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UK Staycation inspiration

January 3, 2021

UK Staycation wishlist blog post

More of us are looking at destinations for a UK staycation following restrictions on overseas travel due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Here is my UK staycation wishlist.

This is the similar post to one with the same I first published but was lost after a server update.  If you have read this before you will find the content changed slightly.

I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post as I am an affiliate. This does not incur any cost to you and I only recommend companies and products that I use and trust

Pinterest UK Staycation

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We are fortunate enough to have a couple of overseas trips each year. Our favourite destinations are Corralejo in Fuerteventura and Cavtat in Croatia. We do regularly have short breaks in the UK. The Lake District is our favourite place to visit. . We enjoy walking and love the peace and tranquility it provides. And following the easing of lockdown we visited Harrogate. Since then I have however been drawing up a wishlist of other places we would like to see in the UK. Here is my current UK staycation wishlist.

Whitby

Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast is a destination we visit quite regularly too. It is on my wishlist again as we have a short 3 night break booked for next month. It is a traditional working fishing town with all the sights, sounds and smells! The lobster cages can be seen stacked on the quayside and the fishing boats continually sailing in and out of the harbour. There are fabulous walks in the area. Our favourite is the stretch of The Cleveland Way that runs along a coastal path from Whitby to Robin’s Hood Bay. This is around 7 miles and takes 2-3 hours. Quite an undulating strenuous walk but very enjoyable. There are some tricky parts though so be prepared!

Whitby seen from The Abbey UK staycation

Whitby seen from The Abbey – own photo

Lobster crates Whitby Harbour

Lobster crates Whitby Harbour – own photo

Walking Whitby to Robins Hood Bay

Walking Whitby to Robins Hood Bay own photo

Oxford

I visited Oxford for a morning many years ago on my way to the Hampton Court flower show. I was really captivated by the little I saw and have always promised to return for a stay. I have recently celebrated my 60th birthday and we had a short break in Oxford planned as my treat. This was cancelled due to the current restrictions at our tender age I did not want to travel by train for that length of time and motorway journeys heighten my menopausal anxiety.  Another reason for my love of Oxford is that I am a huge fan of crime drama’s and have watched every episode of Inspector Morse many times and then progressed to Lewis and Endeavour, all set in Oxford and based on the novels of Colin Dexter.  The scenery and architecture looks magnificent. I want to enjoy a drink too in the bar at The Randolph Hotel.

Oxford UK Staycation

Bridge of Sighs Oxford  -Google images

 

Oxford UK Staycation

The colleges of Oxford University – Google images

Jersey

Mr Fitz and I had a weeks holiday in Jersey around 20 years ago and promised to return. This seems the ideal time to visit again. Again as we are mature we do not want to spend any length of time on an aeroplane if we can help it but Jersey is less than an hour away and we still get the thrill of an airport trip. Even though I have a terrible fear of flying I still do it and thinks the holiday starts at the airport. Jersey has many fabulous beaches, sights and restaurants. As we are huge foodies we often plan trips around dining options.  It tends to have a warmer climate than mainland UK.

Jersey

Jersey

Isle of Man

Famous for it’s TT races and cats with no tails the Isle of Man is another place on our UK staycation wishlist. Again it is a place I visited when I was 17 – my first holiday away without family. In fact it was on that trip that I heard on the radio of the death of Elvis! Mr Fitz has never been and is intrigued by it, especially as whenever he watches the weather forecast on TV, which is often!, he always comments that the weather is good. This is somewhere that can be reached as foot passengers by rail and ferry. Although during the Covid 19 Pandemic it was totally closed to visitors.

Isle of Man UK Staycation

Laxey Wheel Isle of Man

Cromer

We love being by the sea and Cromer in Norfolk is believed to have some of the best beaches. The only downside to this is that it is quite a long distance and journey from Manchester. I would probably break the journey up with a night’s stay on the journey. There are also plenty of other lovely towns to vist nearby. It is also famous for its Cromer crab dishes. Crab is Mr Fitz’s favourite food to eat on any menu.

Cromer Beach Norfolk

Cromer Beach Norfolk

London

No UK staycation wishlist is complete without a trip to the capitol. We paid our visit for a stay only about 6 years ago. We instantly fell in love with the buzz of the vibrant City. So much to see and do. We plan to make another visit soon. I have some BuyAGift vouchers that I can use to fund a hotel stay. These vouchers are excellent gifts especially to mature relatives and friends. They are our ideal gift to receive. We have seen may of the landmarks but one thing I wish to do is see the crown jewels in the Tower of London, we have walked through the grounds but never been inside the exhibition. My interest is stimulated after visiting the Queen Victoria exhibition at Kensington Palace where some of her jewels were on display. I love anything that sparkles. My last trip away prior to lockdown was a theatre trip to London. I am a big fan of the theatre and love to see a show during any stay there. Tickets for all shows can be booked via London Theatre Direct website.

Tower Bridge London

Tower Bridge London  -own photo

 

02 London

02 London and Emirates Air Line -own photo

Queen Victoria's Jewels

Queen Victoria’s Jewels Kensington Palace – own photo

I hope I’ve provided you with some inspiration. Have you got a UK Staycation list or some new suggestions for mine. Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for popping by today

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Travel, Travel and Things to Do Tagged With: Covid 19 Pandemic, Cromer, Isle of Man, Jersey, London, Staycation, UK Staycation, Whitby

&Juliet The Musical – an overnight break to London

June 24, 2020

&Juliet The Musical

&Juliet is the last show I saw prior to lockdown due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. As Lockdown is easing gradually we are now beginning to plan where we want to go and what we want to do. I thought I’d write up and share my review. I’m hoping this review will get your juices flowing for a show or a night away somewhere. I love visiting the theatre, you may want to read my previous review of Motown the Musical.

One of my main hobbies is entering competitions. This trip was a prize I won from entering an on air competition with Heat Radio. It was not a condition of the prize that I wrote this review.

I’ll briefly outline the prize: Travel to London, a night at The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in London, dinner at Scoff and Banter and 2 tickets to &Juliet at The Shaftesbury Theatre.

I took my friend Ilsa with me and we visited in the middle of January.

We travelled First Class from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. If you haven’t had the opportunity to travel First Class let me tell you it’s a lovely treat. If you book in advance you can get some great deals. As well as comfy seats you get food and drinks included served to you in your seat. The journey from Manchester to London is just over 2 hours.

First Class Travel

1st Class Travel

The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel.

This is a fabulous hotel officially in Camden and really close to Covent Garden and the British Museum.  Our room was spacious with a huge bathroom and our own Nespresso Coffee machine. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There is a lovely lively bar area in the hotel We were also booked for breakfast, which was a mixture of buffet style and waiter service. There was an excellent choice. Lots of windows making it light and airy.

Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury Hotel Room

Hotel Room

 

Breakfast Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury

Breakfast

After check in and dropping our bags we went for a stroll close to the hotel. There is so much to see close by. We wandered up to Covent Garden and of course had to pop into the Charlotte Tilbury Store. Having just returned from a week in Fuerteventura I was trying to have a no spend trip but my friend treated herself to some cosmetics. The store was very well staffed and they were very attentive without being pushy. One thing I love about anywhere I go and particularly London, are the pubs. London have an infinite number of fabulous old pubs with great history’s. We visited 2 to quench our thirst!

Charlotte Tilbury shopping with a beer pub

Time for a refreshment

Cross Keys Covent Garden

Cross Keys Covent Garden

After another mooch around Covent Garden watching the street artists and admiring the sights we made our way back to the hotel to get ready for our evening out.

Covent Garden London

Covent Garden London

Scoff and Banter

The restaurant was approximately a 2 minute walk from our hotel.  It is part of a small chain, this is how it describes itself:

“At Scoff & Banter, we celebrate hearty and contemporary British cuisine. Discover a home from home with lovingly prepared seasonal British cooking, using the finest locally sourced ingredients. Find your classic British favourites at one of our four London locations”

The restaurant has a good vibe and features cool marble floors and comfortable leather chairs. On the walls specially commissioned artwork gives a modern interpretation of the Dutch masters. It is located just 5 minutes from Theatre land. It’s perfect for pre-theatre dinner and post-theatre drinks.

Artwork Scoff and Banter

Artwork Scoff and Banter

We enjoyed a 3 course dinner with drinks, as it was mid January it was fairly quiet, but the food and service was really lovely.  My choices were, Starter: Cornish Crab cakes with chilli lime sauce.

Scoff and Banter Cornish Crab Cakes

Cornish Crab Cakes

Main: Herb-crusted rack of lamb, layered creamed potatoes, minted pea purée and rosemary lamb gravy

Scoff and Banter Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb

Scoff and Banter Crusted Rack of Lamb

Dessert – well it would have been rude not too! : Warm Bramley apple crumble, served with Cornish clotted ice cream or vanilla custard

Bramley Apple Crumble Scoff and Banter

Bramley Apple Crumble

All totally delicious accompanied with a glass of Prosecco.

I feared I may snooze during the show after all that but I soldiered on! It was then time to walk the short distance to the Shaftesbury Theatre to see &Juliet.

The Show &Juliet

Ironically this show had been in Manchester prior to coming to London. It had received great reviews from friends who had been to see it. I had chosen to see a different show.

&Juliet The Musical

&Juliet Opening Stage Set

The Shaftesbury Theatre, like nearly all London Theatres is old, having opened in 1911. I love the feel inside these old buildings, they all maintain their original features and have graced so many great shows and artists over the years.

Inside The Shaftesbury Theatre &Juliet

Inside The Shaftesbury Theatre

The show &Juliet is a remix of the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet – it asks the question What if Juliet’s famous ending was really just her beginning? What if she decided to choose her own fate? In essence the show outlines an alternative ending – she didn’t die and proves when it comes to love, there’s always life after Romeo with a modern day twist and contemporary songs.

&Juliet The Musical

The plot is surprisingly fresh – it’s the 16th century sort of,  and Anne Hathaway comes to London for the premiere of her husband William Shakespeare’s new play, she doesn’t like the ending and changes it! Anne Hathaway is funny , bossy and has William under her thumb.  The story line progresses with songs you all want to sing too cleverly slotted into the plot. Some of the vocals are top class. It was a very enjoyable show and if I’m brutally honest not one I particularly wanted to see. My prize also included interval drinks. Really spoiled.

All in all a fabulous trip away – only one night but we packed a lot in. Thank You Bauer Media and \heat radio.

Myself and Mr Fitz often have one night away, planned right it can feel much longer and you come back refreshed. I highly recommend you try it.

Do you ever go away for just one night or love a good theatre break. What are your favourite shows or have you been to a show you weren’t sure was for you but were pleasantly surprised.

Let me know I love to hear recommendations. I’m already starting my wishlist of places to visit next.

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Filed Under: Food and Eating Out, Lifestyle, Theatre Reviews, Travel Tagged With: Covent Garden, Days Out, London, London Theatre, Nights away, Radisson Blu Bloomsbury, Retirement, Scoff and Banter, Theatre

Dubrovnik and Cavtat perfect destinations for 2020 post coronavirus

June 4, 2020

a blog post tile about Dubrovnik and Cavtat

Dubrovnik and Cavtat Croatia in the Adriatic Sea

I first wrote this piece about visiting Dubrovnik and Cavtat in 2015. In light of the coronovirus pandemic I felt the need to put pen to paper to tell you about how fabulous a Croatia holiday is again. I follow many sites providing information of the region and I;m delighted to discover that European Destinations has recommended it as one of the safest destinations to visit in 2020

Many European countries are opening their borders and flights and hotels are also reopening now. After weeks of confinement you want to travel to Europe but do not know where to travel and what safety measures are being taken in countries and regions.

We have selected for you some of the destinations least affected by Covid-19 (up to 600 times fewer Covid-19 cases). These destinations have also implemented very specific protocols concerning hygiene in accommodations, restaurants, shops and measures such as the change of air conditioning filters between each traveller stay, availability of masks and social distancing.

These destinations also benefit from proximity to hospitals and have a higher number of hospital beds per inhabitant than the majority of European countries. 

We absolutely love this country and have only seen a small part of it. My interest in the country stems from my love of football (well that’s a surprise!). During Euro 1996 the Croatian National Team entered a team for the first time following the Baltic crisis. I thought they were a great team, some great players including Davor Suker and Slaven Bilic, once manager of West Ham.

At the time I said to John – I want to visit there some day and watch that team play!

A holiday in Croatia

It took a while but in 2010 we finally got to visit. We stayed in Dubrovnik in a fabulous hotel called The Grand Villa Argentina, just outside the iconic City walls. A beautiful hotel in a stunning location. Most hotels in Croatia are not located on beaches but have naturally formed bathing platforms on rocky outcrops next to the sea. This hotel has a fabulous pool on the edge of the Adriatic and breakfast is served on an outdoor terrace. A fabulous recommendation for a Croatia holiday.

Croatia holiday Swimming Pool at Hotel Argentina Dubrovnik

Croatia holiday Lounging on my sunbed by Hotel Argentina pool

During our trip we visited the small town of Cavtat 14km away by boat . A trip recommended by friends. On arrival it was love at first sight. A small resort built around 2 horseshoe bays, which are visited by spectacular yachts, the quay sides are edged with fabulous restaurants and cafe bars serving great local beer, wine, cocktails and produce.

Croatia holiday Dining at Ciparis restaurant Cavtat Croatia

Having stayed in this resort 5 times now, we find it perfect. Dubrovnik itself is very busy and crowded within the walls during the day from visiting cruise ship tourists. Cavtat in contrast is laid back, picturesque and less busy. There is a great crowd there, a mixture of the locals and tourists. Disliking karaoke and traditional English bars. I love the European laid back Cafe culture. Many of the tourists who stay here are 40 plus but that does not mean it is dull. In the bars at night a lot of the locals come out to drink and eat, many young in their 20’s. It has a real ‘trendy’ vibe and the locals are so friendly. Visitors are enthralled by their fabulous manners and chat.

Croatia holiday There are top class yachts to be seen in Cavtat harbour

Even though I am addicted to football, I really dislike the loud, brash English football shirt wearing tourist, I don’t mind seeing football shirts being worn, after all football is a great conversation opener, but I dislike the loud, drunken behaviour that sometimes goes with it.
On 3 of our visits now there has been a football tournament on. 2 Euro’s and a World Cup. In Cavtat, all the bars and restaurants put up outdoor TV screens when games are scheduled. The sound is unobtrusive but visitors and locals alike can watch games. I have enjoyed watching the Croatian National Team play whilst visiting there. The locals appear in their team colours with  their flags. They are quite vocal but not too rowdy, although it is handy that you cannot tell what they are saying, but it all looks friendly enough!

Croatia The Perfect Destination

Croatia holiday Croatians are patriotic about their football team

They have lost 2 tournaments when we have been there, but here is the difference that makes me warm to these fabulous people even more. There are no histrionics, tears or acts of frustration, they just shrug their shoulders and carry on their normal business, continuing to enjoy their evening and chat as if nothing had happened. I commented to one of the waiters how well they took defeat. His reply was “tomorrow is another day, the sun will still shine!” A great response and attitude.
Croatia is a lovely place, with wonderful people. Don’t be put off by their dour faced exteriors – engage in conversation and they come alive – great wit and humour. Getting to know them is a highlight of any Croatia holiday.They appreciate you visiting their wonderful country – after all tourism is their biggest earner! The views and scenery are delightful, a lovely mixture of the clear Adriatic , framed by Mountains, beautiful flowers and Pine trees. Friends always comment  how beautiful it looks when they see my photographs on my social media pages.

Croatia holiday much of the coastline is framed by pine forests

Why have a Croatia holiday?

It is an ideal destination for the over 50’s who wish to experience a chilled, relaxing holiday with beautiful scenery and a friendly welcome.

And finally I cannot end without mentioning the beer and wine! I think two of their local beers Karlovacko and Osujszco are 2 of the best I’ve ever tasted, plus their red wines aren’t bad either, Plavac and Dingac. Such a pity they don’t export, although I know M&S stocked a Plavac for a while.

I really recommend a Croatia holiday if you love fabulous scenery, Cafe Culture and clear waters.

If you’re tempted to visit how about looking at some recommendations from the local tourist board

If you’ve visited or are planning a trip what are your thoughts – let me know your experiences I’d love to hear from you.

Consequently if you are looking to travel further afield maybe across the Pond to USA  – why not hop over to The Geordie Grandma and read her review of a holiday in New Orleans

If you want to know more about how I am loving life in retirement read more

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: #Over50 #Retirement #Travel #Croatia #Adriatic #Cavtat #Beer #Wine #holiday lifeover50, coronavirus, coronavirus pandemic, Dubrovnik, European Destinations

Visiting Santorini by cruise ship – Fira and Oia

April 11, 2019

Blog title visiting Santorini by cruise ship

Visiting Santorini by cruise ship

Visiting Santorini by cruise ship was one of the highlights of our trip around Greece on P&O Oceana in September 2018. This was our second port day and you can read about our sea days here and stop at Pireaus in Greece here.

It’s fair to say it was the destination I was most looking forward to visiting.  I am a traveller who tends to research and plan for hours before travelling but this was the one time that I could have enjoyed a better stop if I’d paid more attention.

I hope by reading this I can help you enjoy a day when visiting Santorini by cruise ship.

Santorini

Holidays in Santorini is the dream of a lifetime for many people. As this is the top tourist destination in Greece, the island is famous for the impressive caldera, the volcano and the romantic sunset. In fact, it is frequently included among the best destinations in the world. Over the last years, tourist season has extended in Santorini, from early April until early November due to the many cruise ships that dock there. Source: www.greeka.com

When you arrive by sea, there is no confusing the island of Santorini. Dazzling white houses cling to the edge of vertical, rocky cliffs against azure blue waters. The most southern of the Cyclades islands, it is surrounded by Thirasia and Aspronisi, which were once part of a large volcanic island. Considered by many to be the site of the “Lost City of Atlantis”, this magical little island glimmers from the fading sun as many watch its decent from the numerous bars and cafés at the water’s edge.

view of Santorini roof tops visiting by cruise ship

Arriving on Santorini from a cruise ship

Our cruise ship P&O Oceana docked in the sea offshore from the old port of Fira and we were transferred to the Island by tender. As we had a balcony cabin we could see the tenders being loaded and passengers being ferried across. We found this beneficial as we could see when the initial hustle and bustle had ended and we could enjoy a less crowded boat and a relaxed trip across. This short boat trip itself was a real treat.

2 people on cruise tender visiting Santorini by cruise ship

When you arrive at the Old Port of Fira there are 3 ways to get up to the cliff tops so that you can explore the town and travel further afield on the Island.

Landing port visiting Santorini by crusie ship

Landing at Port of Fira

The 3 choices to get into Fira town are Cable car, walk up the 600 steps into the town or ride a donkey to take you up the steps.

Visiting Santorini by Cruise ship

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At this point I would state that I do not in anyway endorse anyone riding the donkeys.  There is mounting objections, quite rightly too to these poor creatures being used for tourists. Heavy overweight tourists are being carried and causing injury. There are even gathering campaigns for cruise ships to boycott Santorini until the donkey transfer is discontinued. Therefore I will not discuss this option

If you choose to walk I would suggest that you would have to be super fit to manage this climb! I only climbed a few whilst at the top and they nearly killed me. Also by walking you will have to look at the poor donkeys of Santorini and walk through piles of donkey droppings!

Santorini Cable Car

Having said what I have done so far you can guess that we used the cable car. During my pre cruise research I had read of there being long queues to actually get on the car. It was a blisteringly hot day in the high 30 degrees and thankfully we didn’t have to wait too long. I also have to give a big shout out to P&O who provide shade and cold water, either plain or infused with fruits to provide refreshments in the heat. The cable car looks modern and in great working order. The fee was around 6 Euro’s each if I remember correctly. Now at this stage I have to confess that one of my fears and phobias is heights. We shared our carriage with 2 older ladies who teased me all the way up after I sat there with my eyes closed gripping my husbands knee! I have been on other cable cars that I have tolerated better. It’s quite jerky as it passes over the upright towers. If you wish to see what it is like there are several videos on Youtube showing the journey.

Fira

As you may have read in my other posts about this cruise, we chose not to participate in any of the bookable excursions. Mr Fitz and I like to just stroll and explore ourselves, we viewed each Port as a taster of the destination. We had no desire to be off the ship for long periods, especially as it was so hot. Once we arrived at Fira we initially found ourselves on the main street. It was a typical small town with cafe’s, restaurants and gift shops, added to this the roadway was busy with cars and kamikaze scooters! We just ambled about and initially found ourselves ambling around and found ourselves following more dusty roads dodging psycho scooter riders! We don’t tend to use maps we like to just drift and see what we see. After a change of direction we found ourselves heading back towards the cliffs. I have to confess here that my research and homework fell short and I had missed something vital which I will expand on later in this post!

Again I cannot reiterate for a fair skinned celtic skinned woman like myself the heat was becoming unbearable! Even my sun loving husband was finding it hard going. Once we were back near the cliffs we found a network of small pathways between houses and hotels. I’ve taken a little bit of video footage to provide a taste of how lovely it is.

http://earlyretirementrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20180915_124231.mp4

We found a little hotel with a cafe which seemed to provide art classes to tourists. There were several people sat around the edge of the terrace drawing and painting.  This lovely quaint hotel was painted in the colours of blue and white, that are synonymous with the Island. It provided much needed refreshment and shade. I tried a traditional Greek coffee which was very strong and enjoyable.

man and woman sitting under a parasol

Cooling off on Santorini

 

We then decided to make our way back to the cable car and return to the beautiful Oceana. We continued in the warren of small alleyways and found ourselves on the steps that climb up to the top. Boy they are challenging in the heat! It wasn’t just me that was struggling, even though it was September the temperatures were higher than the seasonal norm. We saw a few people struggling and overcome. We had carried water in our rucksack and I think that is an absolute must when on a Port Day. I packed 2 budget lightweight plastic water bottles and filled them up each day. You cannot always rely on having water to hand if you feel a little light headed in the heat.

There are some fabulous gift shops selling jewellery and gifts. I treated myself to a small necklace as a souvenir, another confession here – another of my addictions is to jewellery and accessories! Besides the normal tourist souvenirs,  Santorini is full of one-of-a-kind boutiques and galleries and interesting shops that sell local arts and crafts and things that you wont find in Athens. There are over 40 jewelry stores, most of them on the main street in Fira which is how it got the name ‘Gold Street’ – Ypapantis Street is it’s real name. This street is considered to be one the biggest Gold markets in Greece.

Following the descent by cable car P&O staff were there again with shade and cool courtesy refreshments whilst we waited to board a tender back to the ship. Again I am going to say that the trip across by the tender is really relaxing and part of the whole experience of visiting Santorini by cruise ship.

Do your research

If you are planning to visit Santorini by cruise ship then do your research and don’t make the mistake that we did.  Whilst we were walking around Fira we were looking for the viewpoint that is symbolic with Santorini – the white buildings with blue domed roofs on the cliff edge. We found similar but not that one! It wasn’t helped that in Fira we couldn’t find many signs to help guide our way.

After returning back to our cruise ship I decided to read a little more about the destination – that was when I had my light bulb moment, (my menopausal brain fog provides many of these, when I remember what I’d read or learned previously!) The iconic view is not in Fira but Oia. On reflection if we had taken an alternate route we could have improved our experience. This is the information I am offering to you to hopefully help you.

A fun way is after arrival by tender is to book a 20 minute boat transfer from the old port to Ammoudi Port in Oia for around 8 Euro’s. This includes a bus trip to Oia Town where you can spend a few hours, then take a half hour bus trip back to Fira. There is no return boat transfer from Ammoudi to Fira by boat.

a boat in the Aegean sea

An example of a boat ferry from Fira port to other towns

By doing this you can maximise your visit to Santorini in the time you have available ashore.

Of course you can always participate in one of your Ferry companies planned excursions when visiting Santorini by cruise ship if you like to be looked after and are nervous doing your own thing. That’s the beauty of a cruise holiday – it caters for all tastes!

If you’ve visited Santorini or taken a cruise holiday I’d love to hear your highlights.

Thank you for reading today, if you like my blog please subscribe to see more of my ramblings

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Port of Piraeus and Athens via P&O Oceana

March 21, 2019

Piraeus the port to dock at to visit The Acropolis Athens

Piraeus for Athens was the first port day on our first ever cruise holiday in September 2018. We sailed aboard P&O Oceana – you can read about Day 1 – Embarkation at Malta here and my review of our sea days too.

Port of Piraeus

The Port of Piraeus has a big modern cruise terminal. We awoke on Day 3 to find we were docked right next to the Terminal building. Chatting to some of the crew we discovered that this is one of their favourite stops. The terminal includes telephones, a bar and cafeteria, an air-conditioned lounge and free WiFi. The crew all try and hop off and take advantage of these.

Also after a short walk through the terminal you can find regular Hop on Hop off buses that take you into Athens for the Parthenon and The Acropolis.

Mr Fitz and I did not book any of the organised shore excursions. We were happy just to find our own way around and experience a taster of the ports we were visiting.

I mentioned the daily cruise bulletin Horizon. In here it informed us that tickets for the buses could be bought in The Atrium of Oceana on the day of the visit. This is what we did and used this method of travel to take us around.

Atrium of P&O Oceana

Tickets for Piraeus Hop on Hop Off buses could be bought in the Atrium

The bus ride into Athens is quite scenic. We were given new sealed headphones to listen to a guided tour of the route. The dialogue pointed out many interesting landmarks which we would not have spotted or recognised. For a football fan like myself it passed the home Stadium of Olympiakos, one of Greece’s largest teams. I love a good football stadium!

Olympiakos football stadium on bus tour from Piraeus Port

Drive from Piraeus passes Olympiakos Football Stadium

The Acropolis and Parthenon

When the bus arrived at the Acropolis is was around 11 AM, however it was already busy and extremely hot. The Parthenon stands proudly atop the Acropolis with a steady stream of visitors snaking their way up. As it was very high and extremely hot – well over 30 degrees even at that time of the day we decided not to climb up. Mr Fitz could manage it easily but I’m not sure I could anyway! We enjoyed a nice stroll round the perimeter of the base and admired the views down in to the City of Athens. One highlight was enjoying a pleasant sit in the shade listening to a gentleman in Greek attire singing and playing an accordion.

Looking up to summit of Acropolis and The Parthenon

Athens landscape after bus tour from Piraeus

The view from the base of the Acropolis down into Athens

After a short stay of around an hour we hopped back on the bus and returned to the port of Piraeus and our wonderful cruise ship. The image of her as you approach never failed to impress us.

There were quite a few other passengers doing the same.

On our return we enjoyed more time on deck with a lunchtime snack from the Horizon Grill. It really is wall to wall food and all great quality.

Then I was able to watch my football team Manchester City play their game screened live on the TV in the sports bar – Winners Bar. This was an unexpected surprise for us.

Select Dining

In the evening we discovered that there was a Tropical themed evening. All other passengers seemed to know this before boarding. We didn’t however, really unsure why. Luckily though we did have suitable clothing. Mr Fitz had a linen shirt with a subtle flamingo print that I had purchased for him and I had a dress with a large floral tropical print.

man and women on deck of cruise ship

Tropical themed evening

For our evening meal we had made a booking at The Beach House which has a slight cover charge. The food again was lovely. From the menu Ichose Coconut Crumb Tiger Prawns followed by a Tex Mex Ribs platter. Mr Fitz had a crispy bacon caesar salad and a hanging kebab. It was all delicious.

collage of food

Our choices for dinner at The Beach House P&O Oceana

After dinner we enjoyed a balmy evening on deck with entertainment and music. The Entertainment team had a dance off, making the passengers sat on Port and Starboard compete against each other. All quite cheesy but surprisingly entertaining. The sight of passengers who work in Executive roles by day marching around to Tony Christie’s Amarillo, would bring a smile to anyone’s face.

A thoroughly enjoyable day. Our destination for Day 4 was Santorini. Please come back to read my review of our visit in a future blog post. I would love you to subscribe to my blog do that you don’t miss it.

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Off the Beaten Track Ordsall Hall Salford

March 11, 2019

Heading for post

Earlier this week I attended my first Blogger meet up hosted by North West Bloggers. The venue was Ordsall Hall Salford. This is an impressive Historic House in the middle of a built up urban area.

The Hall has a meeting room that can be used and is a fabulous venue. 

view of front of Ordsall hall Salford

From the front it looks majestic with sympathetic grounds and a car parking area. Walk around the rear to gain entrance and Wow! it truly has the X Factor. As a proud Mancunian I love to promote the best there is to be found here, reviewing restuarants is my favourite activity.

Ordsall Hall Salford

Ordsall Hall

It was first mentioned in records as early as 1177. Possibly just an area of land, the first house was probably built around 1251. That fact alone is amazing – that it has stood the test of time. Ownership passed through several families and the building and land was expanded and the grounds developed.

If you are a lover of the history of this area there is a virtual who’s who of the well known and written about landowners of Manchester and Cheshire in the history of Ordsall Hall. An extract from the Hall’s website states “The Radclyffe family had been connected with the Hall for over 300 years and their family history tells of inter-marriages and feuds with other local families such as the Booths, Leghs and de Traffords. Some sat in Parliament as Knights of the Shire, and Sir Alexander (d. 1549) was High Sheriff of Lancashire on five occasions. Most were knighted for services in battle and took part in Court life: for instance, Margaret Radclyffe (d. 1599) became the favourite lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and was seen at Court in a white dress as a gift from her twin brother Alexander as a symbol of the Queen’s purity. It was said to have cost £180 (which is equal to £31,000 in today’s money!)”

The Hall and grounds has been the site for many things from being a home to the affluent of the area, to Working Men’s Club to a Clergy Training Centre. 

Ordsall Hall was purchased by Salford Corporation from the Executors of the Baron Egerton of Tatton in 1959 and, following major restoration work, was finally opened to the public in April 1972 as a period house and local history museum.

An expensive restoration project from 2009 – 2011 has made it into the magnificent period house and museum that it is today to be enjoyed by future generations.

Things to do at Ordsall Hall

There are so many activities that take place at the hall – from an informal knit and natter weekly group for locals, to Educational visits for schools, guided tours and craft sessions.

It is also a Wedding Venue, and if I was in the market for a wedding I could not think of a better location.

There are so many interactive props and items on display to enable visitors to really get a feel of what life was like for its residents and visitors of past era’s.

Feathers as writing implements

Old bed Ordsall hall

I have driven past Ordsall Hall so many times in my life without ever thinking of paying a visit. This week I only went in as I mentioned earlier in the post because it was the venue for a local Bloggers meet up. However, now I have had a taste of what is inside this fabulous House I will be back again and again to learn more and I intend to take one of the guided tours. I feel ashamed that as someone who has worked for many years in Salford and born to a Salford woman I should have taken more notice of this venue – described on a display banner as The Pride of Salford.

Banner advertising Ordsall hall

 

The meeting room was fabulous – bright with lots of natural light. Tea, coffee and water was on offer, there is plenty of power points and a large desk for everyone to sit round and enable work and sharing of ideas. There was even a vase of cheery daffodils on the table! A lovely little touch. For food there is a lovely little cafe to purchase food from. I can recommend a slice of The Persian Love cake – fabulously soft sponge with a hint of cardamon.

It is off the beaten track but it is very close to many other attractions and easily accessible by tram. Other popular attractions that it is close to are:

Media City – home of TV studios and the famous Blue Peter garden – 7 minutes by car, 26 minutes on foot. 

Old Trafford – Home of Manchester United – 6 mins by car, 30 minutes on foot.

Lancashire Cricket Club – 5 minutes by car, 26 minutes on foot.

Salford Quays – the dock area and Lowry Outlet Shopping Centre. – 4 minutes by car 22 minutes on foot.

If you are planning to visit one of these more well known tourist areas in the future I highly recommend that you also take a short detour to Ordsall Hall – you will be more than pleasantly surprised at the fabulous work done here by Salford leisure.

 

Thanks for reading – if you’ve visited the Hall what did you do there? What would you recommend to do?

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Filed Under: Manchester, Manchester landmarks, Things to do in Manchester, Travel

Travel Review – What we did on sea days aboard Oceana

March 9, 2019

Deck of ship with caption what we did on sea days aboard OceanaP&O Cruses was our choice of Cruise line for our first ever cruise holiday. You can read about Day 1 here if you haven’t already. Sea Days on board Oceana are as much a  part of a cruise holiday as Port days visiting new destinations. These days are still packed with things to do.

As I have many fabulous aspects of the holiday to review I decided to break down the whole review into days of the cruise and Ports visited.

Day 2 – sea day

Waking up on Day 2 we were refreshed after our early start and travel the day before. As we had a balcony cabin I was able to open the curtains and look straight out at the view of the sea. I also enjoyed my morning cups of tea on our own personal piece of deck. I say cups of tea as I am a huge tea drinker and need about 3 cups in the morning before I can face the world. A big shout out to P&O for providing proper sized mugs in cabins for a decent drink!

White coffee mug

Praise Be to P&O for a full size mug for my morning brew

Having the balcony door open and feeling the warm sea breeze around the cabin whilst we got ready was lovely. Once ready we went for breakfast in the Ligurian restaurant which was designated for our flexible dining options. There is no dress code during the daytime, and we enjoyed a full English Breakfast with silver service in our shorts. The food and service was impeccable. Staff are friendly and attentive without being cloying and formal.

For the rest of the morning and afternoon we strolled around the ship discovering more of the fabulous activities and facilities to enjoy during Sea Days aboard Oceana. There is an exercise deck which fellow guests can walk around at a brisk pace. A marker on the wall telling you that 3.2 times around the deck equals 1 mile.

Deck sign Walk a Mile

Mr Fitz and I enjoyed the walk daily and loved stopping at the stern to watch the wake flowing behind us. There is also a gym on board and we both used that regularly to counteract the excess calories consumed. I discussed this in an earlier post about how to avoid piling on excess pounds whilst cruising. Of course we took time to sunbathe on deck with another cocktail of course! The weather was stunning. Dare I say it was actually too hot at times for me – there are plenty of areas in the shade to sit and stay comfortable on deck during Sea Days aboard Oceana

Cocktail in glass being held sat on cruise ship deck

It would be rude not to!

The evening of the sea days (Day 2 and 6) is Black Tie dress code. Day 2 is The Captains dinner. Prior to cruising Mr Fitz was initially reluctant to participate in this. I think it’s a grumpy old man thing as it’s something he has done in the past. To ease us into this type of holiday we bought dinner suit trousers and our friend loaned him the use of his Dinner Jacket, luckily they are the same size. Mr Fitz didn’t want to commit to the full expense of the whole suit in case he didn’t enjoy this first P&O cruise holiday and wasn’t something he wanted to do again. For more on this please come back for our final evaluation to come in a future post. I on the other hand had plenty of suitable clothes in my wardrobe!

Mr Fitz scrubbed up very well and looked very handsome – well in my opinion anyway! I chose a knee length royal blue dress with silver accessories. Many ladies wear cocktail dresses, it is not obligatory to wear a long gown.

Man in Dinner Suit and bow tie

Mr Fitz looking dapper

Woman in blue dress taking selfie in mirror

Full length obligatory selfie in the ladies

Woamn in blue dress sat at a abar

Cocktail dresses are OK for Black Tie Captains Dinner – Ball gowns not necessary

Prior to dining everyone participating in the Black Tie dinner gathered in the Atrium for complimentary fizz and the opportunity to have a photograph taken by a member of the ships Photography team. These are available to purchase during your cruise if you like them.

Man and woman in evening wear

Our official Captains Dinner Photo proudly on display at home

The Captain arrives to applause and addresses the gathered diners, there is then an opportunity to have a photograph taken with him too.

On the flexible dining option we had hoped to have a table for 2 for dinner but again we were given a shared table. Again an enjoyable experience. As the cruise progressed we realised that you could request a table for 2 but there could be a delay until one was available.

Again food and service was delicious. Reviews always extol the virtues of the food on cruise ships. P&O proudly advertise this. You may have read in earlier posts that we are both foodies and the food promised was a big feature of choosing a cruise holiday with P&O. We were not disappointed at all.

After dinner we had seen that there was a comedian performing in The Starlight Theatre that night so still in our finery that was our next stop.

We both spent a really enjoyable evening. The interior of this theatre is very like a cabaret club. Comfortable seating with tables for your drinks. There is water service throughout the show. To top it off the Comedian Jeff Stevenson was fabulous – a good old traditional comic.

A big thumbs up from us. We were really enjoying our first P&O Cruise aboard Oceana.

Sea Days aboard Oceana

I cannot review not just the sea days but all of this cruise without mentioning the fabulous timetable of activities. There is a vast array of sessions from learning to dance, yoga, talks about Gemstones from the on-board jewellers, to literary sessions. There are many fun things too. Each night when you return to your cabin a copy of The Horizon the onboard newspaper is laid on your bed as part of the turn down service. This lists all the activities for the next day, details about going ashore and food options. It is a fabulous thing to receive and invaluable.

 

Day 3 was our first Port Day and we were sailing to Piraeus in Greece ideal for a trip to Athens, The Parthenon and the Acropolis. If you liked this post and my review of Day 1 please come back to read my review of Day 3 in a future post. All follows and comments are always welcome I love to hear from you. Tell me if you’ve ever had a cruise holiday, what did you like or dislike, are you planning one?

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Retirement, Travel Tagged With: Captains dinner, Cruise sea days, Cruise ship activities, Cruising at Sea, Ocean Cruises, Oceana, P&O Cruise, P&O Oceana

Why decorate your cruise Cruise cabin door #TravelTipThursday #2

February 28, 2019

how to decorate a cruise cabin door

Cruise cabin door decorations are a fabulous way of identifying your cabin when you first board a cruise ship. Initially it can be daunting when faced with a multitude of doors all looking the same to find yours. In fact the corridors and the doors look the same too.

On our first Cruise holiday we got lost a couple of times identifying our cabin. In my review of Day 1 I mentioned that we had found a tip that helped us.

This tip is the simplest trick around. I packed a colourful postcard with blu tack and attached it to the front of our cabin door.

This was a simple, effective and easy way of creating cruise cabin door decorations  – as we walked along the corridor we could locate our door easily. Yes, I know the doors have numbers but this bright card made it all so simple.

If you are part of a group, decorated doors can also make it easier to find other members of your party, even on different decks and in different types of cabins, without remembering multiple numbers. Even making identifying your cabin fun! You could create a group theme of Cruise cabin door decorations

For young cruisers or elderly passengers who may have more difficulty remembering cabin numbers, door decor can relieve stress and help everyone feel comfortable with finding their cabin on board the ship.

In the US decorations are used to make it easier to communicate with different family members or other passengers when you leave notes or messages for one another on a small whiteboard or notepad.

I foolishly failed to take a photo of my postcard in place to show you. But can show similar ones!

2 flower postcards a landscape postcard and a candle flatlay on a table

Simple postcards for cabin door decor

 

Hopefully no-one decides to play games and switch it to another door!

I mentioned EECC Travels – in the USA passengers make elaborate door signs. I do not think this is the norm on British Cruise lines, in fact ours was the only door with a decoration on, but we did hear passengers comment that it was a great idea.

Here is my Pinterest board showing examples I have found some elaborate and some simple. Items to use can even be purchased on Amazon and Etsy. Plus I’ve found a fabulous website, Zazzle,  that sells customised door signs!

A word of caution though, if you wish to do this please check any rules and guidelines regarding what you can and cannot use with your Cruise line.

 

How about you do you have a hint or tip to find your cabin when on a cruise holiday? Let me know.

Cruise cabin door idea

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Review of Day 1 on board P&O Oceana

February 25, 2019

 

A cruise liner off the coast of Greece

Oceana was the ship we chose for our first cruise in September 2018 to celebrate Mr Fitz’s 60th birthday. I had wanted to take a cruise holiday for a few years but Mr Fitz needed some persuading.

He’s not one for material gifts therefore I offered to pay for a holiday for his milestone 60th Birthday. He finally opted for a Cruise having heard nothing but positive reviews from friends. The recent TV show Jane McDonald Cruising also helped!

As we were celebrating a special occasion we opted for a balcony cabin, it added probably around £700 to the cost of our trip but we wanted that luxury. I know many friends who are happy to have an inside cabin – their viewpoint being that your cabin was just somewhere to sleep.

When booking we received £170 in onboard credit. P&O are not an all inclusive line and drinks consumed on board need to be paid for. Prior to sailing I did plenty of research watching Youtube – there are many vloggers who cover this topic, providing valuable hints and tips to help me prepare. One of my favourites are the lovely couple Elyssia and Jason over at EECC Travel. They are American and sail on  Cruise lines that depart from their but I love their fun videos and great packing tips.

Oceana 13th – 20th September 2018

Day 1

We flew from Manchester Airport to Valletta in Malta. The check in and flight was very slick. Everyone on the plane is a passenger on the cruise. On arrival in Malta there were plenty of P&O Representatives to greet you and guide you to your awaiting coaches for transfer.  It was very warm and there was a slight delay on the coaches, apparently the reps and drivers have to wait for permission from the Quayside that they can arrive.

A view from P&O Oceana in Valleta harbour

Valletta Quayside

On first arrival at the Quayside there appeared to be a long queue inside the arrivals tent. At this stage you have not yet see Oceana. However check in was really swift. Again there are plenty of staff on arrival to guide passengers and keep things running smoothly. Check in was swift. You confirm your identity, provide a credit or debit card for onboard purchases. Your photograph is taken and you are then issued with your on board cruise card. This does everything! Opens your cabin, pays for drinks and extra’s and confirms your identity whilst disembarking and re embarking on shore days.

Once through check in you get your first view of Oceana – and what a magnificent site as you walk towards her. She looked big and majestic in the hot sunshine with the P&O Livery on the bow. Sent a tingle down both our spines.

A photo of P&O Oceana cruise ship

Our first sight of the magnificent P&O Oceana

We were on B Deck Cabin 619. Our luggage had already arrived, sometimes there is a delay in arrival. We were fortunate to be able to unpack immediately. We could also admire the view from our balcony, again compact but adequate, equipped with a small table and 2 comfortable chairs.

View from inside Oceana Cabin to balcony

View of the Balcony from the bed

There is adequate storage space, drawers and wardrobe. A few more hangers were supplied on request. The bathroom although compact was again adequate with enough storage space.  We had a suitcase each and they both fit easily under the bed. Our cabin Steward introduced herself and said she was there to assist and help us get the most out of our holiday.

Our next step was to go and explore the ship. There is adequate time on Embarkation day to get off again and explore Valletta, however as we had visited and holidayed there before we decided to stay on board.

The ship was vast and I have to admit we lost our cabin on a couple of occasions on the first day. We were helped by a little tip we got from you tube videos. I will reveal this on my next #TravelTipThursday Post.

We were really thrilled by our first tour of the ship. I enjoyed my 1st cocktail – a Pina Colada the perfect holiday drink on the Pool Deck in the sunshine.

Pina Colada cocktail in deck bar of cruise ship

First Pina Colada on deck

On each deck by the lifts there is a guide to each level to help you find your way around.

On the first evening it is Mandatory to attend The Muster – a relatively new term to us. This is your lifeboat drill. You cannot avoid this as you have to scan your card, therefore they can track attendance. If you fail to attend you are traceable and have to have an individual session, that is my understanding anyway.

On this occasion Muster was not until 8.15pm, from other more experienced passengers we understood this to be later than usual. You have to attend your Muster Point, our was the Starlights Theatre, with your life jacket. During the Muster The Captain addresses everyone from the Bridge with instructions for the event of an emergency. You also try on your life jacket to ensure you know how to fit it.

2 people wearing life jackets on P&O cruise ship

The Muster P&O Oceana

Because Muster was later, the seating for Dinner was a little rushed. We were on Flexible dining, however this night everyone was just ushered to tables for speed. We prefer a table for two but were seated with 4 other couples. This was however a new enjoyable experience. Food was delicious with ample choice. During dinner we could sea out the windows that the ship was sailing away from port. We were off on our first cruise adventure.

Following Dinner we enjoyed a few drinks on board. There are several places to eat and drink on board. Each has it’s own unique vibe.

When we finally retired to bed we found the bed to be extremely comfortable and the gentle, barely felt movement of the ship, provided us with the best nights sleep we’d both experienced in ages.

Day 2 was spent at sea and I will describe that in my next post about our experience on board Oceana.

Thank you for popping by. I appreciate  you following and all comments are always appreciated

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Packing cubes My top 3 Benefits – Travel Tip Thursday #1

February 7, 2019

I cannot travel without packing cubes due to their versatility

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Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are becoming increasingly more popular for travelling. I have been using them for around 3 years now. In fact I have 2 sets pink and blue – 1 set for me and 1 set for Mr Fitz for the rare occasion we use 2 suitcases, like on our recent cruise holiday. Alternatively if we use one shared suitcase the different colours quickly identify who’s clothing they contain.

Different colour packing cubes identify each persons clothing

Packing cubes in 2 colours

These little zipped cubes will give you back some of your sanity while you travel! They help you to stay organized, keep your belongings compact, and find what you need in record time from your luggage.

What are Packing Cubes?

Packing cubes are relatively small soft containers made of fabric, often in a rectangular shape, used for packing clothing. They fit neatly into your luggage, separating items inside.

The usually come in packs containing several cubes and often extra zipped bags for dirty laundry, shoes and toiletries. Amazon is a great place to start – there is plenty of choice to suit your needs.

Now that I consider myself an experienced Packing Cube user I thought I would provide you with my top 3 benefits for using them in my experience.

Organisation

These fabulous packing cubes keep your luggage organised, no longer does all the contents flop about within your case or you have to frantically search through to find that item that you want.  Each cube can be used for particular groups of clothing – I often separate my clothes into tops, shorts, beachwear and lingerie. I can then find items more easily.

I'd opened the cubes

Packing cubes and pouches fit snuggly – photo taken after I’d started to unpack!

Utilises space

The packing cubes enable you to roll your clothing, which I feel uses less space within each cube and reduces creasing. They also fit snuggly into your luggage maximising capacity. Other items such as straighteners and jewellery rolls slip in the spaces between cubes.

Saves Time/Space in Destination

The cubes assist you a lot when unpacking at your destination. You can simply lift the cubes out of your luggage and place them as they are with their contents still inside into drawers in your accommodation. This helps you save space when it is limited and time and can get you to the pool, beach or back more quickly after your arrival. An example of this was on our first cruise holiday in September. Space is limited inside a cruise cabin, I was able to lift out the cubes containing swimwear and lingerie straight into wire baskets on a carousel inside the wardrobe of our cabin. As well as keeping the storage spaces neat and tidy I also knew where to locate these. Again on our recent holiday to Corralejo even though there was adequate storage drawers I chose to lift the cubes straight from our suitcase into them. Even my tops and Johns shorts remained in cubes. Many of our beach holiday clothes are made from fabrics that don’t crease. We arrived at our apartment in late afternoon so we were itching to get out into the winter sunshine and anything to save time helped!

The faster you can unpack the faster you can be by the pool

Packing cubes can be lifted out and transferred straight into drawers at your destination

This is my first post in which I hope can become a series of Travel Tip Thursday – I cannot promise that they will be weekly – I am just going to start today and see how this series develops.

Thanks for being here today

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Have you used packing cubes? If so do you have any other uses for them? Let me know – I’m always ready to learn more

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I’m Elaine a Neonatal Nurse who retired from the NHS at age 55. I’m loving the 3rd age of my life – Retirement is the best job I ever had. Being married for 35 years I am lucky to have someone to share life with.

I’m a foodie who enjoys travel, football and my home.

I love to share over 50’s lifestyle tips including age appropriate beauty reviews, coping with the trials and tribulations of the Menopause, weight gain around the middle, fashion, travel and food including recipes and restaurant reviews.

I want to challenge the myth that life ends at retirement.

Feel free to get in touch earlyretirementrocks@gmail.com

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