Linn Halton - A Greek Affair

‘Oh, that will be Keith. Dad said he bumped into him in the supermarket. He’s one of their reporters and Dad told him all about your success. Roger?’ Mum calls out to Dad and I wince, as she hasn’t pulled the phone away from her mouth. ‘Leah’s on the phone. She says Roger did an article on her – what fun!’

Fun?

‘Um … Mum, can you find it for me? What exactly did Dad say?’

‘Only how proud we were that you’d won an award. He’s found the paper. Oh, my!’

It’s a positive exclamation but a chill runs down my back.

‘Gosh, there’s even a photo of you. How wonderful! Roger, ask next door if they’ll let us have their copy. I’m going to frame this one and we need a copy for Leah to show Rosie.’

I feel like a bystander.

‘Don’t worry, Mum, I’ll go online to read it. Must go.’

‘Don’t forget you’re both here for dinner on Wednesday night. I’m making spaghetti bolognaise.’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for anything.’

My phone is already nestled between my shoulder and my chin, as I Google the paper’s website.

It’s probably a quarter of a page in total judging by the length of it and the headline is Leah Castelli Brings Home a Top Travel Award . I breathe out a small sigh of relief. Clearly this is based on the press release circulated by the Traveller Abroad publicity people and not merely the gushy words of a proud father. It’s all good publicity, just rather unexpected.

It’s time to head out for my second walk of the day and when I leave the house my head is buzzing. I up the pace a little, gradually calming down, and my thoughts return to the latest changes I’m making to the website. Then inspiration strikes and I come up with a way of cramming in more sponsored ads by including them in posts. I want the website itself to look informative, rather than to be covered with adverts and this solution would solve that problem.

Walking might be healthy but it’s also uninterrupted thinking and planning time.

~

At gym club, I watch enthralled as Rosie executes a perfect back-flip. She lands with apparent ease and both feet planted firmly on the ground. Throwing up her arms, she arches her back and maintains a dignified pose. Her face is beaming.

‘Good work, Rosie. Nicely done.’ Miriam Peterson’s approval is enough to make Rosie’s cheeks glow.

That was certainly a shining example of a perfect landing but every time I watch her perform my stomach does its own involuntary flip.

Miriam waves out to me and heads across the mats in my direction. Even so, her eyes are everywhere and she doesn’t miss a thing.

‘Liesel, relax those shoulders!’ Her voice booms out across the studio floor.

‘I hear congratulations are in order,’ Miriam says, with a gush. ‘I read the article and that’s quite something.’

I can feel my cheeks reddening, as this has caught me off–guard.

‘Yes, it was a bit of a surprise, though.’

‘Ah, well, it’s nice to have an interesting hobby and all those free holidays. I’m envious!’

I try not to frown.

‘It’s a bit more than a hobby,’ I add, but my voice begins to trail off.

‘A hobby with benefits,’ Miriam laughs, totally missing the point.

‘It is very hard work, actually.’

Why am I feeling so defensive? Miriam doesn’t understand any more about my industry, than I do about hers.

‘Nice, though. Guess you’ll be flying here, there and everywhere, now.’ It’s dismissive and her tone is beginning to irritate me.

‘I only blog about places I’m happy to endorse one hundred per cent. Being a critic isn’t always easy but it’s gratifying when a client invites me back after making improvements.’

Even her smile is now annoying me; it’s patronising.

‘You get a second trip? Amazing. And all those freebies for you and Rosie to test. I bet you never have to buy anything holiday-related.’

I give up.

‘Rarely,’ I concede, deciding it’s simply better to agree and change the subject. ‘That was a perfect back-flip Rosie performed there.’

‘If she worked harder, she’d make the team.’ Miriam’s gaze doesn’t falter and I can see she feels I don’t push Rosie hard enough. But Rosie is happy attending two classes a week and taking part in demonstrations; the fact that she isn’t interested in competing is entirely her own decision.

And that’s where Miriam and I differ so greatly. You can’t force someone into doing something and I’m not going to put pressure on Rosie for simply wanting to take part for the sheer fun of it. Much to the annoyance of the sometimes scary Miriam Peterson.

I modelled my approach to evaluating a holiday venue on the iconic hotel inspector, Yolanda Jackson. I figured from the outset that whilst I didn’t have the scathing tone and quick-to-anger attitude I’ve witnessed her dishing out so often on her TV programme, I do admire her integrity. And the way she is simply trying to help owners to raise their standards so that visitors get value for money. That’s essential if they want to stay in business.

Today’s post contains several parcels addressed to Rosie, and I always leave her to open them herself. Aside from that, now I’m back from my walk it’s time to hit the emails.

With Easter only ten days away we already have a day trip to a theme park and a visit to a children’s petting zoo in the diary. It looks like our next trip abroad isn’t until the summer half-term holiday, at the end of May. So even if the UK turns out to be wet and windy, which is often the case for bank holidays, hopefully we’ll be basking in sunshine.

Surely it can’t get any better that that?

~

‘Rosie, can you see who’s at the door please? I’ll be there in a second.’

I press ‘send’ on the email I’ve just finished and a little frisson of excitement makes my stomach do a dip.

‘Mum, it’s Naomi and Callie.’

There’s a lot of laughter coming from the hallway as they all barrel into the kitchen.

‘Well, this is a nice surprise, neighbour. Shall I pop the kettle on?’

Naomi shakes her head, still laughing at whatever the girls found funny, as she walks over to give me a hug.

‘No, sadly we can’t stay. We’re on a mission.’ She looks across at Callie, her eleven-year-old daughter.

‘I’m doing a walk for charity, Leah. Will you sponsor me? It’s five miles and I’ve been training, so I know I can do it.’

‘Ah, that’s great, Callie. When is it?’

‘Saturday morning.’

She hands me the form and I take it, grabbing a pen. It’s for childhood cancer and who wouldn’t want to give to that cause?

‘That’s very kind, Leah. Every little bit helps.’

‘My pleasure and way to go, Callie – that’s awesome. Well done, you!’

‘Can I give some money too?’ Rosie pipes up. We all turn to look at her.

Naomi flashes me a glance and I nod.

‘Of course, Rosie. You can spend your savings on anything you want and I can’t think of a more deserving cause.’

As Callie and Rosie lean over the form on the table, Naomi gives me a look of ‘ahh!’

‘Sorry I’ve been absent lately, I had meant to pop down now I’m around a little more.’ I do feel guilty and I miss our interaction since Callie moved to the senior school last September. Her school is the other side of town and it’s not possible to do both trips and car share anymore.

‘I understand, Leah. Besides, judging from the papers, you’ve been very busy. First the local and now the national papers.’

‘What?’ It comes out like a pistol crack. Why am I always the last to know about these things?