Fur 'n' Feathers Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Well, greetings from sunny East Kent everyone! We would have been in Crete at this moment if Excel hadn't gone into administration on Friday. It's interesting the questions we both got asked at work, e.g. Will you book another holiday ( .... in the likely scrum for what was available?), or Will you cancel your leave then? ( ... not likely!!!!). The saddest thing for us was that there are a number of Kosmar staff we have grown to know quite well over the years of going to Greece and, after the initial surprise of the event the first thing we were concerned with was how they are going to manage without a job and a shrinking market to find one in. Also the lovely Greek people whose incomes depend on the holiday industry and what will hppen to them in the short term. We're actually having a lovely break in Kent , based at home (no packing!!!! ) and walking and visiting places that we've meant to go for ages, but haven't got round to. We'll also get to the Deal Maritime Folk Festival for the first time as we're ususlly away for it. Fur says we'll be appearing courtesy of Excel Leisure Group!!!! We're even getting to France for the day!..... and we'll get our holiday money back. We don't think that we've done so badly.We've certainly fared better than many. It is after all a holiday, not a lifestyle. One down note....... our neighbour was going to look after the chickens and it meant lie-ins every day for a week. Now we're up at 7am still. Shucks!!! One friend suggested we didn't say anything & kept the curtains closed , but that's not really on, is it?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Rotten luck I almost booked with them for next summer - jolly glad I stuck with Thomson now I agree about the effect on the Greek people, who are lovely & really don't deserve this, but at least its now towards the end of the season for thm. It would have been much worse if this had happened in May I am happy to see you are making the best of a bad situation - good for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Thats really bad luck There is lots to do in Kent though so try to enjoy - you are probably not going to get a tan but just keep thinking that its just sun damage and not good for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 At least you weren't stuck out there!? Or would that be better? Hmm Glad you are planning some more trips while at home for the fortnight to make the most of it. Hopefully the weather will be like today for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 How disappointing . At least you're making the most of it - well done! - and you're getting your money back. Enjoy the rest of your holiday . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 It's awful, isn't it? My friend had booked for her family ( 9 people) to go to Florida through XL in 5 weeks for her 60th birthday. She's absolutely inconsolable. She's managed to get replacement flights but is now £4, 000 out of pocket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Sorry to hear your holiday plans got upset. I glad that you will get the money back though and are going to make the most of your enforced home-based holiday. I don't know about you but I often come back from holidays in need of a rest - all that washing and unpacking!!! And the weather in East Kent has been quite good this week too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 At least the weather has not been too-o-o bad here Sorry to hear about all the hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 We had booked flights with XL back in May but in July a friend who flies with another airline told us that he doubted XL would be still flying in December and we cancelled our flights then and rebooked with British Airways. I wish now that I had thought to post this on Omlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 The trouble with it being the end of the season is that the Greeks don't get their contract money paid by the Company until September. This means they haven't been paid for the season yet! That's why some people have had problems with the hoteliers witholding their passports until they pay them personally for the holiday they'd already paid the Company for. There was a piece about Excel struggling in the Financial Times back in August, but then everyone is struggling. If we'd cancelled we wouldn't have got our money back at all. MooChoo, we're so sorry about your friend's situation. That's devastating. On a high, on Friday we went to Boulogne for the day as foot passengers. We got the last ferry back, which ended up an hour late in setting sail. We missed our last train home (we'd not taken the car to Dover because of Operation Stack). You know what? A young couple, who'd adopted us on the trip back offered to take us to our town as it was just off their route back to Kettering! Bless them! They were called Sean and Holly.They'd gone to Paris for 4 days as Holly had had her 21st birthday on Thursday. They went up the Eiffel Tower on her birthday and Sean proposed to her......awwwwwww . Great eh?! Nice to know romance is not dead! In Boulogne we caught the intro to the Route du Poisson - the Fish Race. All the heavy horse teams were on display in the old town in the afternoon then had a boat pulling race on the beach in the evening. They were beautiful! Lovely surprise!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I'm so sorry to hear that the Plan A holiday didn't work out, but Plan B sounds fab . Good on you for looking on the positive side of things and going all out to enjoy your slightly changed destination. I love Kent though, so I'm just a teensy bit biaised, but it's so convenient for so many lovely places to visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Glad to hear that you're still having a nice time. I dont' know about that folk festival - must look it up............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Lived in Deal for 20 years What folk festival Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 The Deal Maritime Folk Festival has been going about 13 years, initailly as a Council run event. A few years ago they pulled out. Some local folkies took over the event & promoted the folk side of it with concerts in local venues and a singaround or twe, plus ...... morris dancing, of course! We went down on Saturday, but were disappointed. Very low key on the streets with only a few teams about & no visible advertising. We were talking to few people who said it seemed the organisation had gone a bit astray this year. Difficult without Council support really. Shame. Very different from Tenterden Folk Festival, which we've been involved in till recently, but then the Council is behind the organisers and it has had the time to grow - that's on from 3-5th October for anyone who's interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
