The Travel Thread

[horrie hastings]

Id be looking into that straight away

Have a vascular appointment in a couple of weeks so will see if the veins in my legs in particular need any surgery, Hips and knees seem fine at the moment but anything i need to get done medically i will get done while i'm still working, next week i accumulate more sick /personal leave on top of what i have so may as well use up as much as i can.

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

Thanks Voodo Man, that's great that you will semi retired and at 49. I'm a bit further on in the years but honestly don't think i will to much trouble working out what do with myself, lol my fishing license renewal just turned up in the post and that is something i will get right back into once i'm retired.

You sound as though you know how to enjoy life which is not always easy. I'm hoping to do a bit of fishing as well. All the best for a long, happy and adventurous retirement.

[horrie hastings]

That's exciting Horrie. I'm currently planning a trip to the UK in 2024. I've never been anywhere outside Australia bar NZ so it's a big thing.

UK is on the cards as i have good friends in Brighton which i haven't seen since 2011, i haven't been to Italy before and in the past i thought i would not be bothered if it didn't see it but there parts i want to see away from the millions of tourists so would really have to plan where i go there and of course the Greek Islands, haven't been since 2000. have a friend who has just retired to Paros so a visit there would be nice. As for Uk / Europe never say never but i think that will be my swansong for big vacations/ trips over seas, of course i would still go to places like Singapore and New Zealand which are really short haul flights .

[mightyrooster]

UK is on the cards as i have good friends in Brighton which i haven't seen since 2011, i haven't been to Italy before and in the past i thought i would not be bothered if it didn't see it but there parts i want to see away from the millions of tourists so would really have to plan where i go there and of course the Greek Islands, haven't been since 2000. have a friend who has just retired to Paros so a visit there would be nice. As for Uk / Europe never say never but i think that will be my swansong for big vacations/ trips over seas, of course i would still go to places like Singapore and New Zealand which are really short haul flights .

I don’t think I’ll ever get to Europe as we’ve probably left it too late. For now it’s UK next year, probably limited to England and Scotland at this stage since there are so many places there that we’re interested in. Next on the list is Japan as it’s been on my list a long time having studied the language and country since school / uni. I would really like to go to Ireland too, but I’m just not sure we can fit it in next year’s UK trip as I don’t want to rush through London / outside London / Scotland. I would love to go back to NZ too to see the parts we missed in our first two trips.

[rented tracksuit]

I don’t think I’ll ever get to Europe as we’ve probably left it too late. For now it’s UK next year, probably limited to England and Scotland at this stage since there are so many places there that we’re interested in. Next on the list is Japan as it’s been on my list a long time having studied the language and country since school / uni. I would really like to go to Ireland too, but I’m just not sure we can fit it in next year’s UK trip as I don’t want to rush through London / outside London / Scotland. I would love to go back to NZ too to see the parts we missed in our first two trips.

If you are going to the UK, you could very easily do a side trip into Europe. Sounds strange but you could even day trip across to France or even spend a night or two across the channel and hit Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It’s not right into ‘Europe’ as such but it’s an easy way to get a taste.

[Andrew Walker]

If you are going to the UK, you could very easily do a side trip into Europe. Sounds strange but you could even day trip across to France or even spend a night or two across the channel and hit Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It’s not right into ‘Europe’ as such but it’s an easy way to get a taste.

Oh RT this is a splendid idea True testament of your smarts when you take your head out of the sand.

MR It is never too late in life Seeing as though I am able to still be winning GFs in my chosen sport at my age ( after along time away from playing ) which is not too far behind your own age then you and your Husband can easily mange to travel the UK I urge you to look at my recent successful sporting comeback as inspiration for you to fulfill all of your travel dreams, and when you do I look forward to your daily blogs on here about them

[mightyrooster]

If you are going to the UK, you could very easily do a side trip into Europe. Sounds strange but you could even day trip across to France or even spend a night or two across the channel and hit Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It’s not right into ‘Europe’ as such but it’s an easy way to get a taste.

Yep, you're right. I think the biggest hurdle will be money. While I've been busy planning my UK itinerary I haven't actually looked at the cost side yet. Once I get a pretty good idea of the itinerary I will start costing. I'm a bit scared of that part! I know London alone will cost a heap in accommodation and we want to spend a fair bit of time there.

[eddie]

Yep, you're right. I think the biggest hurdle will be money. While I've been busy planning my UK itinerary I haven't actually looked at the cost side yet. Once I get a pretty good idea of the itinerary I will start costing. I'm a bit scared of that part! I know London alone will cost a heap in accommodation and we want to spend a fair bit of time there.

Wish I could afford the UK...................but the travel time would turn me off.

[mightyrooster]

Wish I could afford the UK...................but the travel time would turn me off.

Yep if we don't feel we'll be able to afford anymore big overseas trips after the UK, then so be it. At least we will have (hopefully) done the one we want the most. The longest I've ever been away on a holiday is NZ - just last year for 12 nights. The thought of being on a long haul flight also scares me.

[horrie hastings]

I don’t think I’ll ever get to Europe as we’ve probably left it too late. For now it’s UK next year, probably limited to England and Scotland at this stage since there are so many places there that we’re interested in. Next on the list is Japan as it’s been on my list a long time having studied the language and country since school / uni. I would really like to go to Ireland too, but I’m just not sure we can fit it in next year’s UK trip as I don’t want to rush through London / outside London / Scotland. I would love to go back to NZ too to see the parts we missed in our first two trips.

Renty is right MR, you are on Europe's door step from London but as you say it comes down to time and cost but travelling all that way ( the flight is a killer ) you may as well try and get as much squeezed in as possible within reason . Depending on what airline you fly you could do a stop over for a few days in one the European countries for a few days before London or on the way back and at least it would give you a little sample of somewhere different.

[eddie]

Yep if we don't feel we'll be able to afford anymore big overseas trips after the UK, then so be it. At least we will have (hopefully) done the one we want the most. The longest I've ever been away on a holiday is NZ - just last year for 12 nights. The thought of being on a long haul flight also scares me.

Longest I've been on a plane was to Bali.
That was enough for me.

[Andrew Walker]

Yep if we don't feel we'll be able to afford anymore big overseas trips after the UK, then so be it. At least we will have (hopefully) done the one we want the most. The longest I've ever been away on a holiday is NZ - just last year for 12 nights. The thought of being on a long haul flight also scares me.

From my own personal experience flying is a very pleasant experience Even the long haul flights That is unless of course you get a window seat and are then boxed in by two fat 160 plus kg Germans OMG that was fcuken brutal 10 pints before boarding in Manchester - Frankfurt (flight was delayed it was only meant to be two three tops then hauled straight across the tarmac to board the next flight ) Frankfurt to Singapore 11 hours When I arrived in Singapore I sat in a cold shower for half an hour to recover

[ism22]

FWIW I'm currently planning my next trip to Japan where I'll visit my daughter in the coastal paradise of Tsuruga. Might duck into the Port of Humanity (pictured below) at some stage, which is linked to the story of Chiune Sugihara (the WWII diplomat who handed out visas to a heap of Jews so that they could safely pass through Japan). Always an interesting part of history to me, notably because I was an actor in a stage play about the whole thing (yes, I was dragged in as the token white guy in town).

[mightyrooster]

Renty is right MR, you are on Europe's door step from London but as you say it comes down to time and cost but travelling all that way ( the flight is a killer ) you may as well try and get as much squeezed in as possible within reason . Depending on what airline you fly you could do a stop over for a few days in one the European countries for a few days before London or on the way back and at least it would give you a little sample of somewhere different.

I know. It makes sense to try and fit in more since it's such a long way to travel. I think I'll know more when I actually sit down and try and do a proper costing. I mean we really wanted to add Ireland to the trip as well, parts of NI and the Republic. There's just so much to consider. I planned both of our NZ itineraries but this one is just so much bigger and harder and the more you look into it the more places you want to add. London, York, the Cotswolds, Bath, Bristol, Windsor. I would love to visit Liverpool to for my Beatles nerd fix as well. Then there's Edinburgh and the Highlands.

[mightyrooster]

Longest I've been on a plane was to Bali.
That was enough for me.

Not sure how long it takes to get to Bali but NZ and Cairns were both about 3 hours. That's the longest for me. Like Horrie said it's probably a good idea to break the trip up too with a stop over.