Holiday or NO holiday? That is the question

So when you’re finally on the roll for going on a holiday, things don’t look so certain any longer. As weeks becomes days, and days becomes hours in vacation count-down, work is piling up…fast. So when Reinout comes in this morning and suggest we go for a drink and visit the Kermis (Dutch word for fun-fair on the city centre square), I say I can’t because I have work to do. My husband looks surprised “Work? What work?” he exclaims.

I know the argument. If he, in his role and capacity being far more important than mine, can take off for a few hours so can I. It doesn’t take long until an argument is in full swing. Importance of work doesn’t always equate effort of work. Small things can take far more time, especially when there isn’t a network or workforce to delegate it too.  My argument has little impact, and the debate is going even deeper into conference calls, their purpose and importance and other work details. When an agreement (or an agreement to disagree) is as far away as the Great Wall of China, I suppose my husband sees the writing on the same very Wall, and takes off in a huff. I run after, shouting a few warning words before I get back to my work. Our crazy neighbour on the other side of the street peeks out from her semi-transparent curtains. She must feel happy she’s not alone anymore being the neighbourhood loony!

Albeit a fiery relationship, an argumentative and verbal one, it does have its perks of letting off steam in something that could easily be script worthy material for Coronation Street. Kiss and make up is one, but perhaps more importantly a deeper understanding for ones issues. Why suffer in silence when one can bring out the linguistic boxing gloves and have a few punches at ones loved one?

Four hours later, my husband is back and my threat of not going on a holiday is all forgotten. We agree on a compromise instead. We’re leaving on Saturday giving me Queensday to wrap things up. And at once peace descends not only to the house and our relationship  but to my frantic mind.