Don't really feel like going on holiday.....

Sometimes I think we would do better to just donate the cost of a holiday to a worthwhile charity!

For my 60th, my daughter bought me and my DH lunch on a steam train on the Severn Valley Railway. It was fantastic. We got the train at Bridgnorth and it travelled to Kidderminster. All the stations are done out in the old fashioned way with old fashioned ads and old suitcases on the platforms and the guards in the old styue uniforms. Lunch was served by smart waiters and waitresses. Lovely white linen tablecloths on the tables.
And you really do see elephants on your journey. (The train goes past West Midlands Safari Park elephant enclosure). Lovely day.

Galen I'm sure he would like to meet you - he loves things like that!
Have you read this book www.amazon.com/Lunar-Men-Friends-Future-1730-1810/dp/0571216102 about the engineers and scientists based in Birmingham at the time of the Industrial Revolution?
We have visited Erasmus Darwin's house in Lichfield and also the Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston - it must have been such an exciting time to live.

Oh dear! JaneA can I have your OH? I love stem trains and traction engines and beam engines and all things steam. My father and I always used to visit Birmingham science museum when they had a steam weekend and my late oh and myself loved taking journeys on steam trains.
If you get fed up with him, point him in my direction. ((Would he notice the difference between a Dr and a dentist do you think?)

Janerowena I've only just caught up with this thread and can't help laughing at your description of your exhausting holidays - MrA is very similar to your DH and my memories of holidays when the children were small are of him champing at the bit, raring to go, while I was frantically getting the kids ready, packing the picnic, washing clothes etc. It became even worse after he went on a project management course because then instead of helping in even small ways, he saw his role as director of operations and I would be criticised for not following 'the critical path'.
It is my main problem in retirement that no sooner we have come back from one expedition he is busy planning the next.
However, this week will be very relaxing. He has gone sailing off the west coast of Scotland with 3 of his cronies and I have the house to myself

Mishap I do sypathise with you, we used to go away only for either one night or two (usualy to Llandudno) and that in itself was a major task, and OH slept most of the time whilst I trotted round like Billy no mates..although it was nice to do that..,eventualy you do yean for a bit of company. we did buy a mobility scooter and that did help as he would try a bit harder....hope you can sort things out .

Bressingham is one of my all time favourite places to visit. Our DGCs loved the train rides and the Galloper roundabout when they were small. The gardens are lovely and I always end up in the garden centre with a wish list.

We lived at Hoxne when our children were small so we've seen it grow and grow over the years.

Mine is just the same, they are quite self-centred, aren't they? I don't think they ever have the chance to get used to being self-sacrificing and they behave like spoilt kids sometimes. Not all of them of course, but a pretty hefty proportion. I have just got back from a few more hectic days away, was asked where I wished to go for a change and answered 'Waddesden Manor' but suddenly found myself in Windsor looking at the railway station there because he had seen it on Michael Portillo's railway journeys programe...

Re the grandchildren - go with your gut instincts. Mine are coming up next week and rarely get to the seaside. OH wants to take them to Bressingham because he thinks they will love the steam trains. He gets bored at the seaside, I hate steam engines, I think I shall let my daughter choose - or we could just go without him... I think a good long walk will wear yours out beautifully but a sitting and just looking place with other kids to see will stop them getting bored, and you know it works for them. Tell him that if they get whiney, he can deal with it, that should make him think.

We are taking the DGC s away to the Lakes. We were looking at reasonable walks for them. I said that I really enjoy Tarn Haws . In GM speak it has toilets picnic area and plenty of sitting and looking places as well as orchids etc. DH said but I've been there twice before with them..... How do I explain that it is not for him as we can nip off to the Lakes any old time but tactfully?

Oh Janerowena how I empathise. Having an over-active partner makes holidays become endurance tests. So much so that I now avoid them - too much effort involved getting ready, coping with non-stop activities and then sorting out post-holiday stuff. Mr Gaga can't just "be" - he has to be "doing" and he wants me to be with him "doing". Exhausting just thinking about it.

Well, we are back and it was just as bad as I thought it would be. I am knackered and we have to go away this weekend, so as fast as clothes are being packed away others are being put in their place and I am so tired. My only consolation is that OH is also shattered, but I know that the next time he decides to go away for three weeks (far too long IMO) he will have forgotten how tired he was and will plan four cultural visits a day all over again.

I worked out a few years ago that I have to treat term times as my holiday. That is what keeps me sane.

So all in all, it wasn't as bad as you feared? I hope mine is the same. I'm still at the fear stage. So sorry about your Dad. It's hard to see.

Probably more peaceful.

But no! You still had Jingle and Frank

Welcome back to both of you It hasn't been the same without you.

Welcome back both of you! Galen yes please!

Was wondering how it went, Mishap, and glad to hear it wasn't too bad.

Good to see you both back, safe, sound and invigorated.

Welcome home to you both.

Mishap and Galen Welcome back, and I do hope things pick up for you now Mishap and some wouldn't go amiss.

Good to see you back GALEN will you be doing a GN blog?

I'm back as well!
Very mixed holiday. Loved Norway! Iceland and the Faroes were spectacular scenery but bloody cold!
silver travel adviser have asked me to do an article for them on my trip.
I've almost finished it and hope to get it to them this week!

GNHQ you might want to see it as they asked me through you?

(Even J0 has been good!)

Sitting around in a wooded garden sounds just what you needed. I hope you had more ups than downs and are feeling a little refreshed.

It is sad that your dad is getting more poorly. Sad to have to stand by and not be able to fix it for him and make things like they were. He's in a good place though and you're all doing your best.

Good to see you back mishap The good bits sound perfect. jingle is right nothing much been going on here, been pretty boring in fact.

Hello Mishap. Nice to see you back again. Hope it wasn't too traumatic having to change accommodation. The wooded garden and the bike rides sound lovely though.

Hopefully you will get a bit of nice summer weather to enjoy now you are back again.

You missed nothing while you were away. It's been very quiet.

Update!

We went - and we are back.

Holiday had its ups and downs; including a lot of bad weather and unsuitable accommodation (slippery ladder stairs!) so we had to move on elsewhere - but we made the best of the bad bits and enjoyed the good. I managed all the driving OK. I did a lot of sitting around reading in a lovely wooded garden where we were staying and OH even managed some short bike rides along the canal towpath!!!!

Then on the way home we visited Dad in his residential home and set about clearing out his home. He is being very well cared-for by some very kind people, which is a huge relief. But he is no longer my Dad really and it is sad to see. He is barely mobile with a frame. a bit muddled, and he dribbles a lot. I think that we have the best possible situation we can given his disabilities and I am very grateful indeed to the lovely staff in the home.

I will start to catch up on the forum now - lots to look back on. And many thanks for all the lovely pms - very gratefully received.

Well- here we go. Car is packed and I am about to shut down computer for next two weeks.

Bless you all for your kind support of this tired lady!