Well here goes but will try and make it quick dont want to bore too many people and as we are very much creatures of habit we tend to go and do the same things time after time. But Goa for me is 2 weeks of chill out and relaxation.

Left Glasgow Monday 10 March. Our flight to Gatwick was scheduled for 16.30 hours. The flight left an hour late. This was the day of the torrential rain and very high winds in some parts of the UK. Glasgow itself wasnt badly affected, heavy rain, but nothing more. However, it was a different story on the South coast of England within tons of flights cancelled coming out of Gatwick, Heathrow and Stanstead. Anyway we got to London 1 hour late, (very scary landing I may add!!!) but the 1 hour delay didnt bother me cos we had several hours to kill at Gatwick as our flight to Goa wasnt until 02.10 hours.
Flight from Gatwick to Goa was on time with no hiccups but overall I was disappointed in the Thomson aircraft. We booked with Thomsons because they were offering the same facilites as First Choice have on their long haul flights, extra leg room and your own inflight 7" TV screen. Extra leg room was fine but no seat back TVs!!! I see this as false advertising by Thomsons and there wasnt even an apology about this, or explanation.
Arrived in Goa at 5pm (Indian time) Tuesday 11 March. Cleared immigration, collected our luggage and headed out to meet our usual taxi driver. Told all the porters where to go and we could manage our own cases thank you very much!
I'd already emailed the Marinha Dourada to request a specific room, so we had a room right on the end of the building with a spectacular view of the lake, swimming pool, bar, restaurant - brilliant.
Tonight we didnt want to venture too far cos we knew we would be tired. Headed to Kim Faa in Baga for something to eat. There were 4 of us on holiday this time and the bill came to 1100 rupees, this was for 4 starters, 4 main meals and couple of drinks each. Food was very nice as usual. Had a drink in a bar across the round (might be Aqua lounge?) then we headed to the Oceanic Shack to say hello to all the boy and have a night cap. Back at the hotel just after midnight for a much anticipated sleep.

Our first "proper" full day in Goa was Wednesday 12 March. Headed down to Baga Beach and our favourite shack, the Oceanic. Was only in the shack 5 minutes when I lady approached me and asked if I was Gemma had obviously spotted my blue wrist band (thanks once again Feelthevibe for the band, I met many HTers this time because of it!) Anyway the lady in question was Shirleyv, was lovely to meet you at long last Shirley and your hubby and friends. I met Shirley many times at the Oceanic after that. After a very relaxing day at the shack we headed to the main road to get the courtesy bus back to the hotel and another HT member spotted the blue wrist band and asked if I was Polly50 I told him no I was Gemma33, so i'd met another person from the forum - this time it was Taximania and his OH.
I planned on popping into Lazy Days tonight so we decided to eat at O'Pescador in Baga cos its within walking distance of Lazy Days. I think O'Pescador is a nice setting and very reasonably priced. The bill for 4 people tonight was only 1010 rupees with drinks, starters and four curries. Marvellous value. Called in to Lazy Days and saw three names on the blackboard: Wanderer57, Lizspain and Taximania, but no one was there. We didnt arrive til 10.10pm and I found out later from Liz that she had left about 10pm, just my luck, but not to worry. Headed along to KCs Scottish Bar for a drink, nothing Scottish about this bar and it doesnt have much of an atmosphere so we left and headed to the BBQ night at the Oceanic and had a few drinks there.

Hope everyone hasnt fallen asleep yet I will try write some more later tonight.