Blissful days

It’s half way through the week and in some ways I can’t believe it is only half way and in another I can’t believe I’ll only have two days left to work after today. I’m still half dreaming about the weekend. As part of James’s birthday present I promised to treat him to a weekend away at this beautiful resort that is just far enough out of the city to feel like a real get away. It is designed on ecologically friendly grounds and the individual cottage huts that serve as the rooms are open and airy and ours faced out on to a lagoon which itself backed onto the white sand beach and the clear blue sea.


Greeted with a juice drink and cool cloth to wash off the heat of the journey, we retired to our room for a rest in the hammocks on the veranda and to enjoy the peace and quiet. Monkeys jumped from roof to tree and from tree to ground as we rocked gently in the silence. After a quick dip in the pool we watched the sky darkening, first to an astonishing pink along the horizon and then to the black of night, as we sipped our drinks. Dinner was served under the starry sky and we fell asleep to the feel of the breeze off the sea and the sound of waves on the shore.

We awoke to bright sunshine streaming in from every side and at 9 pots of tea and coffee were delivered to the veranda. What better way to start the day? After a delicious breakfast and being informed we could keep our room for the day we lounged on hammocks a bit more, made our way to the beach and took to the sea to snorkel around a ship that was wrecked just offshore many years ago. There is nothing like brightly coloured fish to spice up your day. The remainder of the day both before and after a gorgeous curry lunch was spent reading on the beach under the shade of ingeniously designed sun shelters. With much regret we departed in the late afternoon but stopped at the workshop of a local artist where we picked up a few African craft bargains to brighten our trip home. And then I made brownies that evening.

I’d call that a successful weekend and I can’t wait until we go back.