Current Affairs

[barney]

Spot on Carole.
I’d highly recommend The Moorland Hotel at Haytor if you are looking to come this way.
Beautiful location, lovely hotel, great food.

[Ray B]

You on a retainer barney?

[barney]

You on a retainer barney?

Not at all Ray.
We’ve stayed there a few times pre covid and the service and food has been impeccable.
There are some among us who seem to think that there are no decent hotels in England.
In reality, there are many if you do your research.
We’ll certainly stay there again.

[Kendhni]

There are some among us who seem to think that there are no decent hotels in England.

I must have missed those posts.

A nice one if you want something a little different is the Bryn Howel in Llangollen - stayed there for almost a year while working in Wrexham. Word of advice, never ask the matre'D what soups they have, I tried that once and got told 'Sir, we do not do soup, we do broths, bisques and consommes'. Food was fantastic though (if its good enough for Pavarotti then it is good enough for me).

[CaroleF]

I hope I don't offend anyone with this but I've had three holidays in North Wales, one when I was in my teens and two with John. All three times it poured with rain every day! Very unfair I'm sure but it won't be top of my list.

Carole

[Kendhni]

I hope I don't offend anyone with this but I've had three holidays in North Wales, one when I was in my teens and two with John. All three times it poured with rain every day! Very unfair I'm sure but it won't be top of my list.

Carole

That is one of the reasons I don't like holidays in the UK - at best long weekends, but not 1 week and definitely not 2 weeks. I can vouch for the rain in North Wales - saw enough of it

Decent weather is not guaranteed anywhere, but I prefer to play the odds and go somewhere more likely to provide good weather. Similarly that is the reason I don't like sailing from Southampton (whose slick operation I have experienced) and much prefer flying a bit further to start off in the sun.

[towny44]

Maybe weather patterns have changed in the last 40 years or so, but we enjoyed about 10 or 12 years of caravan holidays in the UK in the late 70s and early 80s, generally the last week of July and 1st week of August, and had superb weather. Well at least we did in Devon, Cornwall, S. Wales and Suffolk, our only venture to N. Wales was Holyhead where it rained most of the fortnight, so no change there then.

[Onelife]

I hope I don't offend anyone with this but I've had three holidays in North Wales, one when I was in my teens and two with John. All three times it poured with rain every day! Very unfair I'm sure but it won't be top of my list.

Carole

Sounds about right to me, although you do tend to get better weather if you come down out of the hills and head for the coastline.

I spent a lot of time holidaying in Cornwall in my younger days and the contrast in weather from one coastline to another generally left you with somewhere to put out the recliner.

[Manoverboard]

When we had the little ones we went most years to Llanbedrog-ish on the Llein-ish peninsular, North Wales, where we rented a house for 2 or 3 weeks from a certain Mrs Jones. The weather for us, end of June / begining of July was generally fine but if it did rain then we put on our coats and found somewhere interesting to go. The rain clouds tended to rise over our area heading for the hills of Mt Snowdon.

The Portmeirion Hotel ( of TV series ‘ Prisoner ‘ fame ) is an interesting adult choice in this region but there are many others of course.

[Stephen]

I hope I don't offend anyone with this but I've had three holidays in North Wales, one when I was in my teens and two with John. All three times it poured with rain every day! Very unfair I'm sure but it won't be top of my list.

Carole

That is one of the reasons I don't like holidays in the UK - at best long weekends, but not 1 week and definitely not 2 weeks. I can vouch for the rain in North Wales - saw enough of it

Decent weather is not guaranteed anywhere, but I prefer to play the odds and go somewhere more likely to provide good weather. Similarly that is the reason I don't like sailing from Southampton (whose slick operation I have experienced) and much prefer flying a bit further to start off in the sun.

Sail from Southampton every time for me over flying Ken. We’ve flown to many countries around the world when we were younger and had my fair share of cramped seating and all that goes with it. The only way you will get me on a plane now is if I can turn left at the aircraft entrance on long haul flights. And that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

[oldbluefox]

We feel much the same Stephen. I got fed up having to be at the airport two hours before take off, then flights being delayed and all the other hassle of airports that cruising was so much more of a relaxing experience. I don't mind the days at sea from Southampton as it gives us time to unwind and relax so it's not time wasted.
However I have been looking at cruises out of Liverpool and Southampton with Fred. Normally I am a fan of P&O as it seems to fit what I am looking for in a cruise but with P&O moving more towards the bigger ships I had a look at what Fred had to offer and it would cut out the long tek down to Southampton. In the past Fred had older ships with a strange layout of single beds and, unless you went for the more expensive cabins, no double beds. They have just taken on a couple of old Holland America ships and renamed them Borealis and Bolette and I must admit they appeal so later in the year once clear of this pandemic I'll have a look to see what Fred is offering.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We're with you Stepheb but appreciate the priorities are different for some people. We like the relaxed start from Southampton and usually have a night in a hotel before we go. A couple of sea days if we're heading south gets us into holiday mood. Though actually our favourite destination is to head north to the Fjords.

[david63]

In defence of Ken - he does need a flight even if sailing from Southampton as he lives in NI

[Kendhni]

I hope I don't offend anyone with this but I've had three holidays in North Wales, one when I was in my teens and two with John. All three times it poured with rain every day! Very unfair I'm sure but it won't be top of my list.

Carole

That is one of the reasons I don't like holidays in the UK - at best long weekends, but not 1 week and definitely not 2 weeks. I can vouch for the rain in North Wales - saw enough of it

Decent weather is not guaranteed anywhere, but I prefer to play the odds and go somewhere more likely to provide good weather. Similarly that is the reason I don't like sailing from Southampton (whose slick operation I have experienced) and much prefer flying a bit further to start off in the sun.

Sail from Southampton every time for me over flying Ken. We’ve flown to many countries around the world when we were younger and had my fair share of cramped seating and all that goes with it. The only way you will get me on a plane now is if I can turn left at the aircraft entrance on long haul flights. And that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

I still haven't been reached the scrap heap of life yet so only have a limited number of days annual leave and I want to spend as many of those as possible in the sun. I consider airports to be a minor inconvenience that allow me to have 14 days in the sun rather than 'waste' half the holiday getting there and back. So, for us, a cruise out of Malta is a far superior offering to one out of Southampton.

But it is each to their own. I was very impressed with the Southampton set up (but I still need a transfer flight for there).

[Ray B]

Airports are so much more crowded nowadays than the times before we started cruising when taking our children on holiday was a pleasant experience. The days of the satellite terminal at gatwick and the tent at Luton and Stansted airports.
But now out of necessity like the Caribbean or a hotel holidays abroad its grin and get on with it.
But for a better experience sail ex UK.
Overnight in Southampton taking in a restaurant in the evening, a good night's sleep and fresh start to the day in anticipation of the good time ahead. Arriving at the terminal with the relaxed passage through departures and onto the ship ready for the sail away.
I almost feel I'm there now, but back to reality

[Mervyn and Trish]

I still haven't been reached the scrap heap of life yet

You have such a delicate turn of phrase!

Yes there are more aches and pains and health issues. But for the most part the "scrap heap" has been the best years of our life so far!

[towny44]

I still haven't been reached the scrap heap of life yet so only have a limited number of days annual leave and I want to spend as many of those as possible in the sun. I consider airports to be a minor inconvenience that allow me to have 14 days in the sun rather than 'waste' half the holiday getting there and back. So, for us, a cruise out of Malta is a far superior offering to one out of Southampton.

But it is each to their own. I was very impressed with the Southampton set up (but I still need a transfer flight for there).

When younger I certainly enjoyed the excitement of flying, and we still did long haul holidays up until Pauline's stroke. But even then we were beginning to despair of the very frequent delays, cancellations and re-routings as well as more frequent lost luggage and just the boredom of sitting in departure lounges, so we were already starting to reduce our flying holidays.
Unfortunately Ken you will probably reach the same situation sooner than you might wish, so enjoy your flying while you can.

[Manoverboard]

Because I wasn't overly obsessed with money or material assets I happily signed up for ' the scrap heap of life ' when I was just a tad over 50. In place of work, work, work we had fun, fun, fun including many holidays most of which involved flights but we gradually got hacked off with all the extra agro and settled for cruising out of South Coast Ports.

Get out of the rat race as soon as you can is my advice cos you never know what's round the corner.

[Kendhni]

Unfortunately Ken you will probably reach the same situation sooner than you might wish, so enjoy your flying while you can.

I think that is possibly one of our driving factors - we deliberately have not really explored Europe because I often say to that while we are willing, and capable, of doing long haul lets explore those parts of the world and leave closer areas when we can't or don't want to do longer flights.

[Kendhni]

Get out of the rat race as soon as you can is my advice cos you never know what's round the corner.

I got made redundant 8 years ago and came very close to joining the ranks of the economically subactive. I fancied one more challenge and was lucky to land a job that went right back to my roots, in a field totally within my comfort zone, in a fantastic company that really knows how to look after its staff.

Maybe one day!

[barney]

Because I wasn't overly obsessed with money or material assets I happily signed up for ' the scrap heap of life ' when I was just a tad over 50. In place of work, work, work we had fun, fun, fun including many holidays most of which involved flights but we gradually got hacked off with all the extra agro and settled for cruising out of South Coast Ports.

Get out of the rat race as soon as you can is my advice cos you never know what's round the corner.

I had everything geared up for retirement at 60,
Civil service pension, private pension.
So, shortly after turning 60, I sold my business and called it a day.
Less than six months after moving to Devon for a quite life, Mrs B decides to open another business.
Totally spontaneous, but no regrets.

[Stephen]

Because I wasn't overly obsessed with money or material assets I happily signed up for ' the scrap heap of life ' when I was just a tad over 50. In place of work, work, work we had fun, fun, fun including many holidays most of which involved flights but we gradually got hacked off with all the extra agro and settled for cruising out of South Coast Ports.

Get out of the rat race as soon as you can is my advice cos you never know what's round the corner.

I had everything geared up for retirement at 60,
Civil service pension, private pension.
So, shortly after turning 60, I sold my business and called it a day.
Less than six months after moving to Devon for a quite life, Mrs B decides to open another business.
Totally spontaneous, but no regrets.

Let her get on with it I say and reep the profits

[Manoverboard]

Get out of the rat race as soon as you can is my advice cos you never know what's round the corner.

I got made redundant 8 years ago and came very close to joining the ranks of the economically subactive. I fancied one more challenge and was lucky to land a job that went right back to my roots, in a field totally within my comfort zone, in a fantastic company that really knows how to look after its staff.

Maybe one day!

But will you know when to give up ... just one more project

I was far from being economically subactive when I retired because that was the time to spend, spend, spend rather than save, save, save

[Mervyn and Trish]

Last year the government ruled out letting teachers allocate GCSE and A level grades because they feared teacher bias and grade inflation. Instead we had the algorithm that was supposed to level the playing field, which was savaged, and critics said they should trust the teachers.

So this year they've opted to trust the teachers.

And the critics are saying it will risk teacher bias and grade inflation.

Isn't opposition easy.

[Kendhni]

Get out of the rat race as soon as you can is my advice cos you never know what's round the corner.

I got made redundant 8 years ago and came very close to joining the ranks of the economically subactive. I fancied one more challenge and was lucky to land a job that went right back to my roots, in a field totally within my comfort zone, in a fantastic company that really knows how to look after its staff.

Maybe one day!

But will you know when to give up ... just one more project

I have laid out a set of criteria an as soon as any one of them is not met I will retire

I was far from being economically subactive when I retired because that was the time to spend, spend, spend rather than save, save, save

My intention is to blow my 25% tax free and then live on the other 75%. In fact if we get a couple more years of market rises then my 75% will be worth more per year than I currently earn