Our first described Family Thingy was in October 2013. It was not our first family holiday or road trip. 2013 was the time I made peace with the fact that traveling with a young (or any) family should not be seen as a 'break', 'holiday' or 'time off'.

Don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly and we have fun during our trips, but the Cambridge Dictionary defines a vacation as 'a time when someone does not go to work or school but is free to do what they want, such as travel or relax'. When you go on a family thingy, you may not be at work or school, but I can assure you that you will not be free to do what you want.

So, take off your rose tinted, Instagram influenced spectacles, accept the chaos, gird yourself to tackle whatever comes, manage your expectations and accept that you will not come back refreshed.

Road trip 2023/24 - The year to bond

We decided on a long trip this year, The Family 1 kids are getting older, and we will have 2 adults by end of 2024. Family 2 had 2 adults working like crazy and trying to fit in a myriad of appointments into their lives with 2 young children. It has been a hectic year for all, and I decided we needed time to bond, over a long drive, a very long drive. We decided on Illawarra region NSW, a healthy 12+ hour drive from Loxton. I thought that spending that amount of time in the car, we would either kill each other or come back stronger.

Three days from the D-Day, Adult male 1 AKA my better half (BH) started blowing his nose vigorously, coughing, sneezing, groaning and displaying obvious signs of the dreaded man-flu. To be fair to BH, he looked awful. I saw a 12-hour drive ahead of me, so I decided to act pronto, this had to be nipped in the bud ASAP, he was our designated driver!

After establishing that this was not COVID, phew, I went to the pharmacy and purchased every cold/flu relief I could get. I got stuff for him to swallow, inhale, drink and rub. A day before our trip he came out of it declaring how he 'had never felt that sick before'.........

I thought it was over and called Adult Female 2 to tell her the good news. Adult female 2 (AKA Registered Nurse With Low Threshould For Family's Illness - (RNWLTFFI) or Registered Nurse Family Member Must Be Dying or Dead Before Receiving Care - (RNFMMBDDBRC) answered the phone and told me that her significant other, Adult Male 2, has been in bed and has not left the room since he went to bed the night before.

As it was already evening, I asked if it was the man-flu, it seemed to be going around Loxton. She said, no flu symptoms just really unwell with a migraine, or something like that - she was not sure as she had not seen him for a while (this couple live in the same house, just saying...).

I called back later-
Me: How is he?
RNFMMBDDBRC: I don't know, I suppose I should check on him... (she walks to the room where he is)
Me: good idea, is he alive?
RNFMMBDDBRC: Yes, I have been busy packing.....He looks tired though
Me: he'll be ok, we will just strap him in the car tomorrow. He'll be fine.
RNFMMBDDBRC: Sure

Adult male 1, my BH, overheard the conversation and decided to show solidarity to his fellow man, rescue him from 2 crazy sisters...

Phone conversation changes to video call

BH: what is wrong with him? (in his GP voice)

RNFMMBDDBRC: I don't know, he has been in bed all day and he says he has a migraine, nausea and that he feels 'energy is draining from him'.

BH: has he had anything to eat or drink? He might be dehydrated

RNFMMBDDBRC: No he hasn't eaten or had anything to drink all day, so I gave him coffee. He needs energy for tomorrow…..

BH: You what??? Isn't he dehydrated?

RNFMMBDDBRC: Probably, but he says his 'energy is draining' so I wanted to perk him up.

Adult Male 2: groan groan groannnnn

RNFMMBDDBRC: Can you hear him?

Adult Male 2: take me to the hospital groannnnnn

RNFMMBDDBRC: Ok, but I have a lot of packing to do, besides what will they do with him????

BH: Take him to the hospital, he doesn't sound good. We might have to postpone the trip to Saturday if he can't drive

Me: We are not postponing; we will drive 6 hrs tomorrow and 6 hours the day after. He will be just fine. David and I can drive a bit for them if necessary. Besides, what does he mean by ' he feels that energy is draining from him'.
I thought to myself - we are leaving Loxton tomorrow even if he has an IV line strapped to his arm This is our year to BOND, and bond we must).

BH: It is called lethargy, you women have no conscience, we men suffer a lot, viruses are so aggressive when they attack us. How can you expect an unwell man to drive.

Adult Male 2: Groan groan groannnnn

Me: He will be fine, if you guys had to push out the babies, we would be extinct.

So Adult male 2 was taken to hospital emergency by his long-suffering wife a day before our family thingy. He was discharged later that night and when I asked about his welfare the following morning, I was told he was mowing the lawn. He did not want to come back from holiday to an overgrown lawn. I don't know what he received in hospital but I want some of what he got, it must be good....

We have now commenced our Family Thingy, last I heard Adult Female 2 aka RNFMMBDDBRC is cleaning the range hood in her holiday apartment. She can't help herself, after she puts the kids to bed, she deep cleans holiday accommodation….. Rest is overrated.

TBC