noun
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a holiday spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
Often viewed as the poorman’s alternative to a real holiday, the ‘staycation’ – especially when it involves staying in N.Ireland where one cannot depend on the weather – does not sound very attractive.
I took last week off and enjoyed all of these things:
1. Time to read.
Ah! The bliss of reading a good book in our garden!
Jane Austen + a cup of green tea + a sunny day in the
garden = delight.
2. The simple pleasure of painting
I found painting our garden shed was really relaxing –
time to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, while painting,
gives you time to think.
3. Time with those I love.
A date night with my husband in a great restaurant –
Zio’s in Portadown – was wonderful. Time to catch up, to relax
together, to laugh together and share together and of course to enjoy
good food.
We also spent time with good friends on the north coast, as well as
having other good friends (and family) round for meals in our home.
4. The opportunity to be creative
The garden has yielded a good quantity of blackcurrants
again this year, so I enjoyed discovering a new recipe –
Apricot and Blackcurrant jam – it tastes good, even though I
say so myself! You can find the recipe here, should
you want it.
5. Spiritual refreshment
For me, a holiday needs to include some spiritual renewal too.
Sitting in our sunny conservatory, reading and talking and listening
to God, was just what was needed to refocus the mind and spirit,
before going back to work.
Tales from Taughlumny 