Christmas??

colbee

If you can afford it, and you want to avoid the cold dark miserable weather we get in this country, I'd recommend a med cruise. Fly to the ship or coach to an English port.

Jake'sGran

colbee wrote: »

If you can afford it, and you want to avoid the cold dark miserable weather we get in this country, I'd recommend a med cruise. Fly to the ship or coach to an English port.

I was just going to say to Margaretclare that I am asleep early at Christmas and also New Year and I was also going to mention that I could not imagine eating large midnight feast like they have on cruises. I almost feel guilty that we don't fancy a cruise ( I wish we did so as to get rid of some money ) because all my 'Over 60s' pals seem to be having expensive cruises this year.

margaretclare

Jake'sGran wrote: »

I was just going to say to Margaretclare that I am asleep early at Christmas and also New Year and I was also going to mention that I could not imagine eating large midnight feast like they have on cruises. I almost feel guilty that we don't fancy a cruise ( I wish we did so as to get rid of some money ) because all my 'Over 60s' pals seem to be having expensive cruises this year.

Everyone tries to push the idea of cruises at us. It's a bit of a cliche, like we're all supposed to enjoy bingo (another no-no). DH and I, not being 'herd animals' as I've said before, could not stand being cooped up on a ship, no matter how luxurious, with large numbers of others and not able to get away.

There must be other ways of 'getting rid of some money' than just going on a cruise. £99 a night for the Devon hotel I found, that will be £400 if we stay 4 nights B&B, then there are other meals, and getting there - petrol, it's about 250 miles from here, then there's other travel, sightseeing etc. And we haven't even had a holiday this year so far - were supposed to be going to Niagara this week then I fell and fractured my pelvis. We'll probably have a couple of nights at Cherbourg once the kids are back to school.

DH was telling me this afternoon about someone who'd been on a cruise. He said you have to be careful of the constant eating, because he (this guy) had put on 15 pounds in a fortnight. 'You might as well eat it because it's there, you've paid for it'. Which was the attitude on the Warners' holiday we went on, another disaster never to be repeated.

I have just about settled for the Totnes hotel. I think it will 'tick all the boxes' for what we're looking for. I don't mind the cold dark English weather, just so long as where we're staying is warm and comfortable, preferably with log-fires near which we can relax with a drink before dinner. Nice unhurried meals with good service not where you have to hurry because they want to play bingo (which happened at Warners). And there has got to be a comfortable, well-appointed bedroom with a nice bathroom (and walk-in shower).

I've never been to Totnes before and I think I'll enjoy it.

Margaret

colbee

Honestly, 'cooped up' is not the way to describe a cruise holiday, nor do they play bingo in the dining rooms - they are for eating in. Nor is there any obligation to be a midnight nosher -but you can eat at 3 or 4 in the morning if you want to. If you are really desperate, you don't have to eat at all.
On a Med cruise most of the sailing is done at night when most people are asleep, and you wake in a new port every day.
Herding? -nah! Cabins are fine and have walk-in showers. There is no 'reveille' call and Fawlty Towers is just an old TV programme. No clanking dustbins, no rubbish carts belching blue/black diesel fumes. No yobbery.
Log fires? Must admit I'm struggling there! Maybe you could try logging on to the internet (yes,on the ship) and find a suitable screensaver to sit round.
I'm not an avid cruiser - I've been on two, the last about 5 years ago.
Expensive? I've seen a 2 week Christmas/New year cruise for not much more than 4 nights B&B in Devon, and that's full board.
There is what one might consider to be a drawback - one is expected (not obligated) to give a good tip (and I don't mean Red Rum in the 3.30) at the end of the cruise to those members of crew who have given you personal service e.g. your personal waiter/cleaner.
You might meet people you don't like, but you will find it as easy to avoid such people as you would in Devon. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

Jake'sGran

Sorry Colbee but we will not be trying it. It simply does not appeal. I understand there are a lot of steps/stairs on ships and I am just not fit enough unfortunately. Can't walk far these days but someone was telling me last week that wheelchairs can be a problem as the lifts are small. But we won't be doing it anyway. We like luxury hotels on land with large gardens where I can sit quietly.

Margaretclare - once my husband has been sorted out with his prostate op (they are really messing him around at the local hospital but he refused the private option) we will be off somewhere I hope. And apart from our holidays here and in Spain I am giving money away now to keep it from the taxman.
Never thought it would come to this but that's life! Must go forward hopefully.

margaretclare

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Sorry Colbee but we will not be trying it. It simply does not appeal. I understand there are a lot of steps/stairs on ships and I am just not fit enough unfortunately. Can't walk far these days but someone was telling me last week that wheelchairs can be a problem as the lifts are small. But we won't be doing it anyway. We like luxury hotels on land with large gardens where I can sit quietly.

Margaretclare - once my husband has been sorted out with his prostate op (they are really messing him around at the local hospital but he refused the private option) we will be off somewhere I hope. And apart from our holidays here and in Spain I am giving money away now to keep it from the taxman.
Never thought it would come to this but that's life! Must go forward hopefully.

I agree with you, Jake's Gran. I can't cope with stairs either, especially stairs that happen to be moving!! Like you, we both like luxury hotels on land. Everything being equal by December, we'll opt for the Devon hotel, which looks like just what we have in mind.

Like you, we've heard a lot about 'oh you should go on a cruise' but like you, it just doesn't appeal.

Margaret

margaretclare

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Margaretclare - once my husband has been sorted out with his prostate op (they are really messing him around at the local hospital but he refused the private option) we will be off somewhere I hope. And apart from our holidays here and in Spain I am giving money away now to keep it from the taxman.
Never thought it would come to this but that's life! Must go forward hopefully.

Did you happen to read about the older couple yesterday who had a surprise win on the lottery? They're both in late 60s, and top of their priority list in terms of spending some of the money is - a pair of new knees each in the private sector!! Now that, I would submit, is a really worthwhile method (a) of getting rid of some money and (b) buying something really practical and useful that will improve their quality of life significantly.

Can't you persuade your husband in that direction? For example:http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/hospitaltreatment/find-a-treatment/prostate-cancer-treatment/london-prostate-surgery [SIZE=-1]

We're not yet at the stage of 'getting rid of money' just for the sake of it. But we do like nice holidays in comfortable surroundings, we like meals out (went to our favourite pub, 'The Bull', Hockley, which is an old coaching inn, before going to the solicitor's yesterday). We're still saving because we have more income than we need, but also, we don't know what our needs may be in time to come.

And oh, by the way, we are well used to giving a good tip when we've received good service. We gave one yesterday to the young waitress who served us at lunch at 'The Bull'. She deserved it.

HTH

Margaret
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zeke

Christmas: pah! Having run round after family for years and slaving over dinner for the ungrateful so-and-sos, this year it'll be just me and the dogs at home. Can't wait, long walk, wash the car, clean the bathroom, unplug the phone, might even dig out the shed weather permitting.

Errata

zeke wrote: »

Christmas: pah! Having run round after family for years and slaving over dinner for the ungrateful so-and-sos, this year it'll be just me and the dogs at home. Can't wait, long walk, wash the car, clean the bathroom, unplug the phone, might even dig out the shed weather permitting.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: The conversation might be more interesting too !

Jake'sGran

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Can't you persuade your husband in that direction? For example:http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/hospitaltreatment/find-a-treatment/prostate-cancer-treatment/london-prostate-surgery
[SIZE=-1]Margaret[/SIZE]
[/quote]

No, he won't entertain it but this week he did get to speak to the surgeon who has promised his op will be performed within the next two weeks. The whole thing has been wearing him down and last night he telephoned the ward as the catheter had stopped working so he had to go straightaway and have a "wash-out" to free something that was blocking it. Re new knees and so on, I refused a knee operation a few weeks ago as the surgeon had said "the problem is...your heart". He was referring to the danger of a GA for me.

Just looked back to see what the original post was about..Christmas! Before that arrives I hope we are able to take off for some sunshine. Hope your hotel lives up to expectations and you have a lovely time.