Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Travel

Tim Roxborough's travel bugs: Men who don't shower on holiday

16 Jul, 2019 02:00 AM4 minutes to read
Being on holiday is not an excuse forgo showering. Photo / Getty Images

Being on holiday is not an excuse forgo showering. Photo / Getty Images

Tim Roxborogh
By
Tim Roxborogh

VIEW PROFILE

Tim Roxborogh on the joys of (fatherhood and) moaning about your holidays.

Men who think being on holiday means you don't have to shower

At 4.45am on Friday, July 5, 2019, my wife gave birth to our daughter Riley and we became parents for the first time. That moment when I first saw my own flesh and blood come into existence was the closest I've had to an out-of-body experience. In days gone by, people would've said it was like you're floating above yourself or that you somehow magically have a bird's-eye view from on high, even though you're standing on the ground.

A couple of decades deep into the 21st century and I liken it to feeling like you're watching drone footage from a movie. All the editing was so perfect too. There was the shot of Riley, squirming with life, in the hands of our midwife, Annie, for whom we'll always feel indebted. Then the camera cut away to my wife, Aimee, exhausted beyond any comprehension I'll ever know, but with joyful tears. Next the camera spun across, swooping down to catch the expression – also of tears – of my mother-in-law, Kathy, before turning around for similarly teary close-ups of my sister-in-law, Tiria and finally me. Then the drone flew upwards again to capture a final frozen-in-time snapshot of the entire emotion-filled room.

Back inside my body and several hours later, we were driving north of Auckland to the Warkworth Birthing Centre. Just as life will never be the same ever again for Aimee and me with Riley now on the scene, so too have I left behind certain misconceptions from pre-fatherhood. Things like having little idea at all about how unbelievably awesome midwives are. I think I spent my whole 37 years on Planet Earth believing that delivering children was the domain of doctors, but when you've seen your midwife with the life of your child and your wife literally in her hands, a few pennies start to drop.

From our midwife to the team of midwives at the remarkable Warkworth Birthing Centre (those roast meals!), these ladies went out of their way to offer knowledge and support. That kind of wraparound service – where the mother gets three free nights with all meals and 24hr how-to-mum coaching sessions also included at no additional cost – is such a dream way to ease into the enormity of parenthood. There was plenty of how-to-dad coaching going on too.

Speaking of the dads, partners generally get one free night out of three at birthing centres, after which most either commute or book nearby accommodation. Showers and meals also aren't always provided for the support partners but luckily I had good friends in Matakana who put me up, so I was very thrilled to jump under some hot water and get clean. Which brings me to the travel bugs part of this "Travel Bugs" column.

That's right. This isn't just an ode to fatherhood that accidentally made its way into the Travel section. Though who am I kidding? That is unashamedly mostly what this week's entry is. But the small part that isn't was triggered by the reaction of a friend of mine when I told him I hadn't been able to shower for a couple of days:

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Brilliant! If only you could stay for the full week at the birthing centre and not shower once, that would be like being on holiday!" He was serious.

As in, his idea of a blissful holiday involves days on end without bathing. He's far from alone. An unnamed (and much loved, I must add) member of my wife's family is known to enjoy extended summer camping trips sans shower, while another friend remains under the impression it's not really a vacation if you're showering every day.

Related articles

Travel

Travel bugs: Confessions of a resort DJ

25 Jun 01:53 AM
Travel

Tim Roxborogh: Disappointing orphans

18 Jun 03:06 AM
Travel

Travel Bugs: 'Seen one view, you've seen them all'

26 Jun 03:41 AM
Travel

Travel bugs: Losing your phone while travelling

09 Jul 03:09 AM

How did this anti-shower-on-holiday malarkey begin? For a start, I genuinely love a shower. Being clean and smelling good has never struck me as a chore. It's therapeutic too. It helps me sleep. It tames my wild hair. It makes my tired eyes look less so. What's the issue?

It's malarkey, I tell you.

• Tim Roxborogh hosts Newstalk ZB's Weekend Collective and blogs at RoxboroghReport.com

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Travel

Family disgusted by four-hour flight in vomit-covered seats

18 Aug 10:00 AM
Travel

'Moron' tourists hunted down by Venice Mayor after surfing along canal

18 Aug 01:00 AM
Premium
Travel

Tech hacks to make travelling right now less of a headache

18 Aug 12:30 AM
Travel

Very Impressive, Perth: Eleven ways to find luxury on a Western Australian city break

17 Aug 10:26 PM
Travel

Bali is back: Nusa inbound with these top travel deals

17 Aug 08:00 PM

Most Popular

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears
New Zealand

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears

18 Aug 09:00 AM
Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad
New Zealand|Crime

Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad

18 Aug 08:00 AM
Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge
New Zealand

Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge

18 Aug 06:18 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP