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

donny-gal

Sorry, Digger - you have to remember this is an over 50's site, what were you going to spend £5k on?
DG

DiggerUK

DG,
Retirement savings.
We will be OK in future, just means China is next year, not this year.
C'est la vie.

Newly_retired

Spending money - not sure about enjoying ourselves!
Plumber came to day to start work on new bathroom. He removed old airing cupboard and some tiles then announced that the whole room would need to be replastered. Not that we're disagreeing, but the plasterer can't come till next week, then it'll take 4 days to dry out. We've still got the old bath + shower and basin at the moment, but we will be without for about a week - eek!
I'm so glad we have a separate loo.
As for the bill - much greater than we originally thought, of course.
But it will be lovely when it is done.

Francophile

Did a little bit of ski-ing this week. Bought a netbook so that we can take it with us to our house in France (or any other trips we go on). Our next door neighbour in France has said she will give us the password so that we can link into her broadband when we're there which is very good of her.

margaretclare

Our next 'away' is going to be a Diabetes Support weekend at Blackpool in a couple of weeks' time. Bit like a conference -seminars etc, all meals included.

We're planning to stay a night in Derby on the way back and see DH's son, DIL and GDs.

Having recovered from swine flu/bronchitis I've re-started my exercise programme. Monday afternoon over-50s aqua-aerobics, Tuesday morning adult beginners' swimming, Friday morning keep-fit at a retirement complex (exercise sitting on chairs). In between, my weights and resistance tubes at home. Might get a new swimsuit - Daxon had one that I liked: http://www.daxon.co.uk/ladieswear-menswear-orthopaedic-footwear/Swimsuit.aspx?ProductId=D013101142&DocumentId=DW09&CompanyId=D&Path=546/565&source=

[Deleted User]

That is a lovely flattering swimsuit Margaret. I am glad you are over the chest problems

I have been splashing out again, lol on knitting needles. Well I kept on returning to the lantern moon needles I saw on a site and I began to think to myself `why not`. I am going to enjoy looking at them and stroking them as well as using them and anyway they are helping to support poor people in vietnam. I know they are the rolls royce of needles and anyway I am on a knitting phase. In the past couple of weeks I have made 4 baby and toddler tops and a hat as well as a pure wool, warm poncho thing with tassels for me and last night a scarf from one of those new fangled yarns with bobbles all over it. I also ordered a beautiful silky knitting needle roll

So that is me at the moment. Nothing exciting but nice to be spending on lovely things for me that I know I will appreciate.

I am trying out bought beef wellingtons tonight as dh will be back at an unknown time and they take about 15 mins. From costco so will be superb, as are all their items

seven-day-weekend

I have spent all morning sorting out potential home exchange holidays . Four are almost definite, just have to sort dates, and one we have approached and are waiting to hear.

The four almost-definites are : Chilches, on the coast near Malaga, villa with a pool, exchanging with a Spanish couple sometime in the winter. Just have to fix a date.

Then we have three while we are in the UK in 2010, two in Shropshire and one in North Wales. (They will obviously go to our Spanish house, not our UK one !). Just have to fix dates for these too.

The one we are waiting to hear about is in central Bilbao and we are hoping to be able to stay for a few days when we go up to get our ferry next June. Visit to Guggenheim museum on the cards!

If these all come about we will have to ask my friend in the village to change sheets etc, between each one, as we will be in the UK. (We will pay her of course).

So....I'll keep you all posted!

Newly_retired

My bathroom problems go from bad to worse. Minor leak has now dripped into the kitchen below. Fetched the plumber back to deal with it ( before it brings the ceiling down) and he capped the cold tap in the basin. A few hours later, leak still there, worse in fact. DH has now traced it to the bath cold tap, not basin and turned the water off overnight - too late at past 10pm to fetch the plumber back.
Why didn't he diagnose the problem correctly the first time? Not sure how much faith I have in him to install my bathroom!
DH says he wished we had not started the renovations - not that that would have stopped the leak happening!
So much for ski-ing.

DiggerUK

Bruges, pronounced "brucker", as in the german for bridge, locally, was well worth the visit. Old town still very close to it's original. Both wars seemed to have passed it by with little damage.
Was fair busy with a good number of brits out there for armistice w/e, but not overcrowded.
Great restaurants, beer is as good as you have been told it is, and waffles with fruit, cream and a raspberry beer for breakfast, is a must start to the day.
Came back with some sunday best lace tablecloths and napkins, and a barrow load of very expensive, but must return with, chocolate.

The point of the trip I will remember most is the visit to the memorial at Ypres.
In this country I can only remember seeing my family name on 2 memorials in my whole life, I counted it 11 times on the Ypres arch, and stopped.
And the arch only has the names of those with no known grave.

If you haven't been you won't be disappointed, unless you hate beer, chocolate and Belgian chocolate and beer in particular.

Newly_retired

I went to Bruges and Ypres earlier this summer. Extremely moving ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, especially as there were young men, representatives of two regiments about to go out to Afghanistan, laying wreaths in memory of the fallen in WW1. Lovely town Ypres, and Bruges is superb. So many wonderful buildings, churches, museums, canals, chocolate, lace, beer, boat rides, flea market.......