Nice to find you all chatting away, now I've got back from Madeira - a bit later than intended, because our flight from Funchal to Lisbon was cancelled due to high winds. We were put up overnight in a rather swish hotel in which I felt a little out of place in my walking boots... and were given a lovely breakfast before catching our rescheduled flight. In the end we did rather well out of it, because we'd chosen the cheapest option for flights, involving spending Saturday night trying to sleep in Lisbon airport before our "connecting" flight to Manchester on Sunday morning.
It was an interesting holiday... coldest spell in Madeira for more than 10 years, with an overnight temperature of minus 1 in the mountains (which made the Portuguese national news). Snow blocked the roads across the centre of the island for nearly a week. I don't suppose they own a snow plough... and nobody in Madeira would have experience of driving on their amazingly steep roads in snow. But we had some warm days too, and the strong winds made the waves quite spectacular. Plenty of flowers too.
So - a happy March to all of you! (Won't risk bad luck by mentioning white rabbits so late in the day. Down in Hertfordshire where I grew up we did the "pinch, punch" thing.) March is most definitely the beginning of spring, with the birds singing fit to bust and crocuses cheering up the garden.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
So, meant to let you all know what I was up to this weekend but I think I just got caught up with being super busy
We took the Guides (20 of them) to London Saturday for a sleepover. Sounds simple.... well, no trains for most of our journey to London - we were lucky though, we had a spesh bus laid on for us No messing with the great unwashed for us We then dumped our stuff at the venue and split up into 4 groups to play the London game live - we had 6 random destinations to visit and 6 chance cards that had to be opened at certain times that could throw our routes off track! We had to divert at one point and didn't quite manage all our destinations in the allotted time We then had dinner and back to our venue for "sleeping" (hahahaha!) On Sunday we then did "three peaks" - the Emirates Cable car, the Monument (Fire of London), and the Orbit (Olympic Park). There was a ridiculous amount of walking involved, and stairs, and by the end I couldn't walk and climb stairs Had a fab time though, and so did the girls so that's the important thing
Sorry I haven't had a chance to read back..... am taking the excuse that we have a new thread so I am excused
Welcome home Liri - exciting times when you're in countries not used to the rare winter 'elements' like that! I had a similar experience many years ago in Spain
You'll be worn out Panda - have you been sleeping since then?...
Horrible night brewing here. Sleety and cold - perhaps the snow will appear as forecast. Did someone say spring had arrived....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Welcome home Liri & well done Panda - I'd forgotten you were off to the big smoke with the guides. I've always found walking round London incredibly tiring and all that concrete plays havoc with the old plates of meat. Can't imagine factoring in looking after 20 teenagers as well
Looks like some more weather is on the way... keep warm everyone
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Posts
Hello everyone!
Nice to find you all chatting away, now I've got back from Madeira - a bit later than intended, because our flight from Funchal to Lisbon was cancelled due to high winds. We were put up overnight in a rather swish hotel in which I felt a little out of place in my walking boots... and were given a lovely breakfast before catching our rescheduled flight. In the end we did rather well out of it, because we'd chosen the cheapest option for flights, involving spending Saturday night trying to sleep in Lisbon airport before our "connecting" flight to Manchester on Sunday morning.
It was an interesting holiday... coldest spell in Madeira for more than 10 years, with an overnight temperature of minus 1 in the mountains (which made the Portuguese national news). Snow blocked the roads across the centre of the island for nearly a week. I don't suppose they own a snow plough... and nobody in Madeira would have experience of driving on their amazingly steep roads in snow. But we had some warm days too, and the strong winds made the waves quite spectacular. Plenty of flowers too.
So - a happy March to all of you! (Won't risk bad luck by mentioning white rabbits so late in the day. Down in Hertfordshire where I grew up we did the "pinch, punch" thing.) March is most definitely the beginning of spring, with the birds singing fit to bust and crocuses cheering up the garden.
Liri, think you say brown rabbits now
Lyn, hope your dad gets better soon. Hope also he enjoyed his special day.
That was lucky, Liri. Sleeping in airports isn't much fun. Hope you had a good time despite the weather.
Welcome home Liri
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Welcome back Liri.
Seems it wasn't just who encountered dodgy flights and unseasonaly chilly weather.
Evening
So, meant to let you all know what I was up to this weekend but I think I just got caught up with being super busy
We took the Guides (20 of them) to London Saturday for a sleepover. Sounds simple.... well, no trains for most of our journey to London - we were lucky though, we had a spesh bus laid on for us
No messing with the great unwashed for us 
We then dumped our stuff at the venue and split up into 4 groups to play the London game live - we had 6 random destinations to visit and 6 chance cards that had to be opened at certain times that could throw our routes off track! We had to divert at one point 
and didn't quite manage all our destinations in the allotted time 
We then had dinner and back to our venue for "sleeping" (hahahaha!) On Sunday we then did "three peaks" - the Emirates Cable car, the Monument (Fire of London), and the Orbit (Olympic Park). There was a ridiculous amount of walking involved, and stairs, and by the end I couldn't walk and climb stairs 
Had a fab time though, and so did the girls so that's the important thing 
Sorry I haven't had a chance to read back..... am taking the excuse that we have a new thread so I am excused
I hope everyone is ok
Glad you had a fab time Panda
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good to see you Panda, was wondering where you were and if you were ok. Hope you can move better now! Hugs and best wishes x
Welcome home Liri - exciting times when you're in countries not used to the rare winter 'elements' like that! I had a similar experience many years ago in Spain
You'll be worn out Panda - have you been sleeping since then?...
Horrible night brewing here. Sleety and cold - perhaps the snow will appear as forecast. Did someone say spring had arrived....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Welcome home Liri & well done Panda - I'd forgotten you were off to the big smoke with the guides. I've always found walking round London incredibly tiring and all that concrete plays havoc with the old plates of meat. Can't imagine factoring in looking after 20 teenagers as well
Looks like some more weather is on the way... keep warm everyone