The Holiday is Over...

Okay, I guess I will have to use this word again - neglect. I haven't written anything since June and there are 2 reasons for it (not excuses, I am just trying to explain): First of all I discovered facebook and because the purpose of it (or at least one of it) is to keep people kind of up to date on what's happening in one's life I thought that maybe keep writing a blog is a bit useless. But I think I have changed my mind about that because what I post on facebook is only ever a fraction of what's happening, and not always the most importatnt stuff.

Reason number two was a far more serious one: My life was completely dominated by the wait for the holidays in Mallorca. I know you already know this because it's quite obvious from my last posts, but let me assure you that you hardly have an idea how obsessed I became from - let's say July - on. I could hardly think, talk or write about anything else. Sometimes I thought I would die from impatience, I felt physically sick thinking about the number weeks/days I still had to wait!

And here I am now, back from these holidays I couldn't wait for. Most of you might think that I am very sad now, depressed that it's all over - but I am not. I hardly ever am after a holiday, because as much as I love going away for a break (and holidays are precious to me!), I always like coming home, too. Here's where all my stuff is and there is no bed in the world as comfortable as my own. And of course the 3 P's - I miss them terribly when I'm away!
As much as I love getting away from my routine at home I need this routine to appreciate the more special times. As much as I love going out for dinner sometimes a home cooked meal, eaten on the sofa is better than the fanciest restaurant food. And as much as I like my beer and wine (and you know I do!) and have (reasonably!) larger quantities of each when I'm on holidays, I don't want to indulge in it every day. So being back home is fine!

And being back home after one holiday always means one thing: Planning the next - and that's also something I love to do! First we have a short break coming up next month, going to Duesseldorf for 2 days and then on to some village (I cannot remember the name) in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) to visit a friend. I am very much looking forward to that!

And we have also started thinking about next year's holidays. The (preliminary) plan so far is to go away twice. In the last few years we have always only had one holiday a year (except for maybe a longer weekend here and there) and the time inbetween seems too long. So in 2011 we would like to go away twice, once in spring (or maybe around Easter) and again in September. Except for the places where we have already been and would always love to go again (Mallorca, Formentera, London, Paris...) there are only a few new ones that I "have" to visit:
1. New England - but we would need a bit more time than we actually have, especially when we split our holidays in two, so I don't think it's an option for next year
2. The UK - easy for us to reach and drive around in our own car and I would love to drive through Scotland/England/Wales exploring the country
3. Italy - something we have been talking about for years, a tour through (some part) of Italy! And that's definitely high on the list for next year, so we will start by getting a travel guide and trying to decide which places/which part we would like to visit. And if we decide to finally do it, it's time to learn some Italian which is a nice project for the winter months ahead!
Of course I won't try to learn the language to a high standard, but I definitely want to be able to understand the very basics and get around without expecting the whole of Italy to speak English or German. And I need to be able to read a menu because Italy and food definitely are one for me.

So now is not the time to whine but to look ahead! And as autumn is definitely here now it's time to get back to nice dinner parties, watching DVDs, reading lots of books and drinking red wine again (which I don't like in summer). And of course to writing a lot more about Nat's World:-)