EASTER is just around the corner and, after that - hooray! - summer, hot on its heels.

And with summer comes the holiday season and trips away with your loved ones.

But, will they still be your nearest and dearest after you've spent seven nights with them holed up in a log cabin at Centre Parcs or a camp site in the South of France, however well-appointed the tent?

Some slight adjustment of expectations may have to take place, especially if you are going away with your extended family, including several generations - brothers, sisters, grandmothers, grandfathers, or other families, ect.

Firstly, beware if there are any toddlers or babies in the group.

If you thought it took ages to get out of the hotel when you were on that group holiday with all your mates, what with all the jostling for the bathroom and not knowing what to wear on a big night out, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Sprogs come with enough paraphernalia to mount an assault on Everest, so, if it was the plan to leave the hotel at about 10.30am to try that place you spotted the day before for brunch, tack on about, oh, I don't know, four hours, before everyone is ready to go.

Remember that some members of the older generation may have put their reckless years behind them, and that although you are grown-up with children of your own, they still think you need looking after.

So don't snap at them if they ask you if you've got your hanky or point out that you might be cold if you go out dressed like that. It's also perfectly reasonable for them to fret about whether or not you'll get a parking space when you all actually manage to get out of the holiday accommodation for a trip to that tourist trap - I mean really exciting, fun-for-all-the-family attraction.

A good tip - suggest a group singalong, it will take their minds off the fact (hopefully) that you are on a dirt track, the wheels are spinning and there's a sheer 200ft drop to their right.

Also, Better to travel than arrive? Nope. You'll know what I mean when you've spent 45 minutes in the baking heat setting up the perfect beach camp, complete with tent to provide shade for the under-12s (and aunty Helen), and only 15 sitting back to enjoy the view because the three-year-old has fallen over and isn't too keen on the wet sand stuck all over his hands. Right, back to the hotel pool then, ...after, of course, we've dismantled the tent, gathered up all the buckets, spades, towels, baby seat, etc.

Third, in-laws. Remember you can't speak to them like you would your blood relatives and get away with it. So when they berate the hapless driver for going the wrong way or spout political opinions diametrically opposed to yours, bite your tongue.

So, holidays with the folks? Actually, I can thoroughly recommend them and can't wait for the next one.