Day 18: The Recce

A Glorious Sleep

He slept! I slept. We all slept and yes, there may have been some all-inclusive wine involved. Only the white one though, the pink one tastes like candy floss.

I woke up at 7am (6am UK time) and had that momentary Where am I? panic. Checked on River, happily asleep, upside down, no covers, but safe. So why am I awake? No point trying to go back to sleep, so I scrolled my phone until I heard the first scream of the day.

River was confused when he woke too, but adjusted quickly, and we watched a bit of TV in bed until Summer appeared.

Breakfast Solo – Mistake

Kike was still fast asleep, so I thought I’d be nice and attempt breakfast on my own. The logistics? Not great. You can’t leave River alone. You can’t take him round with me. It’s not fair to leave him with Summer. Only solution: I just won’t have breakfast, or I’ll eat a bit of whatever he refuses. Tomorrow, I’ll wait for Kike.

Pool Time and the Great Towel Quest

Back to the room on the promise that we’re going swimming. So, swimming we go. Suits on, suncream on, swimming jacket on. The baby pool goes well. Kike heads off to breakfast while the kids splash happily.

Then I go to collect towels. Which turns out to be a whole quest:

€10 deposit per towel, cash only.
We don’t have cash.
Off to the cash point.
Then find the “mystery towel person” who starts at 10:10am in a non-specified location.

Anyway, we now have towels and €50 in cash that I’ll get back when we leave for the UK, where I can’t spend it. Sorry, I will grumble. It’s a British thing.

The Big Pool… Then the Bigger Pool

We try the larger pool next. It’s fine until I realise Summer’s not as confident a swimmer as I’d hoped, so we split duties: one parent per child to prevent drowning

River spots an even bigger pool over a little bridge. It’s busier. It’s deeper. I hate it. Summer accidentally steals another girl’s inflatable. River keeps bumping into strangers. Kike looks stressed. I’m stressed. I suggest going back. River screams, proper screams. So much for the background noise of a busy pool masking it. Nope, everyone watched me carry him out while he slapped me in the face.

The Naked Dash

River loves the pool but hates being wet. So, when we go to the ‘potty’ he obviously strips off. Only problem, we’re in the main hotel restroom, so we end up with a naked run back to the room.

On the way, he spots the Sensory Room. Brilliant idea… except you have to go to Reception for the key. That’s an eight-minute wait with, well River (A child that needs a sensory room). When we finally get in, it’s worth it: dark, clean, full of bubble tubes, glitter boards, spiky balls.

If you work in a school like I do, you’d recognise it instantly. It’s basically a “calm corner” but on steroids. All the usual bits: soft lights, tactile toys with a giant dark tent

He loves it. Summer joins in.

Lunch and the Missed Nap

By noon, he’s hungry. Lunch isn’t until 12:30, but this is all-inclusive, there’s always food. Bread and nachos buy me 30 minutes.

We sit down with Mum for lunch and by 1pm River’s asleep… with his eyes open. Kike takes him back to the room. I join half an hour later to find the cleaner has woken him. No nap. Very annoying.

I’ve mentally scheduled this time for myself though, so iPads out, I’m off to the pool alone.

Afternoon Chaos

We try the mini water park in the afternoon. Earlier it was quiet. Now? Not so much. Slides everywhere, chaos everywhere.

Kike and I take turns on “don’t drown”, “don’t push anyone”, and “don’t slip and break something.” They’re both having fun until River spots the giant slides meant for teenagers. He wants them. He can’t have them. Cue: meltdown.

We leave. He’s naked again, eating rice in bed, calm once more.

Back to the Sensory Room

Summer heads off for cookie-making, River avoids napping, and we decide to make one last trip to the Sensory Room. Another key wait, another dark bubble-lit sanctuary and another 30 minutes of peace. I play with the fidget spinners while Kike plays pool with Summer. We make it to 6pm with no one asleep, huge win.

Evening Entertainment

Showers, dinner, and then the evening show. I’ll be at the all-inclusive bar, watching some young people “entertain” me while River sits with his iPad, declaring “It’s too noisy” like a grumpy 90-year-old until he passes out. After a few wines, I’ll reminisce about the time I had to teach line dancing to a whole hotel as the evening entertainment, the dance was called ‘Slapping Leather’. Yes I still I know the moves. Yes it won’t take many wines for me to show it to anyone.

The Plan for Tomorrow

Today was a Recce. I know what worked and what definitely didn’t. I’m formulating a plan for tomorrow and it will go well. I’m going in confident.