Hello all, had a great relaxing very very lazy time this year. In all the years we have been going I must say this has been the hottest and most humid. Most mornings started off looking as though it was going to break into a bad thunder storm but as the mornings progressed the sun broke through and averaged 40c each day - evenings were very sticky with little breeze and was a joy to catch the breeze left by a passing truck or bus when walking down the main roads.
Had a great time in the shack with quite a few HTers in, Billybluenose / Al38 / Paulisreal /GEC / Lez, there was also an Indian family in from Dehli who checked out info on the forum who was on a 6 day break, and for those who called in over the last few months (Ganesh says a big thank you).
Most of the above we met at Lazydays along with Polly50 / Robbie / Linb / and Shermina. Was a good night and nice to meet some old faces again.
The 'charadeee' do at Ma Tai with the hypnotist was a good laugh and a very good turn out (what was the final amount raised ?). Chatted with a long time HTer, Bigknickershaz and had me in stitches with her Lancashire accent (Shaz, it's pronounced CUK not COOOOK ).Still don't know who Ron was sat at the end of the table ?
Like I said very hot and didn't get up to much (been there done that) so just chilled out,except for my 3 hour look round Panjim seeing things I have missed over the years.
As stated in other posts lots of new shops and appartments have opened or are still being built, but as for being too commercialised - I dont think so, and it doesn't spoil it for me - if you can't accept the changes or progress then don't go.
Tried a few different places to eat this year with Flambee coming out tops, also went in Casa Sea Shell / Tony's Place / Floydds 1 and 2 / Navelli / Teema / Mario,s / The Bistro.
Billybluenose and his other half (Alan and Jackie) started a cake club in the shack bringing something from a small bakery every other day which was a welcome treat to end the day !! so we returned the favour on there last day with a special one from Sweet Art in Candolim (I could live in there !!)
Had a good laugh one Sunday morning seeing the workers from the River Princess staggering around the beach drunk from recieving there wages the previous day - beach police issued some very good slaps to 3 of them, could have done with police issuing slaps to a couple of loud mouth berks,one in the Sports Bar who had a paddy after coming in to watch the delayed showing of the England game (I dont think he knew the score),but the barman told him it was 3-0 ha,ha,ha so off he stormed ranting and raving !! and the other 'gob' of the day was at the hypnotist night who just couldn't tone down his mouth - very sad.
We had a 3 hour delay going out from Manchester (Monarch) but flights /food were fine (was asked for the 1st time ever for accomodation vouchers at check in). No delay coming back, but they couldn't get the monitors to work so no films to see, ended up reading the paper 7 times, and counting the rivets on the aeroplane wing (why do I always get the crappiest seat ?)
Thought Dabolim was pretty good this year but still room for more improvments.
Sunset Hotel very good and have booked in for next year,hope the next 12 months come round quick !!
A big thanks to Sleep r Us for the bottle of wine you left for me and Dee - very nice
So to finish off..... a very nice 2 weeks with good food (no stomach problems at all ) nice people to chat with (Al38 can talk for England) and a great relaxing break again, hope to see you all again next year.
Spike.