We’re Going on an Unholiday Hunt

(in the spirit and musicality of Julia Donaldson)

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt, we’re going to make a brilliant day. The suitcase comes out of the cupboard. It’s packed with surprise fun. The fun is on its way!

There’s a child in the children’s home, watching others pack and go. No trip this time. No beach to find. But, the carers smile — “We’ll make our own!”

Unholiday today! What will we find?

Day One — The Great Indoor Safari

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Tiptoe… tiptoe… Through the hallway jungle. Shhh… What’s that rustling?

Not lions. Not tigers. Just grown-ups with feather dusters, pretending they’re parrots. Squawking jokes until everyone giggles.

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Day Two — The Garden Splash Adventure

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Out we go, into the wild back garden. Look — puddles! Big ones. Small ones. Jumpable ones.

SPLASH! SPLISH! SPLOSH!

The grown-ups cheer. The child jumps higher, and the Unholiday grows Like a rainbow after rain.

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Day Three — The Treasure Trail of Treats

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Follow the clues… Round the sofa mountain … Under the blanket cave … Past the biscuit river.

What’s the treasure? A box of dressing up hats, and a note that says: To be said in a pirate voice, “Today we dress like pirates, And eat ice cream at noon.”

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant da!.

Day Four — The Big Make-Believe Festival

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Drums from pots. Flags from tea towels. Dancing like the floor is a trampoline.

The child leads the parade. Grown-ups follow behind, and the whole home becomes a carnival of laughter.

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Day Five — The Night-Time Star Safari

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

Look out of the window. Look up at the sky Tiny lights blinking, like they’re waving hello.

“Look,” says a grown-up, “that one’s the Unholiday Star. It only shines for people who are making magic out of ordinary days.”

The child smiles. The grown-ups smile. The Unholiday glows.

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

And every morning…

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!

No plane, no passport, But joy? Joy finds a way.

Because when you can’t go on holiday, you make an Unholiday. Together. Right where you are.

We’re going on an Unholiday hunt! We’re going to make a brilliant day!