What are you all up to

My brothers and my son suffer from gout, fortunately it’s not one of my ailments.

Lovely but cool today so took the opportunity to have a wander around Minsmere.  Best spot was Snipe, female Beardie and 3 Marsh Harriers.

Having a few days away on a CL in Ilkley, Yorkshire, an area we have never been to before. Yesterday after arriving we were able to walk along the river from the CL into the town - many of the fields were flooded but paths not too bad underfoot. Ilkley is a lovely town best described as a miniature version of Harrogate.

Today we drove to Otley another lovely old thriving town, lots of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways and we bought the best hot pork pies we have ever tasted. 

I think,if they are so particular, and unreasonably so IMO, we would not be bothering to visit!

I do not use any of the apparently banned stuff (though OH  does for her gout if necessary, though not regularly), but we could not be bothered with all that checking.  We do have a whole stack of prescription stuff that is essential for our needs, would not want to have that questioned by anyone.

Have been to Dubai several times on business, not impressed.....a lot of sand and heat........OH would hate it!

We know the CL well, Natasha, having used it for that last couple of years at this time. In fact we might well have been coming there tomorrow, however we're off to one near Harrogate for a change at the start of our X-Mas trip.

Well, all safely home. Ladies complaining about weather. They say it was the hottest week Madeira has had in December in Decades. Really pleased to hear that. They can stick my thermals in the wash with their stuff tomorrow.

Good luck for the trip Nellie. Presume new washing machine turned up. Let me know about Harrogate as it's the last "hole" in next summers bookings.

TG - Not diet here either. Purely down to kidney disease.

I guess we are used to checking things before a holiday so no problem there. I would rather be informed and prepared, than risk having issues at the airport.

Having never been to that part of the world I'm looking forward to it but with an open mind.

We used to holiday in Egypt every year, when we were still diving and like that.

We haven't been to any of the places that the cruise will take us which is why we chose that one. If we like a place and fancy a longer holiday there later on, at least we will have had a little taster of it.

We've done the Caribbean and down the pacific coast of America and through the Panama.  I didn't fancy South America, so that leaves few places left at that time of year where you can find good weather and nice cruises.

This one is part of the Cunard Queen Mary II round the world cruise. We are just doing one leg of it though  

I hate the long dark miserable days in winter here and by the time Christmas is over I'm longing for some warm sunny days, blue skies and warm seas, my kind of heaven. Lots of new countries to visit, new cultures to experience, all from the nice safety of the ship 

Thanks WN and millie, for the your comments re gout.

We have a trip to NY, New England and Quebec on QM2  to celebrate our silver next year.

I'll let you know what she is like   we did the Panama canal on Queen Victoria. 

Grey and cold today here. Just calling around the LPG suppliers as out bulk tank contract is coming to an end  

OH is going to fit a new light fitment up in the attic room.

Little cat stayed until 10.30pm  then wanted out, now back in this morning on the sofa fast asleep. 

Lots of housework for me today once I've sorted out the LPG

The cruises sound very interesting, I would love to do one in NE America. Hope TG and CY enjoy their future trips.

Going to a Christmas concert tonight although still no Christmas things up in our house just yet. Untangling the wires has yet to start!