‘Daddy, can we go and watch the drones being shot down?’
‘What…oh er yes, just leave me in peace to relax by the pool.’
‘Archie Darling, are you sure it’s safe?’
‘Yes of course Fi, this is a top hotel, relax, we’re on holiday, the doctor told you to take it easy till the baby arrives.’
‘Daaad, if you had let us bring our phones on holiday we’d be able to see what’s going on.’
‘You don’t need to know what is going on Charlotte, the hotel management will let us know anything important. Don’t they look after us splendidly every year?’
‘Archie, it is a bit different this year.’
‘Yes, but it will all settle down as quickly as it blew up.’
‘Dad, that family on our floor were packing up this morning… and those people we were swimming with yesterday.’
‘Panicking, we’re British, we don’t panic.’
‘Oh God Arch, what was that?’
‘Way off in the distance, a drone they didn’t manage to shoot down, we’re fine up here. Anyway, it’s time we got dressed for dinner. Charlotte, go and find your little brothers.’
‘Oh look, those people on our floor are coming back with their suitcases. There are a lot of people at reception, asking the staff… I’m going to go over and find out what’s going on.’
‘Gossiping no doubt.’
‘Darling, they are all saying the airport is closed, they did not know what to do so they came back. That couple we were chatting to yesterday are talking about getting a driver, maybe forming a convoy. What do you think we should do?’
‘Fiona, we are not driving across the dessert with all the kids and you eight months pregnant. The airport will be up and running again by the time we’re due to leave. There you are kids, come on, dinner time.’
‘What do you mean the head chef didn’t turn up… limited menu and a delay? Ah here’s the manager, I’m going to complain.’
‘Down to the basement, don’t you think you are over reacting? I appreciate you have to think of the safety of your guests, but sending us down to the basement without any dinner is hardly going to help…
…Fiona, pop up to our room and get a few things for the children if we’re going to be stuck in the basement for a couple of hours.’
‘Archie, the lifts are switched off.’
‘Will you be alright on the stairs?’
‘They are not letting anybody up to the ninth floor.’
‘Daddy, is this a real war? That boy said they are going to give us all guns.’
‘Don’t listen to what other children are saying, now you stay with Mummy while I pop outside to see for myself what is going on.’
‘… and we are going over to Gatwick Airport now as the first plane evacuating British holiday makers lands. Families are waiting to be reunited after days of worry.
Good Evening, are you glad to be back home?’
‘Oh yes, we were holed up in our hotel basement for a week, we did not have any idea what was going to happen.’
‘You of course had priority with the children.’
‘Yes it all happened very suddenly, we just grabbed a few things, the children thought it was a bit of an adventure, didn’t you kids?’
‘I left teddy behind…’
‘I had to leave my hair straighteners behind.’
‘.. and your father.’
‘Oh yes, we left Daddy behind.’
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 