The Senior Wonder Years!

[Deleted User]

Will this rain ever stop!!! We managed a few hours of relatively clear sky yesterday and that was it!

Garden is saturated again and we live on top of a hill! So pleased we are not on the coast. There have been several large landslips with properties lost or damaged severely. Goodness knows what will happen to their insurance premiums! Too many exclamation marks but they are warranted lol.

Fairly busy few days ahead, with three lunches out and a family gathering with buffet here on Saturday.
My niece and baby great niece arrive today for a few days with my sister but are dropping in here for tea and cake. I need to catch up on baby cuddles!

We also have the visit to Shropshire coming up the week after next. The heat and dryness of Cyprus can’t come quick enough!

Finances are ticking over. I should be able to cover any other costs of the Shropshire trip from monthly personal spends which will be a bonus. Likewise, spending money for Cyprus. I am not a big spender when in Cyprus. The only extra costs will be my share of breakfast and some lunch food for the villa as well as several meals out. Exploring and enjoying the scenery, as well as visiting favourite places, is almost cost free. Everything else including car hire has already been paid.

Still waiting for planned upgrades and maintenance to begin,a but the weather is mainly responsible for the delays. I will be quite happy if exterior house clean and driveway refresh is completed by July and the internal stuff by the end of the year.

Swimming is going well. I am now managing my lengths total with hardly any breaks. 

Anyway, cup of tea finished, now for those daily exercises and breakfast!

The rain has just stopped and the sun is peaking through, for now🙏.

helensbiggestfan

Yes I'm getting rather fed up with this soggy weather.  When the sun does manage to show its face it's lovely.  It just needs to happen more often.  

Cyprus sounds wonderful.  I am sure you will have a lovely time.  

Final session for my dental implants tomorrow.  Wahoo. Looking forward to my new Hollywood smile.  It's been a long haul, nearly 18 months.  I was dreading the work but it has all been surprisingly easy and painless.  The worst part was the cost😂

Now that's out of the way I can concentrate on house hunting. Time to find my dream house....

 

Muddy_Walker

I’m also fed up with the weather! Supposed to be on leave next week so thought I’d catch up with some gardening….. best dig out my waterproofs…..

MrsPorridge

Another one here who is fed up with the weather!  It has to stop raining at some point surely.................

Sunshine_girl2

Baron Dale, I'm off to Cyprus the end of April  it can't come soon enough. That's a long journey for you Shropshire I think. It's never stopped raining here in the North West either. 

enthusiasticsaver

You seem very well organised finance wise and I am sure you will love Cyprus.  We booked a last minute holiday to Paphos last November as the weather at home had been awful and it was lovely.  Like you we love travel.  We have three  UK trips booked to Wiltshire, Dorset and Cornwall where we live.  One of these days we must get up North.  Our main holiday this year though is South Africa in September.  That takes up by far the biggest chunk of our income in retirement.  Luckily DH gets his state pension later on this year so that will be an added income stream. 

I have only read the first few pages of your diary but will dip in and out.  Enjoy your trip. 

[Deleted User]

I would be terrified to go to South Africa, but that is risk averse frightened me lol!
I will only travel to places I consider safe and where the people are as free as possible.
Unfortunately, that leaves quite a lot of the world off limits ! 

Many thanks for your post @enthusiasticsaver. I am sure you will enjoy all your planned holidays.

enthusiasticsaver

[Deleted User] said:

I would be terrified to go to South Africa, but that is risk averse frightened me lol!
I will only travel to places I consider safe and where the people are as free as possible.
Unfortunately, that leaves quite a lot of the world off limits ! 

Many thanks for your post @enthusiasticsaver. I am sure you will enjoy all your planned holidays.

I am fairly risk averse too but we have booked through a travel agent and taken advice and are staying in 4/5 star accommodation in safe areas.  We have also spoken to many who have travelled there before and will be taking lots of precautions.  We wanted to do a safari so this was on our bucket list when we retired. There are lots of places to visit in the world and you cannot go everywhere so best to choose where you are comfortable going. Even in the Caribbean where we have gone several times we did not venture outside the tourist complexes unless on an accompanied trip by a local who knew the pitfalls.  We will be doing the same in South Africa. 

helensbiggestfan

As a lone female traveller I try not to take unnecessary risks.  There are some places I would be very wary of wandering off on my own so at those times I take organised tours.  Sometimes it can feel like a bit like being herded like cattle but I suppose it's better than being silly and putting myself into potentially harmful situations.  
  

A guy on my last Caribbean cruise thought  he knew better than to heed to the usual advice to be discreet and not flaunt your wealth.   He wandered off into a less salubrious area and was surprised to find himself held at knife point and robbed of his Rolex watch, heavy gold neck chains and gold rings which were the size of knuckle dusters.  Luckily he wasn't hurt.  

enthusiasticsaver

helensbiggestfan said:

As a lone female traveller I try not to take unnecessary risks.  There are some places I would be very wary of wandering off on my own so at those times I take organised tours.  Sometimes it can feel like a bit like being herded like cattle but I suppose it's better than being silly and putting myself into potentially harmful situations.  
  

A guy on my last Caribbean cruise thought  he knew better than to heed to the usual advice to be discreet and not flaunt your wealth.   He wandered off into a less salubrious area and was surprised to find himself held at knife point and robbed of his Rolex watch, heavy gold neck chains and gold rings which were the size of knuckle dusters.  Luckily he wasn't hurt.  

Yes this is one of the things we have been told.  Don't take expensive jewellery and stand out as a tourist and I am with you on the organised tours.  I would rather not do them but we want to stay safe so needs must. Good job the guy on your cruise wasn't hurt.  Daft to wander off on his own.