Michael and Lyndsay’s Honeymoon – Part 4

by Michael Bourne.

Hi all.

Here we are again with the 4^th instalment of our honeymoon story. In the last blog entry I spoke about the serious side of dealing with leaving 3 kids behind whilst Lyndsay and I go away on our honeymoon, the organisation, the logistics, the “joy”, and the separation anxiety… from both the kids and us.

So after such a serious entry this time it’s about having a laugh, and before I start to poke fun at others its only fair that I take the piss out of me first. So sit back, have a read, and a laugh, at my expense. Just remember that when I start to get laughs at others expense in the future it’s all just in good fun, and I give as good as I get…lol.

To get started, let me make one very big confession… It’s true. I am an anal retentive, over planner and organiser! I can’t help myself, it’s a compulsion I can’t fight. It’s almost true we could have left on this honeymoon 8 months ago and still have been as organised then as we are now. This is probably the biggest reason that playing the waiting game is so excruciating. The count down I have mentioned on the blog has been counted down on Facebook, on the wall in the office at work, and in my head since the last time I had some leave from work back in January. This countdown started at over 270 days, and at the time of writing I am happy to say that we are down to 79 days to go.

So… to explain to you all out there just how “anally, over organised” I am firstly look no further that the 2^nd blog entry on the selection of a Hotel. The selection process was just the tip of the iceberg. The brochures, websites, and travel articles was only the beginning. The in depth web related research on the Hotel, on Thailand, on Phuket, on Patong and Kata kept me glued to the home computer. The bookmark list steadily increased. Information on things to do, places to go, tours to take, hotel reviews, car and scooter rental (apparently I have a death wish, or so I’m told), weather, currency exchange rates, Thai/English language sites is the content of numerous bookmarked websites.

The preparation in hoarding things we “need” for the honeymoon also started months ago. Electrical adapters (both voltage and plug), extra memory cards for our cameras, medicinal supplies, long sleeve rashies to stop watersport sunburn, sun screen, backpack to carry everything around, International Driving Permit, valid passports, lip balm, camera tripod (so we can both be in photos).. and believe me the list does actually go on.

I have even planned a basic itinerary of our 12 days in Thailand so that we don’t skip any of the tours that we want to do, and can still fit in time to relax and enjoy our kid free status. Add to that the planning of the babysitters at home which has also involved a 14 day plan of who is with whom and when. Oh my God… I have even organised a schedule for the week before the wedding so that jobs for the honeymoon don’t get lost in the wedding preparations. IT’S TRUE… I am an “anal retentive over planner”!!!!! Guilty as self charged. Maybe I have missed my true calling. Maybe Nick might need an offsider in the travel business ..lol and I can change professions.

Well the only way left for me to look at is …. With all of this meticulous planning and hard work on my part, I can only hope that that the weather is fair, the drinks cold, the people friendly, the food good, and the scenery wonderful. And with all that I have heard about where we are headed, the chances are pretty damm good. The only other wish I have is that I can spend this wonderful honeymoon with my beautiful new wife and have time of our lives that we will remember forever.

So this brings to an end this instalment of our “Honeymoon without the kids” story. I hope that I have suitably embarrassed myself, and taken just the right amount of piss out to make you smile and laugh. Please remember that when I take the piss out of others in the future that its all in good fun, and in the immortal words of Jeff Fenech, “I love yous all”. Till next time. Cheers.

Tagged as: family travel, honeymoon, Michael Bourne, phuket, thailand