So ...

[Joan]

Where are all you UK based guys going for your summer holidays, if anywhere?  I'm asking, because I don't often miss being close to Europe, but I got this sudden urge to go to Italy.  Florence, Rome and down the coast to Sorrento, then maybe across and up to Venice.  Go on, do it for me!  I won't be, unless we win Lotto. 

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Possibly Llandudno.

[Mince]

Possibly Llandudno.

Possibly choose it or possibly get there?

[Joan]

Possibly Llandudno.

That's not going to satisfy my adventure lust, TT!  That's not too far from you, is it?  Just up the road, if I'm not mistaken, with the odd Welsh hill in the way.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Nothing odd about the Welsh hills, Joan - they're beautiful! As is Llandudno. You can keep Rome.

Possibly choose it and get there... if we do.

[Joan]

You're right, I probably would skip Rome, TT, especially in the middle of summer.  I just had a hankering for something different.  It's a long time since I've been in Europe - Scotland, England, Australia and New Zealand, yes, but not the continent.  Mind you, I wouldn't be averse to a quick trip to Wales to see what it has to offer.  Seen those hills in the distance, but never actually got there.  One can but dream.

[The Peepmaster]

Llandudno is a quality, elegant, seaside resort, whilst many, (most), in the UK are quite delapidated these days.

As for holidays, I'm off to the Far East again at the end of June. Trying a new airline service between London Stansted and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia initially, then getting a train down to Singapore. From there we'll fly, once again, to Manila for three weeks of holiday and investigative work combined. Planning to take in the islands of Mindoro, Negros Occidental, and Samar, this time, with a few smaller ones too if there's time. The last bit WILL be a holiday when we have a few days on Boracay, which is a fantastic island.

My brother (twin), is in New Zealand at the moment. From the pictures he's posting on Picasa, I can see it's a fantastic place too. I'd like to visit it myself one day.

[Tom]

I'm not planning on going anywhere this year, but next year I think I'll go somewhere. I'm getting an urge to go to Machu Picchu in Peru.

[Roger Kettle]

I'm off at the beginning of June to Portugal again for a restful week by the pool, beer in hand. Fingers crossed, I'm also hoping to get back to Montana in September.

[The Peepmaster]

I'm off at the beginning of June to Portugal again for a restful week by the pool, beer in hand. Fingers crossed, I'm also hoping to get back to Montana in September.

Can you hold your beer with fingers crossed?

[Roger Kettle]

Different sentence, Nige!

[The Peepmaster]

That means nothing, You might have dictated it to Peter.

[Joan]

That's more like it, Nige!  Sounds pretty darn good to me.  Expect lots of updates and photos.  I may go to New Zealand in September for a family reunion (my great, great uncle settled there in the 1800s), but not sure as yet.  Will probably just have to make do with a beer by the pool here - trouble is, I'll probably be thinking unholiday like thoughts like it needs cleaning - the pool that is. 

Machu Picchu is definitely somewhere on my wishlist, Tom.  A friend of ours went a few years ago and it seemed like a fantastic experience.

[The Peepmaster]

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is Peruvian for 'What a Pilchard!". (I heard a native use the term when I showed them a picture of Mince.)

[Joan]