Late bucket list? Any unrealized dreams?

I’ve just remembered that a similar GN thread years ago got me hankering for a first class trip on the Trans-Siberian railway. It’s not going to happen unless I win the lottery, but it’s good to dream!

Oh dear - far more mundane dream. I had so hoped to have the whole family (five AC, plus partners, and eight g.children, plus five others), together this coming June to celebrate my80th birthday, Just not possible this year, as we have totally failed to find any weekeend that is suitable for everyone, as so much that has been postponend and cancelled is now having tio br crammed into those few weeks of Summer holidays.

I also feel privileged to have flown on the "old lady of the skies " the 747-400's , the massive workhorses that they were and have now been retired, one being 30 years old when I made one flight, and had been thrilled to be invited in its cockpit during the flight over the Middle East.

That wouldn't happen today. The pilot was an ex. fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, so I'd felt as safe as houses on my first long-haul flight in 1982.

Alongside that was the experience of the Megatop which was one of Singapore's giant airlines. It made the other planes look like models, though I learned later that the safety record wasn't up to scratch
Being an " anorak " I have boxed models of both.

Who wants more than this in life ? I feel like the luckiest person.

Franbern my 80th came and went last year without seeing a soul, when previously, arrangements were being put in place for a huge family gathering with a BBQ in stepD's big garden.
A photographer would have been ordered too, so sad.
Not the same with everyone wearing masks

I would say you are never too old to follow a dream. My father at 89 with advanced prostate cancer and a bit of a failing memory said he wanted to go on one last cruise. I wasn't at all happy about it, and told him to consult his doctor, who, to her credit, told him if he felt up to it, to go.

We packed his bag for him and confiscated it the night before, so he couldn't fiddle with it, and asked airport staff to put him in a wheelchair, so that we knew he would get on the flight. At 7.00 am the next morning I had a call from the nurse on the ship saying that he had forgotten all his medication. I knew he hadn't, and asked her to search his case, she was really unhappy about it, but said she would ring me the next day if they hadn't turned up, and I heard no further. He got off the ship in Marseilles, missed the coach to take him back on board, and ended up in the local police station, where fortunately one officer spoke English, and understood his 'I need to get back to my boat' as coming from a mad cruise ship passenger (fortunately there was only one ship in port that day!)

We met him off the plane, he was worried about being sprayed for polio on the plane (it was the tail end of the SARS epidemic) and then confessed he had made a lady friend and was worried when she said she was going to come back and live with him!

That was the end of May. In July he had a very mild heart attack, and the appalling ill treatment at the hands of the local hospital led to his very sudden death a few days later, on the morning he was due to be discharged, so he never made his 90th birthday a couple of weeks later.

I am so very glad he had that last experience.

Not so much of Celebration, although some might see it as one of Celebrating a life well lived and Passed, but I truly feel sorry for those who have lost loved ones to whatever cause during this Pandemic, and have not been able to say a proper final 'Goodbye'.
My own Father passed away almost a year ago now, due to Covid, We were unable to visit him for almost 10 months before he died, alone on a hospital ward without his Family or loved ones with him.at the time.
There was no visiting the undertakers, everything had to be arranged by telephone. The Churches were closed, and it was strictly a short 30 min Graveside service for immediate family only, just 6 people were allowed to attend, and officially the Vicar should have included himself in that number, but was kind enough not to so that my 4 daughters, Myself and DH could attend. There was no wake, not even a visit to home for everyone to share a Cuppa and a Biscuit. Very sad indeed.
On the Tv news this week was the highlight of those who had lost loved ones from Covid 19 who.could not afford the basic funeral costs, and had no option but to allow the local Council to pay for a 'Public health funeral' a simple direct cremation straight from the hospital mortuary, often in batches, and without any service whatsoever, simply because they did not have enough money to arrange the funeral as a family, or they had no family at all.

Just one thing. I would love to be able to persuade my son and elder daughter to talk to each other again....

We’ve been very lucky to have done so much travelling in the past. Our best travel was Road 66 on a Harley. My husband is a huge fan of riding and next on the list is Daytona bike week.
In the nearer future it must be Shetland and the Galicia coast!

When I was 20's I wanted to bungee and sky dive, but now I wonder what I was thinking. lol...Now, I'd love to search my roots. I'd like to go to the UK and visit Essex and Wales to search more info even photos or paintings of my ancestors. Also Spain for the same reason.

haven't any big dreams,I would be quite happy just to be able to stay in a hotel again,perhaps see more of this country,so many places I have never visited.

I'm another one for Uluru but I loathe flying, so it seems unlikely.

If I could have a couple of permanent buckets it would be an apartment in the City of London, and a bungalow on the Blackpool coast, both places I love visiting and it would be nice not to have to make accommodation arrangements.

Crossed quite a few things off my bucket list in recent years... Rio Carnival, South Sea Island Cruise, New Orleans Jazz tour etc now tho I’d just like to go to Kent to see my 2 sons ??

My greatest dream is to see the Aurora - Australis or Borealis, don't mind.

Do the whole Silk Road, from Shanghai to Istambul;
Visit the Galapagos; the Azores; The Falklands; Madagascar [a lot of my family was living there in XIX century]

So many places that I shall never see, mainly because DH won't leave the house except on foot - I'm done with travelling on my own. I have done several trips alone, but now don't like to leave DH.

i always wanted to visit the Maldives which i got to do and flew over the islands in a sea plane, only problem was i spent most of the time on my own as my now ex husband decided he was going to spend all the time scuba diving . i still want to go on the trans Siberian express which will never happen unless i win the lottery

To the ladies who want to visit India but worry you might be too old. Back in the early 80s I was a tour escort, accompanying groups of pensioners to India as well as Thailand and Bali.
They were nearly all ill with tummy bugs due to not listening to advice about no salads, no ice in drinks etc. My most memorable traveller was a lady of 92 travelling with her niece who had a hard boiled egg and a glass of bottled water with lemon every morning and only ate curries. She was never ill and I learned that she’d lived in India as a young woman and knew the rules. So, don’t be put off but do follow advice about eating and drinking and keep washing your hands!
On those trips we did Delhi, Agra and Srinagar in Kashmir, staying in the houseboats on Lake Dal. Truly magical.
Many trips to the Taj Mahal at different times if day, from dawn to nighttime, it looks different each time.
I would still love to go back to Kashmir but don’t think it will be possible in my lifetime.
I’ve been everywhere I’ve wanted to go and am not daring enough to try sky diving or swimming with sharks!

I prefer not to call it a 'bucket list' it implies your imminent demise? my 2 youngest sons & i used to love travelling, not sure if we dare now- but we still wanted to go to see the Northern lights, and i fancied taking them on a (not world) cruise if we saved up..(took youngest on med cruise but he was 18months old so of course doesn't remember) but as cruising was a disaster when covid hit for the cruisers then i definitely doubt we would risk it ?we went New york 4 yrs ago and that was high on our list, so glad we did it then, we did venice, cyprus, corfu, giants causeway, disney paris(twice) and of course uk trips over the years, but my elder son talked of one day driving route 66 with his older siblings, or us going Las Vegas maybe, all things he might not dare do any more after the pandemic, even with vaccines, as he worries that some are NOT having it.Such a shame, when ive brought them up to see wherever they wish, and instil a love of travel. ?

I'd like to see the Aurora Borealis too. I'd also like to see a kingfisher flying and witness the flash of colour I'm told he displays. He looks very colourful in pictures.
One ambition used to be seeing foxes in the wild. Have achieved that one many times. Urban foxes abound where my daughter lives. Bold as brass they are, but so lovely and defiant to look at. I'll change to badgers in the wild.
Since watching recent programmes on Cornwall I have a longing to visit again. It brings back such lovely memories of holidays when I was young.
Further afield I would like to visit Australia again and then visit Fiji and New Zealand. All this would have to be done in style and comfort. I can dream!
I certainly don't want to bungee or parachute jump or do anything that threatens life and limb, but admire all who do. You have the courage I lack.

My dream is that my Grandson could visit me for my 80th Birthday, as he lives in Southampton this is not allowed. It’s only a small ask.

The Northern Lights are top of the list. Despite several attempts, they've always eluded us.

Last year for our 50th Anniversary we booked a 14 night trip to the Arctic Circle... flew to Norway... got on the boat... had supper... and were then thrown off the boat an hour later as Norway went into Lockdown !

51st Wedding Anniversary tomorrow - still waiting !!

One if the best experiences of my life was going on safari in Kenya. Do try to do it if you can tobyandsocks. It's wonderful.

I agree TheOddbird- i too have 2 older 'kids' who have fallen out & now wont see/speak to each other.Used to be so close..Now is not the time to ostracize anyone.We should appreciate each other in these times.?

I would love to see the northern lights. Not too keen on cold holidays but would make an exception for this. Probably my most memorable double was visiting Abu Simbel and then flying over it coming back from Kenya a few months later, we flew up the Rift Valley on a crystal clear day, magical. Cuba was always my dream destination and it was brilliant.

I’m so lucky that I’ve achieved almost all on our bucket list in the past 22 years with my late partner, we’ve been Husky dog sledging and Ice Hotel in Norway, Elephant riding in Chang Mae , hot air balloon flight over Valley of the Kings , rode through the desert to see Abu Simbal , toured southern Iceland for its waterfalls, geysers, glaciers also saw the Northern Lights while there , and many more real lovely experiences . Sadly he’s not here with me anymore , but I have such wonderful memories of our times together and so glad that we’d got to do these things before he passed away , and what now with covid there’s not much chance of being able to do anything much for most probably a very long time to come .

If anyone's worried about visiting India - don't worry. We went to Cochin in 2019 and travelled all around the area. We were met with kindness, sincerity, intelligence and generosity. Go for it.

I would like to see the Northern Lights, Russia, all of Scandinavia and New Zealand.