Summer Holidays

[Lord Kangana]

You're not alone bobo. I have a friend who's in accountancy. It's not a bad life for him, he's done alright, then I helped him get acquainted with administrators. Who are all accountants by background. Only usually with 10x (and the rest) income. Not such a happy camper now.

[Beefheart]

and as soon as you have travelled long haul in business class at someone else's expense and then gone back to veal crate class because you're footing the bill, you'll subsequently find that extra money every time.

Christ, I cant imagine paying extra - I'd travel in the overhead lockers if it saved me a tenner!

Running a project once upon a time ... we were using KPMG consultants. We had one meeting in Milan. As we boarded & getting through the plane door they turned left and I turned right. I'm not a big sulker but that pissed me off big time.

Do you ever get the feeling you made the wrong move in life?


As a little side bet, I'll bet that it'll be HMRC brought to you by KPMG within the decade. Set of bastards. Possibly.

Can't see it really, there would be a slight conflict of interests! Although, I suppose public sector audits were tendered out to the big accountancy firms a year or two ago instead of the NAO. I just hope I don't have to work on anymore of them.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

You're a short arse There's a lot more to proper business class aside from a bit of legroom. Being treated like an adult, faster, easier access through airports, chauffeurs to/from at each end, a proper G&T and meals from proper plates, with proper cutlery, not crammed on to too small a surface and the ability to move my elbows enough to wield the cutlery.

My dignity and comfort is definitely worth a few hundred quid extra

Do you really find this? As opposed to, say, an increased level of sycophancy?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

You're a short arse There's a lot more to proper business class aside from a bit of legroom. Being treated like an adult, faster, easier access through airports, chauffeurs to/from at each end, a proper G&T and meals from proper plates, with proper cutlery, not crammed on to too small a surface and the ability to move my elbows enough to wield the cutlery.

My dignity and comfort is definitely worth a few hundred quid extra

Do you really find this? As opposed to, say, an increased level of sycophancy?

Generally yes. I know the air stewards/hostesses/crew or whatever is the politically correct term these days is, have more time to spend per passenger, but I find they talk to me like an adult, rather than an imbecile they don't have time for. I'm the first to hate the sycophantic stuff and I soon let the person mainly looking after me know it isn't necessary (if it is forthcoming). It all varies by airline, but in general I avoid economy where possible, unless it is for a short flight.

[Worthy4England]

You're a short arse There's a lot more to proper business class aside from a bit of legroom. Being treated like an adult, faster, easier access through airports, chauffeurs to/from at each end, a proper G&T and meals from proper plates, with proper cutlery, not crammed on to too small a surface and the ability to move my elbows enough to wield the cutlery.

My dignity and comfort is definitely worth a few hundred quid extra

Do you really find this? As opposed to, say, an increased level of sycophancy?

Generally yes. I know the air stewards/hostesses/crew or whatever is the politically correct term these days is, have more time to spend per passenger, but I find they talk to me like an adult, rather than an imbecile they don't have time for. I'm the first to hate the sycophantic stuff and I soon let the person mainly looking after me know it isn't necessary (if it is forthcoming). It all varies by airline, but in general I avoid economy where possible, unless it is for a short flight.

I can live with sycophancy, with (like you say) decent cutlery, plates, a drink or two in a glass, no farting about at the airport.

Sorta makes it bearable.

[William the White]

The strangest flight I ever took was in a Fokker Friendship from Wau to Khartoum as the concluding part of an epic Southern Sudanese journey that included a slow boat on the White Nile, a bedbugged 'hotel' in Juba with shit buckets unemptied throughout the five days of Eid, two nights with Norwegian Christians on an aid mission (nice people, nicer cakes, and, best of all, showers), meeting a Bolton nurse at a Save the Children unit in Torit, and five days on top of a lorry travelling through Equatorial rain forest to deliver cement to a new leper hospital being built in Wau.

But this was air travel as a bus. The plane was the only prop engine I've travelled on I think, and was really bouncy as it went down the runway, but was filled with people (I think a high proportion from the same family) carrying livestock in the passenger section - chickens and sheep. Luggage in every nook and cranny. And after take off the women singing and clapping hands in time (possibly to help keep the plane in the air).

I don't know if it had a business class... But, once you'd got through the initial culture shock it was quite nice really, in a 'this is a bit weird' way, and everybody was very smiley with us.

[William the White]

From sunday...

http://vintageholidays.co.uk/salema-bea ... pt-secret/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Worthy4England]

Looks lovely, Will.

[Montreal Wanderer]

From sunday...

http://vintageholidays.co.uk/salema-bea ... pt-secret/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fantastic! One hopes it will remain secluded after the article. I was on Magens Bay in St. Thomas, rated in the top ten in the world, but the word had got out and it was not enjoyable. Some seclusion is important. Have a great time.

[clapton is god]

Woot! Just accepted a cousins invitation to join her in Tarragona, near Barcelona, for a few days. Going out in just two weeks, so best get myself organised!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Off to spend about ten days with the in-laws in Winterpeg - I must have sinned greatly in a previous life.

[General Mannerheim]

Just done two weeks in Turkey. hardly feel like ive been away - holidaying with two young kids is tough! especially in the heat, >40degrees most days. baby was only happy asleep, in the pool or indoors and obviously whenever she was asleep t'other one would be head pecking about summat or other. resorted to going out at 6am in the mornings so i could have a couple of hours by the pool with a book before the rabble got up. first world problems eh...

fortunately im off to france next week with the lads and our bikes for some Alpine gravity blasting!

[Always hopeful]

Just back from 2 weeks in Ibiza.

Not 2 weeks of clubbing and various other nocturnal activities enjoyed by the yoof of today, but spent with the family in an attempt to try and 'discover' this beautiful island.

Truth be told, it has lots of very nice beaches, a couple of 'Hippy Markets', and Ibiza town has an old walled area that's worth exploring, but other than that, there's not much there.

Nevertheless, we had a great time. Nice weather, nice food, good company and the fact that our kids are now 16 and 18, this was possibly the last holiday we'll ever have together as a family

[Montreal Wanderer]

Just back from 2 weeks in Ibiza.

Not 2 weeks of clubbing and various other nocturnal activities enjoyed by the yoof of today, but spent with the family in an attempt to try and 'discover' this beautiful island.

Truth be told, it has lots of very nice beaches, a couple of 'Hippy Markets', and Ibiza town has an old walled area that's worth exploring, but other than that, there's not much there.

Nevertheless, we had a great time. Nice weather, nice food, good company and the fact that our kids are now 16 and 18, this was possibly the last holiday we'll ever have together as a family

You never know - my kids still come with me (and their stepmother) from time to time and three of them are in their thirties. Holidays are supposed to be about sea, sun, good food and relaxing. Sounds like yours was ace. Interesting pictures too.

[Always hopeful]

Just back from 2 weeks in Ibiza.

Not 2 weeks of clubbing and various other nocturnal activities enjoyed by the yoof of today, but spent with the family in an attempt to try and 'discover' this beautiful island.

Truth be told, it has lots of very nice beaches, a couple of 'Hippy Markets', and Ibiza town has an old walled area that's worth exploring, but other than that, there's not much there.

Nevertheless, we had a great time. Nice weather, nice food, good company and the fact that our kids are now 16 and 18, this was possibly the last holiday we'll ever have together as a family

You never know - my kids still come with me (and their stepmother) from time to time and three of them are in their thirties. Holidays are supposed to be about sea, sun, good food and relaxing. Sounds like yours was ace. Interesting pictures too.

Cheers Monty. Yes, we had a very relaxing time. For the first holiday ever, we chilled out and went with the flow, rather then trying to wring out every ounce of pleasure possible from a holiday. We adopted the Spanish way of life. Didn't eat until 22:00 ish and let the kids lie in until about 11:00 ish.

No doubt very soon they'll be going out at 24:00 ish and not getting back until 11:00 ish

[bobo the clown]

Your instincts may be right but, like Monty's view I found it harder to shift the buggers than you think. My two came along to Corsica last summer.

[Always hopeful]

Your instincts may be right but, like Monty's view I found it harder to shift the buggers than you think. My two came along to Corsica last summer.

I suppose it depends on what's on offer as an alternative. I also have a feeling that if there's a possibility of a free holiday in the sun, then they might stick around a while longer.

They both have steady girlfriends. They've already suggested that maybe they could come with us next year. Fine, but I'll be damned if I'm paying for them too.

[General Mannerheim]

Just back from 5 days sustained biblical rain in the Alps. Bit muddy

[Montreal Wanderer]

Looks more like you fell off an alp into the Mississippi, General.

[Always hopeful]

I guess a bigger front mudguard wouldn't have helped much either