Thanks

Been all go today, just back from picking up my new car and I now am going off to pack, don't want to leave things to the last minute

Lucky you, holiday and new car. Are we allowed to know what kind of car you've bought?

Digby for the first time ever I have purchased a Vauxhall, a 2.0 Cdti 160 Sri Insignia, it looks identical to this http://www.motoring.co.uk/images/cap/nvd/640x480/19772.jpg

Kiltman. Now, that IS a car! Love it!

Nice car Graham! You're probably on your way to Tunisia now so have a lovely time and remember to write a report on the hotel when you get back - you know it makes sense!

I finally had my cataract op yesterday. Unfortunately I was the last one to be done, so more hanging around, and it didn't do my confidence much good to hear the surgeon say "The pupils are very small" and later "This is quite challenging". When I asked what was wrong I was assured that everything was fine, though it certainly didn't sound that way to me. Anyway, it's now just a case of waiting to see how my eye is in a few days. Within a couple of hours of the op I could see very nicely out of the eye, but later last evening and this morning it was extremely blurry though I've been warned it will take a few days (or possibly even longer) to settle down. I've got to go back in 3 weeks for a check-up and in the meaning I mustn't swim in the sea or in chlorinated water (no chance) or use a vaccuum cleaner (no hardship). Neither must I wear any makeup at all, so I may have to get myself a niquab or burkha!!

Glad to hear you have finally had the operation after it being put off so many times. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery to full sight.

luci

Thanks Luci. Having spent last night with a friend, where I was nicely fed and watered (or rather alcoholed) I am now going to one of my sons and his family for dinner tonight so I am being spoiled rotten.

So glad to hear that you got the op done.

Aslemma. glad you got on ok this time. I am now hoping to get my second one done in the not too distant future.

Finally! I'm so glad it's all gone ahead. Hope you have a speedy recovery. Have you cracked open the cedratine to celebrate?!

A.

So far so good. Though yesterday morning I was thinking it would be a cold day in hell before I had the other one done, now my sight is clearing I'm feeling somewhat more positive, and so far no grittines! Haven't had a Cedratine yet but thanks for the reminder - I'll have a couple this evening. There's always something though isn't there and I've now lost one of the lenses out of my glasses (the side of the 'good' eye), so now I've got to get to the opticians and let them sort that out. I do hope you get your second eye done soon Digby. Thanks everyone for your encouragement and support.

erm didn't really want to go off topic in the who's going where 2010 thread so thought i would post this here

A couple of you were talking about saving up the £'s hoping for a holiday this year, well I had a big tin that I have been putting only £1 coins into probably for about 2years now and as direct holidays had a sale which finished on monday i decided to open it on sunday even tho it was only about 3/4 full....I guessed it would hold about £500 when it was full so you can imagine my suprise when I had £721 in it!!!!!!! So that was enough for a week at easter and a good chunk towards my next holiday! happy days

That's absolutely fantastic and if you get decent priced flights you should get the best part of two holidays out of that, though I know it is more expensive flying from Ireland. My April flight is under £140 with BA and there are quite a few hotels around the £200 mark for a couple of weeks, or even less if you really only want somewhere clean and comfortable. I'm so pleased Graham set up this area of the site where we don't have to worry about being off topic!

Got the Easter week for £400 which is pretty good flying from Belfast and on a weekend.....usually the flight to tunisia goes on a wednesday but luckily they must have put an extra one on for easter I had been pricing the same holiday from dublin but it was closer to £600 and which also would have involved a near 3hr drive so woohoo thanks thomas cook for putting the extra flights on lol

hi sunstruck

Just wondering have you been to senegal before? I did a one day trip to Senegal as part of my Gambian holiday in November and really enjoyed it. I may think of a proper holiday to Senegal in the future as the winter climate is so much better than Tunisia and many other destinations.

Hi ScubaLeanne,

No, I've never been to Senegal before, so this will be a first. I'm going on a volunteer project and staying with a host family so it should be a really interesting trip.

Getting there is a bit of a hassle, as there are no direct flights from the UK (or non that I could find), which makes the journey a few hours longer and more pricey. Royal Air Maroc seem to have very good prices, via Casablanca, but they arrive in the middle of the night. I'm going with Iberia, as they have more sociable flight times. Plus they allow you to pre-purchase extra luggage allowance at a cheaper rate than at the airport. As I'll be there nearly 6 weeks I figured I might need this - I'll probably take everything including the kitchen sink
Where did you visit in Senegal? I'm going to be based in Dakar.

A.

Welcome back Kiltman Graham. I see from elsewhere that you've just arrived back from the Abou Sofiane in PEK and have had a good time. So pleased you enjoyed it and look forward to reading your hotel report later.

Thanks aslemma, we had a really good holiday in PEK and the Abou Sofiane hotel was very nice, a full review will follow in a few days.
I am also pleased to say that our friends took a liking to Cedratine after I talked them in to trying it any excuse to have one myself.

I am delighted that you finally managed to get your operation and it appears to have gone well

ScubaLeanna I have started a saving tin and am collecting £2 coins (any spare can be sent to me ) and will use this for a visit back to Tunisia.

Now counting down for my next visit to Sousse on 24th April. I'm really looking forward to it, and also to meeting up with Jimmy and Anne from Glasgow. Keep your fingers crossed for me that BA have settled their strikes by then!! Finally concluded negotiations with AXA regarding the insurance claim, which has only taken 5 months. I got the final payment of £57.48 into my bank last week, in respect of monies paid out for which they had already received receipts but had somehow managed to overlook! They dug their heels in and refused to pay towards my phone calls as I couldn't give then a list of calls made to them (perhaps they think I communicated via ESP :shrug) Despite admitting that I'd received extremely bad service they were not prepared to make a goodwill gesture. I've written off the 'missing' 200 dinars paid to the Clinique Essalem as I feel I'm hitting my head against a brick wall. Just be aware that even if you are bleeding to death you don't part with any money until you get a receipt in your hand!