It was reported earlier in the weekend that a British Airways survey has shown that 60 percent of women questioned hated surprises and in particular would be horrified if their partner sprung a surprise holiday on them. We asked one of our regular contributors, Rosie Webb, to take a feminine view of this startling revelation. Here is her considered view:
Of course the most fascinating part of the article was hidden away towards the end, where it was pointed out that 40 per cent of women needn't worry at all as “it would never cross their partner's mind to arrange a romantic break”. Phew! Well that's alright then, because I can tell you that I would certainly fall into that category.
With that great weight lifted of my shoulders, I feel that I can view these remarkable revelations from a more neutral standpoint. For example, I would never have to encounter the same horrific scenario that faced Sophie Bailey, 33, from Southampton, whose partner even went as far as packing her case for her. Packing her case! My partner can't find the vacuum cleaner even though he hangs his coat on the handle in the cloakroom, so the chances of him finding my case would be non-existent.
Her partner then compounded his problem by not including her hair straighteners, and there we hit upon what I feel is the fundamental issue here, and that it is the different views that men and women take on the thorny dilemma as to what items constitute “essentials”.“I don't know what the fuss is all about” opines my partner “I could take all that I need for a weekend away in a carrier bag”. Unfortunately that's true, and probably not one of our better carrier bags either. The trouble is when you have the standards of a road sweeper's arm pit, life becomes so much less complicated.
I'm sorry to say that I fall into the hair straightener camp, and while we are on about it, I bet he's booked up somewhere warm just as the first icy blast hits this country, and all my summer clothes have been put into storage.
The article suggests that women need an average of seven days and eleven hours to prepare for a surprise trip away. And the rest! Colour co-ordination is not part of a man's vocabulary, so he requires no pre-arranged timetable of events. If I say that I need time to get my "roots done", it would probably lead to a question as to why I would need to visit the local garden centre at this particular time.
What standard will I be expected to dress to? Casual, smart casual or dress to kill, comfortable or grin and bear it, flat soles or heels, cooler climate or warmer climate, etc, etc. And don't start me on the question of make up (skin moisturiser for cold weather or sun tan lotion for baking hot). Will I need to take tablets for my various weather induced allergies. Will I be dining with the captain or lounging in some back street taverna. Oh no, no, stop, I'm worn out already, all of a sudden I feel as though I need a holiday.
Finally, the one gripping revelation that made me hoot was the need to re-arrange the work schedule. They obviously don't work with the bunch of clowns that I mix with here at BritBreaks, who know little about the phrase collective responsibility, unless it involves arranging an evening of Pro Evo.
A quarter of women interviewed said that their partner's idea of spontaneity was a take away meal. Lucky them, but I am working on it. Now where did I put that suitcase?
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