Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

A work colleague didn’t have a European Health Card and her (now ex) husband fell off the balcony on holiday having had too much to drink and broke several bones including his spine. She managed to get an emergency card there and then. Hopefully you won’t need it though 🤞

On the language front, if you like learning verbs in tables, I have a Spanish verb conjugation app, maybe there’s an Italian one?

Cherryfudge

Eek, that's a scary thing to happen! I thought we learned to be careful about such things when I broke my arm and had to have an op after we'd booked to go to Australia (I made it there and back safely) but obviously not learned enough. DH has ordered our new cards and photographed the order so we're hoping that will be evidence that we've done what we should - even if very late in the day.

Thanks for the language app hint - I've taken you up on it and downloaded one!

Cherryfudge

We've had a lovely evening with DS2 and his girlfriend: a twilight walk around a neighbouring village followed by a very enjoyable meal, then back to ours where I was given flowers and we both had cakes from our favourite cake place in York. It was a good way to unwind after a full-on day, and we've really appreciated having the time with them.

There are a few bits left over from the big list: half the bulbs are planted, all the plants are watered, the fish tank still needs to be cleaned, no quiet time has been had, the pumpkin, potatoes, squash, carrots, peppers and some onion will be roasted tomorrow so we can have them with the salmon I got yesterday, and the leftovers will go in the freezer. The lightweight mac is found  and put with my packing - good in showery weather and an extra layer if it's s bit draughty.

I've still not decided exactly what clothes to take: that will be a decision for the morning and has to involve things for slightly cooler weather/evenings as well as practical things that will still look nice in photos! I have a feeling I need to go back to jeans and sweaters, shirts and scarves, and abandon illusions of looking as though I'm starring in a photoshoot! I've pulled out the things I'd initially decided on as impractical with the amount of space I have: I'm taking mostly what I'd wear day to day, and accessorise to ring the changes.

Cherryfudge

I am almost at the point of having 'done all the things'! Just the fishy to clean out and fresh water for the fresh flowers (bad timing, having a birthday and Mother's Day immediately before a few days away)! I'm hoping most of them will still be good for a few days when we get back.

I've even given DH a hair cut! Clothes are packed: if they aren't perfect, I'll still be decent.  

Cherryfudge

And we're home. Venice was lovely: just a beautiful city, good hotel, interesting food, nice people... I managed to keep track of most expenditure and still have around 230 Euros in my holiday spending fund, though it should be less as we had a taxi and car parking to pay when we got home. In general it was relaxing and I managed to try some of my rudimentary Italian every day. I made DH burst into possibly inappropriate laughter in a restaurant when I told him a story off the internet, of when someone asked for 'il canto' (the song) instead of 'il conto' (the bill).

I think we overspent on travel and food - we should have investigated the day tickets but we saved a bit by walking a lot and discovering the tiny medieval streets in the process. Lessons for the future include taking the travel kettle to save on coffees! We used the very good local supermarket for lunch-type meals and ate out for a main meal each day.

Extra cost was another night at the airport hotel at this end, but that was much better than driving home straight after the flight got in (and another hotel breakfast, which my waistline won't thank me for).

Cherryfudge

Oh, and... thankfully we didn't need our health cards!

in_need_of_direction

Good to see you safely home 

Sun_Addict

Glad you had a lovely time 🇮🇹 Funnily enough a friend’s daughter has just come back from Venice, she loved it too. 

Cherryfudge

A few further thoughts...  £60 for hotel parking this morning (marginally cheaper than the multi-storey, even when you add on approx £10 per airport shuttle or taxi). Also £8.50 for a generous top up of my phone data as I went through all the latest allowance in 24 hours!

I ordered one of those ultra-lightweight backpacks today, and a thing for holding loyalty cards as my purse is always too full of cards I rarely use. Total £13.35.The cross-body bag I bought just before going has been just what I needed, as was the running top.

Most of the holiday was really enjoyable despite loathing leaving and not being 100% relaxed about returning either. It's the leaving that's difficult: I love flying. There was a glitch on Thursday as a colleague texted to ask if I'd applied for a certain job, which really threw me. I replied to say I'm not applying for anything, just trying to get better so I can go back to this job. She then explained she was asking about the job I applied for a year ago, which calmed me down. I also got an email from my manager with a stress questionnaire. I think she said to leave it till nearer to going back but I couldn't resist and had a look. It's a pro forma but I still got anxious about it. The amount of anxiety was disproportionate and showed me I have a way to go yet.

One item from the pre-holiday to do list stood out as something that really made me feel positive: I planted the tulips I was given for my birthday (flowers with bulbs attached). They've all faded now but I've added gardening and cooking to running - my list of things that help me feel grounded. I was going to do some gardening today (car boot rained off yet again) but alas! the nice weather stayed in Italy. I've done the laundry (again, a nice 'grounded' thing to do, believe it or not), played on the computer and watched the start of the new series of Race across the World. Nice to be back to my normal range of things to do and my own space - though I'm pleased to say that after three months' study, I managed to speak a little Italian to real Italians. Very satisfying.  

Sun_Addict

I’m always unsettled when we first get back from holiday, although look forward to seeing the dog and cats. 

Well done on trying out some of your language skills 👏