That There Abroad Place

“Learning to fly”

Our last foreign holiday was in March 2020, just as the world would change dramatically. Until now we’d enjoyed our breaks to Cornwall and Yorkshire, satisfied to not have to go through the hassle that foreign travel seemed to entail. However, as much as we enjoy taking Nev away with us on holiday we were missing some guaranteed sun on our backs, fronts and all bits in between for that matter. So, with a deal of trepidation I booked an 8 night break back to the Barcelo Corralejo Bay Hotel on Fuerteventura, the same hotel we stayed in back in March 2020. As the holiday drew closer there were more and more stories of problems with EasyJet flights being cancelled at short notice, along with industrial action being taken by baggage handlers and other airport strikes and delays. In the last couple of years I’ve become a bit of a worrier, far more than I used to be pre-pandemic.

The Sunday of our flight arrived and I was a bit of a nervous wreck, however the trip to the Long Stay car park, South Terminal, Gatwick was without incident, the bus dropped us at the terminal and the EasyJet staff agreed to open the bag drop early for us. So far, so good. Next up was the challenge of bag check at security. The queue wasn’t bad at all and we breezed through, until my bag was diverted for a hand check. No problem I thought, this always happens as I carry one set of meds in my hand luggage as well as one in my hold luggage, I usually get stopped. This time it wasn’t my bag of meds, it was the large bottle of sun cream that I’d totally forgotten about. The Officer smiled and said I wasn’t the first of the day, and wouldn’t be the last either.

Next stop, somewhere for lunch. It seemed that the number of food outlets had reduced since our last visit. We managed to find a couple of seats in a restaurant, ordered our food and a much needed bottle of wine. Things were going well.

Then the things weren't going as well. 

Our flight was due to take off at 3.10pm, the gate was opened on time, we went through the final passport and boarding pass check, took our seats and waited to board. By 3pm it was obvious we wouldn’t be taking off on time. An announcement was made saying that the incoming flight still had customers who needed assistance on board as no one had turned up to help them off the plane. There was a murmur amongst the waiting customers, a few who had possibly had a couple of drinks too many were a bit more vocal. Eventually, an hour late, we boarded and settled down for a much needed G ‘n T. The pilot had other ideas. A major tropical storm had hit the Canaries, flights in and out were being delayed, diverted and cancelled. We’d been on the tarmac for at least another hour, there was a possibility that we’d be cancelled too. More groans from the passengers and some loud vocal complaints from a wide mouthed drunk tree frog and her son. Just after 5pm, two hours late, we pushed back from the stand, made our way to the runway and took off. Carol is a nervous flyer, we always hold hands at take off and landing, it usually takes a few days for the scars on my hand to disappear. The flight was pretty uneventful, I stick my earphones in, play tunes, read my Kindle and drink a G ‘n T. Because we were so late taking off it meant we’d be landing in the dark, something we’ve not done for a long time. There was a certain amount of turbulence as we approached the island, Carol’s grip got tighter and tighter as we descended through the pitch black night. Eventually the lights of the Island appeared, the wheels made contact and we taxied to the terminal. The usual format at Fuerteventura airport is slick, but for some reason we were kept at the stand for over 20 minutes. People had stood up expecting disembarkation only to be told over the PA to sit back down. Three Guardia Civil, two men and one women boarded the plane, armed with side arms, made their way to the Wide Mouthed Tree Frog and her son. An exchange took place before they were marched down the plane, handcuffed. The son was dressed entirely in black, complete with a hoodie, bear in mind it was 25 degrees when we landed. His mother was complaining loudly that the police were hurting her son. It transpired that they had both been very abusive to the flight crew, demanding drinks and swearing when they were refused. After they’d been escorted off the plane we were allowed to disembark and make our way to passport control. I was expecting a long wait, but we were through in 10 minutes. Mother and Son were complaining loudly as to the way they’d been treated to the Spanish customers offices, who didn’t seem to give a toss 😊 

We’d  pre-booked transport from the airport to the hotel, and at the last minute I’d agreed to share with a party who were on the same flight. What I didn’t know was that they were Special Assistance customers who’d be last off the flight. After waiting 40 minutes the Teletubbies arrived and complained all the way to the resort. Luckily our driver recognised that I was becoming a tad fractious so diverted to our hotel first. We checked in with no problems, made our way to our room at gone 11pm, had a tapas dinner of cheese and onion crisps, BBQ Hula Hoops and a bottle of chilled cava supplied by the hotel. We went to sleep, tomorrow would be another day.

The Tropical Storm was still having an effect on the island the next day, wind and showers. We took it easy, bought the essentials, a bottle of brandy, a bottle of rioja, a box of Pringles and some M & M’s. We’d pushed the boat out a bit and had booked a suite. Massive bedroom, I swear the bed had two postcodes, lovely living room and an outside hot tub which would get a lot of use. Our first day was largely spent cooking ourselves in the hot tub.

We’d hired bikes from the hotel so that we could cycle out to the stone circles on Flag beach, much quieter and private than the main town beaches. It took about 20 minutes to cycle out, including one fairly large uphill gradient, I was really proud that Carol didn’t need to stop once. We fell into our usual routine. A few hours on the beach in the morning, cycle back to the hotel. Walk into town to choose our lunch venue. Back to the hotel where Carol would go to the Spa, I tried one day, but freaked at my inability to breath. Instead of the Spa I’d take the bike and cycle out to the headland and watch the waves crashing against the rocks. I’d then cycle back to the port area of the town, prop my bike up and have a beer at Afrikas.

I first met Afrika probably five or six years ago. The habit of the afternoon cycle and then a beer became one hard to break. During our 2020 visit Afrika and I began to chat, her English is slightly better than my Spanish, but only just, however we communicated. As a Lary the bit of plastic sticking out of my throat makes me fairly recognisable, Afrika ignored that and fed me honey rum and beer. On Tuesday, once the storm had passed I did the cycle ride to the headland. Turned around, got off the bike at her beer shack and said “Hola Afrika, Buenos Dias?” She looked up, took a second look, smiled and came round to give me a big hug, for a slight woman she gives a great squeeze. Between haltering English and Spanish we managed to tell each other how great it was to see each other again. I’ll admit there were tears in my eyes, I was so pleased that she’d survived. During the week I brought Carol down a couple of times to meet Afrika too, on our final day we both got hugs. Afrika has lived a life, she looks older, but then again don’t we all.

The other regular haunt during our previous stays were Oscars Tapas Bar and Algeria Cocktail Bar. The owner of Algeria took a second take when we sat down for the first time this holiday, looked at me and said “Old Fashioned?” my drink of choice. The same happened at Oscar’s, the bit of plastic has it’s benefits.

Someone on the We Love Corralejo FB page commented that there’s more to holidays than eating, I quite agree, but he missed my point entirely. I eat food in small portions due to the effects of throat cancer, but when I do eat I want it to be both tasty and of quality.

Whilst on the subject of throat cancer, I’d posted on the UK Lary FB page that I’d be flying for the first time in a while. After a few conversations it transpired that we’d be in the same resort as a fellow Lary, at the same time, so we agreed to meet up with Phil and his partner Sharon one afternoon. Over the last five years of being a Lary I’ve met a few others. There used to be a group who met at Royal Berkshire Hospital once a month, I went a few times but gave up in the end. Last year up in Leeds I met Tanja for a coffee and chit chat, meeting Phil would be similar. Immediate connection. Phil is only 12 months in, but other than the bit of plastic looks like the picture of health, hardly any visible scaring at all. A couple of hours swapping stories, concerns, small wins followed. Phil and Sharon were on the Island for 6 weeks, we were jealous. 

The days and nights went by far too quickly, soon enough it was time to pack our bags for the flight back home. A few wider observations of our trip.

·       Restaurants and bars are probably 1/3^rd understaffed, and that is just front of house. If your meal is a bit slow then just accept it, have another wine. If you’re the owner of the restaurant don’t shout and scream at your staff, it makes you look like a total A Hole.

·       The sun shines, vitamin D is a wonderful cure for being a stressed out tw*t.

·       Flights are a lottery.

·       Don’t get pissed on your flight, you may be on the next one home.

·       When Lary’s collide 2,500 miles from home it’s likely that beer will be downed.

·       Holding hands is good for the soul.

·       Lying in a hot tub, with a glass of wine, and Mrs C,  looking up at planets is good fun.

·       If someone looks at you because you’re talking via a Lary just smile.

·       Try and remember which car park you’d parked in!

·       A lot of business’s survived, a lot didn’t.

·       We wish the new start up’s the best of luck.

·       Corralejo has something to offer for most people. The “Strip”, the Old Town, don’t judge others on their choices, it’s their holiday, not yours.

The journey home wasn’t quite as challenging as the flight out. We queued for 90 minutes to get through bag drop and security at the airport, which left us little time to get any food or coffee airside We boarded, took off and landed on time. A 40 minute wait for the bags to come through wasn’t what we wanted. The coach trip to the Long Term car park was interesting. We’d landed at the North Terminal, not the South!!!! I had a bit of a meltdown when I sussed out my mistake. It took over an hour to transfer from the North car park to the South one. By the time we reached the car I was shaking. But, and it’s a BIG BUT, we got to the car, got home, had a takeaway, woke up the next morning.

Despite the bollox of the flights, the holiday was worth it. Great food, lovely weather, lots of exercise and most all, the best ever company I could wish for. Carol is a NHS Nurse, throughout the pandemic she worked in Respiratory, dealing not always directly with COVID patients due to my perceived chances of infection. She deserved this "Sun all over holiday" more than anyone I know, it was a FAB few days. 

 

Now the obligatory boring Cancer stuff, after all that’s how this blog started in January 2016. A few weeks ago I had an MRI to ascertain if my throat is contracting again, I’m happy to tell my Consultant that it is as I’m struggling to get through a third of the food that I need to. Back in July I was 92kg, I’m now down to 87kg and falling. The stretch will have an immediate positive effect of meaning I can swallow food properly. I hate wasting food, or having people seeing me struggle to eat. I’m seeing my Consultant on 13^th October, which happens to be my 60^th birthday, I’ll be pleading to have the stretch done prior to Christmas. Other than that things are pretty good. My voice is as strong as it’s been for a long time. I still need “Dad Naps” but that’s probably my age. I had applied to be a contestant on MasterChef but failed at the interview hurdle, so it looks like my days as a media tart are well and truly over.  

 

As always, thanks for reading.

To be continued……

#Shoulder2Shoulder