Back from Corfu: Mosquitoes, Motorhomes and Mrs. M’s 50th Birthday Tour

Didn’t post last week because I was “busy” lying in the sun in Corfu. And by busy, I mean drinking local beer like it was hydration therapy. We were staying at the Amour Holiday Resort in Sidari, a solid choice for an all-inclusive where you can absolutely overdo the buffet and not feel judged.

This wasn’t just any trip though. This was Mrs. M’s 50th birthday celebration. The plan was to go with her cousin Lisa (you’ll remember her from the Buncrana post) and Lisa’s husband Gerry. Except Gerry decided to sabotage the plan by booking the wrong holiday dates at work. The man literally scheduled himself out of his own wife’s trip. By the time he noticed, it was too late to fix it.

So who steps up? Their daughter, Kelly. Twenty-one, full of life, probably expecting Ibiza vibes, and instead she’s trapped with the “over 40s and proud” gang. We honestly thought she’d be bored stiff. Turns out, this was her therapy break too.

Coffee, People Watching, and Pretending We Were Locals

Our days became a routine we pretended was spontaneous. Mornings were me, Kelly, and Lisa going for a dander into town while Mrs. M remained horizontal in bed, claiming she was “enjoying her holiday properly.” We found a great little coffee spot where we’d sit and judge the world walking by. It’s cheaper than therapy and comes with coffee biscuits.

Around lunchtime, we’d collect the birthday queen, grab a bite, then head to the beach. Kelly was laser-focused on getting the perfect bikini top tan line, while I focused on keeping the local beer trade alive.

Evenings were for the all-you-can-eat buffet; Kelly had perfected her own Corfu Sauce for her chips, followed by a stroll into town for whatever tribute act was bravely still standing at the end of the season. We saw everything from Elton John to Michael Jackson to a lad who looked like he’d just Googled “how to sing like Rag’n’Bone Man” five minutes before going on. Some were great, others were… trying their best.

The Mosquito Massacre

Mosquitoes. They loved Lisa and Kelly. They must have been serving them up as the special on the insect menu. I got off fairly lightly, and Kathy, of course, walked away untouched because she’s apparently made of mosquito kryptonite. Kelly and Lisa came home looking like they’d spent a week volunteering as buffet starters for the local wildlife.

Back to Vanlife Reality

After a few days back home catching up with the girls and Reuben, we loaded up and headed to Banangha Glen, just outside Dungiven. I’ve driven past this place countless times back when I was a bus driver but never bothered to explore it. Big mistake. It’s gorgeous. Forest trails, small bridges, waterfalls, the whole “wish I brought a drone” vibe (don’t, it’s under ASSI rules).

Autumn is in full swing here. The kind of place where you could take a deep breath and almost feel like one of those nature documentary people. Almost.

Tonight, Mrs. M is off with her sister to Maghera to see Brian Kennedy, part of their annual “we’re still young” tradition. It would usually include their older sister Julie, who sadly passed a few years ago, so it’ll be a special one for them.

Meanwhile, it’s just me, Lucky and Milo in the van. Both dogs are snoring like old men after Sunday dinner. The heating’s not on yet because I’m pretending I can stretch out autumn a few more days, but I’ve got the big fluffy dressing gown ready for when that fantasy dies.

More Solar, Less Daylight

Before we jetted off to Corfu, I fitted two more solar panels to the van roof. Same as before, just more of them, because I apparently think Northern Irish sunlight can power a small house. It can’t, but I like to dream. Still, every little helps, right?

Tomorrow I’ll film a bit of Banagher Glen, add it to the Park-Up Map, and pretend I’m an influencer with a production team instead of a guy trying to balance a camera on a log.