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§ 1. On New Year’s Eve a few days ago, I decided to go skiing for the first time, with two friends. They are the complete opposite of me in that they’re really brave and fearless — they’ve been skiing and diving all their lives, whereas I’m a bit of a coward. Surprisingly, however, I enjoyed it very much and the second time we went I felt much more confident and decided to move away from skiing on the nursery slopes. I was doing really well and skiing down quite a steep slope when I heard one of my friends say, “Wow, Josie, you’re moving fast!” I thought “Yes, I am, aren’t
I — but how do I stop?” Suddenly all my confidence left me and I fell very badly. I didn’t break anything but I twisted my knee. The rest of the holiday was spent sitting on top of the mountain, looking after everybody’s bags and coats.
§2. If I’m honest, I prefer going somewhere hot and sunny for a holiday. I love going to Thailand, for example, and staying in one of the beautiful resorts on the coast. The people are extremely friendly and in one hotel we stayed at we got to know the chef quite well and he would take us round the market with him. And one of the waiters took us to visit his uncle who owns a coconut farm. It’s only in ways like this that you begin to get a feel for the country and its people, as these kinds of opportunities are not available for the average tourist.
§3. I’m not a rough-it kind of person; I did enough of that when I was younger. The trouble with me is that I have a genuine problem with mosquitoes — they absolutely adore me! If I get bitten, the bites turn into mini-balloons all over my body. Once when we were travelling by jeep during the monsoon season, the rain was so heavy that we stopped in a village. A young Thai boy noticed this huge bite on my arm, which was going a funny colour and looked as if it might be infected. He picked some leaves off a tree and made a mixture of them using some salt and a little alcohol and then rubbed the mixture into my arm. You could see the infection disappear: it was amazing, it was like letting the air out of a balloon.
§4. Generally, after I’ve finished a run of performances in a play, I feel exhausted. Pleasantly exhausted, but not too weary to escape! All I want to do is find a hotel with a fantastic view, a beach, a good book and a mosquito net. My needs are very simple, really, and I just want the opportunity to refresh myself. Sometimes I might consider a holiday in a completely different environment, like visiting a friend in a country cottage or staying in a small bed and breakfast place and walking in the surrounding hills. It’s good for my soul.
