For the past four years I have spent my holiday crafting, more specifically doing a parchment course but this year I am not happy with the location so do not think that I will be going.

A few days ago I was 'chatting' to a certain old woman, the Hong Kong floosy, and she mentioned a cruise taking in both Cornwall (a county in the west of England and absolutely gorgeous, and Ireland which is a country that I have been wanting to visit for years. It sounded interesting, until they quoted for a single cabin for the two weeks - ah, my name isn't Rothchild.

The the old biddy then asked if there were direct flights from here to Ireland, yes there are. Then she suggested that I might try going on a tour starting in Ireland.

As a result of her wanting to go to Ireland I am now booked to go for ten days in April! The only reason it is April is that April is the cheapest month, and Ireland isn't cheap.

So have you any plans to go away this year? Have you recently got back from a holiday?

So it sounds like you and her are off to scsre a whole Country.

How Lovely for you both.

I wish I had a passport and a few bucks and I could go with you both.

I can't wait to hear the details of this trip.

Not that I feel left out or anything.

That Mountie has been asking when you are coming back for a visit Sara.

No, scroll back Bonnie. SHE is going alone, is maligning me by suggesting I put ideas into her poor old head, (maybe she cannot think for herself at her age.) and has chosen April on purpose knowing full well I am working.God help the Leprechauns!
Heaven help us if it kisses the Blarney stone!(I believe you have to be held onto as you lean out to do this. I wonder if anyone might drop her?What a tragedy).
And by the way, "That Mountie"was OK but I couldn't understand a word, kept asking if I knew aboot this and aboot that and eh this and eh that. (Handsome though.)Bloomin foreigners. Give me Cornwall any time.
I may just creep home to Cornwall in July. I really want to see Falmouth(Mylor) where my family come from, again.

Actually Day 9 is Blarney Castle but it mentions climbing to kiss the stone so perhaps I will just take photos.

My last two nights have me staying in a castle which is now an hotel so that will be good fun. My last day will be a free day, everyone else goes home the day before but I cannot get a flight that day so am staying on for an extra night. I have contacted a woman on a craft forum which I use and she lives close to that castle so we will be meeting up.

Maynooth and I are planning a trip to Hong Kong in October. We may just happen to catch up with a nice lady we know there.

Nice lady? Perhaps you ought to tell our Sara, she would probably like to meet a nice lady herself.

We are off to Tasmania in March.. only state in Australia that I haven't yet spent time in.
Next year, I am thinking we will fly to Adelaide and hire a 4WD to drive to Alice Springs, exploring as we go.

It all depends at the moment, see if Mum if up to traveling. She's been troubled with blood clots in her leg for the last twelve months. But we'll probably get a few days break somewhere in England

My husband retires on 31 January, less than 2 weeks away and we are going to travel across South Africa for a few weeks. Not holiday season here, so making no bookings, just stopping whereever we feel like. No stress, no problems - sounds like bliss

It certainly does sound blissful.

Oh, my! You all have had me in stitches this morning, !

Hubby and I don't have any plans...yet. The company we work for awards its people with a cruise after ten years of service and we have our certificate stating we have earned that reward. We just haven't decided if we want to do that or do something else (we can cash in the certificate for cash). The last time we took a cruise, we didn't really relax because there is just so much activities going on. When we take a vacation, I want to be able to relax and not feel like I'm on a schedule; it's just too much like work. I'm up for suggestions, though.

Oh Sue!!! I'm jealous!!! I haven't been 'home' for nearly two years! I hope you have a wonderful trip (and not too much trouble understanding the local accent, particularly if you head to the Cork/Kerry area).

Toni, I have two hotel nights in Dublin, then two in Donegal, two in Galway, two in Killarney then finally two more in a castle in Dublin. The trip is full of attractions to see, everything from Yeats' grave to sheepdog trials on the Ring of Kerry, oh and a catamaran cruise of Killary Fjord. I mustn't forget that we have an evening at the Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner and the show.

Wow, you'll get to see a bit of everything then, sounds great!
(and, shame on me, I've never visited Yeats' grave, nor St James' Gate and the Guinness brewery, nor the Blarney castle and stone ...).

There are masses of places that I haven't visited in England and I have only been to three of the Channel Islands which is a bit shameful.

Shame on me, I have never been further north than the Wash!

I don't want to make you envious Ren, but I'm off to Kernow for a week at the end of March. I'm staying on a farm at a place called Tregallas near Looe... I can't wait as I'll be spending most of the week on the lovely sandy beaches fishing in the company of my dog Jasper... Bliss!

Steve

I love Cornwall too, I have had quite a few holidays there over the years, but none recently. I went a number of time prior to getting married then once afterwards and a quite a few in Devon.

Well Sisterseagull, you did!
Loved Looe as a child, we used to go a lot, and further down south to StAustell , esp Porthpean, such lovely beaches!
My people come from even further down, near Falmouth where the river inlet is, a place called Mylor. My Grandad was Methodist Minister there , and in Mousehole. I loved it so. Sniff, sob!
I am going to go back soon for sure.

My first holiday in Cornwall was partly in Looe, I loved it there apart from it raining every day.

Ren, what is the Wash?

The Wash is an area north of London on the east coast of England.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006144.aspx

I've been to Ireland twice, and I can confirm that you do have to climb the stone steps up to the top of the castle and then lean backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone. If I remember correctly, there are metal bars to hold onto. The Ring of Kerry is absolutely stunning, so I hope you have a great time.

I am going to Croatia with my sister, but not until October. My brother-in-law has refused to visit what he calls 'Eastern Europe', so when my sister asked if I'd like to go with her instead she nearly got flattened in my rush to say yes. She has never been, although I have, when it was still called Yugoslavia. I've always wanted to go back to Dubrovnik and now I will be.

And I live further north than the Wash!