Lifestyle

What is funny is that, having removed ourselves from our domestic existence in London, and travelled to a completely disparate environment, we have hurried into a parallel routine. The key distinction is everything is recreated in a setting that is absurdly tropical.

We still do laundry, but now we hang it between palm trees. We still go jogging and swimming, but now do it on the beach with the sun either rising or setting, dodging the cows and crabs, as fishermen haul in their catch. We still watch boxsets, but do it under a mosquito net with the sound of waves breaking in the background. We still do the dishes, but they are mostly steel plates and have to be done instantly so the insects don’t get too involved. We still take Max out to run around, but here it’s in waterpools where he forages for sea creatures and careers about chasing after a gaggle of Indian kids.

What is also odd, is how little fills a day. We are up from 6am til 10 or 10.30 at a push. It is a bit like retirement, except with constant childcare requirements. We plot and plan mealtimes all day. Everything is more manual- cleaning, laundry, shopping, etc and we are amazed at how two small events can consume our waking hours and leave us slumped in the cane chairs, breathing heavily.