Added sparkles 

I wonder what’s the Greek equivalent of dunnes stores or M and S? I only ask because I’m in something of a ‘situation’! One of our two bags has still not arrived in Kos, nor indeed has it even been located. Something of a problem given that we are now here three days and I’m still wearing the clothes I travelled over in.

One case did arrive. It has all Ella’s stuff, and thankfully most of the toiletries. It also contains all the clothes we bought and were donated for refugees here, as well as the practical stuff we bought. So, I may have no knickers but I have 25 toothbrushes, enough colouring pens to keep us busy til winter sets in and dozens of shorts and t shirts – all for children under ten!

Everything paddy and I packed is in the lost bag. Consequently, here we are, at eight in the morning (the day didn’t start well!) on a bus heading into Kos town to buy the necessaries.

I didn’t mind a day or two without my clothes but arriving at the pool for the third day running in a pair of rolled up combats, and the same t- shirt as every other day, gets embarrassing. Washing out my single t shirt and single pair of knickers and bra every night and hoping the wind doesn’t blow them away during the night, has also lost whatever sense of adventure it had at the start (which was sweet FA to be honest). But the final nail was when my son said, as we sat down for lunch, ‘mum, everyone’s looking at you’. And I swear, it was true. New pals he’s made have lent him t shirts, bless them, so he looks fine. Ella has a new outfit on for every meal. And then there’s me trousers still rolled up and an increasingly grubby t shirt by the day. Something had to be done.

Have you ever tried to buy ‘normal’ stuff on a beach holiday? Everything is made of crinkly poor quality cotton or that very particular type of nylon that shrivels if you mistakenly try to iron it; shorts have flags and stupid slogans on them; t- shirts are even worse (I don’t want to commit to an ‘I love Kos’ t- shirt until I’m sure I’m in this for the long haul); bikinis are made for skinny unhappy women with no boobs and the mere thought of finding somewhere that sells practical, comfortable underwear evokes visions of girdles and full on Bridget jones regalia.

The first half hour is frustrating, resulting in nothing more than paddy purchasing a baseball cap. The stalls are full of crap whilst the formal boutiques are horrendously expensive and don’t stock anything I would ordinarily choose to buy. I decide not to panic and keep going.

The guide book suggests the best street for shopping (and yes I actually do still buy guide books! I like to see them accumulate on my shelves, a reminder of places I’ve been). We find the street and strike lucky with the first shop we enter. There is serious riffling to be done, poking and pulling of things off shelves and from over stacked rails, but eventually I have chosen some linen trousers and tops, a lovely red Desigual dress and a hideous beach cover up. (If my case turns up in time, I will be leaving the latter for the refugees!)

The shop owner is extremely helpful – why wouldnt he be, you might ask? We’ve told him our tale of woe, so he knows I’m here to do serious spending. Nevertheless, he is funny, polite, engaging with the kids….. Another customer comes in and leaves quickly. I’m thrashing about in a tiny cubicle trying to work out whether the clothes really are decent enough to wear or is it just my desperation kicking iin, so I don’t hear the exchange between them. It obviously wasn’t a positive one because I now hear the man explaining to my guys….’the person who knows nothing, he tries to cover that up by pretending he knows everything!’. The kids laugh at this and when we later reflect on it, we can all name people who confirm his theory!

My purchases are piled up and rung in when he informs me his credit card machine isn’t working so off I set to the nearby ATM. The kids stay with him, happily listening to more pearls of wisdom and they later tell me he offered them chairs and drinks. I almost didn’t resent the money I spent on clothes I don’t need or even particularly like!!!

The shop owner directs us to our next destination, a small lingerie shop in a side street off a side street, which we would never have found on our own. (even the best guide books have limitations). Here I find and buy the all important knickers and bikini, so bliss, I can now go for a swim!

We arrive back to the hotel before eleven and head straight for the pool. The luggage still hasn’t been located so I feel justifed in my spend, and relish the cool water all the more for having sat beside it in over 35 degree heat for the last few days. Things can only get better!