Thursday 18th June was Day 2 of the Travelpack and Riverside Luxury Cruises Fam Trip and it was an absolute delight. I didn’t make it to the breakfast in the dining room on account of me still having half of my cheese plate from last night to eat – as I don’t like to waste things I had that with water and then realised my cabin didn’t have a kettle, only a coffee machine. I asked Daniel, the butler, if he could oblige with a pot of tea and he brought a proper pot of tea in with a smile! For our daily excursion we did the Panoramic Budapest tour, which was excellent. We visited the State Opera House which, as a former musician, blew my mind. The whole tour was done with an ear piece in so we could listen to our tour guides throughout. After an extensive tour round the opera house we had a glass of champagne and a bit of a surprise. As the performers were rehearsing we were treated to our own private showing in an intimate gathering on the stairs – just wonderful. I was shocked to find out that to get tickets to the royal box wasn’t even that expensive so it was definitely on my list to do with 9 other people (the royal box seats up to 10), ideally in a winter month.
We had a good walk around in the sunshine and visited Heroes Square before returning to Riverside Mozart for a delicious BBQ lunch on the sun deck. Other guests returned from other tours and I was very glad to have not been on the ebike tour as the sun was pretty intense and they all looked sweaty. Captain Caveman would’ve preferred that tour when we get to do a river cruise.
The lunch was lovely, I chose steak and prawns mainly, with another glass of Taittinger – obviously. After not too much champagne we had a guided tour of the ship and giggled at how familiar I was with the laundry room already. Someone had left a pair of red undies in there so I was fortunate it was after my visit so that none of my whites were turned pink. There was a beauty and hair salon for any titivating, a wonderful spa to relax or swim in and a very well equipped gym. I noticed some weighing scales and was almost tempted to get on them, having missed Fat Club yesterday – we all agreed it would be unwise. We used the private dining room for our office in the afternoon and actually did some work as well as having presentations on what Riverside and Travelpack could offer our customers. I now needed to up my game to find clients and friends who wanted to book, or come with me, on more of these types of luxury holidays – I already had a few people in mind!
Back in my cabin, I checked my emails and noticed I had won another prize from one of the other suppliers I have booked holidays with. It was a travel towel and suncream set – it looked great and I sent them my address in Sheffield so I could get it when I finally got back to the UK in July. Back once again on the sun deck for cocktails we set sail for Slovakia, it was a good feeling knowing that we would wake up tomorrow in another new country. In my harmony suite the water level of the Danube was just below the picture window and it was calming to look out at. Dinner was once again an absolute pleasure and the wine and fizz went down quite well too. This time I decided to have the steak with a pepper sauce and it was very tasty. I wasn’t keen on the first taste of the red wine offered so I was given a Primitivo instead, without any fuss. My butler, Daniel, had left more treats in my cabin and sorted out my room for the evening. I was starting to really enjoy being a river cruiser!
Gratitude List 1. The Budapest State Opera House and our private show 2. The Riverside Mozart ship and all it’s luxury 3. Being a river cruiser.
Photo Credit – some photos taken by the other Fam Trip Attendees
I was a giddy little kipper on Wednesday 17th June as the day of my 5 day Riverside Luxury Cruises and Travelpack Fam trip was here, at last! In the afternoon I would be boarding the Riverside Mozart ship and sailing down the Danube from Budapest to Vienna. When my alarm went off at stupid o’clock that morning, I was feeling sad to be leaving Mallorca and really had enjoyed an amazing 1.5 days cramming in stuff with the Mallorca Resort Expert. My flight was at 6.50am so the taxi was booked for 4.30am and was costing 50 Euros. We said our farewells, both knowing we had forged a great friendship and would definitely see each other again. The taxi was good, the driver spoke English and there was no traffic. My flight was with easyJet back to Gatwick, it was practically empty and I had nodded off before takeoff. Pauline, my petite pink under seat case kept her wheels on and there were no issues. I landed in a very rainy and cold London at 8.30am and had to get a bit of a spurt on. My next flight, which had been booked for me by Travelpack, departed at 11.05am and I had a small dilemma. They had booked me a Wizzair flight from Gatwick to Budapest with 20kg hold luggage and an underseat case. It would be my first time flying with this airline. Unfortunately, Pauline my petite pink case was 5cm too tall without the detachable wheels and couldn’t go as hand luggage. Wizzair staff at the bag drop told me that they would be strict at the gate so it would be better for me to pop Pauline in the hold and definitely not to chance taking her as an underseat bag. I wasn’t keen on this, with her being so small, and I had to take out my laptop, chargers, diary and other work related stuff, which I put in a shoulder bag. There was barely anything left in Pauline – mainly just dirty laundry, toiletries, a pair of sandals and a new sandy travel towel. Wizzair weighed my checked luggage and, although allowed 20kg, it was only 7kg and I got a receipt. Of course, I had the obligatory wait in the airport near a screen until an hour before the departure time, when the gate would be made public. It was too early for me for an airport pint so I ended up spending almost a tenner in Boots and doing some work. Oddly there was a member of staff there complaining to me about the heat and apologising that the AC wasn’t working. I had my hoodie on as it was comparatively cold to Spain and Mallorca. Here’s what I bought, prices in pounds;
Boots 1 paper bag 0.18 1 chocolate bar 1.00 1 smoothie 3.00 1 Hoisin Duck wrap 3.75 Meal Deal discount -2.75 1 mini cocoa butter 2.20 1 mini mouthwash 1.80 1 mini toothpaste 1.65 3 for 2 minis discount -1.65 Total spent £9.68
I’d had to buy the toothpaste when I realised I had left the rest of my toothytabs in Mallorca. I also didn’t really need the paper bag from Boots but it was another travel hack. If you buy a bag from any of the airport shops you can count this as an extra hand luggage at no extra cost. I used it to put my lunch plus diary, headphones, water bottle and other bits and bobs in. At the gate, I witnessed every passenger have their hand luggage measured and weighed with many having to pay a £70 fine – even some passengers who argued they had been told they could take carry on. The Wizzair gate staff were having none of it, they definitely charged a lot of people extra and boarding took ages. The Wizzair plane was not particularly clean and I got sat on an aisle seat near the back of the plane. A stag do of 10 lads had decided they weren’t that bothered about paying to select seats together so they were spread out, one in the window seat of my row and one behind us. We had a chat and it was a nice lad who offered me one of his jelly bears. I didn’t partake incase they were laced with drugs but the stag lads turned out to be a lovely bunch. They let me wear one of their masks, I shared a few travel tips with them and we had photos and drinks to pass the time on. When I told them about the neck pillow filled with clothes travel hack, they loved it – especially as one of them had paid an extra £70 and wasn’t happy about that as it was more than the cost of the flight. We landed in Budapest at 2.40pm and it was probably the longest I’ve been in a passport control queue in a while. Luckily, I got chatting to a man who often holidays in Budapest and he gave me a few ideas and tips based on his several visits. He even saved my space in the queue when I needed the toilet.
After about 90 minutes, I was through to pick up my luggage – needless to say little Pauline was on the baggage carousel belt on her own. I picked her up and walked out to arrivals where I was met by Suzie, an employee sent to accompany me on the private transfer to the ship. She looked shocked and apologised that my hold luggage, which she presumed had got lost, would be retrieved and brought to the ship as soon as they could. I explained that I travelled light, there was no more luggage, and she was even more shocked. The minibus driver asked where my luggage was, I explained and he and Suzie had a good old laugh together about that. While Suzie gave me some tips on how to say the basics in Hungarian, we drove along the Danube, where I would board the ship. Even the view from the minibus was fantastic and I was very excited for my first ever river cruise.
As I boarded the Riverside Mozart docked on the river Danube in Budapest, the porter, the receptionist and then a waiter were equally baffled over my lack of luggage and that I hadn’t lost any. I was given a welcome glass of champagne, a lady in the bar shouted hello but I wasn’t sure who she was until later and then I was shown to my cabin, number 153. My only comparison was a ferry so I was extremely impressed with my sleeping quarters for the next 4 nights. My cabin was a Harmony Suite with a picture window and was around 20 square metres. It was the ‘basic’ level cabin and I was certainly impressed with it – it was much better than any hotel room I’d been in this year. This was my first ever cruise and I had never had myself down as a cruiser – that was about to be challenged! It was also my first time visiting Hungary, Slovakia and Austria so I saw it as a great introduction to 3 countries I may want to see more of in the future. The Riverside Mozart wasn’t a massive ship but it can fit 162 guests and 82 crew – so far I had seen far more crew than guests and, at 23m wide, this boat felt pretty roomy. I had a welcome bottle of fizz and some rather lovely chocolates in my cabin and a note to welcome me. The bathroom was an absolute delight with one of those Japanese style toilets which can wash and dry your nether regions while having a heated seat! The shower was marvellous and had opulent toiletries so I needn’t get out my travel ones. I learned that Riverside Luxury Cruises do not charge a single supplement for any of their cruises! This was good to know as I often get requests from solo travellers who obviously don’t want to have to pay up to double the price. I also learned that I was on the Premium All Inclusive package with included excursions and that was an absolute bonus – I am partial to the odd tipple and the diet was certainly on hold from now on.
I felt so lucky to have won this trip and I almost skipped to the bar to find the other travel agents. On the way, I found the free DIY launderette and popped in my dirty laundry so I could start with a full complement of clothes. The bar was fantastic, the kind of place they hand out Taittinger like it’s water and the nibbles need a Google to work out what they are. Our first task was to listen to the safety briefing from a very dishy Captain, who’s priority was only the safety of his passengers. My fellow sailors on this Fam trip were; • Victoria – the Business Development Manager at Riverside Luxury Cruises • Joely – the Business Development Manager at Travelpack • Amy • Grant • Paul • Cath • Sam So, there were 8 of us in total; 5 other Travel Agents, me and the people in charge of putting on the trip. They seemed a nice bunch as we went through to the Waterfront dining room.
We sat over 2 tables and had a waiter, a server and a sommelier at our table, making sure we were waited on very well. There was a menu which changed daily, as well as a menu that was available throughout our stay. Amy & I chose the Asian spring roll to start, it was pretty and delicious. Grant and Cath had what looked like parma ham wrapped round bread sticks on a bowl of salad – they liked it. The next course for me was a soup, also very nice, I was on my second lot of bread and double parked with wine and champagne. Cath had a pasta dish which also looked good but rather filling as an interim course. For main, we all had the beef and it was absolutely delicious – fancy, but not over the top! Of course, it was served with fabulous wine which was probably too expensive for me to even appreciate, given I’d had 3 champagne, 1 white wine, and now an ample pour of Merlot. The desserts on the menu looked good but I had laundry to attend to, much to the amusement of my fellow Fam Trip winners. I excused myself to tackle the rather enthusiastic tumble drier, hoping to reconvene for a cheese plate and more Merlot. I got chatting to a guest in the laundry room, she was younger than I’d imagined the average cruiser would be and this was not her first rodeo with Riverside. She could not praise them enough and she told me that I was going to love the excursion tomorrow. We chatted a little before me taking my laundry back to my cabin to find someone had been in there. It turned out that I had a butler, who had brought me a treat and turned down the luxurious bedding, on the off chance I was too lazy to know how to get in bed unaided. Daniel, the butler, had popped on some mood lighting and closed my picture window curtains. The bottle of champagne was chilling and my ice bucket was full. So, this was what luxury cruising was about! There was a note on the desk to say to call Daniel or WhatsApp him if I needed anything at all – including room service! I messaged to say hi, ordered a glass of red wine and a ‘bit of cheese’. I made sure I was drinking water as there was plenty in the fridge and I read the itinerary for the next day.
I popped back up to the top deck bar, where my fellow Fam trippers were, and had a drink with them while we sailed down the beautiful Danube. My photos really didn’t do it justice and it didn’t help that I was somewhat merry. I said goodnight, leaving my new friends having a night cap, and returned to my cabin around 10.45pm where a substantial cheese plate with a glass of red sat waiting for me – this was the life! When I finally got in to the huge bed, it was so comfy that I fell asleep instantly!
Gratitude List 1. A fun journey from Mallorca to Budapest, via Gatwick 2. Being part of the Fam Trip with Riverside Luxury Cruises and Travelpack 3. Being wined and dined like royalty on Riverside Mozart.
Photo Credit – some photos taken by the rest of the Fam Trip Attendees
There were so many things that we could have done on Tuesday 16th June but I was aware that with only one day and another night, the best thing to do was live like a local in Santa Ponsa. My host, the Mallorca Resort Expert, had asked if I’d wanted to do a boat trip, go to the pirate show or see any of the sights while I was there – I preferred to spend time with her. I did have some work to do but we kept it to a minimum as well as working on content ideas for our social media work pages. My friend had took the liberty of guessing what I might like for breakfast and had served it up on the balcony, overlooking the beach and sea. Our meal was a feast of yoghurt with fruit, cheese and ham on bread with garlic dip, olives, tomatoes, more bread and a hot drink. It was so good and we ate while people watching the goings on at the beach below. We decided that’s where we would spend some time today, on the beach! We donned our swimmers, put on the suncream, grabbed our beach towels (my new one was super light) and a parasol before tackling those steps down to the beach. The sand was soft and hot but there was a lovely breeze as we sat down with a small bag of picnic type items. We had to keep an eye on the cheeky gulls who were well practiced in stealing any treats they fancied from people’s bags while they were in the sea. It was my first time this year, just lazing on the beach. Despite being so near to it in Dalyan, I rarely have a day off for beach going and thought perhaps I should do more of it.
Around 4pm we decided to head back ‘home’, after a walk along the seafront path and calling at the shop. I noticed my face was pretty pink and decided it might be a good idea to treat us to a face mask to prevent my skin looking like a typical Brit abroad, later! Here’s what we bought, with prices in Euros;
Santa Ponsa Supermarket 1.5l bottled water 0.31 Apple juice 1.00 500ml Fanta Lemon 2.00 1 can Mixed fruit cider 2.35 2 Aloe Vera face masks 3.00 Total spent €8.66 (£7.36)
I did a bit of work then we popped on the face masks and had a 10 minute lay down which turned into a cheeky cat nap but my face felt and looked loads better after it. Back on that fantastic sea view balcony, we ate a really lovely meal of mozzarella, tomato, avocado and basil served with fresh bread, olives, rice crackers and a peach. I chatted on about how Fanta lemon in Spain is different to that in the UK. We also managed to have a croissant which we hadn’t eaten earlier. I was stuffed and feeling relaxed and happy, but not looking forward to leaving at 4am tomorrow morning. The visit had gone too quickly but I was still glad to have had some time in Santa Ponsa, which was so beautiful.
The evening plan was to simply watch the sunset at Il Chiringo, in Costa De La Calma. It was a place the Mallorca Resort Expert had been to many times before and she wanted me to see it for myself. After dinner we walked to the venue, bumping into a man with his dog on the way, who invited us to go to his house. We didn’t go but it struck me that the locals were friendly, and his dog was cute. When we arrived we had timed it perfectly and were sat amongst the other locals who were all coming in from a swim to have a sunset drink or bite to eat. It was beautiful and I felt so lucky to get to see it, I perhaps wouldn’t have found out about this hidden gem if I wasn’t staying with my friend. I wasn’t sure what to order to drink so I tried my first shandy made with lemon Fanta (commonly called Clara) for €4 (£3.40) and my fellow sunset watcher had an alcohol free beer which was slightly more at €4.50 (£3.83). I thought this was very reasonable given the location – the Fanta shandy was an absolute game changer. We walked back, taking those steps for the last time where a cat watched us. He was nicknamed The Manager as he was in charge of the place. I packed my stuff in to Pauline, my petite pink under seat case, I had a full neck pillow too but this time I was flying with easyJet so there was no need for booking the exit row seat. We both set alarms on both phones so that we could make sure I didn’t miss my flight.
Gratitude List 1. Spending time, both for work and personally, with the Mallorca Resort Expert 2. An afternoon at the beach 3. Sunset at Il Chiringo
I had no idea when I woke up on Monday 15th June that today would be such a great day. We saw our last sunrise and sea view before I needed to pack up Pauline, my petite pink under seat case, for destination number 4 in 3 weeks. Due to me winning a luxury cruise Fam trip, I had needed to rearrange my Spanish section of my trip and I was now going to Mallorca to visit my friend, the Mallorcan Resort Expert, for only 1.5 days!!! I’d managed to get bargain priced flights from Malaga and then to Budapest and my friend was very kindly putting me up in her apartment. It was the last buffet breakfast at the Ramada by Wyndham and I certainly made the most of it. I’d really enjoyed this hotel although, on checking the rooms the others had, I did think their rooms could’ve done with a better layout and their bedrooms were on the small side. I’m glad 3 of us were sharing and had a bigger room, despite sleeping on the pull-out sofa bed which was very comfy. I made a note for future customers, I would recommend the better rooms. Everyone made it to breakfast for our last one and I even made a cheese and ham sandwich, plus took an extra breadroll for the last of the pork – I often take an airport sandwich if I can. It had been such a lovely weekend and I genuinely was sad it was ending. Our taxi to the airport was booked through the hotel reception while Jamie had booked an Uber with Charlotte and Kerrie as their Bournemouth flight was slightly later than the Gatwick flight. After saying bye to Carol, who was staying on to meet a friend, we said farewell to Jamie, Charlotte and Kerrie even though we would probably see them at the airport. The Gatwick lot plus me got in the taxi to the airport. Reports of queues at Malaga airport were not what we found and everything was straight forward. We saw the Bournemouth gang who were a tad early and they were heading for a bar/lounge. I said bye to Claire, Dawn and Spawn at the international terminal and popped over to domestic one to find that my flight had been delayed due to a storm. It was disappointing as now my Mallorca trip was even shorter. My flight should have been at 1.55pm but it turned out that we were only just taking off at 3pm. At Malaga airport I learned that the water dispenser was much colder in the domestic terminal than the international. It was also much quieter with lots of seating areas for me to snaffle my sandwiches and have a browse round the souvenir shops. My flight with Vueling was booked with an under seat bag where the permitted measurements with this airline was 5cm shorter than that of easyJet. I’d checked this before I flew and noted that Vueling is the same as Ryanair. Pauline, my petite pink under seat case, wouldn’t adhere to that despite having detachable wheels and being under on width and depth. I couldn’t acquire a new case so I did a bit of research to work out how I could take Pauline, plus my neck pillow stuffed with clothes and not have to pay up to £70 in charges at the gate. To add on a larger carry on bag it would cost up to £50 if adding in advance. However, I noticed that if I added on a seat selection for an exit row at online check-in, it would be less than half the price and my case would have to go in the overhead locker anyway. I did that, confident that Pauline would not have to be put in the hold and I wouldn’t get a hefty fine for the sake of 5cm. The flight was good, I had a row to myself and all went well with the travel hack to get Pauline through as hand luggage. I was really looking forward to meeting my colleague in Mallorca on what would be very much a flying visit.
I landed at Palma airport at 4.30pm and made my way to the arrivals area where the Mallorca Resort Expert was waiting for me. I was delayed, she stood there patiently and I was able to sneak up on her. It was the first time we had met in person and had so far only met online so I was really looking forward to meeting her. We hugged and it felt good to finally get together even though we had a very tight schedule. Rather than wait for the airport bus, we jumped into a taxi straight to Palma city centre. My host had organised for us to eat at a tapas restaurant which not many tourists know about and had booked us a table for when it opened at 6.30pm. This meant we had a bit of time for her to show me around some of her favourite shops in Palma. I was also glad that I had only taken Pauline, my petite pink under seat case, as we needed to walk through the busy streets of the capital and it was sunny. We stopped to listen to a street musician who was playing a Stevie Wonder song, we visited two of Dagne’s favourite shops; Georg’s which sold Salamis, herbs, olive oil, honey, and balsamic vinegar. The shop was so lovely, the owner very attentive and she let us try everything before I got a couple of souvenirs, mostly for myself. Puzzles was a really cute shop where they sell original puzzles that you can try out while at the counter and if you get frustrated and can’t complete them, the owners will lend you a hammer as a solution. It was such good fun and we had a good laugh before heading off to Bodega. For those not in the know, like the Mallorca Resort Expert, you would be forgiven for ending up at a different one. Ours was not the fancier, pricier La Bodega – more the traditional tapas place where locals queue as soon as it’s opened to get a seat.
Bodega was small but cosy and Pauline sat neatly under the counter/bar which we sat at on high stools. My fellow diner had a zero alcohol beer and I had a glass of red wine while we perused the excellent menu. We ordered a selection of tapas; croquettes, tortilla, brie, burrata on bruschetta, and patatas bravas which were all amazing – we both agreed on which were the best dishes. We had another drink each and, even though we were full, we chose 2 more of the pinchos to have with our drinks. The food and wine was so good that I would definitely put it in one of my top places to eat. When the bill came, I was expecting it to be so much more expensive so I was pleased when it came to just €25 (£21.25) each.
Next, we got the bus to Santa Ponsa, where Pauline and I were met with quite a few steps to climb that certainly weren’t in the brochure! Once inside I got a lovely welcome from my host who had bought me some gifts and even put some balloons out with ‘Welcome Jo Lo’ written on them. I felt like a celebrity or something as she had got both copies of my books out, ready for me to sign. After an admiration of the amazing sea view balcony and a drink of water, it was time for a quick shower and change. My friend had arranged for us to visit a roof top bar and hotel where we enjoyed a glass of champagne while admiring the view. A kind guest took our photos at the H10 Casa Del Mar hotel and did a pretty thorough job. It was lovely for someone I work with to be so thoughtful and I had definitely found a good friend here. The rooftop bar was really cool and we relaxed by the pool with our fizz, laughing and getting to know each other more. Even when we were back home, the hospitality and kindness shone as my host tried to insist I take her bed and she have the couch – I was having none of it as I was not about to take someone’s bed, I was more than happy on the couch.
Gratitude List 1. Having the last morning in Spain with the Costa Del Sol gang 2. Meeting the Mallorca Resort Expert in real life 3. Fantastic local tapas and rooftop bar drinks together.
Photo Credit – some photos by the Mallorca Resort Expert
We all had good intentions on Sunday 14th June as the plan was to spend the morning on the beach, come back for pool or siesta time and then go out for a meal at a pre booked restaurant this evening. Claire had been looking after everyone and she had suggested a lovely loll on the Fuengirola beach. Unfortunately, by the time we had ransacked the breakfast buffet, time was ticking on and we sacked off the idea. We went round the pool and I decided it would be good to get us some bucks fizz. I’d not paid for a taxi last night, nor had I bought any shots (which we thought were probably not the real Tequila Rosé, anyway) so it was a small gesture to show I wasn’t the cheap chaser I came across as in my blogs! I also treated my roomies to a strawberry Calippo each. I thought the on-site shop was, once again, reasonably priced and was well stocked with cold drinks. Here’s what I paid with prices in Euros.
Ramada Hotel shop 1 carton orange juice 2.50 2 Calippo lollies 6.00 1 bottle of Cava 8.50 Total spent €17.00 (£14.43)
For lunch the gang had more munchies from the shop but I made my sandwiches from breakfast bread rolls and the left over pork knuckle – it was still amazing! I really do think not wasting food and eating more leftovers is the way forward, even on holiday. At the Ramada by Wyndham resort there was a train to take guests around but we never quite timed it right – such a good idea when it’s sunny or for families, though. Of course, I’d made use of the washing machine facilities and done a wash ahead of my 4th destination tomorrow. By late afternoon a few of us were lounging around our room and decided to play some of the games Claire had brought. It was a great way to pass the time when we had a short shower of rain and I enjoyed having a laugh with everyone. In the evening we ventured out for drinks and dinner in the very classy Mijas Pueblo – I even popped on a long black dress and borrowed a strapless bra from Dawn. We had some lovely wine, cocktails and sangria at Alboka Gastro – a delightful place not far from the donkeys we had been warned against riding. I’d been there a handful of times over the years and it’s never been on my itinerary to ride the donkeys or horses, it’s just cruel! We had a nice little wander around the area and got a few photos. A couple were hogging a horse statue for way too long so I ended up taking their photo.
The placeholder we had booked for dinner was cancelled and Claire went on ahead to scope out a more suitable alternative for our evening meal. She chose Restaurant El Mirador which had good views, a substantial menu, cheap house wine and lovely staff – perfect for our last night together! Having already eaten a large breakfast and most of the other half of the pork knuckle in sandwiches for lunch, I wasn’t particularly hungry so I plumped for a mushroom risotto – it was huge! I didn’t eat it all but decided left over risotto tomorrow before our flights might not be a good idea and didn’t bother with a doggy bag this time. Everyone enjoyed the meal but I was so full I could barely move – Carol’s Fat Club scales, when I got back to Dalyan, were not going to be favourable at all! The free limoncello nearly tipped me over the edge but we didn’t want to offend the kind staff so it was forced down. Claire and I got a taxi back leaving the younger and wilder ones to give the ball a kick for the last night. I’d had such a lovely weekend away and it was really good to have taken some time off. Tomorrow 6 of the gang were heading back to Bournemouth or Gatwick, while one lady was staying an extra night with a friend in Fuengirola and I was off to another exciting destination.
Gratitude List 1. A relaxing Sunday with the gang at Ramada by Wyndham 2. A classy night out in Mijas 3. Great food and hilarious company.
Photo Credit – some photos by the Costa Del Sol gang
After a lovely night’s sleep on the pull-out sofa bed I went outside to see what the view from our room was like on Saturday 13th June. It was lovely and I was pleased with the room we had, as we wandered to the breakfast area. I was very impressed at the choice and availability of the buffet style breakfast too and had plenty of it – all in the name of research, of course! By 10.30am 4 of us had decided that walking off the big breakfast may be a good idea and off to explore we went.
Claire, Dawn, Carol and I trotted downhill to the beach and wandered along the promenade all the way in to Fuengirola and stopped for a soft drink along the way. By the time we were headed back, the sun was shining, we were definitely getting sweaty and one of us needed to buy comfier footwear. It was all rather pleasant until it dawned on me that I was the most unfit out of the group and struggled on the hills at the end.
By 12.30pm we were rehydrated, armed with Lays crisps from the on-site shop and in our swimmers by one of the various pools. We had chosen one with less families and with a good mix of shade and sun. It was the first time this year that I had been in a swimming pool and it felt great. A few nibbles and a couple of beverages were had in the early afternoon and everyone, but me, had sandwiches, quiches or sausage rolls for lunch. The on-site bakery and shop had such a good range of products that it would have been quite easy to survive by not leaving the resort, should we have wanted to. In the interests of not wasting food, I had the warmed up tagliatelle carbonara from last night and it tasted even better the second day. In the later part of the afternoon, we sat out on the garden area outside our room, enjoying the sea view, drying our towels and swimmers while drinking tea or coke while we waited for the Cava in the fridge to chill a bit more and the other 5 to head over for pre dinner drinks.
Claire, who had become the one in charge by default because most of the rest of us couldn’t be bothered to step up, was the star of the evening. She had arranged some paraphernalia for each of the celebrators; Dawn who was celebrating her 50th and wore her tiara very proudly, Jamie who was less keen to sport an amazing vest top full of images of his cheeky face but loved the Gay Who? game and bracelet for his 40th, and Spawn, the bride to be was donned with more twinkles befitting her outfit and we all had a mask to show our support for her. The Cava flowed and we laughed a lot, not having time to do the games we had ready much chance, before heading off to the delights of Fuengirola and to feed our hungry bellies. I knew it was going to be a good night and decided to draw out more cash. The ATM charged me €5 to draw out €60 which was an error on my part as I should’ve just paid on card, but I wanted it for drinks/taxis later. We promenaded our way to the port and Claire had spotted a lovely looking venue which was fairly busy (always a good sign when choosing an eatery on holiday). The waitress at Ku’ Damm stuck us at a large table at the back, surrounded by interesting memorabilia and got busy with taking drinks orders. I really enjoyed the sangria and this kind of restaurant was right up my street as it sold pork! The ceiling of the ladies toilet in this Berlin-esque restaurant was certainly unique.
My next ‘mistake’, in some people’s eyes, was to order a pork knuckle with potatoes, gravy and gherkins. When it came it was ridiculously large and had so much crackling on – we’ve had smaller joints of meat at a family Sunday roast. A lot of the girls ordered the schnitzel and that was definitely not a small portion, either. The food was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed my pork knuckle. Obviously it defeated me and I ended up asking to take half away with me. This is much more common abroad but, again, it amused most of the gang. There is no way I could have wasted any of that pork! Our bill was split between 8 of us again and I paid €40, remarkably the same as last night! Next, with very full bellies, we wandered (I most definitely waddled) over to a bar where it appeared it was part of the evening to be ‘forced’ to drink Tequila Rosé shots at the bar. Ordinarily, I do love a Tequila Rosé but I had overdone it on my meal so I struggled to get the first one down. Not one to be a party pooper too early, I took a second while one of the girls had to do a tactical chunder in the bogs! I almost followed suit and decided 2 was enough after a good amount of sangria and went on to water. While the celebrators really got in to party mode, I started to feel my age and was aware just how much I can’t drink, or stay out late, like I used to. Claire and Carol were either thinking the same or had took pity on me wandering the trendy bars of Fuengirola with half a greasy pork knuckle in a takeaway plastic bag. The 3 of us got an Uber back to the Ramada and Carol paid on her app. Back in our hotel room, having put my meat in the fridge, Claire and I tried to wait up for Dawn by watching a bit of TV but she still had to knock me up as we had fell asleep – was I turning in to a brunch friend rather than the party person I used to be!?
Gratitude List 1. Waking up to a sea view and included breakfast at the Ramada 2. Spending time on holiday with the Costa Del Sol gang 3. That huge pork knuckle!!!!
Photo Credit – some photos taken by the Costa Del Sol attendees
The day of our girls’ trip was here on Friday 12th June. Our group of 7 women and 1 (gay) man had been counting down the days until this much needed holiday. What had initially started as a group of about 10 and me being their travel agent had changed in to 7 of them and me being invited to join the booking! A first for me and definitely not an opportunity I wanted to pass by. Of course it helped that one of my best mates was in charge of the booking and I knew 2 or 3 of the other ladies so it was definitely a no-brainer when I was asked to join. I had not been on a girls trip for what seemed like forever so Claire and I were super giddy. I’d been up since 4.30am for a pee and to check my phone to see if my customer had arrived at the hotel after a flight delay last night, but I had heard nothing. By 6am I was up and getting the contact details for the hotel to ask them to get my friend to contact me when they arrived. Captain Caveman said farewell and was off to Bristol for work. As I accompanied him outside to his van to see him off, he made me laugh; we hugged and kissed goodbye and I said I loved him, he just said ‘yeah, I know’ but didn’t say it back – he never does. I was off on a 6 day trip to Spain then a 5 day Fam trip luxury river cruise and then meeting up with a friend in Vienna, after today, but he didn’t wish me well for any of that either. I would next see him again in 3 week’s time when I would be joining him in London. After dropping Claire’s daughter off at school and taking Reg for a run about on the field, Claire and I decided to have sausage sandwiches at the cake shop/cafe. At just after 9am (UK time) my friend messaged to say she had arrived at the hotel at 1am but hadn’t connected to the WiFi to let me know they had arrived – they had both had a good sleep and were about to have their first breakfast in Marrakesh. I was relieved and meant I could get on with getting excited for my own trip now.
Our flight was at 3.25pm and I had to make sure I had packed everything for my next 10 days; Spain, Mallorca, Hungary, Slovakia, Vienna and back to Türkiye – although I’d not booked my flight back from Vienna yet! Claire had checked us in as 5 of us were on the flight from Gatwick to Malaga but the others had already departed from Bournemouth very early this morning. Claire drove to the airport and we picked Dawn up on the way – now there were 3 giddy girls on their way to Costa Del Sol for a long weekend. At the airport we joined Carol and Spawn who were already in the Wetherspoons, drinking Prosecco. We had a few glasses of fizz each and then did a stock up for lunch on the plane at Pret a Manger, a posh sandwich shop which I usually avoid because it’s pricey! I chose a Turkish style salad which looked great and some chocolate, we all got water too – the tin water bottle would come in very handy for the holiday too. We were all excited, I did a Friday travelator dance while singing and I snaffled most of my delicious salad before take off – I was now a Pret fan! As we had exit row seats, I had to put the rest of my food up in the cabin for take off. Pauline, my petite pink underseat case, also had to go up overhead too – she didn’t mind as she got to keep her detachable wheels on! I nodded off, as I was tired from being up so early, but the girls continued with the fizz from the trolley.
On landing we all had to do the finger print thing at Málaga airport, where there were no queues, it was quick and straight forward for all but one person who had a dodgy finger. They had to go to a counter with a person at it and we went to pick up the one suitcase. Our Suntransfers driver was waiting when we arrived and we had a fairly straightforward journey to our hotel. We were staying in the Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham, located between Fuengirola and Mijas. The driver dropped us off at the top end of the massive resort and we walked through to find reception, passing wild boar on the way. We checked in and had to pay €20 deposit each for a pool towel – they don’t mess about in Spain! Claire, Dawn and I were sharing a room with 1 bedroom and a pull-out sofa bed in the lounge. We had got a cheeky upgrade, which was nice. Carol and Spawn were sharing a twin room and they went to their room, with instructions to meet back in 20 minutes. Our room had a washing machine and kitchen, despite us having booked to include breakfast, and I was on the sofa bed which seemed pretty comfy.
It was after 8.30pm so we didn’t even get changed as the Bournemouth 3 were already out and we needed to catch up with them for dinner. We got 2 taxis which I paid about €12 for one of them down to a beach side restaurant called Ella’s in Fuengirola. Everyone said hello and were introduced to me, as we were celebrating Dawn’s 50th, Spawn’s Hen and Jamie’s 40th so a real good mix of celebrations this weekend. The rest of us were just celebrating being on the Costa Del Sol with some really fun people. I ordered a delicious tagliatelle carbonara which was only €14 and shared some wine and plenty of water. Claire wasn’t hungry so ordered a salad but when it came, it was massive. The weather was pleasant and the food was very good. As there was 8 of us, we split the bill and I paid €40 including the tip for my share. I took half my meal home to eat the rest tomorrow as it was a big portion and I wasn’t going to waste it. No one else did this and I realised it’s not a very common thing for my English friends to do. Most of the gang wanted to carry on so we went to a bar but I couldn’t physically drink any more. I was also tired from being up so early this morning so Claire and I went to buy bottles of water. We all got a couple of taxis back and for one at after midnight it was around €15 with 4 of us in, so pretty reasonable. It had been a good first night but tomorrow was our first proper day and we planned to make the most of it.
Gratitude List 1. Sausage sandwiches to start the holiday off 2. Airport fizz with 4 of the gang 3. Dinner and drinks with all 8 of the gang.
Typical of a last day before a holiday, I was busy on Thursday 11th June and had an early start. Claire and I also made sure I booked the airport transfer to our hotel tomorrow which, as a Resort Expert, worked out cheaper for me to book with Suntransfers. I attended an online workshop about copy content with Georgina and then checked in for my flight tomorrow. Although I only planned on taking Pauline, my petite pink under seat bag, I was cheating a bit by sharing toiletries with Claire which would go in her checked in bag. I wasn’t taking my own shampoo, conditioner or shower gel, but I was taking a deodorant stick and toothy tabs. I was also taking Captain Caveman’s ‘Scrubba’ a portable washing contraption in case I wouldn’t have the use of a washing machine over the next 10 days in various destinations. At midday it was the Resort Experts team meeting where we were told that we would be getting our own new websites built for us, next month and that was exciting. One of my customers who is also one of my best friends was on her way to the airport so I kept particular attention to see how she got on as we would be on holiday at the same time but in different countries. Unfortunately, her flight was delayed due to a problem with the plane. I stopped work mid afternoon and joined Claire on a quick trip to Sainsbury’s – I decided I needed to buy more knickers as well as pick up some Euros, ready for my 10 days in Europe. Here’s what I bought with prices in pounds;
Sainsbury’s 3 seam free knickers 9.00 3 pizzas 11.55 1 bottle of red wine 9.50 Razors 1.00 Glacier Fruits 1.50 Crisps 2.20 2 garlic & herb dips 3.70 Nectar card discounts – 10.17 Total spent £32.13
We dashed off for the school pick up of Claire’s daughter and then realised I had forgotten to get some Euros, so we all went back. I managed to get rid of some Scottish £20 notes but it did take a while, being so far south. This was also a good excuse for a cafe visit where Claire treated me to an earl grey tea, her daughter had chicken tenders and chips which looked fab and Claire dialled in to a meeting. I also was in touch with my friend who was still stuck at the airport with plane issues. Claire and I attended Otford Primary school’s summer concert in the evening while leaving the men to do tasks like walk Reg, put the pizzas in the oven and attempt (and fail) to fit a sofa bed in a van. Claire’s daughter was playing piano so we went along to support – it was actually a lot better than I had anticipated. Having been a young musician myself, it brought back lots of good memories and we all got a chance to sing a Beatles song where I gave it a bit of welly – who doesn’t love singing along to Yellow Submarine?! We got back home to pizzas and wine and I realised that I’d been so slack on taking photos that I insisted we have a family one where Claire displayed her unusual sense of humour. The out of office was on but I was still waiting to hear from my friend who was on the flight and was due to arrive in her destination after midnight. She had let me know they were taking off and I asked her to message once she was safely at the hotel so that I didn’t have to worry. I set an early alarm so I could check that they had arrived safely at her hotel.
Gratitude List 1. New knickers 2. Being invited to Otford Primary summer concert 3. A last family dinner with Claire, her family and Captain Caveman.
There was more excitement on Wednesday 10th June as I had arranged to meet up with more friends in London after work. Captain Caveman had gone off to see a job somewhere not too far from Sevenoaks, Claire and I were working from home and Claire had a busy schedule so couldn’t join me in London. I worked all morning, but not before a quick photoshoot with Reggie, the dog. I had a private session with Holly to get shit done, as no one else in our Neon Nook group had turned up – so I was lucky. Captain Caveman got back early from his work so we both got the train together.
We met Clare and Liz at the Rose & Crown pub not far from Black Friars and it was pretty muggy by the time we arrived. Staff were friendly, there was free tap water on the bar, which I necked a few of, and I had a large glass of red wine for a whopping £11!!! The beer garden was off limits as it had been soaked by a downpour earlier in the day. I had a Giffgaff SIM card which struggled to work in London but all was fine as everyone turned up. We had a couple of drinks, a good laugh and some suggestions to meet up again on my next visit. One of the staff even took photos for us and did a cheeky selfie!
Unfortunately, Liz had a prior arrangement and had to leave us but Clare, Captain Caveman and I decided to go on for food. Captain Caveman chose one of our favourite places to eat steak and I was a little hesitant that we should be splashing out as it’s definitely not in my budget. The train had already cost £8.40 each way so when we arrived at Flat Iron I chose the cheapest steak, whereas Clare and Captain Caveman went for a Wagyu Sirloin and Wagyu skirt. We all shared wine and ordered some sides. Flat Iron is just so good, no matter which cut or quality of steak you choose. Here’s what the 3 of us had with prices in pounds;
Flat Iron 1 bottle of Red wine 25.00 1 normal steak 15.10 1 Wagyu Sirloin steak 27.10 1 Wagyu skirt steak 24.10 1 chips 4.50 1 spinach 4.50 1 bone marrow mash 5.00 1 Mac and cheese 5.00 2 peppercorn sauce 3.00 1 wild mushroom sauce 1.50 Service charge 14.38 Total spent £129.68
My share came to just under £30 which was actually very reasonable for what I had and I loved it. This did include the free ice-cream which is so good too. Captain Caveman and I said our farewells to Clare and got the train back to Claire’s in Otford, where everyone was already in bed by the time we got in.
Gratitude List 1. Reggie, the dog 2. Seeing more of my favourite southern friends 3. Steak at Flat Iron was a real treat.
On Monday 8th June, while having my tea and toast I tried to work out how much I had spent in the first week of this month. Just in the UK from my bank account I had spent £70, Captain Caveman had paid for stuff whenever I was with him, which I didn’t have receipts for, plus I had spent £100 in cash. I was supposed to be on a budget of £25 per day, just for me. I’d hope this week wouldn’t have been as expensive but it had been. I needed to keep a bit of a lid on it this next week because I was off to Spain with the girls in 4 day’s time and that would probably exceed the weekly budget. Today, I got paid and unfortunately it wasn’t as much as I had planned for because how we got paid had changed. I was a little disappointed about the situation, despite a bit of notice, because I was lined up to be having my best pay day this year in July, which was Captain Caveman’s birthday month and we had loads planned that I had earmarked my cash for. It seemed that as soon as I had got straight and was starting to have saved enough for an emergency fund, there would be something crop up again to knock me back. After the summer holidays I promised I needed to rectify the situation. I had lots of ideas and some projects already started that I needed to get on with but there just didn’t seem to be enough hours in a day. After work, Captain Caveman and I were off to stay with our friends near Sevenoaks and I was super excited to be seeing Claire and her family again, before our long weekend on the Costa Del Sol. Pauline, my petite pink under seat case, was all set for her 2nd destination of her 3 week trip but this time she had been repacked with all my new clothes from Uniqlo – I just hoped it would be a bit warmer down south! We arrived fairly late to a warm welcome from our hosts and my first drink was of course a nice pint of tap water – also a good one in the village of Otford! Claire, Mark, Captain Caveman and I had a couple of welcome drinks and caught up on who was doing what and when during our stay. It was so good to see everyone again and I was looking forward to the next few days.
Gratitude List 1. Managing to personally spend within the allocated budget 2. Getting a full day’s work done 3. Seeing Claire and her family again.
It was a quiet day with minimum photos on Tuesday 9th June as I was busy getting stuff done before my next destination at the weekend. Everyone was out of the house when I got up at Claire’s so I had a cup of tea and some dog snogs from Reggie! He’s very affectionate and still a youngster so he needed belly rubs and attention. He also needed to make sure I knew where the snacks were kept – I did! Everyone was working today and it was cold and rainy outside. We all came together for a family dinner, prepared by our hosts, in the evening. The weather wasn’t good enough for a BBQ outside so there was improvisation and we had it indoors. It was so lovely to be around the big table with everyone and such great food. We started before Captain Caveman because he had a late one but he soon caught up with us all.
Gratitude List
1. Reg, the dog 2. Getting through a good chunk of the to do list 3. Spending time with Claire and her family.
Sunday 7th June was another day off for Captain Caveman and we were meant to be heading south before my trip to Spain. We decided to have a day to ourselves and get more exercise. My legs were still aching from yesterday but by 10am I was in the warmest clothes I had clean (cycling shorts, a hoodie and a t-shirt) and on a walk with Captain Caveman. I’d had Yorkshire tea and toast for breakfast and Captain Caveman wanted to take me to a nice little cafe he had found while doing the 5 Weirs Walk. It was a pleasant walk until I realised it was quite lengthy and we passed nowhere with any facilities. Obviously, I was super desperate for a pee and had to nip in to a grave yard, which I don’t like doing – it’s just not respectful.
When we finally got to the cafe, it was closed for a private function even though Captain Caveman had checked on their Facebook page that it was open. Rag N Bone was meant to be open until 4pm on a Sunday and I could see how Captain Caveman was disappointed that we couldn’t go in. We decided to walk to Meadowhall, which was extremely busy, and we got something to eat from Marks and Spencer. Captain Caveman got little sausages and samosas, I got my favourite super nutty salad. We shared his while stood at the tram stop.
We got the tram back home for a rest and to eat my salad. We were meant to be travelling south today but decided to delay to tomorrow. I did a little bit of work because a new Mekong River Cruise went on sale with Riviera and it was ideal for 2027 and 2028 bookings. I also had a good look at some of the new Wendy Wu tours in South East Asia, ideal for first time travellers to that part of the world, or solo travellers who wanted to be part of a small group.
We had a quick walk to the Gardeners Rest pub for a pre dinner drink then went home for Captain Caveman to prepare us a feast! We started with a cheese selection and crackers then a steak with vegetables. It had been a really lovely day spent with Captain Caveman and we were both looking forward to our trip tomorrow.
Gratitude List 1. The 5 Weirs Walk with Captain Caveman 2. Good food 3. Spending our first day together in 5 days, just us!
It was another busy day for Captain Caveman and I on Saturday 6th June. Although I had changed my flight to come over a week earlier to see Captain Caveman, it appeared that I had managed to treat his days off as an opportunity to drag him along to catch ups with my friends – I don’t think he minded as we got to have lots of laughter along the way! I was already loving being back in Sheffield and I was so chuffed that Captain Caveman had moved in to Kelham Island, where I almost bought a flat about 20 years ago. Today’s starting event was to the hovercraft racing at Rother Valley where we had arranged to meet Natalie, Paul and their 2 kids as well as tentative arrangements with other friends who might come depending on the weather. It was pretty cold and rainy so a few of those friends decided not to bother. Despite having no coat, I did have a pair of pumps at Captain Caveman’s, he lent me a coat and off we went. A tram from Kelham Island to Halfway and then a bit of a walk through the houses to Rother Valley Country park. We actually thought we would arrive later but were early and it had stopped raining by the time Natalie and her family arrived. It was good to see everyone and even though we were warned the kids wouldn’t speak much, we had a lovely walk round both lakes with lots of chatter on pretty much any subject. We had a stop for a break and Captain Caveman had a toasted teacake – I was tempted but decided not to. It was just nice to have a walk and talk with some of my oldest friends. We managed to get back and say farewells without any more rain and we were quite warm from the walk by the time we managed to get to a bus stop.
Luckily for my tired feet, Amanda & Chris picked us up and we were off to our next meet up with friends. It just happened to be convenient to be in a pub as we all needed to eat lunch/dinner. It was at this point that Vanessa, who had cancelled because of the rain, had text to say she was there at the Hovercraft race, so we had missed each other. Captain Caveman and I both had a pie and chips at the British Oak, which was excellent and I had lashings of Hendos on mine. Another lovely afternoon with 2 more of my favourite people and then it was time for Amanda to dash to a Barry White tribute night (as you do). We were so busy chatting and stuffing our faces that I forgot to take photos – this was becoming a habit, this visit! On the bus I messaged Amanda and asked for a selfie of her and Chris and then took one of us at the train station. The intention was to merge them to make it a photo of the 4 of us but I never got round to it.
We walked from town to Kelham Island and that’s when it started to rain again. We had to take shelter in another pub where I was tempted in to a Cherry Chouffe beer but not the pickled eggs or pork pie. We checked out the music events for the rest of this month and next at the Gardener’s Rest too, especially as I would be back in Sheffield for the Tramlines festival.
Back home, while Captain Caveman knocked up a pasta carbonara, I did a bit of work when I noticed a 7 day Danube River cruise, similar to the one I was going to be on in less than 2 weeks, but with a different company. Dinner was lovely and we drank wine out of mugs as we still hadn’t bought any glasses. Tomorrow, Captain Caveman had suggested a more relaxed day for the 2 of us but I wasn’t convinced his version of ‘relaxed’, matched mine.
Gratitude List 1. A walk at Rother Valley Country Park with friends 2. Pub pies while chatting with more friends 3. Spending time with Captain Caveman.
I didn’t get much work done on Friday 5th June because I was too busy getting on with other stuff before meeting up with more friends later on. My first mission of the day was to get the bus to the top of Ecclesall Road to Wax Inc. I used to go to the one in town but it had closed so I had to trek all the way across town. The bus took about 35 minutes from only a 5 minute walk away from Captain Caveman’s flat. My waxing cost me another £30 plus the £8.50 deposit I had to pay when I booked and Ruby was very good. I arrived earlier than planned and she still fitted me in. Next, I got a key cut for £7 at a shop further up the hill and called in to Sainsbury’s to get bread and some cream crackers for £2.85. I decided to get the bus in to town because I needed to call in to Marks and Spencer to buy a bra. They had a sale on so this is what I bought there, prices in pounds:
M&S 1 orange bikini top £11.50 1 red bra £5.00 1 box of peppermint tea £2.70 Edamame beans £2.00 Total spent £18.80
I got the tram back to Kelham Island and didn’t realise until it was too late that today’s buses and trams had cost me £11.60 when a day saver would have been cheaper. It also wasted quite a bit of time being sat on public transport so I had no time to do any work other than to check my emails. Captain Caveman cooked us a breakfast for our lunch because time was cracking on and neither of us had eaten yet. In the evening, Captain Caveman was off to Peak Cavern to see The Orb in concert, that wasn’t for me so I arranged to meet friends instead. Louisa was having trouble finding a bus to get to Kelham Island that didn’t take an hour so she ended up getting a taxi and we met in Salt. We had a couple of drinks in there before heading to 5 Tara for food where Kerrie was able to come and join us. The food was amazing and I had the butter chicken with rice and we shared a couple of different breads. The tap water came in a tin jug which was fantastic and cold – the people of Sheffield don’t know how lucky they are with their tap water! After a delicious meal and lots to catch up on, we had a drink in The Ship. It had been done up since I was last there and seemed a decent place to drink in now. Kerrie had to get back for an early start tomorrow and Louisa was working really early tomorrow too so I said bye to them both and headed back to Salt where I met Luan and Paul for a couple more drinks. We made more plans for the summer to catch up with the rest of the gang. It was great to see so many friends while I was in Sheffield and there was still more to fit in this weekend. Captain Caveman got back from his gig around midnight and I was already asleep.
Gratitude List 1. Waxing 2. New bra and bikini top 3. Seeing Louisa, Kerrie, Luan and Paul.
It was cold and raining in Sheffield on Thursday 4th June, looking like the heatwave had finished. I wandered round to Baker’s Yard to buy something for breakfast while Captain Caveman got ready for his morning meeting. I was starting to find that the more modern places in Sheffield didn’t readily accept cash and I’d brought almost £300 in 20 pound notes, back with me. At the cafe I ordered a croissant and a pain au chocolat and the guy serving let me pay with cash but didn’t have a till as such, more of a tub to keep some change in. I paid almost £8 in total which was probably double the price I would pay in Dalyan. When I got them home, they were very good and I had mine with a Yorkshire tea, obviously. Work was not so busy today but we did have the Resort Experts team meeting at 11am. For lunch Captain Caveman warmed up a baguette and sliced up a selection of cheeses which was lovely. I managed to get an appointment for Friday for a bit of waxing, knowing I’d be putting my swimmers on in less than 10 days – on a girls holiday. I was loving being able to drink the tap water and was getting down it like it was going out of fashion. After work, Captain Captain Caveman made another lovely meal of chicken and vegetables. We rushed a little because I had arranged to meet friends tonight. Louisa and Linda were meeting us in the Gardeners Rest, a local pub to Captain Caveman now and one of his favourites. I decided to try the non-alcoholic ginger beer which was nice, Captain Caveman had a pint of beer. It was good to see our friends and Louisa had bought me a travel adaptor plug for using in most countries. We had a brief catch up before walking to the nearby Cutlery Works to meet more friends. I’d chosen this place, even though I’d not been in for some years, based on the reviews saying it was good for kids and one of the moms was bringing the boys. Joining us there were Lucy, Caz, Nel and Liv, but Rach was under the weather and wasn’t up to it. It had been a while since our last catch up so it was great to see everyone again. I wasn’t a fan of the Cutlery Works as the staff member had a face like a smacked arse and the place stunk of fried food. Lucy’s kids didn’t want to come in the end either, so I could have chosen better. It didn’t matter though as it was a school night so we only had until 9pm before the taxi and I forgot to take any photos. Louisa and Linda did order food and said it was tasty, I just had a couple of white wines. We all mentioned catching up again properly in August, which would be lovely and might have more time. We said our farewells and then Adam and I called in to the Alder, the nearest bar to Captain Caveman’s home, on the way back.
I was very tired on Wednesday 3rd June which didn’t help with the mix up I had made in my diary. Of course, it was a normal working day for me, however, I had given the impression to friends & family that I was meeting them during the day. I think this was also made worse because I had set up an event on Facebook to say catch up this week that started this afternoon. I ended up apologising because I had to work but I did manage to open my parcel from Uniqlo. This was the order of clothes which Captain Caveman had bought for me, ready for my holidays. I decided to have a fashion show while I had my morning cup of Yorkshire tea and asked Captain Caveman to take a photo of each outfit I tried on so that I could see what it looked like – there were no mirrors in the house. Every item fitted so I was pleased about that and I’d specifically chosen items that were mostly practical and lightweight in readiness for travelling light. Captain Caveman was not thrilled at having to be photographer so the photos were definitely not flattering but I’m posting them so you can see my new clobber.
Captain Caveman was looking forward to us spending time together, until I told him we were meeting up with lots of friends, not realising how much I had tried to cram in, each evening. He had already been food shopping and had got a nice dinner planned for tonight, as well as a few other good meals this week. Today was weigh day and I was missing Fat Club, I did send a message on the group chat but I didn’t get weighed (no scales) and didn’t take my measurements either (not unpacked the tape measure yet). After quite a bit of work and looking at my own flights, I finished before 5pm! Captain Caveman was still in meetings so he carried on while I got some fresh air.
Becca & Steve were walking their dog, Little Vera, in the Sheffield area so they came to meet me in the Kelham Island Tavern. After going through a kidney transplant fairly recently, it was good to catch up and see them both doing well, despite a slow recovery for Becca. Little Vera knew she had to be protective and did her job well, making sure she was top dog in the room. Captain Caveman joined us after he had finished his work for the day and Little Vera kept her eye on him too – she is so cute! Back home, after a short pub visit and a walk to get my bearings, Captain Caveman cooked us a lovely chicken and vegetable dinner. I also discovered that Aldi do a version of Monster Munch called Monster Claws and I was hooked on their pickled onion flavour ones, after just one bag.
Gratitude List 1. New Uniqlo clothes from Captain Caveman, which all fitted! 2. Getting to see Becca, Steve and Little Vera for an impromptu catch up 3. Dinner with Captain Caveman at his new home in Sheffield.
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joloyolo
The ramblings and observations of a fortysomething lady of leisure
joloyolo 