We first went to Croatia in about 2006. We went to the north of the Country, just below Venice, Italy. We spent a week in what seemed like an Old Communist resort on the coast, near to the City of Pula. Croatia is a beautiful Country, made up of over a thousand Islands. It lies on the coast, on the opposite side of Italy. It looks very much like Italy used to look in the 1950s. Relaxing, beautiful, wonderful climate and welcoming people. Jason's family come from Croatia, so our first trip to the Country was important. It wasn't where is family came from, but we hadn't met them at the time. We were unsure about their reaction to homosexuality and we decided a brief visit, to at least see what the Country was like, was essential.
I can safely say, we both enjoyed our first week there immensely!
I can safely say, we both enjoyed our first week there immensely!
Our second visit to Croatia in 2008, wasn't so good, though in hindsight it was probably our most successful visit, for if things hadn't turned out the way they did, our life could have been very different.
In 2008, Jason decided he wanted to meet his Croatian family for the first time. In his view, it was safety in numbers. The more friends he took with him, the more support he would have. If things went wrong, then at least he would have other people to fall back on! In theory it was a great idea. In practice, not. For no other reason, than the people he chose to go to Croatia with, were the worst people in the World. They included three extremely, highly strung women. Volatile, hormonal, moody and out for a fight. Each one of them had that Alpha Male syndrome, vying for top dog. We also went with Elaine, who we are still friends with today. Elaine is down to Earth, couldn't give a damn about arguments and like us could see them for who they were.
The group of people going to Croatia, had changed, from the original. Now I am not a woman hater, but even I know, that going on Holiday with a group of bitchy, nasty women was bound to fail. It did spectacularly.
From day one, those three women were out to cause trouble. As a couple, Jason and myself argue quite a bit on holiday. It's the way we are. It's never anything serious, just title tattle. They decided to interfere in our argument, not once, but twice, three times and more. I wasn't standing for it.
I remember getting up one morning. Jason had gone to see his family in their village. We had rented a villa in the mountains. She was in a mood. I say she. I mean the German, Kristen. Shouting and screaming, ordering about and I had had as much as I could take. She walked right up to my face, still screaming at me. I told her to back off, she didn't. So as gently as I could I moved her away from my face and left the room. I walked up to my bedroom, at the top of the villa, as far away from her as I could. She was still screeching with all her might. I have literally never known anyone to shout so much. It was an appalling display and just kept getting worse.
It turned out, that she had accused me of trying to murder her, by pushing her off a balcony. Back in the real World, I had only tried to move her away from my face. That was the point, Jason asked his family if us two could finish the duration of our stay in his family village, Podgora with them. They owned various Hotels in the area, so it wasn't a problem.
Things went from bad to worse. I left a note on her hire car, telling her to back off and stay away, or I would lump her one. She and another one of them phoned the Police, who turned up at Jason's family home to question me. It turns out they were quite friendly with the local Constabulary and things were just laughed off.
NOTE OF INTEREST: I had used Kristen as a personal reference for a job. I was given the job, just before we went on holiday. She sent a scrawling reference to my new employers, accusing me of attempted murder. YES ATTEMPTED MURDER! I was a member of the Union and they dealt with her slanderous note, and made her remove, retract and apologise for the vicious attack. It affected my whole career and my new employer had taken six months to pluck up the courage to even inform me of its contents.
That flight home was terrible. Elaine had stayed with us for the last couple of days of the holiday, as she could not take her any longer herself. We have not spoken to Kristen since. A nasty, vindictive person, bitter and twisted from her own failed life, taking her nastiness out on everyone, including her own son and others around her. Friendless and failed!
On the plus side at least, Jason met his family and became friends, forming close bonds with his Cousin Marin and wife Vlatka. Without Kristens awful behaviour, things could have been very different.
In 2008, Jason decided he wanted to meet his Croatian family for the first time. In his view, it was safety in numbers. The more friends he took with him, the more support he would have. If things went wrong, then at least he would have other people to fall back on! In theory it was a great idea. In practice, not. For no other reason, than the people he chose to go to Croatia with, were the worst people in the World. They included three extremely, highly strung women. Volatile, hormonal, moody and out for a fight. Each one of them had that Alpha Male syndrome, vying for top dog. We also went with Elaine, who we are still friends with today. Elaine is down to Earth, couldn't give a damn about arguments and like us could see them for who they were.
The group of people going to Croatia, had changed, from the original. Now I am not a woman hater, but even I know, that going on Holiday with a group of bitchy, nasty women was bound to fail. It did spectacularly.
From day one, those three women were out to cause trouble. As a couple, Jason and myself argue quite a bit on holiday. It's the way we are. It's never anything serious, just title tattle. They decided to interfere in our argument, not once, but twice, three times and more. I wasn't standing for it.
I remember getting up one morning. Jason had gone to see his family in their village. We had rented a villa in the mountains. She was in a mood. I say she. I mean the German, Kristen. Shouting and screaming, ordering about and I had had as much as I could take. She walked right up to my face, still screaming at me. I told her to back off, she didn't. So as gently as I could I moved her away from my face and left the room. I walked up to my bedroom, at the top of the villa, as far away from her as I could. She was still screeching with all her might. I have literally never known anyone to shout so much. It was an appalling display and just kept getting worse.
It turned out, that she had accused me of trying to murder her, by pushing her off a balcony. Back in the real World, I had only tried to move her away from my face. That was the point, Jason asked his family if us two could finish the duration of our stay in his family village, Podgora with them. They owned various Hotels in the area, so it wasn't a problem.
Things went from bad to worse. I left a note on her hire car, telling her to back off and stay away, or I would lump her one. She and another one of them phoned the Police, who turned up at Jason's family home to question me. It turns out they were quite friendly with the local Constabulary and things were just laughed off.
NOTE OF INTEREST: I had used Kristen as a personal reference for a job. I was given the job, just before we went on holiday. She sent a scrawling reference to my new employers, accusing me of attempted murder. YES ATTEMPTED MURDER! I was a member of the Union and they dealt with her slanderous note, and made her remove, retract and apologise for the vicious attack. It affected my whole career and my new employer had taken six months to pluck up the courage to even inform me of its contents.
That flight home was terrible. Elaine had stayed with us for the last couple of days of the holiday, as she could not take her any longer herself. We have not spoken to Kristen since. A nasty, vindictive person, bitter and twisted from her own failed life, taking her nastiness out on everyone, including her own son and others around her. Friendless and failed!
On the plus side at least, Jason met his family and became friends, forming close bonds with his Cousin Marin and wife Vlatka. Without Kristens awful behaviour, things could have been very different.
I will never forget that first holiday, meeting Jason's family. They are battlers, like us, wealthy people, who work hard and can't stand the nonsense that people like Kristen bring to their door. Myself and Jason formed very close bonds with his family, especially Marin and Vlatka, who we visit every year. They are the loveliest couple and best family I could ask for. Open, accepting and full of life. I will write in more detail about them and OUR CROATIAN FAMILY, in another blog.
It is funny where fate takes us. It was fate Kristen and the others came on holiday with us, they helped us cement our relationship with true, loving family. Funny, people like Kristen have a lot to learn from that!
Thanks for helping us find our true family!
It is funny where fate takes us. It was fate Kristen and the others came on holiday with us, they helped us cement our relationship with true, loving family. Funny, people like Kristen have a lot to learn from that!
Thanks for helping us find our true family!
