Well the holiday season for this summer is nearly over so lets exchange where we have been and how good it was.

We celebrated 40 years of wedlock this time so we made the effort to save our pennies and go on a 12 Day Baltic Cruise with Holland &
America Cruise Line. The boat was called the Eurodam and the biggest thing we have ever been on. It was also the best cruise we have had, apart from the weather which was just basically cold :C: Can recommend it any day of the week.

So come on lets here from some of you and get some good old stories on here once again. I could write loads but lets see how the new topic goes.

As you know from my journal i have been holidaying in Bulgaria since 2004 with Tanya my bulgarian wife, but she was out there without me again this year (and her son and his girlfriend are enjoying our apartment now), as i have left BSM where i worked as an automatic and disability driving instructor for 11 years, and set up my own driving school, so concentrated on getting that up and running. However I have been persuaded to have a 5 day holiday in Greece the first week of october, where one of our very good Bulgarian friends lives with her Greek husband and children, apparently its in a place called Halkadiki which by all accounts is very nice, so I will let you all know how it goes.( ps i still have 1 more installment for the journal, which i must get around to writing).

We went back to Leeds for two weeks!

Actually, considering I was born and bred there we had a great time.

I've not visited the city centre for over 15 years and hardly recognised the place. The new docklands area is fabulous with lots of riverside bistros and wine bars. The centre has had a huge makeover, especially the Victoria quarter.

We also spent some time out on the moors, sampled a few real ales, ate some lovely food and met some really friendly folk.

Also nice to spend some time with my Mother and Brother, so all in all, a good trip

Chris wrote:

We went back to Leeds for two weeks!

Actually, considering I was born and bred there we had a great time.

I've not visited the city centre for over 15 years and hardly recognised the place. The new docklands area is fabulous with lots of riverside bistros and wine bars. The centre has had a huge makeover, especially the Victoria quarter.

We also spent some time out on the moors, sampled a few real ales, ate some lovely food and met some really friendly folk.

Also nice to spend some time with my Mother and Brother, so all in all, a good trip

Good to know that you had a good trip back to dear old Blighty, Chris

Many members on various forums have a habit of comparing the UK with Bulgaria. so it was refreshing to read your comments

We also spent some time out on the moors, sampled a few real ales, ate some lovely food and met some really friendly folk

So the UK still has plenty to offer which is good to know. On a personal note I would like to add I am British born and bred and proud of it, I and my family love Bulgaria and most of it's people even though we have been taken to hell and back. We always look forward to going to our villa and enjoying the facilities we have there which we don't have in the UK

Nice topic. I had a very brief holiday at the beginning of August. It was my eldest daughter's 50th. She emailed that she was having a big party for all her athletic friends and our little family of 3 plus my ex were all coming. She was sad I was so far away but said she would be thinking of me. I sent flowers by internet by way of a decoy and managed to get a flight and last minute booking in an apartment in Cambridge because I guessed she would have others staying overnight. I told no-one and arrived at 7.30pm for the 'Hog roast party' with everyone already eating, drinking and making merry. I was spotted at the garden gate and she flew out at me and promptly burst into tears! It was the best welcome I could have had because surprises don't always work! It was a marvellous night and great to see my ex after 20 years! My apartment was in a lovely part of Cambridge and walking distance from her house. It was beautiful and my daughter and her husband marvelled that I managed to book it at such a busy time of year and loved it when they popped round to visit 2 days later.
I also treated my two daughters to a lovely lunch in Cambridge sitting in the sun outside an Italian cafe. It was a super break and wonderful to have all my family together at one time. Yes, it cost me a lot but what a great time we all had and the weather was superb. Couldn't have wished for more.
I'll always love 'my England' but happily settle for Bulgaria at this time of my life.

oldun wrote:

Nice topic. I had a very brief holiday at the beginning of August. It was my eldest daughter's 50th. She emailed that she was having a big party for all her athletic friends and our little family of 3 plus my ex were all coming. She was sad I was so far away but said she would be thinking of me. I sent flowers by internet by way of a decoy and managed to get a flight and last minute booking in an apartment in Cambridge because I guessed she would have others staying overnight. I told no-one and arrived at 7.30pm for the 'Hog roast party' with everyone already eating, drinking and making merry. I was spotted at the garden gate and she flew out at me and promptly burst into tears! It was the best welcome I could have had because surprises don't always work! It was a marvellous night and great to see my ex after 20 years! My apartment was in a lovely part of Cambridge and walking distance from her house. It was beautiful and my daughter and her husband marvelled that I managed to book it at such a busy time of year and loved it when they popped round to visit 2 days later.
I also treated my two daughters to a lovely lunch in Cambridge sitting in the sun outside an Italian cafe. It was a super break and wonderful to have all my family together at one time. Yes, it cost me a lot but what a great time we all had and the weather was superb. Couldn't have wished for more.
I'll always love 'my England' but happily settle for Bulgaria at this time of my life.

Well done oldun, you have brought tears to my eyes. What are you doing with a 50 year old daughter still into athletics
That is a wonderful story and thank you for sharing it with us :Ch:and

:Thank you:Ah we're all a very active family and my eldest is a World age- group champion triathlete. I am very proud of all her many achievements and she certainly is fit. Her husband is a great support and also does some of the runs and cycle rides with her.

Many thanks Oldun what a lovely birthday present for your daughter. So glad it all went well for you.
My Eric is in your part of the woods at the moment VT. He is so taken with many things, but I am sure he will tell you all about it on his return. You maybe lucky to bump into him...

we were supposed to be in bulgaria for the summer getting ready for our big move with the horses next month but unfortunately the passport office lost my daughters passport, so it had to be reported stolen and its taken five weeks to get it back. so we've holidayed in sunny sunderland, going on lots of picnic rides and competitions. cant wait to be back in bulgaria in three weeks.

had a visit to the uk earlier in the year to see family and sight see, family came over in august which was lovely. many bbqs and visiting friends in bulgaria, completed the far end of the garden, busy busy busy this year. going to silistra this year then off touring italy and spain for 3 weeks. need the winter to recover. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

We spent the summer (mid July until yesterday) flitting between our village and the Black Sea coast (Budjaka) for lots of mini-breaks. The internet connection I had access to there, was dire - hence not much posting from me recently.

My mum was here for 3 months, returning to the UK at the end of July, she is now planning on coming back for a month or so in early October. We made it to VT for the first time ever in May, we plan on another w/e there when my mum is back over, we spent a night in a lovely little traditional guest house in Djeravna recently. Had a week in St Vlas, with some Bulgarian friends from Sofia, at the end of June. We had some friends over from Belfast (they are always good fun!!) My brother and his girlfriend have also been over - spent a week with them.

So been quite busy.....but I like it. So much better than the old 9-5 back in the UK. My son has had the most fantastic time, he even learnt to swim properly with no armbands!!

I came over from Turkey to have a look at BG for the first time last week and instantly fell in love with the country. It is everything that Annette and I would want from a country. I stayed in the Veliko Tarnavo area and found the countryside absolutely lovely and of course VT itself and Gabrovo were equally as nice. The country itself is a welcome release from the heat and the tourists where we live in Altinkum. Will write some about it when I get more time, Annette and I are repacking all our belongings in readiness for our final move.
Eric