My daughter was going to her Dad’s for Christmas this year (only fair) and there I was thinking what the hell, I am not singing ‘jingle bells’ on my own in an appartment in The Hague. I was not going to be waiting for the sympathetic invitations to join happy families on this festive day. Saved by the bell! Two Irish girlfriends suggested that we all go to Budapest for the Christmas. We could get away from all the ‘having to’s’ and totally relax in a nice hotel in Hungary.

The bloody snow (as you all know) was coming down in buckets in The Hague so I proceeded to buy thermals, heavy-duty jumpers and to cap it all, the furriest pair of snow boots with big pom-poms that you ever could lay your eyes on. I looked like I was on an expedition to find the last Yeti in Mongolia. The problem was that it was all too heavy to put in my suitcase so I wore as much gear as possible to keep the luggage as lightweight as possible.

We got to the airport (luckily enough) with the weather conditions being so bad and started to relax before our flight. But first of all we had to get through customs. Now, try and imagine a sumo wrestler with clothes on! I looked at the security officer and, yes, I had to peel off my layers and put them on the conveyor belt. Please don’t ask me to take off the boots! And yes, I had to take-off my wolvarine boots as well. The problem was I couldn’t bend down to untie the bloody big pom-poms and the natives were getting restless behind me. I proceeded to prise the boots off with my heels and they flew in the air and landed at the feet of the officer. I walked through the detector and it went off (of course) and my bling-bling watch was the culprit. Puffing and panting, reddened and frustrated, I joined my Irish ladies who had been waiting patiently on the sidelines. I questioned their sanity for inviting me on this trip!

We got to Budapest and what do you think? Murphy’s Law. No bloody snow! The air was crisp and bright but no white fluffiness. And there were the three musketeers, standing in the hotel lobby, dressed for Expedition Robinson in Alaska! Luckily enough we had brought our swimwear for the gorgeous swimming pool that was available in the hotel. So there we were on Christmas Day, dressed in our bath robes, wearing our Santa hats at the side of the pool. What a life eh!!! We took advantage of the beauty treatments available and I was pummelled and massaged back to life within hours of reaching our destination.

We had a fantastic time and when it was time to head home, we donned our heavy winter attire yet again and stomped through the hotel lobby waiting for our taxi to the airport.
We all had a healthy glow about us! I would like to think it was from all our lovely beauty treatments, but to be honest, I think we were just preparing for our long trip back (mentally) and the sweat was pouring off me this time from the weight of my luggage. There is nothing like a bit of retail therapy in a strange country. But we often forget that we have to take it home with us!

So here we go again…

Niamh

If you wish to comment or express an opinion about this article please e-mail the editor@TheHagueOnLine.com