How are you all?

[kalos]

10 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

I’ve waffled. 
 

you lovely people have kept me sane. There aren’t many people I have in my day to day life and quite a few of you have kept my head above water quite a few times when looking at the same 4 walls has nearly drove me crazy so thank you 😊 

 

No you haven't.

                             What you have done is give us an insight into a young family trying to lead a normal life

in what is very strange times for all of us,not easy with energetic kids .

It makes me think back to when ours was young and I can tell you ,as lovely as they were they could be

hard work at times.

Holidays ? We all crave them but we want what we had in the past and that is not going to happen for a while but

we can adapt as you have being doing .Ok the last one did not work out for you but I know that will not stop you 

finding others that as a family you are going to enjoy . Which will leave you with fond memories in years to come.

 

Trying to plan something special ?

Shout that husband of yours and the two girls ...(yep now) 

Look them in the eyes ,give them a big hug ,kiss is optional and tell them you love them .

The response could be  ..."Dad !! ...Mums gone mad !"  

Or hopefully feel the love and warmth you get back from them . Now that is special .

Other readers on here ,try it  ..It really works ,Unless you have burnt todays dinner, then leave it .

 

With that .... 

[Vampiress88]

29 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

I like Miller & Carter, but what is that great big chunk of lettuce all about? 

Andy 

no idea but I’m sticking to their lunch menu. Gotta still watch the pennies even if it is half price

[Adawn47]

15 hours ago, happy v said:

I'll post this now the worry for your daughter has abated. What about a family picnic? You could choose somewhere you and Frank could get to on the bus or taxi. You could stay in your family groups, seperately but together. It's nice having something to shop for and I know you like cooking so you could do all the scones, cakes etc. Just having family time can make a world of difference and there isn't a big risk outside in the fresh air.

Nice idea v in theory. However, we only have very few family close by,  just a daughter who I've mentioned,  another daughter and our two grandsons who live with us. Then there's my grandaughter and family  who we see sometimes. We also have a son who lives in Lincolnshire.Then there's Frank who doesn't feel safe on public transport, not that I blame him, I don't either, but needs must. Added to that our CV19  cases are on the rise again so no-one here is feeling confident enough just now. On the plus side though, because we don't live on our own,  we have our barbecues and small family  get-togethers with the neighbours on either side, socially distanced by the garden fences and weather permitting. We're content with our lot and grateful that our troubles and losses due to this pandemic are lighter than many. However long It takes I'm confident we'll all come out the otherside smiling 😊

Avril 

[kalos]

4 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

We're content with our lot and grateful that our troubles and losses due to this pandemic are lighter than many. However long It takes I'm confident we'll all come out the otherside smiling 😊

Avril 

That is a great outlook Avril and the way forward 

[Adawn47]

11 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

just really need holidays. On a different site I’m on they talked about wasting money on shoes for example and apart from going out for dinner I really don’t. All my pennies go to holidays and then I plan them, as andy know for my spreadsheets and itineraries. It’s my hobby I suppose. Plus the kids don’t help telling me they wanna go back to Disney. I need things to work towards and I don’t feel like I have that until this is over. 
 

I'm with you 100% there vamps. We have one 'special' holiday a year. A cruise. I  love to research and plan the itineraries, that's half the fun. In this climate at the moment I need something to look forward to so  I'm in the middle of that now. I moved our deposit to a Norway cruise. We've never been before and the researching and planning of the places we'll  visit is keeping me well occupied and out of mischief 😉

Avril 

[ann141]

3 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

I'm with you 100% there vamps. We have one 'special' holiday a year. A cruise. I  love to research and plan the itineraries, that's half the fun. In this climate at the moment I need something to look forward to so  I'm in the middle of that now. I moved our deposit to a Norway cruise. We've never been before and the researching and planning of the places we'll  visit is keeping me well occupied and out of mischief 😉

Avril 

I'd planned what we were going to do in each port for our cruise on Arcadia in October which we have now transferred to a cruise next year and like you I love the planning.My husband is always amazed that I seem to know so much about the places we are due to visit but for me it is part of the holiday and I have picked up some great ideas from the posts on Cruise Critic (as well as saving money by doing our own thing.) I am reluctant to start planning for our next cruise in case its cancelled

[AndyMichelle]

45 minutes ago, kalos said:

 

No you haven't.

                             What you have done is give us an insight into a young family trying to lead a normal life

in what is very strange times for all of us,not easy with energetic kids .

It makes me think back to when ours was young and I can tell you ,as lovely as they were they could be

hard work at times.

Holidays ? We all crave them but we want what we had in the past and that is not going to happen for a while but

we can adapt as you have being doing .Ok the last one did not work out for you but I know that will not stop you 

finding others that as a family you are going to enjoy . Which will leave you with fond memories in years to come.

 

Trying to plan something special ?

Shout that husband of yours and the two girls ...(yep now) 

Look them in the eyes ,give them a big hug ,kiss is optional and tell them you love them .

The response could be  ..."Dad !! ...Mums gone mad !"  

Or hopefully feel the love and warmth you get back from them . Now that is special .

Other readers on here ,try it  ..It really works ,Unless you have burnt todays dinner, then leave it .

 

With that .... 

I just tried it Kalos.. 

Not the response I expected.. 

Mr Patel in our inconvenience store was a bit taken aback!! 😊

Andy 

[Adawn47]

17 minutes ago, ann141 said:

and I have picked up some great ideas from the posts on Cruise Critic 

So have I. I'm in the process of picking up ideas for sightseeing in Norway on the thread Cruises on your wish list. I make notes of all the suggestions and then do the research. Some lovely photos posted too. 

Avril 

Edited August 9, 2020 by Adawn47

[kalos]

5 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

I just tried it Kalos.. 

Not the response I expected.. 

Mr Patel in our inconvenience store was a bit taken aback!! 😊

Andy 

Think of the future discounts Andy .. Win ,win situation 

[AndyMichelle]

2 minutes ago, kalos said:

Think of the future discounts Andy .. Win ,win situation 

I think I am barred... 😊

Andy 

 

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Thanks Graham, it's nice to hear people's stories, not just what they are doing, but how it affects them. 

Not sure us riff raff can talk to you now without curtseying though, since we found out you are nearly Royal... 😊

Andy 

Cheers Andy.

I'll still get the beers in at the 

Queens Head,kings Arms or Prince of Wales pub.

Graham.

[mrsgoggins]

I've debated whether to contribute to this thread since I first saw it, and read every response, yesterday.  This group have kept me informed and entertained since lock down and despite not being a frequent P&O cruiser, I have appreciated this forum very much, so here goes.

 

In the last 12 months my lovely charmed world, which I did appreciate, has turned upside down!  I am very lucky in that I have quite a few really good friends but of my 2 closest, one died after a short illness last October. She and I met weekly and often spoke on the phone in between. When I exiled to Hertfordshire for 18 years we took an annual holiday together as well as speaking regularly and visiting.  Big shock.  Then my best friend since childhood, so 60 years, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of last year and has struggled ever since.  Another shock.  Next, my previously fit as a fiddle and very active husband was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of March and as his nurse specialist said 'There's never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer but there has never been a worse time!'  And how true that proved to be.  However, his surgery is now behind him and he is in the midst of chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy which, incidentally, was thought unnecessary initially because they believed they could remove the tumour 'cleanly'.  I'm sure you can guess the rest ...... the surgery was put on hold due to Covid, etc etc ..... so by the time they came to remove it, it had spread slightly.  We have every reason to expect a good outcome I should add.

 

Now I am definitely a 'glass half full' person and DH even more so - his favourite song is 'Always look on the bright side ....' so my life is not full of doom and gloom, far from it.  We are comfortably off, pleasant home with nice views and good friends and family.  It's just that sometimes I really cannot believe that life is so different to how it was 12 months ago - and not just because of Covid.  

 

If I previously mentioned a holiday I fancied, DH would say 'Get it booked, we never know how long we will be able to do these things', so we did, and especially last year - lots of land holidays as well as cruises - never imagining anything like the current scenario.  Of course, holidays are no longer my main concern, but like most others on here, I do look forward to being able to plan again.  One thing's for certain, the USA was a major destination for us but it's off my 'wish for' list.  Top of that list is our favourite hotel in our favourite resort on Lake Garda ...... sigh!

 

So thank you to all of you for your many contributions this year, whether it was the frustrated ones re slowness to get refunds, or the light-hearted and jokey ones.  I'm not a frequent poster, but I am a regular reader of others' posts and feel I know some of you quite well 😊.  I also tend to be a bit 'wordy' and for that I apologise if you have read to the end!

[AndyMichelle]

3 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

I've debated whether to contribute to this thread since I first saw it, and read every response, yesterday.  This group have kept me informed and entertained since lock down and despite not being a frequent P&O cruiser, I have appreciated this forum very much, so here goes.

 

In the last 12 months my lovely charmed world, which I did appreciate, has turned upside down!  I am very lucky in that I have quite a few really good friends but of my 2 closest, one died after a short illness last October. She and I met weekly and often spoke on the phone in between. When I exiled to Hertfordshire for 18 years we took an annual holiday together as well as speaking regularly and visiting.  Big shock.  Then my best friend since childhood, so 60 years, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of last year and has struggled ever since.  Another shock.  Next, my previously fit as a fiddle and very active husband was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of March and as his nurse specialist said 'There's never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer but there has never been a worse time!'  And how true that proved to be.  However, his surgery is now behind him and he is in the midst of chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy which, incidentally, was thought unnecessary initially because they believed they could remove the tumour 'cleanly'.  I'm sure you can guess the rest ...... the surgery was put on hold due to Covid, etc etc ..... so by the time they came to remove it, it had spread slightly.  We have every reason to expect a good outcome I should add.

 

Now I am definitely a 'glass half full' person and DH even more so - his favourite song is 'Always look on the bright side ....' so my life is not full of doom and gloom, far from it.  We are comfortably off, pleasant home with nice views and good friends and family.  It's just that sometimes I really cannot believe that life is so different to how it was 12 months ago - and not just because of Covid.  

 

If I previously mentioned a holiday I fancied, DH would say 'Get it booked, we never know how long we will be able to do these things', so we did, and especially last year - lots of land holidays as well as cruises - never imagining anything like the current scenario.  Of course, holidays are no longer my main concern, but like most others on here, I do look forward to being able to plan again.  One thing's for certain, the USA was a major destination for us but it's off my 'wish for' list.  Top of that list is our favourite hotel in our favourite resort on Lake Garda ...... sigh!

 

So thank you to all of you for your many contributions this year, whether it was the frustrated ones re slowness to get refunds, or the light-hearted and jokey ones.  I'm not a frequent poster, but I am a regular reader of others' posts and feel I know some of you quite well 😊.  I also tend to be a bit 'wordy' and for that I apologise if you have read to the end!

Of course we read until the end... 

Thank you for sharing your experiences, we like to learn about our fellow posters, you never know, we might get to meet one day. 

Glad your husband is finally getting the treatment he needs, Cancer is horrible but we manage to lead a good life despite living it every day. 

Hope you get back to Lake Garda soon. 

Andy 

[Vampiress88]

8 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

I've debated whether to contribute to this thread since I first saw it, and read every response, yesterday.  This group have kept me informed and entertained since lock down and despite not being a frequent P&O cruiser, I have appreciated this forum very much, so here goes.

 

In the last 12 months my lovely charmed world, which I did appreciate, has turned upside down!  I am very lucky in that I have quite a few really good friends but of my 2 closest, one died after a short illness last October. She and I met weekly and often spoke on the phone in between. When I exiled to Hertfordshire for 18 years we took an annual holiday together as well as speaking regularly and visiting.  Big shock.  Then my best friend since childhood, so 60 years, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of last year and has struggled ever since.  Another shock.  Next, my previously fit as a fiddle and very active husband was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of March and as his nurse specialist said 'There's never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer but there has never been a worse time!'  And how true that proved to be.  However, his surgery is now behind him and he is in the midst of chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy which, incidentally, was thought unnecessary initially because they believed they could remove the tumour 'cleanly'.  I'm sure you can guess the rest ...... the surgery was put on hold due to Covid, etc etc ..... so by the time they came to remove it, it had spread slightly.  We have every reason to expect a good outcome I should add.

 

Now I am definitely a 'glass half full' person and DH even more so - his favourite song is 'Always look on the bright side ....' so my life is not full of doom and gloom, far from it.  We are comfortably off, pleasant home with nice views and good friends and family.  It's just that sometimes I really cannot believe that life is so different to how it was 12 months ago - and not just because of Covid.  

 

If I previously mentioned a holiday I fancied, DH would say 'Get it booked, we never know how long we will be able to do these things', so we did, and especially last year - lots of land holidays as well as cruises - never imagining anything like the current scenario.  Of course, holidays are no longer my main concern, but like most others on here, I do look forward to being able to plan again.  One thing's for certain, the USA was a major destination for us but it's off my 'wish for' list.  Top of that list is our favourite hotel in our favourite resort on Lake Garda ...... sigh!

 

So thank you to all of you for your many contributions this year, whether it was the frustrated ones re slowness to get refunds, or the light-hearted and jokey ones.  I'm not a frequent poster, but I am a regular reader of others' posts and feel I know some of you quite well 😊.  I also tend to be a bit 'wordy' and for that I apologise if you have read to the end!

sorry to hear about your hubby. I really hope everything for the future looks up. I know you like Florida as much as me. 
 

always keep posting. Like to hear how your keeping 

[Bloodaxe]

2 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Of course we read until the end... 

Thank you for sharing your experiences, we like to learn about our fellow posters, you never know, we might get to meet one day. 

Glad your husband is finally getting the treatment he needs, Cancer is horrible but we manage to lead a good life despite living it every day. 

Hope you get back to Lake Garda soon. 

Andy 

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

[Vampiress88]

1 hour ago, Adawn47 said:

I'm with you 100% there vamps. We have one 'special' holiday a year. A cruise. I  love to research and plan the itineraries, that's half the fun. In this climate at the moment I need something to look forward to so  I'm in the middle of that now. I moved our deposit to a Norway cruise. We've never been before and the researching and planning of the places we'll  visit is keeping me well occupied and out of mischief 😉

Avril 

where in Norway are you going? 
 

we have the Iona to fjords in July 21 but I can’t even get excited about it. 
If this year had have gone to plan and we’d have already had our big holidays and I’d be planning the Iona one. 
 

I love to research the ships and the places we can go. All the food and the entertainment. I would seriously have a colour coded binder if I was allowed I’m that weird with having to plan. 
 

im gonna wait till Iona has sailed and then start my planning. Just in case we still aren’t cruising by then

[kalos]

2 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

Sorry to hear about your son,heart problems as I know can be bad but sadly yours was the worst outcome.

Hope you are keeping safe and well ,lets hope you return to happier times/destinations soon .

[AnnieC]

9 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

I cannot express how sorry I am, Bloodaxe;  cannot image how utterly heartbreaking it must be to lose a child - there's simply nothing comparable. You must be absolutely devastated.

 

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by AnnieC

[AndyMichelle]

9 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

Oh my God... 

So sorry.. It just goes to show you can take nothing for granted. 

Andy 

[ann141]

10 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

So sorry to hear of your son's passing Bloodaxe. Also sorry to hear of your problems Mrsgoggins.It helps put my minor worries into perspective.I hope that things will  improve for both families very soon

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, mrsgoggins said:

I've debated whether to contribute to this thread since I first saw it, and read every response, yesterday.  This group have kept me informed and entertained since lock down and despite not being a frequent P&O cruiser, I have appreciated this forum very much, so here goes.

 

In the last 12 months my lovely charmed world, which I did appreciate, has turned upside down!  I am very lucky in that I have quite a few really good friends but of my 2 closest, one died after a short illness last October. She and I met weekly and often spoke on the phone in between. When I exiled to Hertfordshire for 18 years we took an annual holiday together as well as speaking regularly and visiting.  Big shock.  Then my best friend since childhood, so 60 years, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of last year and has struggled ever since.  Another shock.  Next, my previously fit as a fiddle and very active husband was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of March and as his nurse specialist said 'There's never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer but there has never been a worse time!'  And how true that proved to be.  However, his surgery is now behind him and he is in the midst of chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy which, incidentally, was thought unnecessary initially because they believed they could remove the tumour 'cleanly'.  I'm sure you can guess the rest ...... the surgery was put on hold due to Covid, etc etc ..... so by the time they came to remove it, it had spread slightly.  We have every reason to expect a good outcome I should add.

 

Now I am definitely a 'glass half full' person and DH even more so - his favourite song is 'Always look on the bright side ....' so my life is not full of doom and gloom, far from it.  We are comfortably off, pleasant home with nice views and good friends and family.  It's just that sometimes I really cannot believe that life is so different to how it was 12 months ago - and not just because of Covid.  

 

If I previously mentioned a holiday I fancied, DH would say 'Get it booked, we never know how long we will be able to do these things', so we did, and especially last year - lots of land holidays as well as cruises - never imagining anything like the current scenario.  Of course, holidays are no longer my main concern, but like most others on here, I do look forward to being able to plan again.  One thing's for certain, the USA was a major destination for us but it's off my 'wish for' list.  Top of that list is our favourite hotel in our favourite resort on Lake Garda ...... sigh!

 

So thank you to all of you for your many contributions this year, whether it was the frustrated ones re slowness to get refunds, or the light-hearted and jokey ones.  I'm not a frequent poster, but I am a regular reader of others' posts and feel I know some of you quite well 😊.  I also tend to be a bit 'wordy' and for that I apologise if you have read to the end!

I read your story to the end like I always do when someone has taken the trouble to post and sincerely hope your husband can get the treatment needed to get rid of his cancer.

Fortunately he was very fit previously which should also help him.

Sorry to hear about your friends too.

You did right to get away on holiday as much as you did in the past as that is something we have always done because you never know what's around the corner and your story and covid19 fully illustrates this.

Best Wishes.

Graham.

 

 

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

I am so sorry to hear the desperately sad news about your son.

I had an unexpected mild heart attack in December and I was lucky the A&E consultant spotted this in my blood test and got me straight into Cardiac care and i had a stent fitted.

Life can change in an instant and we all just have to take care and enjoy life the best we can.

Graham.

Edited August 9, 2020 by grapau27

[Bloodaxe]

Thanks to you all for your kindness, our Son was 47.

He left us with 2 wonderful Grandsons aged 20 and 13.

We now concentrate on trying to help them make the best of the future has we know that's what our Son would want.

 

 

 

[mrsgoggins]

1 hour ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

The mention of Lake Cards struck a chord with me, last June we returned from a stay at the Lake followed by a wonderful cruise from Venice to Athens.

Then almost exactly one year ago our only Son died suddenly from a massive heart attack.

It really brings it home to you how your lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

 

 

Your post brought tears to my eyes.  I have a 40 year old son with a family, and if anything were to happen to him .... well, I can't even begin to go there.  I am sad about losing my friend and the struggles of my best friend and DH, but nothing could compare with losing a child, no matter what age.  Your next post shows what a good attitude you have.  All the very best.

[Presto2]

3 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

Morning all.  Well I believe last night was just as bad.  Police called, car park strewn with bottles, fights.  I'm sure it's the Ibiza/Magaluf brigade.  Not our usual crowd.  It's absolutely manic here today.  More visitors than I have ever seen in 17 years here.  I can see this running into October!!

It is so weird how things are different across the country. North Wales where we are is relatively quiet and the cycle path really peaceful. Colwyn Bay was busy but the tide was in so forcing people off the beach. Whatever yet again only praise for everyone we have seen ..... keeping a distance. So sad when local people have to put up with idiots though Jean .... such a beautiful part of the world and the people who love there deserve more respect.