SKI-er or Sk-ater. We know how to enjoy ourselves

balmaiden

Hi all,
Just back from two weeks in Mexico, wow, is all I can say, fantastic holiday. Decided on the way home to treat youngest DD and family to a holiday in the summer. They "borrowed" our house while we were away.The state of our bedroom carpet when we came home....... don't ask me what on earth they were doing, but, suffice to say that we will be buying a new carpet. So said daughter will not be treated to a holiday this year!

Good news Margaretclare, I did calm down over my ruined carpet when I read your post. After all a carpet can be replaced. Our health and th health of our loved ones is the most important thing.

margaretclare

Thanks for all the good wishes. In fact DH can get into the car even though his left leg is held completely stiff in a steel-braced splint. We went out for a pub lunch today - lovely. Every little treat that we have is something to make up for all the weeks in hospital, under the care of the District Nurses etc. He sees the consultant on Monday and hopefully then starts on the programme of 10 degrees flexion each week.

I did get the cleaners in before he came home, a local firm, £120 to clean through completely including the tiled walls in the kitchen and bathroom, windows, 2 sets of curtains down, I put them through the washer and they re-hung them for me. The day before, I had a man in to clean the cooker thoroughly for me. Money well spent.

I've just paid for my eldest GD's provisional driving licence, £50 now would you believe!!!

poet123

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Our son used to say when we were driving him somewhere nice' 'Please parents, will you stop interrupting me to show me scenes of outstanding natural beauty and let me get on with my book/games console/mobile phone call/sleep.'

He's much better now he's older. (Or at least more tactful about it!).

We once went on a narrow boat holiday...we were enthusing about the scenery,and the slow pace of life,son said "seen one tree, seen 'em all, can we call at Currys at the next place of civilisation for a lead so that I can connect my portable console to the TV?":eek:

Kids!!!

margaretclare

....read this article. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/4944306/South-Pacific-cruise-Voyage-through-the-Commonwealth.html

Then scroll down to the bottom, where it says:

"SagaHolidays (0800 056 5880; www.saga.co.uk/travelshop) will run a similar world cruise departing from Britain in January 2010. The 103-night voyage aboard Saga Ruby will call at islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific, including Samoa and Fiji, as well as visiting 14 ports in New Zealand and Australia. Bali, Singapore, Mumbai and the Suez Canal are some of the highlights on the return leg. Round trips cost from £12,179 per person including all meals, gratuities, insurance and transport to and from Southampton. Shorter voyages are also available."

I'd love to do that, but we haven't got that sort of money! Sad, sad.

seven-day-weekend

Sounds great Margaret, I've just booked for the two of us.

lilac_lady

I've given my children a substantial sum of money each this year for different reasons (rather than waiting till I'm dead!) and now consider what I have left to be spent by me, on me, without guilt.

This was reinforced last week when I went to a friend's house for a visit. I pay when we go out as she always pleads hard up but was not amused when she ordered a takeaway meal (she didn't feel like cooking) and left me to pay for it. During the visit she showed me an outfit she had bought - £80.

I'm hoping to train myself to be selfish. Any tips?

margaretclare

lilac_lady wrote: »

I've given my children a substantial sum of money each this year for different reasons (rather than waiting till I'm dead!) and now consider what I have left to be spent by me, on me, without guilt.

This was reinforced last week when I went to a friend's house for a visit. I pay when we go out as she always pleads hard up but was not amused when she ordered a takeaway meal (she didn't feel like cooking) and left me to pay for it. During the visit she showed me an outfit she had bought - £80.

I'm hoping to train myself to be selfish. Any tips?

Maybe you need some of the assertiveness training I was giving to a friend. The most useful thing she got from me is the fact that one of the most useful words in the English language is the word 'NO'!

When her in-laws phoned wanting to be taken here and there at short notice: 'No, I can't take you shopping/to the hospital/to the pharmacy for your prescription...' 'Why not?' 'Because it's not convenient'. If further explanation is asked for: 'I have somewhere else to go and can't change it at the last moment'.

I would find something else to do/somewhere to go the next time your friend tries to do this to you!

margaretclare

poet123 wrote: »

We once went on a narrow boat holiday...we were enthusing about the scenery,and the slow pace of life,son said "seen one tree, seen 'em all, can we call at Currys at the next place of civilisation for a lead so that I can connect my portable console to the TV?":eek:

Kids!!!

It's not the kind of outlook that I can understand or sympathise with, and I know lots of kids who don't take the view that 'one tree looks like another'. I support the Woodland Trust, and they have this for children: http://www.treeforall.org.uk/

You have certainly NOT seen 'em all when you see one tree. I am much more in sympathy with A E Housman, the poet, who wrote: http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/Classic%20Poems/Housman/loveliest_of_trees,%20the%20cherry%20now.htm

Savvy_Sue

I spent part of yesterday with some of my siblings, talking to my parents about the possibility of them downsizing. They have been considering a new block of retirement flats (they'd like the security of a warden), but the bus service isn't very good. We said that they could use taxis more. Mum said "But we would be spending your inheritance." We all practically shrieked "FINE! Spend it, please!"

I can see it being an ongoing saga.

Merrywidow

I am so lucky that I dont have to bother with the kids - I don't have any. No siblings left, just my Mum and me (and she's 96). The beauty of being a widow with no dependents is that I can please myself what I do, when and how much it will cost. I own my own house outright and have a good income.
The only drawback to being single - SAGA crusies! have you seen the price for single people - its double that of a couple! Scandelous. I think its time we campaigned against this discrimination - anybody up for a fight?

I hasten to add that normal SAGA holidays rarely charge a single supplement.