BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Its the bank holiday weekend and its raining. I have had 1 or 2 problems with my back over the last 6 months or so. My GP decided that a steroid injection would be a good idea. Well I guess it was, but that has meant I have not been able to do anything for 48 hours! I have to stay in and 'take it easy' as he said ........ there is only so much bank holiday TV you can watch !! I was even very tempted last night to watch the Eurovision Contest .... I didnt !

Its back to work on Tuesday and only another 12 weeks or so before our next holiday (Not that I am counting). We have another couple of cruises booked for June - we are going on a "Jazz Cruise" on Windermere. We leave Bowness at 19:45 and return approx 2.5 hours later. There is a jazz band (obviously) and a buffet and plenty of alcohol. We are celebrating friends birthdays.

MORE HOLIDAYS

Yes, another cruise !

We decided to leave from Southampton (which in hindsight was an excellent decision due to the 'ash issue'). We cruised to Brest, Vigo, Bilbao and Lisbon (not necessarily in that order). The weather was absolutely gorgeous +26 most days. Lisbon and Bilbao were our favourites. We travelled around Lisbon on a trolley bus and coach and had a great day out. The highlight for me was Bilbao - what a beautiful place, so clean and people were very friendly. We went to the Guggenheim museum (http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/) it was fantastic. The actual building is a piece of art and it is situated on the river with fabulous walkways etc. etc. (I sound like the tourist information office!). Well worth a visit. Vigo was Ok - just somewhere to get off and walk around and Brest gave us the ability to drive into the french countryside which was beautiful. All in all a great holiday.

Once again we met some great people on the ship. Our dining table was shared with 4 other people, Kris and Vi (not too there if that is the correct spelling, but I'm sure she wont mind) and Mick and Phyl. We had some great laughs over dinner and most evenings we were the last out of the dining room. I am sure the waiters were rather fed up with us at the end of the week. Talking of food ...... its just was well we were only on the ship for a week as the pair of jeans I had travelled to Southampton in were rather tight on the way home !

Just one last item on the cruise ........ its always best to be punctual! If you are not back on board the ship by the time its due to sail it doesnt wait for you. It is then up to you to make your way to the next port! One unlucky couple were late back! They eventually did board, but this was via the pilot boat (which guides the ship in and out of the port). Apparently, they had to wear a sling and be 'slung' onto the ship - whilst the ship was moving and at speed! I always knew it was good to be early !!

BIRTHDAYS

Well, I have had another one ! As some of you know I do tend to celebrate my holidays as often as I can (usually starting at the beginning of the month and ending in February!). One particular night we booked to go out with our friends Joanne and Paul to try a new Thai restaurant in Kendal. It had received some particularly good reviews so we thought we should give it a go. We went to weatherspoons for pre-dinner drinks. I am not too sure if you are aware but it is cheaper to buy a bottle of wine in Weatherspoons than it is to buy two glasses, so we did (buy a bottle that is). The wine is just between the 2 girls. We then went over to the restuarant only to be told we would have to wait for our table - so we bought another bottle (just to keep us going!). 45 minutes later our table was still not ready! We decided to leave and go to the Indian restaurant just around the corner. Joanne decided that we should have another bottle of wine (this was our 3rd) - I didnt want any, I dont really drink ! Joanne had brought a birthday cake - wel it was a Jamiacan rum cake (from Jamaica) with candles. A rather drunken 'happy birthday' was sung. The people on the table next to us, decided to move - they said it was because they were in a draught (...... I dont think that was the REAL reason). Needless to say we managed to eat our Indian meal. I think they were really glad when we left as Tom decided he would start singing a Buddy Holly song which Paul wasnt familiar with. When we left they were both singing at the top of their voices .......

HOLIDAYS - CENTER PARCS

I know, I guess you think thats all we do ! We went to center parcs in Penrith. We had a great time. We booked a few events which included ten pin bowling (don't think I should have done that with my back problems !), and Archery. What a laugh - I am glad I dont have to rely on my archery skills to feed myself - I would be quite skinny by now! We also arranged to go to the aqua sauna session for a couple of hours, but that turned into rather a farce - we had been told that as we were going on the Monday we didnt need to make a booking and just go along. We did check this on more than one occasion but were always told not to worry - so we didnt. When we got there we couldnt get in because we hadnt made a booking ! As we were speaking to the young lady on reception she must have decided she had had enough of us and she jus went into the back room and ignored us !! Needless to say we didnt get our 'session' but since have had a refund and we can go back anytime we like just for a sauna session. I think we have to make a booking though !

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

I absolutely love the snow and it had snowed just before Christmas. Natland was gorgeous - the Church and village green were covered in snow and was like a picture postcard.... until you had to travel anywhere! We spent Christmas morning with Richard (my brother) and family in Crosthwaite (fortunately for us he has a 4-wheel drive and he was able to collect and return us home). On Boxing Day we managed to escape the snow and we went to Gran Canaria for two weeks. I kept receiving text messages to say it was -14 in the UK and we were basking in +25 ! We had a great 1st week - we didnt do anything apart from soak up the sunshine. The 2nd week was slightly marred as I hurt my back. Tom spent quite a lot of time in taxis off to find the nearest chemist so he could collect my prescriptions. I was confined to the hotel, well to be a little more precise the hotel room for a couple of days then a sunbed! I could only just waddle from my room to the restaurant (well u have to make sure you get something to eat dont you!) then to my sunbed! Needless to say I read a lot of books and did get a lovely sun tan - but only on my front !!!!