Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

angela110660

I used to love all the individual cases the chocs were in rather than just a plastic layer. Milk Tray was best - Turkish Delight and the lime barrels. Worst were - Weekend. 

Seasidegal58

@Onebrokelady - I felt exactly the same about Weekend when I was a child!😂

@beanielou - Little nephew is adamant that he saw Nessie whilst he was on the boat on the Loch this afternoon. When I asked him if he managed to take a photo, unfortunately he hadn't . 🤣

We've not long got back from the beach - little nephew wanted to go paddling as Giant Puppy was sniffing amongst the waves.  Little nephew then fell in and got soaking wet!  However all kudos to him he took his clothes off and ran in in his underpants. it looked freezing!  We then had to dress him in DSis's hoodie and DD's jacket to go home. GP meanwhile ran off down the beach with one of his socks!🤣🤣🤣

It's my last full day today in the Highlands and I feel I've only been here a few days, not a fortnight. 😥 I've got a reasonably early flight home tomorrow so will have an early start to the airport tomorrow. DD's OH will be driving me there.  DSIs and family's flight isn't till late afternoon. 

I will miss DD terribly terribly and OH and GP too - although when I next visit GP will be a V. Large Dog with a deep bark!

I will also miss the lovely scenery, wildlife and flowers - golden gorse, bluebells and cerise rhododendrons that you see everywhere at this time of year, and the beautiful coastline, deep blue sea and the local beach which is always deserted when we go. 

CRANKY40

I think I'd be wanting to live there for good if I were you. It sounds lovely. I've only driven up as far as Loch Lomond but my sister and I are hatching a plan to go to the Black Isle and Inverness at some future time. 

enthusiasticsaver

What a wonderful break you have had. How lovely to find a deserted beach. Not many of those down in Cornwall where I live. Are you tempted to move up to Scotland to be nearer your DD? 

badmemory

I remember contrast, which I did used to really like.  But that was overtaken by my love of Spartan which my then MIL introduced me to.  I'm sitting here now thinking about the dark caramels in Spartan.  The best ever!  Even Thorntons couldn't get it quite right.

doingitanyway

Keep enjoying until the end. I've loved reading about your holiday  

milann

Your holiday sounds amazing. What a lovely thought to be able to go and visit dd whenever it suits you both now though and not having to think about work schedules. I’m so pleased the little fella found Nessy.....imagination opens a whole new world 😂😂😂
Have a safe journey home and enjoy the beautiful weather they are having down there....although it tippled down all day last Thursday at dds but we’d had brilliant sunshine at home.....I was actually quite pleased of the break in the heat.

Humdinger1

@Seasidegal58 late to the party but wanted to say congrats on your retirement.   Fun and frolics lie ahead.  Enjoy your skylarking! Love Humdinger x 

Seasidegal58

@angela110660 - yes the individual cases made the whole chocolate experience more luxurious!  And I used to love the lime barrels in Milk Tray too!  Why did they remove them?☹️

@badmemory - I remember Spartan but I never liked them much as a child - too hard!😃

@CRANKY40 - if you like driving and have the time, the North Coast 500 route is a fantastic way to see the Highlands - starting off from Inverness you drive along the whole North-West coastline along the top and tip of Scotland and then down the North-Eastern coastline back to Inverness. Some fabulous places to stop off, stay and visit. 

@enthusiasticsaver - the plan is that I will move up there in a few years time. It's a bit too rural for me at the moment, plus I don't drive.  When I do move I will either find a place in the village or build a granny annexe onto DD and OH's house. 

@doingitanyway - thank you - hopefully you will be visiting The Highlands again in the not too distant future. 😃

@milann - thank you. 😃. Glad that you got to finally visit your family down south. 

@Humdinger1 - thanks so much for your good wishes.😃

Seasidegal58

A whole week since I last posted!😱. Must do better.
 

My flight back from Inverness went well and all on time - car was waiting at the airport and no traffic problems. I walked through the door at 3pm so a good journey all in all.  Unfortunately I came back to news of a stabbing just around the corner from me in our little high street. All involving three boys aged 14-15 - it's terrible what is going on with teenage boys at the moment. ☹️ So different from my peaceful fortnight. 

That apart, last week was good - the weather was lovely and I went for some walks in the early evening when it was cooler.  Ive met up with my friend a few times for our coffees. Her DD hosted a great day for her mum's birthday in her lovely garden for her mum and her friends.  We had a delicious buffet and champagne and wine. We are all into 'Whispering Angel' rose at the moment but it's rather expensive.  However we all clubbed together and bought a few bottles - the cheapest we could find was £14.99 at Waitrose but it was for a celebration!😉. We started at 2pm and I got home at 9pm!  My friend was really ill and hung over the next day but said it was worth it!🤣

On Sunday I went to DD's OH's sister's retirement lunch. She retired last year and has been unable to hold the family celebration lunch she wanted until now. DD and OH organised it for her and done her proud - private room, flower wall, her name in large lights and a lovely cake. We had a tasty meal and then spent the rest of the afternoon with drinks sitting under a shady tree in the beautiful sunshine while the children played in the grounds. A lovely day plus England won!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

A bit quieter this week - I'm off to the the City tomorrow morning to have my hair done. 

MSE Scrimpy Retirement Things 
All budgeted things - coffees, airport car, birthday gifts, taxis, nails, pedicure, toiletries. wine. I also had to pay the annual buildings insurance for my flat to the freeholder - £448!😡. I don't mind paying it but I'm sure I'm being rooked each year. There is a £19.99 'admin charge' included in the cost.  So there's 14 flats in my block - 14 £19.99s - really!😡