How many holidays do you have a year?

Sorry I got the wrong end of the stick wot- glad to hear things are not too bad. And that you can see what I meant. I've known so many people run themselves down looking after sick relatives- without any respite- and at the end of the day, not being able to do it anymore and having to give up totally- whereas had they only taken a bit of time for themselves from time to time- they might have been able to keep going, and wtihout the possible resentment, etc, that can slowly take hold.

Learning to travel light doesn't come easy- but honest, it can be done. If you are like me, I often come back with 60%+ of the contents of my suitcase untouched anyhow! Choose somewhere with washing/drying facilities and where towels are provided and wear walking boots (if required on hols) for the journey. And perhaps make enquiries about a taxi service to station or airport- or see if you can swap the getting there and return with a friend, etc, for another favour (babysitting, whatever).

It seems several of you are wary about going on hols on your own. How about starting a new thread and see if, instead of meeting for coffee or lunch, as so many on GN do- you could organise a couple of days/nights in a lovely place where you could spend the time together. Be it Harrogate or the Cotswolds, Devon or Norfolk- why not?

You all seem to do so much. Being single (widowed), I'm not keen on going away on my own, having tried it once. I have a few days in the summer with my small grandchildren, sometimes with and sometimes without my son. I never expected to return to bucket and spade caravan holidays in my 60s but that's how it's worked out.
When my husband was alive we didn't travel much either so I'm quite jealous f some of you!

Oh, thank you granjura, but my partner is not too sick yet and loves it if I go away! Peace and quiet. I was thinking of the others who have got sick DH and/or parents. I haven't got the energy to go away this year; lugging suitcases around etc etc. The hardest part is getting to the station or airport from the house!
So lovely that you care x

It's not what you do it's what it does for you.

I think of these lyrics when others have lots of holidays

I wandered out in the world for years
While you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon

Life is what you make of it.

wot- I do admire you for sticking by your sick family member- and realise how hard that can be.

But, and most health professionals will agree- you also need to look after yourself. If you never take time off, even if it is to sleep for a couple of days, go to somewhere different for a few days- even if close to home, or for a short holiday nearby, in the UK, or a short flight away just in case you have to return- then you'll run yourself down, both physically and emotionally.

There are lots of possibilities for respite care available- and I really hope you'll look into this and see if you can't get away- even for a couple of days at a local spa, or where you can walk on the beach or in the woods- whatever you fancy.

Please take care- unless you keep mentally and emotionally strong by taking time for yourself from time to time- you won't be able to give the best of yourself the rest of the time.

I hope this doesn't sound flippant or that I think it is 'easy' - at all. Take care and look after YOURSELF TOO.

Snide comments pre empted? How sad to think this.

I don't have holidays now due to health and more important commitments but hope those who do holiday have a great time , my choice, their choice , if I were to take a holiday it would be in this country though

As often as we can. When we downsized to free up some money to enable us to enjoy our retirement we thought about a caravan but decided against as that would mean changing to a bigger car. We decided, instead, that we would rent a cottage or lodge when we fancied and that is what we do. Already had 2 long weekends and some time staying with friends. Off to a cottage in the Peak District in 2 weeks. A week touring France and Luxembourg on our motorbike in June. Hopefully a few more weeks in a cottage and a cruise some time later in the year.
As long as we are healthy, and can afford it, we will holiday.

We haven't had a proper holiday in 9 years but we do live at the seaside. ? We have been all over the world in the past so I don't mind.

We usually have one holiday abroad and one in apart of Britain we haven't visited before. Also short breaks to visit family. However at moment with Mum now in a care home we are reluctant to be away for much more than a week and so any plans to visit my brother in NZ have had to be put on hold. Just before last year's holiday to Italy Mum fell and broke her hip and so we had to cancel.

Mind- of course not- I am very grateful for any advice and tips- thanks. As said, we've never been- and we have not even began to to any planning apart from a vague outline- inlcuding Tasmania. And perhaps a few days in Singapore on the way. We plan to go November and December and perhaps part of January- probably next year rather than this- but wait and see. Thanks.

As said, it is not a criticism- but just couldn't imagine going all that way for 2 weeks- so good that your trip will include a couple of days either side to make it a full 2 weeks. Whenever we've been to the States, we never went for less than 3 weeks- but everytime did a lot of driving and sight seeing, moving on all the time.

Granjura, hope you don't mind but I thought I'd give my experience of going to Oz to visit my daughter. I went at Christmas for a month and I feel I could have done with another couple of weeks. I stop of at Singapore for 2 hours as don't want to waste to much time hanging around airports just want to get there.I am however going for 16 days in May for my 60th birthday my thought was 2weeks with family and allow 2 days for travel either side of holiday.However you need plenty of time if you are travelling around I think anything from 4 to 8 weeks is best. We did 2 weekends away in the 4 weeks I was there at Christmas.Im happy to go for just 16 days as its for my birthday and we will be staying in Noosa not travelling around.Also jet lag is a lot worse coming home, I cope well going out there I get into there rhythm within 48hrs but coming home took me s week. I would always advise to go for longer if possible. Unless like me it's a treat for special occasion. Enjoy !

Perhaps my comment was snide but it's not always just a matter of 'choice' to go on holiday. Many people are loyally staying by their sick family member.

Leonora after devoting all your time 24/7 to caring for your DH it must be very hard indeed to put yourself first. I do hope however that you can now take pleasure in being able to put your own wishes first, whether that is a holiday, an afternoon in the garden or a lie in with a second at your leisure.

Leonora

Hear, hear Alea, boasting of their good fortune is not the done thing.

Not a single day off in ten years ?
That's how it goes when you are a 24/7 carer for someone with
Dementia.
My DH died four months ago, and I just don't know where to go. I don't really want to go off on my own, and all my friends have partners to share holidays.
So it might be eleven years without a break. ?

Another pleasant thread, everyone either enjoying their holidays or glad that others are enjoying theirs. No gripes or complaints from anyone about anyone else's good fortune, so I think the poster who mentioned them must just have have been warning off any potential grumblers.

Maybe snide comments 'to come' Alea ( the poster is trying to pre-empt them?)

BUT those of us who have wanderlust and to whom travelling is a hobby are surely entitled to spend their hard earned money as they wish without snide comments

Point me towards snide comments please?

It makes me sad to hear of people who won't/can't go on holiday. If it because of ill health or finance then I really can appreciate that it must be galling to see some of the posts. BUT those of us who have wanderlust and to whom travelling is a hobby are surely entitled to spend their hard earned money as they wish without snide comments. I coped with a stressful public sector job in order to save up to travel in my retirement. My car is 7 years old and the house badly needs decorating but somehow the lure of travel always wins out.I call it travel rather than a holiday because that is what I like to do- no sun beds for me. I now have 20 countries to go to reach my hundreth country. Please don't be jealous or snide, we have choices in life.Who knows what's around the corner, for me it was cancer 5 years ago. I will go on as long as possible and enjoy my travel on a budget.

We have been lucky enough to go abroad 3-4 times a year, with a few more local short breaks.
But I recently took early retirement and so far I haven't felt the same need to get away.
Mind you, I'm typing this from a sunbed in the Canaries!!

365/6 a year. I am retired. LOL (wink).

365/6 a year. I am retired. LOL wink

Phoebes I had my knee replaced and I had a certificate, signed and dated by the surgeon- with a sticker for each of the 5 parts of the prosthesis- so I can keep it with my passport when we travel. Didn't you get one of those? Failing that, I'd just lift my trousers and show them the scar with the 30 stitches- that should do it.

So sorry you hear you have trouble walking still- did you have much physio afterwards?