After having had such a really awful holiday in 2017 when I managed to break a disc in my neck and returning to Australia 6 painful weeks later to have the disc replaced by a nice new polymer one – I started thinking about my next holiday the following year when I’d finally had my leave reinstated in 2018.
So in June of 2018 I made my first contact with Christine, my Northern Ireland Travel Companion (the girl – well I call her a girl, I’d met her on the first cruise I’d done in 2017 before my neck pain started and I’d lost the use of my left arm) to ask her if she might be interested in joining me on a cruise I’d found, that went to a few different places that neither of us had visited. She was interested so I forged ahead and booked the cruise.
Meanwhile, the “Magnificent Seven” were making noises of wanting to reunite on a holiday in 2019, so I suggested the cruise I’d found to them, but it was a little later in the year and they felt that the weather might be cooler than they’d wanted.
At this same moment in time other things were happening around me. Firstly my bedroom renovation had turned into a nightmare. NOTHING to do with the perfect building but due to a person believing it to be looking ‘dodgy’ had reported it to Council and I found out that despite having purchased the home in 1993 (and that room having existed THEN) – my bedroom at the Council was still a CARPORT!
The moral to this story is – CHOOSE someone to assist that actually IS a Building Surveyor – not one that Displays signs to that effect and then simply charges massive amounts of money then doesn’t come through with the goods!! I finally had the Certification ONE YEAR later.
PLUS…. In June of 2018 I was still working a 9 day fortnight with NO plans of retiring – but obviously my Boss had other ideas and I was made redundant on the 3rd August! A real bummer as I’d had a three year plan to pay off my mortgage and that got hit on the head quite abruptly. I guess that being told I was ‘at retirement age’ should have been a bit of a hint!
Thankfully I’d started an AirBnB at home three years previously with the three rooms my Children had FINALLY vacated – and it was a thriving business. I live in the PERFECT spot and have the most amazing guests. I love hosting and creating my growing AirBnB Family.
OK….. so onwards and upwards…. Life goes on – even AFTER being given the FLICK!!
As my other travel companions hadn’t wanted to join me on the cruise I’d booked, I looked for another that perhaps I’d be able to do with them and found a really good one which I tentatively booked. They were really keen so they went forward with it but due to one thing or another I was eventually unable to join them but I agreed to meet up half way.
I must say that my planning for this holiday has been quite extensive and once again I believe my spreadsheet should be on the market. I even insert the expected temperatures for all days and destinations! It has every day, destination, address, contact details, deposits, booking numbers, flights, times, everything required to see the whole holiday. Plus – I share with family and friends so they can track me if and when they want.
I was leaving 11 days after the group and had found two amazing experiences to commence my holiday. And on that note I won’t write any more until I get there.
This brings you up to date and I’m just going through my lists to make sure everything has been done before I go – including this BLOG. Haha…..
I’m looking forward to taking loads of pics and writing another coffee table book for the collection plus this time I’ll be keeping my friends and family in touch with real time postings.
I’m really looking forward to the holiday but have to say that I’m going to miss my grandchildren and the Kids – however I’m sure that they’ll all be fine without me and I’ll be noticing a big change when I get back in six week.
See you around the corner………………
Lady Boomer 