The ‘did you have a good break?’ greetings have passed; Christmas is a distant memory; New year resolutions are either embedded or forgotten. Even though our chalk streams, swelled by rain on the Downs, have burst their banks, there is some temporary respite from the rain. Days are lengthening, nights drawing out; dreams of the summer holidays, fed by adverts in the paper and on TV, give way to thoughts of a short break to lighten the winter gloom. Can I snatch time away from work and fit one in. And if so, where should I go?

We are well placed in Salisbury for a long weekend away. Southampton with its airport and sea port is just down the road; the New Forest; Bournemouth, Dorset and the West Country are on doorstep. Spoiled for choice!

I recall my New Year’s resolutions and come a cropper. This year, I have decided to look after myself better – more sleep, more exercise (much to Barney the Beagle’s delights…), healthier diet, more relaxation (last year’s summer blow out trip to New York with my son was fabulous and exciting, but anything but a rest). My brother used to live in Dubai; we’d snuck off there after Christmas a couple of times for some winter sun. He’s moved to Cardiff, not quite the same allure!

My other resolution was to go greener; trade my dirty old diesel in for something electric (joining one of the long waiting lists…); eat less meat; improve my carbon footprint.

Heading off to the sun for a bit of R and R, involves getting on a plane. Popping over the channel on Brittany Ferries using my car. But a staycation won’t cut it; I need some sun! Can I square flying and my new-found green conscience with ‘carbon offset’; plant some trees, put on an extra jumper instead of switching on the central heating, donate to a green charity?

There are more dilemmas. A friend of mine, who works in the travel industry, came up with another problem; if you put the holiday package together yourself it works out cheaper, but it’s not ATOL protected, so you don’t get your money back if anything goes wrong. If you buy a ready-made one it costs a bit more, but if the airline or hotel or tour operator go bust, you’re covered.

So should I ‘do it myself’, and pore for hours over the internet weighing up one thing against another, searching out the cheapest flights, cause more of the stress that I need the holiday to recover from, but save a few bob which I can then donate to a green charity to ease my conscience? Or do I stump up the extra few quid and book with a tour operator?

Life is complicated? I need a break….