If you are on your intrepid journey when you read this know that you have just entertained a bunch of fellow introverts with a horror story! Wishing you ALL the luck and pockets of quietness in your festive season. Happy Christmas Cristina!
I'm reading this late, but it resonates so so well, especially the travelling bit, and all the hordes of travellers who had the audacity to plan their travels the same day as you did.
But more than that, your writing style is so delicious and funny!
Ahaha, well I'm glad that at least this didn't come across as a long rant. Having said that, I've caught every virus known to man and I'm still convalescing. Never again (famous last words).
I am sure you have read Gornick's "Fierce attachments", with the absolutely fierce mum. Reading about yours reminded me about the difference between a catholic mother and jewish one: the former says "if you do X, I'll kill you!", the latter "If you do X, I'll kill myself"... the drama, the drama!
Enjoy the unbearable gatherings: see them as ammunition for writing.
I have not read that one so thanks for the suggestion, sounds like my cup of tea, ahahah. And the analogy between Catholic and Jewish mothers has reminded me of Promise at Dawn (La promesse de l’aube in the original) by Romain Gary, a beautiful novel with an overbearing Jewish mother at its heart and which is the reason for many of the inciting incidents of the plot.
"I don’t know if this is true for other Southern European mothers but for mine tragedy can strike any minute on a foreign land..." – reporting by the daughter of a Sardinian mother: YES. It works the same way in my family.
I hear you loud and clear, Cristina, and I do really hope you can find some quiet solo time to read to your heart's content. I'm not quite the same level of introvert (I think), but I want nothing more than solo time to read during the holidays and I always want to spend time at the end of year alone, but alas...I'm currently with my in-laws in Germany, and on Boxing Day it's off to the UK to spend NY's with my family. Both holidays bring their fair share of stress and moments of reading and relaxation are all too-rare. If it's any consolation, having kids (I have one daughter) adds to the pressure to 'come home' for the holidays. It's nearly impossible to say no.
Ironically enough, one of my best (and solo) Christmases was when I lived in San Sebastian. I had a quiet Christmas day, made myself a roast beef dinner and then took an overnight train to Madrid. I then spent a week on my own mainly in Andalusia and NY Eve in Antequera, where everything shut down around 10pm, before the fireworks at 1am (right?). I had a perfectly pleasant NY reading War and Peace with a grilled chicken and half a bottle of champagne after a lovely bubble bath. If only I could repeat that experience...
Wow that solo trip to Andalucía in the company of War and Peace sounds quite amazing! It's of course different when you have kids and obviuosly part of the joy of Christmas is also to see it through their eyes again, so it's probably a good reason to sacrifice a bit of alone time.
Yup, done the leaving the passport at home thing - I was EARLY as well (unprecedented but lucky as I managed to retrieve it). Was meeting friends; and when I told one of them, v. efficient, organising the trip, he practically started hyperventilating - he'd kind of tuned out the bit about managing to wrangle it in time. Have a great family Christmas (and maybe manage to sneak in a few lifesaving books as well...).
Oh no! I can feel the frustration of being early and yet not managing to get on the plane. When I left the passport at home I was with a friend who was more distraught than I was and she searched all my pockets hoping to find my passport and that I was joking 😅
Oh yes if only our mothers would be happy with who we are 🤣 By the way I had 5 calls in 10 minutes yesterday while in a meeting and when I called back she said, why are you calling me?
Anyway have a safe trip, enjoy Madrid! Welcome back to the land of Cervantes and Paquita Salas
Oh yes, faking ignorance at the return call is a classic 😂 Can't wait to land and actually see a place that is not my hometown for a change. Hope you are taking a bit of time off as well.
Oh this was so familiar , especially the 3 calls within 5 minutes precisely when I'm in the shower ! This is the first time in 10 years I'm back home for the holidays, I guess living very very far away is as good an excuse as a pandemic ;)
Oh wow, that's a long stretch but you arw in Australia so I hope you have been spared the scolding over the years. Eat tons of pandoro/panettone and buon natale, Barbs!
If you are on your intrepid journey when you read this know that you have just entertained a bunch of fellow introverts with a horror story! Wishing you ALL the luck and pockets of quietness in your festive season. Happy Christmas Cristina!
Reading this at the check-in queue, which is surprisingly quiet due to the British-Spanish ratio being 70/30 at the moment 😅 Merry Christmas, Claire!
I'm reading this late, but it resonates so so well, especially the travelling bit, and all the hordes of travellers who had the audacity to plan their travels the same day as you did.
But more than that, your writing style is so delicious and funny!
Ahaha, well I'm glad that at least this didn't come across as a long rant. Having said that, I've caught every virus known to man and I'm still convalescing. Never again (famous last words).
I am sure you have read Gornick's "Fierce attachments", with the absolutely fierce mum. Reading about yours reminded me about the difference between a catholic mother and jewish one: the former says "if you do X, I'll kill you!", the latter "If you do X, I'll kill myself"... the drama, the drama!
Enjoy the unbearable gatherings: see them as ammunition for writing.
Love
di
I have not read that one so thanks for the suggestion, sounds like my cup of tea, ahahah. And the analogy between Catholic and Jewish mothers has reminded me of Promise at Dawn (La promesse de l’aube in the original) by Romain Gary, a beautiful novel with an overbearing Jewish mother at its heart and which is the reason for many of the inciting incidents of the plot.
"I don’t know if this is true for other Southern European mothers but for mine tragedy can strike any minute on a foreign land..." – reporting by the daughter of a Sardinian mother: YES. It works the same way in my family.
You know what I’m talking about then as you too have been a victim 😅
100%!
I hear you loud and clear, Cristina, and I do really hope you can find some quiet solo time to read to your heart's content. I'm not quite the same level of introvert (I think), but I want nothing more than solo time to read during the holidays and I always want to spend time at the end of year alone, but alas...I'm currently with my in-laws in Germany, and on Boxing Day it's off to the UK to spend NY's with my family. Both holidays bring their fair share of stress and moments of reading and relaxation are all too-rare. If it's any consolation, having kids (I have one daughter) adds to the pressure to 'come home' for the holidays. It's nearly impossible to say no.
Ironically enough, one of my best (and solo) Christmases was when I lived in San Sebastian. I had a quiet Christmas day, made myself a roast beef dinner and then took an overnight train to Madrid. I then spent a week on my own mainly in Andalusia and NY Eve in Antequera, where everything shut down around 10pm, before the fireworks at 1am (right?). I had a perfectly pleasant NY reading War and Peace with a grilled chicken and half a bottle of champagne after a lovely bubble bath. If only I could repeat that experience...
Feliz Navidad!
Wow that solo trip to Andalucía in the company of War and Peace sounds quite amazing! It's of course different when you have kids and obviuosly part of the joy of Christmas is also to see it through their eyes again, so it's probably a good reason to sacrifice a bit of alone time.
Hope you too have a lovely time, Daniel!
Yup, done the leaving the passport at home thing - I was EARLY as well (unprecedented but lucky as I managed to retrieve it). Was meeting friends; and when I told one of them, v. efficient, organising the trip, he practically started hyperventilating - he'd kind of tuned out the bit about managing to wrangle it in time. Have a great family Christmas (and maybe manage to sneak in a few lifesaving books as well...).
Oh no! I can feel the frustration of being early and yet not managing to get on the plane. When I left the passport at home I was with a friend who was more distraught than I was and she searched all my pockets hoping to find my passport and that I was joking 😅
Good luck with your Christmas travel roulette, Cristina!
Arrived safely in Madrid! Have a great Christmas, Wendy.
Oh yes if only our mothers would be happy with who we are 🤣 By the way I had 5 calls in 10 minutes yesterday while in a meeting and when I called back she said, why are you calling me?
Anyway have a safe trip, enjoy Madrid! Welcome back to the land of Cervantes and Paquita Salas
Oh yes, faking ignorance at the return call is a classic 😂 Can't wait to land and actually see a place that is not my hometown for a change. Hope you are taking a bit of time off as well.
Safe travels, enjoy Christmas Eve and playing cards and hopefully managing to read a book or two over the break.
Have a great Christmas, Louise! I've packed three books 😁
Oh this was so familiar , especially the 3 calls within 5 minutes precisely when I'm in the shower ! This is the first time in 10 years I'm back home for the holidays, I guess living very very far away is as good an excuse as a pandemic ;)
Oh wow, that's a long stretch but you arw in Australia so I hope you have been spared the scolding over the years. Eat tons of pandoro/panettone and buon natale, Barbs!
I'll make the sacrifice to eat all the panettoni and pandori I can find. Good luck to you ;) try to find the silver lining
That sounds like a great plan for your first trip back in 10 years
Merry Christmas 😅. All that travelling sounds like a nightmare! I hope you get some quiet time 🙏
I should set up a travel agency with this itinerary and advertise it as extreme adventure 😂 Have a great Christmas, Gareth!