Holiday season.

Ahh. July. A good time of year for most. If you're at school, the glorius 6 week summer holiday seems at the start like endless bliss of nothingness and school seems oh so far away. Also comes the holiday talk between friends. For some, they dread this conversation (however old you are), because they aren't going anywhere. You then got the friends that go somewhere relatively bog standard - such as Spain, France etc (me all over, at least I got to go on a plane most years and take the standard hundred of pictures of the view of the clouds out of the aeroplane window). You then get the friends that everyone secretly hates at this time of year. You know, they are the ones that have been to Disneyland Paris AND Disneyworld Florida, when your family doesn't even have enough money to afford the Disney channel on your TV. These friends depress you with their flashy cars and flashy holidays - and collectively everyone secretly hopes they are going camping in the Peak District this year instead.

Of course not! They are going somewhere exotic like Hawaii or somewhere too cool like America to visit every theme/water park it has to offer. I have to admit, this scenario happened to me a lot as a kid- and I'm pretty sure everyone has had this in their lives. If this happens now I'm genuinely excited for the person, and not wanting to kick them for having a cool holiday.

Even now, a holiday isn't stress free - it is pretty stressful. I'll give you my good and bad points of going abroad-

Packing
A lot of people probably enjoy packing because it makes them think of what they will wear when they are in heir lovely destination and what bikini would just go so well with that sarong! I hate it. It is a boring task and makes me realise what shit clothes I have and how those shorts probably don't fit me anymore but they will be packed just in case of overnight weightloss.

Airports
These places (along with ferries and service stations) I just love. I don't know what it is about them. Why do I get so excited about a WHSmith and a bit of perfume? I've probably flown from Luton aiport about 5 times in the last few years, and although pretty much every shop we have in Northampton, I still insist on visiting every one. Why? I don't know but I'm flying from there tomorrow, and intend to visit every shop as normal, and also not buying anything, as normal.

Beaches
They aren't to everyones taste. They are gorgeous and I love looking at them, but they don't half make things difficult. Firstly, you have the job of finding somewhere not too close to the sea, away from random rubbish, away from annoying people (or just people in general), near the exit. The fact sand gets into everything, and you can't dry yourself from being in the sea with a sandy towel. The chafings! In the sea - am I swimming in someone elses wee...also fish poo in here... run through my mind. And then when you leave, your hair is terrible, youve paid 5 euros for a can of warm coke and you have sand chafings in your flip flops.

Foreign Currency
Unfortunately, it never seems like real money, more like play money! I mean, with the exchange rate and all that would you really pay £15 for a blow up shark inflatable you'll use once then leave behind? You do! We are all guilty of buying something abroad thinking 'what a bargain!', realising how much you would have paid in pounds, and paling slightly at your stupidity.

Sun
Got to love a bit of Vitamin D getting into your skin! However, I religiously check the weather of my future destination every day to make sure they aren't having a blip of shit temperatures. And of course - Northampton will be really sunny for the week as soon as your plane leaves the ground.

You see it is a mixed bag. I love holidays, I look forward to them and tell everyone about them. But they are an experience. And if you wondered, I'm going to Gran Canaria tomorrow for a week. I'm sure it will be great!