No such thing as a free lunch..........

And also there is no such thing as a free holiday. We jet off today to our time-share promotion holiday curtsey of Silverpoint Promotional Holidays, but free it ain’t.. Silverpoint have promised us 5* self catering accommodation for one week along with a VIP airport pick-up, so long as we paid them £67 to cover their admin costs and attend a time-share presentation. Phil agreed a month ago and we are flying out to Tenerife today from Luton airport.

I have been quite gaily telling folks that this is a free holiday but actually it isn't. Our flights cost us £314; airport parking was £49 and then to get the cheap flight price, I had to book us an extra night either side of our 'free' week which is costing us 40 quid a night. But I suppose, if indeed, we do get to stay in a 5* for a week and we are don't get any sales pressure other then the compulsory presentation, then it will be worth it. And we definitely have to attend the time-share sales meeting, Silverpoint have already phoned to confirm our appointment date and time. Unfortunately they wanted to meet us on Sunday lunchtime at 1pm but this is exactly the time that the Turkish Grand Prix starts and I know that Phil will want to watch it, in a bar, with a big flat screen and a cold beer. Thankfully, I managed to get it changed to the Monday but I am not looking forward to it; I've read reports on the internet that it's a hard sell, lasting anywhere between 5 and 8 hours! No way am I going to sit there that long, I shall give them 2 and a half hours at most and then I'm out the door. Phil can do what he wants. Normally when we have to do this type of shit, we play good cop, bad cop and yes I am the bad cop! We'll see what happens this time but I already have a strategy up my sleeve.

I know it has only been 2 days since I posted but I seem to have been really busy this last couple of days. It's lovely to go away on vacation but it sure does take a lot of preparation and organising before jetting off and a lot of work catching up on jobs when you get back home. On Tuesday I went to the gym then on the way back I nipped in to Superdrug to get an eyebrow and upper lip wax; it's my monthly treat and you really don't really how hairy these areas are until you feel the smoothness afterwards. I do get quite hung up about body hair, I know, it really is one of my 'issues'. I was reading about nasal waxing in one of the Sunday magazine supplements last weekend, a procedure that originated in America that has recently come to the UK. Of course. I simply must get this done, shame I couldn't find a salon that offers this in MK before my hols, but I will pursue it when I get back, I simply must have this done. Nasal hair is gross.

After waxing I got home just in time to let in Harriet's friend Rachel who came round to cut my hair. I am trying to grow it back into a bob but I needed my splits cut off and a tidy up. Rachel's a nice girl and cheap as chips, once she had finished I felt a whole lot better. In the afternoon I took myself off to Lovat Fields Retirement Village. I really wanted a guided tour but unfortunately they do not have a sales team on site. There was however, a very nice resident called Harold on reception, he gave me his utmost attention, we had a nice chat and he provided me with an information pack. I went with Phil's mum and dad in mind, it would be perfect for them. I read the literature, it was very corporate but I came away with a really good impression after looking at the shop, the restaurant, the library and the bar. So much so that, when I get to a certain age, its somewhere that I would like to spend my final days. The bonus for me was they have a gym and a pool.

Yesterday, Wednesday was really busy; Sally, our solicitor wants to exchange contracts this week but we don't want this because we are away. Initially, we wanted to speed through this sale but with the OB flat becoming vacant the second we get back, now we are not in so much of a hurry. I didn't go to the gym in the morning but instead hung around at home to work on emails and paperwork. There were a few urgent issues for the solicitor regarding the Caldecotte sale and I had to be at home to be able to respond to emails. Luckily everything came together, well almost, there are still a couple of outstanding items that need to be addressed but we should be able to tackle these from Tenerife. Why is life never straight forward, everything always seems to kick off the minute we fly away. Hey ho......

While I was waiting for emails to pop into my in box I decided to sort out my hotmail. I deleted about 3 years worth of sent and received emails. I got rid of my junk mail, my deleted mail; I added folders and moved messages to the appropriate boxes. It made me feel good after I was done but in a way I felt like I was deleting part of my life. After lunch and when everything was more or less sorted, I went to the gym for a workout, nothing too strenuous, 10 minutes rowing and 50 minutes on the cross trainer followed by a swim. I was glad I went even though I am still really stiff and achy.

It was gone 4pm when I got home, just time to answer emails from the solicitor and then Phil came in and we went to view a retirement bungalow in Giffard Park. We looked at these from the outside a few years back and had even took Phil's mum & dad to have a look. Both Phil & I really liked the bungalow; it had one bedroom but was newly refurbished with a good sized bathroom and kitchen. Of course, we prefer places that need attention so we can make money by doing the work ourselves but well, with Phils mum and dad, its a different ball game. They have been very good to us and deserve only the best in their twilight years. Although we loved the flat, we think probably that it is too small. The biggest attraction is that is has 24/7 warden control, an emergency cord, plus they would be living amongst people in a similar position to themselves. I don't know though, its going to be a tough move for them and we have to do what is absolutely right for them. Big changes in life are not good for old people, and I worry, I worry a lot; I just hope that we make the right decision. All we want is for them to feel safe, comfortable and happy.

Last night Phil picked up Chris Waugh and brought him back to our house for a quick beer and then they walked down to the Ship Ashore to join the rest of the Wednesday night boys. I didn't hear Phil come home but I have to coax him up the stairs to bed in the early hours of the morning. I heard him swearing to himself in the bathroom so I already knew then, that I was in for a bad day. Sure enough, he is certainly feeling rather groggy this morning. Thank goodness we don't have an early start! Soon we will be off, just need to jump in the shower and clean it whilst I'm in there. Then we'll load the cars and head for Luton to sample the delightful hospitality of Ryanair. I'm not sure, but I'll think I'll be blogging for this trip instead of Phil, so next positing will be from me from Los Christianos.

Adiós Mon amigos!