Absence makes the heart grow fonder... Or so they say!

Madame Fhina is otherwise indisposed...

See you soon, mes belles, j'espere.

I'm over here on this chaise longue, languishing.

How louche, n'est-ce-pas?!

Soit gentil. Be good, you lot!

~Je vous aime...

We're all going on a summer holiday, lah-di-dee!

I am dithering about where to go on holiday...

I know it's a luxury many can't afford.

But I feel I so need a rest after so rough a year, with losing my job and all.

We never took a holiday last year while we got Grizz ready for (and thankfully settled in) Uni, and so on.

Thing is, my redundancy money is burning a hole in my pocket (not really!), and my hubby's business trip to Frankfurt is not a holiday for him (while it is for me, a bit!), so we want to get away together to somewhere reasonably warm (we're both fair so we don't do scorchio!) in September...

We had wanted to do our 25th Wedding Anniversary some justice and I so wanted to see Venice, Florence and Rome, but GJ's old fallen arch pain means we'll have to put it off to another time, as he won't be able to pavement-pound his way around the churches and galleries I would love to see.

So, GJ really fancies Bulgaria.

I really don't! Memories of my parents recounting stories of their holiday there many years ago have quite put me off!

We don't want to do any long-haul flights... Not after the Dominican Republic holiday a few years back, (which was lovely and the people were gorgeous), but the Thomson flights were a bloody nightmare!

He won't do Turkey, Tunisia or Egypt...

Italy generally is looking too expensive with the collapse of the Euro (ditto Spain and Portugal). A friend who went to the Lakes earlier this year was telling me it cost around 90 Euros per night for food and wine - My eyes would surely melt at that price!!!

Malta is expensive and almost everything seems to be fully booked (we do rely upon Sleasyjet out of Newcastle Airport for when we're doing our own thang and avoiding the package touts...)

Plus, reading reviews on TripAdvisor is giving me the willies!

Where would you recommend, mes bloggy buds?!

I'm all ears, like this little lamb!

EDITED TO ADD: WITH SINCERE THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HINTS AND TIPS, MES CHERS AMIS - ALL STORED AWAY FOR THE FUTURE!

A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD AND, QUITE FRANKLY, SHEER DESPERATION - I'VE ALMOST TURNED INTO A BASKETBALL, I'VE SPENT SO LONG ON T'INTERNETS SANS MOVING, HAS MEANT THAT WE'RE OFF TO FUERTEVENTURA IN THE CANARIES.

...Not real canaries, I hope??!

p.s. Yes, I may have been shouting just then! I have been driven half-mad.

No, I know you wouldn't have noticed the difference!

Rocking and rolling...

GJ has booked a business trip to Frankfurt in Germany next month.   I shall be piggy-backing upon this little jaunt for a wee hollingberry and busying myself during the day when he's at meetings.  

I really feel like I need a little break - I'm cream-crackered -  and what better than one that isn't costing me an arm and a leg?!

I've visited Frankfurt in the past, about ten years ago, when I was helping out with an international exchange of staff with Jobcentres in England, France and Germany.   It was a wonderful experience and great fun was had amid oodles of hard work and lashings of German beer and wine!

I shall be looking forward to re-visiting Goethe's childhood home which is very beautiful and atmospheric, the old town and financial quarter, art galleries, seeing the incredible skyscrapers along the river-scape and taking in a leisurely coffee or five...

Hell, I might even do some swimming - It's been ages since I did and I think it's about time.

Often when we are caring for others so much, we neglect ourselves.

Are you guilty of that, mes bloggy beauties?

More about Frankfurt laters, bis bald!

Happy Holidays

This little musical interlude moved me to tears at the weekend. I love Flash Mobs. I love this. I hope you do too.

May I take this opportunity to wish you, mes amis, the happiness you long for this festive season and the peace of mind to enjoy it.

Love and light.

(p.s. Tomorrow I grow into 47 years. Be gentle with me. I might have a pink silk eye-shade on and my hair in curlers, dressing-goonie on, waiting to be whisked off to a secret location for a fabulous birthday tryst, peut-etre diner a deux...

Then again, I might just be at work as usual!)

Ciao bellas -- Je vous aime... Tant! Mwah! x

Six Word Saturday...

Are we back to normal yet??!

Go ask Cate!