[NSC] Plans for the summer?

[The Clamp]

A couple of trips planned.

But mainly work and doing my Medics training / qualification.

 

[Gabbafella]

Was planning on a cheeky little trip to Dubrovnik with the Mrs to help distract me from the 3 months of incessant booing I'll be doing at our lack of signings and RDZ leaving.

 

[crodonilson]

Going on a cruise with John Inverdale, Polly and Giles in June which should be an absolute hoot. Also going to Wiltshire for a week in July.

 

[Yes Chef]

Going to Bosnia in June, and trekking in Cantabria in early September.

Will get to a few Sussex matches, hopefully the minor counties one dayer at Arundel.

A beer festival or two

My mum's 90th birthday party (the most important event, of course)

Catering for 3 weddings, work wise

 

[hans kraay fan club]

My and Mrs SS passports expired about 4 years ago - we're both retired now and quite well travelled so have enjoyed 2-day breaks around the UK for the last decade. We have both wanted to travel to Ireland but have being putting this off as no passports. Well, blow me down, I've just learnt that UK peeps DON'T need a passport to enter Ireland [north or south] so planning the trip, ferry out Fishguard - Rosslare, then a big circuit. Cork, Blarney [for a kiss], Limerick, Galway, Giant's Causeway, [skip Belfast], Dublin then ferry back to Holyhead. B&B, maybe 2 weeks, maybe longer, play it by ear ....

Anyone done anything similar?

Not done that as one round trip (not for a holiday anyway) but have visited all of the places listed (bar Blarney), for work or leisure.

I wouldn't go a bundle on Dublin, personally - it kind of feels like any other generic big city, these days. And Limerick is a bit rough round the edges. But would (and will, courtesy of family all over) happily spend time in Cork, Galway, Waterford or Kilkenny

Its a fabulous country and well worth your time. Unfortunately, the state of the pound, means that it is very expensive now - especially hotels and eating out.

Definitely make the effort to include Cork (city)- even though its a bit out on a limb - and if you've time, a day or two in West Cork for the scenery.

 

[The Clamp]

Friends moved from Brighton to Belfast two years ago, so we've flown over a couple of times since then for a long weekend. HMS Caroline in the Titanic Quarter is also worth a visit.
@Shropshire Seagull from the Giants Causeway try to see the Glens of Antrim. Beautiful scenery and well worth seeing.

All my maternal family live in Belfast, Lisburn and the Antrim area. Much nicer these days than people would think.
I love visiting.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

And (re @Shropshire Seagull trip round Ireland)...

Visit Cobh while you're down in Cork. You'll only need an hour or two there but its an amazing spot. A tiny little harbour town, from which TWO AND A HALF MILLION people set sail for a new life in the States, to escape the hardship that was life in Ireland at the time (equivalent to HALF of the current population of Ireland). There's a small museum at the harbour detailing it all. The sheer scale of the exodus is mind-blowing.

It is also where the Titanic stopped off on its journey to Southampton (picking up a couple of hundred doomed souls) and where the survivors and victims of the Lusitania were brought ashore.

Important / interesting spot, if history is your thing.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

You and Mrs SS sound very similar to my folks. They've got a couple more years left on their passports so are looking at ticking off a few more foreign jaunts and don't have plans to renews their passports when they expire. I was initially a bit shocked when my Dad told me this but I guess it makes sense. My Mum doesn't really like flying anyway and I think they've been to most places they want to go to.

I wouldn't skip Belfast it's a great city. If you don't mind a bit of walking then you can do most things by foot. As others have said the Titanic museum is worth a visit and I personally found the history and the resulting tourism around the troubles fascinating. The murals on both sides of the divide (which is some cases is a short street) are well worth seeing. The Crumlin Road Prison is a really interesting tour.

There is a taxi tour which takes you to both sides of the wall, with a commentary. I found it fascinating but disturbing at the same time.

 

[Weststander]

We've done two ski weeks and we're just back from NYC, that's it now for 2024. Feel satisfied and no more airports.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

No holidays planned yet but I have some London concerts booked; Kim Gordon, Patti Smith, Black Uhuru, Stevie Nicks, PJ Harvey, Saucerful of Secrets and hopefully some more. Also Sussex at Lords in a few weeks time.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

As to myself - already had a terrific three-day break in Rome...

Ireland (probably by car) for 3 nights for a family party in June, then nothing else specific planned yet.

 

[happypig]

Main event is son’s wedding in July. Getting a couple of holidays in September and November.

 

[Questions]

I’ve got a three day European stag do on Friday but can’t tell where in case the groom reads this and he’s oblivious as to where we are going.
And then bugger all booked up. Fancy a swanky spa or posh hotel with some fine dining for June though. Any tips on that. Yes 2 nights no more than 2 hours drive, dog friendly . Nice walks and good food.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Mostly being jealous of my 15 year old son. Finishes his GCSEs a couple of days before the start of the euros then he fully intends to have a summer of watching sport and playing golf with his mates. He will keep doing his paper round and some umpiring at hockey to earn a few quid but I have encouraged him to have a belting summer rather than worry about getting too much cash together for now. You only get one summer after GCSEs before A levels where you don’t have a care in the world.

Me? Bit of golf, watching cricket and I will love the Olympics. Family holiday to Turkey - first time we have taken our teenage kids on a plane. Always done France before or stayed with mum near the coast in Devon. Cheaper!

Re Golf, are you still a member up at Kenilworth? I'm contemplating joining a club again

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I’ve got a three day European stag do on Friday but can’t tell where in case the groom reads this and he’s oblivious as to where we are going.
And then bugger all booked up. Fancy a swanky spa or posh hotel with some fine dining for June though. Any tips on that. Yes 2 nights no more than 2 hours drive, dog friendly . Nice walks and good food.

This ticks all your boxes - on the edge of 2 hours - but isn't cheap. It is superb though

Dormy House Hotel & Spa | Luxury Hotel & Spa in The Cotswolds

Dormy House Hotel & Spa in the Cotswolds. A countryside retreat with 39 luxury rooms and suites, awarding-winning Spa, restaurants, bar and lounges.

dormyhouse.co.uk

 

[Berty23]

Re Golf, are you still a member up at Kenilworth? I'm contemplating joining a club again

I am. Let’s get a game sorted soon. Finally all the holes are open. The wet this winter has been a killer. New course manager who has the greens great already. I am still lower than my lad at the moment but at 8 he will be beating me this summer I reckon. Lucky sod. Let me know if you fancy a game. Last few weeks of hockey and then evenings and weekends should work. It is always dead Sunday pm but might clash with your cricket.

 

[5Ways Gull]

Going to retire end June, but nothing major.

 

[Robinjakarta]

Hmm. Bit of work in Yangon, Myanmar and then chillin' out in Phuket, Turkey (Istanbul, Kusadasi, Bodrum), Greece (Samos and Kos) and then in sunny Worthing with family 4 to 17 July (unfortunately not in football season) and then home to Jakarta. Oh, and if any of you out there who reasonably like my posts, I could be well up for a DM and a beer.

 

[WATFORD zero]

We've done two ski weeks and we're just back from NYC, that's it now for 2024. Feel satisfied and no more airports.

Having done two ski holidays this year my knees are now absolutely f***ed. I'll need to rest them on a couple of Mediterranean beaches in the next few months, and some weekends or midweek breaks at UK hotels putting a few miles on my mid life crisis. I have very simple tastes

 

[WATFORD zero]

Imminent arrival of second grandchild
AC/DC
Son in laws Stag weekend
Might venture to the Fatherland for the latter stages of the Euros.

And the fixtures coming out.

I'm assuming that's your son in law to be Lenny, or that would be a little unusual