Have you been on holiday on your own?

Thanks for the advice Sabre. I do take my daughter on holiday regularly two or three times a year and she does go off and does her own thing i.e teenage club or hanging out with friends she meets. But i do feel we still are together on the plane and for meals and nights etc. If i go myself i will totally be on my owm... I do want to go. I don't know if i trust meeting Mr Right on holiday! Holiday romance would be nice though!! lol :)

What about a luxury spa type holiday with plenty of massages, facials and pedicures etc. I've always wanted to go on one of those. A very pampered holiday - wonderful. Or what about a cruise. Many people go on those on their own and they are very relaxing.

Hi Sabre, Just read your reply regarding spa holiday and this is very close to home as its my career i'm in as much i'm all for pampering as thats all i do but i'm never on the recieving end and i'm very critical too... Cruising i've never had the pleasure of will look into that too! Thanks sabre i appreciate the suggestions!!!

Forget cruises they are full of old fogies getting ready to die!

>;o)

Oh thanks Omen you've really made my day. I am not an old fogy you cheeky blighter. Most cruises are mixed ages and especially good if you go on an adult only and even then there were people in their forties upwards.

I personally, having written about it before, don't think I would ever go on another one - old fogy indeed getting ready to die. !!!!!!

lol I am only speaking from what I have been told by my folks and friends - they said it was really dull - they actually went hoping to have a holiday romance and ended up dancing with 70 year olds so not much chance of a bonk there methinks...

Omen, why are you so sure that 70-year-olds no longer do it?

But I must agree that I wouldn't go on a cruise - too many reports of mass food poisoning, including a first-hand one from my neighbours.

Just a thought..I'm hoping I'm doing it at 70, will made up for not doing it now :)

Good bit of positive thinking there, Jazz!

Must be better at that age..no pregnancy worries :)

Not at 70 there's not!!! Not unless you're daft enough to pay loads of money anyway, can't think why anyone would want a baby at that age!! Friend tells me life is great after the menopause, can't wait!!.

fertility treatment i assume, no way, can you imagine poor child being picked up from school and being motherless at young age??

Gosh who would want to be a mother at that age i would happily be a gran!!

As for life after the menopause, Jazz, yes, it's quite liberating once you get over the hot flushes and wanting to kill people! Thank goodness for HRT.

Yes hot flushes nightmare!!!
Cant even drink a hot cuppa tea without breaking out in a sweat
Pins and needles all over the body

I feel for ya

Am quite looking forward to hot flushes..blooming cold out there.....

LOL, Jazz - I knew I could rely on you to look on the bright side!

Omen, you mess with the mature ladies at your peril.......

Pins and needles all over your body, Omen?...
Where did you get that from? That sounds quite em tingling might be quite nice...

That does sound quite nice, serena. Reminds me of something I can't quite remember......

If that's what's ahead of me bring it on!!! Lol!!!

Hmm not in a nice way

If I could swap with you i would.

Thanks for your interest Jazzj! I've never been to Florence or Italy which i do fancy but i'm thinking in january it might be cold... I do beach holidays all the time so i would be open to do something different. I like your idea regarding an 'interest' holiday i've only heard of diet and spiritual breaks/retreats, i would want something that's not hard work.:)

They seem to do them for all sorts of things now serena, from cooking to languages and arty things to sports, I'm sure you'll find something if you look. I love cities in the winter when there's not so many people about, you could try Tunisia or somewhere similar which would be a little warmer

Try Croatia - Avoid all the big towns and go to Omis the original pirate town its great - you can team up with people and go on the boat trips , white water team rafting - no nightclubs just a fantastic beach bar with real folk singers and the odd bit of dance music now and again.

I highly recommend the Pirate boat trip to Brac from the main harbour - besides its dirt cheap but not dirty - great accomodation , lovely people , no English football wearing twonks just nice people and lots to see - pirate castle or visit Split or go to Trogir and try and find the Roman Amphitheatre at Salona - it was incredible - way off the beaten track but i prefer going where the tourists dont venture to!

http://omisinfo.com/

Cost us £200 for a week but we went as a crowd of about 7 with flight for £115 return plus food etc so all in all about £500.

Thanks Omen! Never actually ever thought about going to croatia but i will keep that in mind next time i have a wee trip will make a change as we ended up in Edinburgh, 14 of us!

Edinburgh is good place for fun with friends.

Glasgow is the pits no class , no style , no culture unless you class pubs , pound shops , cheap and tacky newsagents on virtually every corner now and pizza bars, subway, chicken cottage & curry houses as being class....

Well, I never ever thought I'd hear a Glaswegian say that!! Whatever happened to the East/West divide?

Last time I was in Glasgow, I got a taxi to the airport and the taxi driver asked me where I was from, I told him where I lived now, and then said that I was born in Edinburgh and he said 'Get oot ma taxi!!' :-)

Lol

Edinburgh has class I must admit and it has all the trendy bars and is actually very interesting to visit culturally and architecturally.

Glasgow has some bits but the city has vastly changed - lots of the old buildings have been demolished to put up glass office monstrosities that paradoxically lie empty for years - Anderson Centre was demolished.

Drive up Hope street and the number of old shops , bars and offices "TO LET" is shocking!

The once lovely Union Street is now full of cheap newsagents (many of them fronts for illegal drugs and money laundering) - literally one every 50 yards i kid you not - gone are Virgin Records , HMV , Blacks , Hoi Polloi etc etc etc

Naw I used to love Glasgow and loved to go shopping at lunchtime - now i find it a hassle to go out for lunch - We have also been ethnically cleansed in Glasgow - Primark in Argyll street is also know as Glasgows Second Mosque.

I absolutely hate Glasgow now - Used to deal with fights and drunken women every Fri Sat night , its a joke and its not funny!

I feel for the nurses at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow and the Southern General they have a really hard job with all the idiots Glasgow has!

I am afraid Glasgow had its day long ago.

That's really sad, Omen.

Admittedly it's quite a few years since I regularly used to stay in Scotland for work, but I always preferred Glasgow.

Mind you, Inverness was something else - used to love going there.

That is a real shame, Omen, I was there a few years ago and it didn't seem that bad at that time, but I wasn't there for very long, and everyone I met seemed friendly. The taxi driver was only teasing me, and kept me very entertained on the drive to the airport.

I can't pretend that I haven't always loved Edinburgh more than Glasgow, but I was born in Edinburgh and spent the first 5 years of my life there, so naturally, I'm biassed! :-)

You are sad well I am triple sad its a real shame as it used to be such a nice place.

Things do change but Glasgow isn't all that bad Omen... Whenever I go on holiday everyone comments how we Glaswegians are friendly and whenever English folk come up they love it here! Shops etc are not the same as it once used to be but I think that's not just up here it's everywhere!
So please do not avoid coming to Glasgow we have Buchanan St Princes Sq and of course Newton Mearns lol! We are a friendly bunch just avoid the neds!! Lol!!

Oh my friend moved to Newton Mearns years ago!

What a small world it is! Has she settled here? Does she like it?

Her parents are still there, she's in Cambridge now. Remember her being quite indignant at being dragged there at first, but her parents were Glaswegians and wanted to go home

Well not Edinburgh its not changed that much over the years.

It hasnt succumbed to the cheap newsagents and tacky pound shops yet?

I hope Edinburgh never changes! :-)

Hi Jazzj, i'm gettting excited and really getting used to the idea of going i've not had a chance to search for a trip for myself but i will!! Thx

I will keep you all informed of where i end up i'm getting excited about the thought of going away and not knowing where... If that makes any sense..:S

Eastern Europe of course.

Croatia , Slovakia , Slovenia, Latvia , Estonia - luvvly and lots of macho men...

Speaking from experience, Omen?....

Eastern Europe yes been everywhere!

ermm my bottom is a one way street you naughty ladee!!!!

I think I must have missed something.

Who mentioned your bottom, Omen?

Forty years Lillie, you are lucky!

Thats so romantic Lillie!!! Its so lovely to hear of over forty years together..

Thanks Lillie the thought of doing what i want and what pleases me i'm lost with as i've not thought about myself in a long while the last 14yrs to be prescise!! But i will do something as i'll not get the opportunity for another few years so i will make the most of it now... I just need to think what i'm going to do!

I know how you feel Serena, weird feeling isn't it?

Very weird Jazzj! But you and i will need to get used to the idea when the kids get older, unless you want more kids...

I think Jazz may just have gone into shock, serena.....!

You're not kidding Feline!!!! Much as I love mine dearly there's no way I want any more!!!

Congratulations Lana, all the very best to you both.

Ah thanks Lillie, and congratulations to you on 40 years!

Congratualtions Lana x

Thats wonderful news congratulations Lana!

I suppose it all depends on how gregarious you are an how easily you tend to mix with people.

I mean do you go on holiday and do everything on your own and are happy with it or do you meet other people and that makes the holiday?

Thats really the question - are you happy to do everything on your own on holiday?

Me I dont think thats possible in all honesty - you need others to do certain things and have a full holiday experience!

I think the ideal situation is a bit of both, Omen.

The best holidays we've had have been with a group of friends where everybody is free to do their own thing during the day than we all get together for food and socialising in the evening.

I like lying by the pool with a glass of wine and a good book, and having a good chat with the girls. Mr F and the boys like going off and doing things.

In the evening, the girls can cook, or the boys can fire up the barbie, or we can all go out to a restaurant - or any combination of the three. Simples!

Well done you Serena, not jealous in the slightest..............lol

Excellent!

Lucky lucky you Serena it's a long time since I had a "girlie" weekend away - must look into it again.

Glad you had such a wild and wonderful time.

Good for you Serena, sounds ideal.

Go right ahead and book your next one.

Mine were going on the coach to London first thing on a Saturday morning and going to a show (Billy Elliott) first time and (The Lion King) the second time we went. We had lovely accommodation and evening meal and super breakfast. Usually there have been 2/4 of us and we've had a whale of a time and ended up round Covent Gardens before our long coach ride home on the Sunday.

That sounds great Sabre! My weekend consumed of cocktails sauna massage and more cocktails!!! A good show would be an idea to do another time for sure!

You women do come from venus - the first thing a guy would ahve asked another huy would ahve been "yeah but did you get a sh**g"
lol

We are definitely from Mars - so simple no hassle no stress just the basics.

Women overcomplicate absolutely everything in life which makes their lives stressful - when men get married thats when their lives get stressful - on our own we have no stress.

I remember a program on bachelors on the tv documentary and they said it right - they had a stress free life - no nagging no problems just the odd woman now and again - their own places but the downside is no kids , no family life - I suppose you pays yyour money you gets your value.

I would be interested to hear snoopys take on this - are you happy being a bachelor - do you miss a family life and kids or do you feel balanced and happy with your lot - Me I feel like I should be having kids myself - I must be getting the mid-life crisis thing!!!

We've been here before, Omen and, IMHO, your biological clock is ticking!

In my experience, nowadays it's the girls who are more likely to ask the s**g question - well, the ones of a certain age anyway....!

Feline is right, Omen. These days girls get down to the basics I can assure you of that! As a single girl in my thirties I'm happy being single and don't have stress snd hassle in my life the minute I have a man my life is stressful! So I think it's like that both sides...
When I got back from my weekend I've had girls ranging from 18-50s asking if I got a s...!
Being a divorcee and was engaged which ended 3 and half years ago, I can say I hate living with a man. I hate being answerable to every movement I make it was driving me nuts and by that I don't mean out partying cos that was stopped without me realising!! It was with my work during the day I got questioned my whereabouts the times and treatments etc! This is what happened in my last relationship now I understand he was so possessive and in my first marriage I also found some way my freedom was gone too!! So I do feel I have to sacrifice my freedom in a relationship perhaps I've not met "the one" is this what happens in real marriages? I'd love to hear from Sabre, Feline and Lillie who all sound in wonderful marriages... I've been so put off by relationships! I'd like to think I could restore my faith in a relationship and even marriage...

Yes, serena, the guys have had it their way for too long!

As to finding the perfect relationship, I'm sure Sabre and Lillie would agree with me that you only find it when you're not actually looking.

I know you don't smoke, but I call this the 'Man in the tobacconist' syndrome - i.e you will meet him when you least expect it.

I'd firmly decided I would never get married again when I met Mr F and fell in love at the age of 39. Plenty of time for you yet!

Sisters rule OK!

I am constantly being asked that question!!! Am more than happy being single, really feel like I've got out of jail and can be me again.....

Good for you, Jazz!

Amazing how many people are interested in my (lack of) sex life...........

Wow thats interesting never been possessive myself so cant really understand it and neither are any of my pals.

I think its just guys that are a bit mentally unhinged that are like that or have had someone cheat or do something like that in their lives.

Haha so I have learned something new - you girls do talk like us guys then!

Excellent consider my firmware updated!

It does seem that living on your own is the ideal way to live as neither men nor women really seem to be able to live together without stress or hassle. I would totally agree with that - I dont know any couple or married ones that are happy or without stress.

You will not believe me when I tell you that I once worked with a lady whose husband used to lock her in the house whilst he was at work. She had no 'phone and no contact with anyone until he unlocked the door. We could never understand why she stayed with him but she was terrified he would do something to her.

Feline I'm 38 this year and my daughter will be 15 so in another year or so I may consider it but I'm holding no prisoners! Lol! All around me is single girls with no children never been married but desperately want it all! I don't know how they have sailed through without it happening perhaps like you said its because there constantly on the look out...
Omen we are getting more alike I don't mean you and, I mean male and female. Glad to hear soft date updated. Loads of mentally unbalanced guys snd gals out there it's scary! No wonder my hobby is my films! Lol!
Sabre I do believe that as I happened to me once by the last relationship I was in he thought it was a joke he wouldn't answer his phone or anything left me locked in satur afternoon in my own house he lived with me for an hour as a practical joke! One of my clients husband used to lock her in under stairs in downstairs cupboard

I have had a lot of bad relationships in the past where men have tried to control me and my life and it was very stressful. I got to a point where I thought there was no point in being with anyone as it always ended badly and I loved being single. Then I met my fiance and I can honestly say we both have our freedom although we are so loved up even after over 4 years together we do spend a lot of time together alone. We still have our own interests and friends but we also have a lot of time for each other.

Believe me I have been in some scary relationships, and a friend of mine was also locked in her apartment by her boyfriend at the time. She was living in Germany so none of her friends knew what was going on. Luckily she had friends in Germany who helped her, but she literally had to escape from her own apartment.

I don't really want to share my story but I can confirm there are some very very scary men out there, and so easy to get trapped and not see the way out

Hearing all these horror stories, I just thank God that I've been so lucky.

OK, so Mr F is husband No 3, but I've never been abused or anything like it.

You certainly have been very lucky, Feline! Congrats!

Yes indeedy feline you have my envy...

thats interesting would your friends recommend anything in particular, lakes?

With or without a girlfriend, Snoops, you will love Graceland! :-)

Its all in the water Serene one all in the water.

Friend of a friend only drinks bottled water - believes the government are putting stuff in the water to make us more compliant!
lol

He does have a point as there is so much nastiniess in tap water it cannot all be filtered out so spring water might just be the best bet - I know I do feel better when I am in Tatra drinking fresh mountain water and eating proper food - when i get back here its bad bad food no taste no nourishment!!!
hmmm

Not bad for £1.49 !!!! Snoops.

No problems with tap water per se, Omen, but ours just doesn't taste nice. I will happily drink it when we visit friends in Wales or the Lake District

The taste really does vary across the country doesn't it

Defo, Jazz.

For a minute there Omen I thought you were calling me serene lol

I was!!

Your sure getting to know me lol!

I've still not been I wonder if I will ever get to go alone...
I've been on holiday with a friend years ago and that was stressful, cs!! Ever since I've never been with a friend just my daughter and I and it's the best holidays ever!! I have so many friends that are single they would jump at the chance to go anyway but last year I did fancy going alone just for some "me time"! Didn't happen had s ball with the girls!!

Really CS? But it would be soooo nice to do what you do without having to consider anyone else........

I've been on two holidays with a friend (different one each time), both were stressful, so I know what you mean, Serena, much easier on my own.

Thanks for that fruity as i've often wondered was it just that particular friend or just in general going on holiday with friends! I have to say we were close friends for over 10 years and it was the only time i went on holiday with a friend and we did have any arguments or fights but there was something not quite right and when we got back i never heard from her again!

It can be quite stressful knowing you will have to make friends with others - especially if you are a bit of an introvert or even the fact there are a lot of nutters out there and a woman on her own - Well If it was my daughter i would be worried especially if they were going to a Muslim country or even Thailand which I have always liked as a destination.

Never felt at all threatened in Thailand Omen

Me introvert, Omen lol!

My daughter and i are off to Turkey in april which we do go most years during the easter holiday but it is in a resort and they are all well behaved i've always have felt safe enough...
Never been to Thailand, Jazzj is it quite safe for my daughter and i to go?... I've always fancied going especially for the massages!!

Serena, I never felt at all threatened in Thailand, although I confess to only going to the main touristy bits -Bangkok, Phuket Chiang mai..its gorgeous, you'll love it!!

Yeah stick to the touristy bits you will be ok.

My best pal lived there for a year.

Avoid the Thai Stick and you will be ok!
>';o0)
Dont point your feet at anyone and be respectful.
Something that is quite hard for British people.

Its very much based on good manners and respect.
As long as you do that you will be ok.

Good advice, don't point your feet at Buddha either....found them to be a very nice people

Yes even the ones in the Uk are truly excellent people.
Very straightforward and surprisingly honest folks I must say!

The ones I know are brutally honest I suppose thats why i like em!

Thank you guys excellent advice!!

I think that sounds amazing, summer! If I was on my own I would love to have done all that when I was younger! What a world out there make the most of it and explore as much as you can!! Please keep letting us know now and then how your getting on! Good luck all the best!!

Wow, go girl, sounds amazing. Never been to any of those, my backpacking was only around Europe!

Takes guts...

Go for it you will never regret it!

Unless you give a lift to Rutger Hauer hitching on a dark moonlit road at night on route 66...
>;o)

That;s wicked Omen, you'll scare her before she's even gone!! Going on your own means you have to talk to people or you'll go nuts, but its easy in hostels as most people are in the same boat. Loved it when I went, although had a few scary moments

Are you sure...

Last time I saw a HOSTEL I was in Slovakia!!!!!
BRRRRRRRRR

LOL

>;O)

Hostels , hitchhikers etc,,,,

Did you know the movie hostel was actually based in fact.
It was called the yellow house and was used to torture and take organs for transplant from Serbians during the war!!!
Then there are the Thai torture and murder hostels.
The world is a bad place!!!!

So much for the Serbs being the bad guys.

The press really do manipulate the public eh!!!

ROFL Omen, perhaps we should all stay put and not go anywhere!!

It's ok Jazzj i love horrors it wouldn't put me off!!

I'm a wimp, it'd put me of if I had the chance to do it!! Thanks God I didn't know Omen when I went years ago!! Just a shame my eldest wants to do it in a year or two....................

Woohoo, lucky you!!!

Wow Summer that's amazing I've never known anyone to win a trip and that sounds fantastic!! Lucky you! I will be entering competitions to win a holiday! Enjoy it!

Wow, well done, summer. Enjoy!

Thanks! It was for a trip worth up to the value of £10,000! I recently entered a competition to win a holiday to New Zealand... I didn't win but I was a runner up and won £50 worth of Tesco vouchers! Definitely worth entering as many as possible.

Wow, have never entered on the basis that I convince myself I'll never win anyway....you got any tips to pass on?? (other than entering in the first place,,,,,,,, :) )

Excellent. £50 of Tesco vouchers - well worth having. You can spend them on suntan lotion for your trip!

What a lovely surprise for you Summer winning a holiday of a life time - good luck to you and enjoy every minute. p.s. Have you any room for a little one with her pass port waiting?

Lol Sabre, would you really want to go and leave Mr S behind.............?

No not really Jazzj. Did that 18 month's ago when I went on a cruise with one of my life long friends. He didn't want to go so encouraged me to but missed him so much it cost me £100 in phone bills from the ship as my mobile wouldn't work. I hasten to add it was worth every penny to hear his little voice.

Had a feeling you wouldn't really..

Very good question, Jazz! Although I think Mr S is one of the few men who could be left behind - he can cook!

Aaah, Sabre, that's lovely....

I know he can Feline but he said "don't be leaving me loads of boxes of food in the freezer I'm quite able to look after myself". Well I ignored him and guess what - must have been half a dozen boxes missing plus he met up with my girlfriends for lunch in the town and got that many invitations to have meals at friend's houses he didn't cook much at all.

LOL, Sabre!

Odd, isn't it? The girls always take pity on a man who's been left on his own, but us girls would have to stay in with a dish of gruel and a cup of boiled pond water - to quote the late, great, Tony Hancock!

That's very true feline!!

I only ever enter competitions being run by genuine companies/well known products and I never pay to enter them. I have to confess that I have got as little bit addicted to entering them but now I do it all the more knowing that it can pay off. There are dedicated websites that collate the deatils of all currently running competitions and seperate them into categories (holidays, cash prizes, cars, electrical goods etc). I tend to only enter holidays as a lot of the cash prizes are on websites called things like www.prizecash.com and I'm a little sceptical of them.

I have noticed an increase in junk mail but it is easy to unsubscribe from newsletters and to be honest if I'm going to win a £10k holiday I think I can deal with it.

Once you get the bug you'll find competitions to enter everywhere... food packaging, drink cans, email newsletters.

My only other tip is stick at it! I've been entering them for at least 12months before I struck gold...

Good luck!

Do you think you only win if you agree to receive their advertising stuff.............?

Hmm that's a tough one. Sometimes I tick to receive stuff and sometimes I don't. I suppose it generally doesn't hurt to sign up as you can easily unsubscribe. For the competition I actually won all I did was sign up to receive their email newsletter.