following morning.

Day 2:

Nothing could be more relaxing than going to spend a day at the seaside with the family. I’ve got my parasol packed in the car boot. Picnic lunch. I’ve just bought two brand new Lilos to have a splash around on and a nice new sun hat. My kindle is in my bag and the day stretches before me. When I arrive at the beach, I realise that one of the brand new Lilos has a hole in it and it’s of no good. It flops to the floor, deflated and broken. One less thing to carry to the beach I optimistically tell my children, who look at me with huge unbelieving eyes, obviously not as convinced as I am.

I fight my way through the mob of people to get to the very front of the beach, where the soft golden sand meets the turquoise sea. “Perfect” I say as I set up my florescent pink parasol and spread my towels out. What I don’t count on is on the turn of tide, so that by mid afternoon I’m struggling to rescue my drowning beach towel, sun chair and flip-flops. And what I certainly don’t count on is for hubby to come down with a stinking headache, annulling him for the rest of the day whilst I battle it out single handedly with the tide, floating flip flops and soaking towel. Flip flops rescued, I then spend the rest of the afternoon Googling and searching for the nearest pharmacy to go buy some ibuprofen for hubby. But the time I get back to the beach front, I’ve already taking half the box of painkillers to calm myself down.

Day 3.

To end a stree-free holiday, nothing beats going with the whole family and some friends to an attraction park. The list of petrifying funfair rides is endless, and of course my kids think that all of them are jolly good fun. Not quite so fun when an adult needs to accompany them on all the rides and that adult in ME! Frankly, I would have preferred battling it out with the waves and tide again, had it been a choice. I don’t think my heart beat went under 150 bpm all day! It was more stressful that marathon running and you already know what obstacles I come across on my runs.

So at the end of the day, perhaps if you’re looking for an action packed adventure holiday, the above could actually be for you. In the meantime I’ll go back to relaxing at work.

If you enjoyed reading this, please check out my novel “A little of Chantelle Rose.” Click on this link to see the review I received just yesterday Super hilarious and very likable heroine!

Also, if you sign up to my newsletter, you will receive a digital copy of my short story “Simply Anna.” She was simply furious, but he was simply divine…

Have a great weekend and remember I’d be very grateful for any tips on how to unwind on holiday! Pop me an e-mail hello@cristinahodgson.com and let me know, my suffering blood pressure will be eternally thankful.

Sign up to Cristina's New Releases mailing list and get a free copy of her short story "Three Against One" a true story about love, survival and hope.

Get exclusive content, sneak peeks & contests! And automatically enter a chance to win some fab giveaways! Plus get a FREE copy of her short story "Simply Anna" now!

Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. We value your privacy and would never spam you. You will receive updates about new releases and offers and can unsubscribe at any time.