It’s not often we see a bargain and, when we do, it’s often for something we don’t need. But once in a while the offer is timely, and we can take advantage of it. Such was a travel opportunity for me when I spotted a holiday – priced for a single person. Most often, travel packages are ‘per person twin share’ and the single traveller cost is only marginally less than double that cost. So, when I saw an attractive trip at a price that was ‘pp single’, I was hooked!

The timing was good, and at a location I had not visited. It is bitterly cold now in Melbourne, yet often sunny, but sometimes drizzling rain, and that holiday ‘deal’ looked especially attractive! I had no other commitments, so the prospect of a week away in a warmer climate sorely tempted me. The all-inclusive price was good: the airfare and transportation, accommodation, all meals, and some extras, like two massages, two glasses of wine or beer daily, and some entertainment. It was such an easy decision to make the booking….

In earlier times, my late wife and I had enjoyed many travel adventures together. My readers will all know that sharing the travel with a loved one doubles the joy, and I had previously decided I wouldn’t do many more solo trips. In my few previous trips, without Dorothy, I have always felt somewhat lonely; it is not easy to be as sociable as I once would have been with my partner of well over sixty years. Lonely or not, decision now made! The next step was to check the internet and confirm the weather at the destination was going to be in my acceptable/tolerable range. Great! So that clinched the deal, and off I go!

After a smooth flight with Fiji Airlines direct from Melbourne, I touched down at Nadi airport and duly met by a man bearing a placard with my name and off we went in a little minibus. About an hour later, after a few other hotel pickups and drop-offs, he dropped us all off at a wharf. There, about six of us boarded a small ‘sea-bus’ and began the hour-long cruise to our destination: Beachcomber Island Resort.

It was a warm, sunny day, the sea was not rough, and on arrival at our island we were greeted by a serenade from a small group of islanders! I was soon established into my own comfortable cabin (called a bure), just few metres from the white sandy beach! Bliss.

The weather over the week, apart from a brief warm shower one evening, was perfect, never more than 28 degrees, with some nights just a light blanket needed. During the week, I walked completely around the island, easily, every morning, in less than hour – although I often I dawdled and splashed in the shallows!

The vast South Pacific Sea stretched all around to the horizon and, on most days, was smooth and surprisingly shallow close to shore where it was a beautiful, transparent, pale green; a few metres offshore it was, of course, very blue, and very deep! A glorious vista, under a paler blue sky, with just a few clouds low on the distant horizon. And, Oh, the sunrises and sunsets – absolutely beautiful, colourful, and serene….

It was a very relaxing and pleasant interlude but, all too soon, the week had gone! As my mother-in-law was wont to say, “It’s back to boiled lollies, now, Bill”. The island resort was certainly not upmarket or flashy-swish; just basic, but good, and clean, and the alfresco buffet meals, outdoor under cover, were simple, plain, and tasty.

If, as you read these notes, you are a carer and can’t so easily get away on a trip like this, believe me, I understand… but I do earnestly suggest that you try to arrange a respite time. There are resources to help you, listed on this site https://eldermost.net/links-to-useful-sites/, but you could also drop me a line and I’ll see if I can help you take some ‘time off’ – it doesn’t have to be on an island!

Decide now to plan a break from your routine. You will come back refreshed and better able to support your partner, to rediscover your relationship and experience a degree of renewal!