From Poolside to Bedside: When Your Holiday Plans Go Down the Drain. Literally.

I’d been looking forward to this holiday all summer. While everyone else was jetting off in July and August, posting about how they were improving their mental health by taking a break and “disconnecting,” we held out for that sweet spot after the school rush—fewer crowds, more peace. The plan was perfect: a week of sun, relaxation, quiet, and a bit of gentle sightseeing at a beautiful villa in Portugal (our first time). I planned to completely switch off. And for the first couple of days, we did just that. The sun was shining, the villa was gorgeous, the local food was great, downtime with family was exactly what we needed, and I thought we’d nailed it. Even posted the obligatory ‘and relax’ arrival picture on socials.

Then, Day 2 happened.

Or rather, night 2 into day 3. The details are best left unsaid, but let’s just say the holiday quickly descended into a "Villamoura Vortex” for three of us. We suspect the sardines were the culprits - clearly, some poor hand hygiene was happening in that kitchen. What had started as a dream holiday turned into a nightmare. Suddenly, the villa’s best feature was that every bedroom had an ensuite bathroom; we each had our own personal refuge (credit to my clever wife for booking such a place).

It’s funny how quickly everything can shift.?One minute you’re basking in the sun, and the next you’re dealing with the unexpected. My first reaction? Sheer and utter frustration. How could this happen? Why now, and why here? When you’ve invested so much time (and money) into planning the "perfect break," the reality check is hard to swallow.

But here’s the thing: no matter how much we plan, sometimes life throws sh*t our way. In those moments, all our best-laid plans become irrelevant. We’re forced to confront how we handle disappointment - whether that’s getting angry, trying to laugh it off, or just accepting it for what it is. I’ve cycled through all three stages, sometimes within the same five minutes.

There’s a certain irony in holidays being about relaxation, yet they can become a source of stress when things go down the toilet. If there’s a lesson here, it’s that life (and holidays) rarely go according to plan. We can’t control the unexpected, but we can try to manage how we respond. Maybe next time, I’ll plan for the unplannable - or just pack more meds! I’m not saying it’s easy – and it really isn’t - but sometimes the only way to get through a situation that’s out of your hands is to let go of the idea that it has to be perfect. It’s not always about finding the silver lining; sometimes it’s about admitting things just didn’t go as planned.

Right now, I’m still struggling to accept that trying to salvage this trip has only made me feel worse.

My family is out on a speedboat trip to Benagil Cave and dolphin watching, and here I am, still not feeling up to it; but at least well enough to be back at the poolside. And I hope I’m well enough to make it home tomorrow. Here’s hoping the next trip comes with fewer surprises. But knowing how these things go… maybe not. And honestly, I’m going to need a few extra days off just to recover from this "holiday”…