Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Guest]

Is at times truly awesome.

 

On our Christmas cruise we stop at Alexandria for 2 days. To go on the 2 day trip to see the pyramids costs $500 each - same for James! I do not have that sort of money to spend on a 2 day trip, frankly I'm going to be drinking water and coffee out the the machines as I doubt I could afford anything else on this boat. There are 1 day trips available, for a couple of hundred dollars less but they mean doing the three hour coach journey twice in one day and I don't think James will handle that at all well.

 

But I'm a member of the Cruise Critic forum and on there they have roll calls for people going on specific trips. Through this forum some of us have booked ourselves as a group onto a private 2 day tour to the pyramids. The current price (Which may still go down if more people join us!) is $195 each for me and Mum and $95 for James. A THIRD of the price of going with the ship tour which will have a few hundred people on. Ours has about 20 people on ALL WITH KIDS as we are making it a family tour - the idea being that the kids can annoy each other instead of us.

 

All this is only possible through the internet. We havn't paid up front, a mere $500 deposit has been paid for the whole trip - the person who did the organising paid it to come out of his families payment. The tour company we booked through have had excellent write ups from previous travellers and everyone is satisfied they are "safe" to travel with (a lot of Americans are coming and Americans are rather dubious about travelling in this kind of area).

 

This is the only trip we are doing on this holiday, Rome we are visiting by train and the same for Pompeii, the other stops we may not even leave the boat for but if we do we will just walk or hop on a local bus.

[Charlottechicken]

Well done Penguinmad

 

Your skill at money saving never ceases to amaze me

 

Have a great trip!!

[Seagazer]

Thats a lot of extra money on top isn't it. Well done on finding something cheaper.

[Guest]

Mum paid for the cruise but I have to pay for the extras. The brassic stems from last years non-paying tenants, and the year befores. Touch wood I've got some good uns now and they are staying!

 

I just need to repair my shattered finances - TBH I can do the 2 weeks on board for less than the 2 weeks here - seems like every time you move in the school holidays it costs you at least a tenner for lunches/ice cream/entrances etc - kids are EXPENSIVE. When we cruise we tend to eat all of our meals onboard ship - in port we get off in the morning and return for lunch. On this trip I won't drink as the prices on this line are a total rip off. I will have to buy lunch in Rome and Pompeii - I LOVE italian food but a cafe is good enough for me! Luckily I have just had a small windfall in the form of a backdated payrise and I also managed to convert some vouchers I won recently to cash.

 

I would save some money by not going but Mum would lose a lot and I'd have a lot of extra expenses over that fortnight - I'm off work so I'd need to heat the house for one! And I'd need to buy a pigeon for Xmas dinner (that should mean NO meat waste - last time I did Christmas at home I spent about £60 on a turkey which they cats were eating for weeks!)

 

Frankly in my current mental state I need a break - being sworn at three times a day is seriously depressing.

[Blackrocksrock]

Think I would rather spend the money heating my house which would keep the fabric of the home in a good condition and not let it get damp with no heat on and the turkey need not cost about £60 at all for the cats to eat - thats just silly - you can get a turkey crown for far less and even a free range chicken would be better for you and your family. Think of the people who would love your turkey waste! You can have such a relaxing time at home and not spend anything by taking packed lunches out for days out and relaxing at home in front of the fire with a good book and allowing the children or child to play with their toys in peace.

All in all I say stay at home for once and enjoy xmas without worrying about being skint on holiday somewhere exotic just for the sake of it.

[Guest]

LOL the turkey was a free range local one. I was desperately trying to have a proper family christmas despite the annual dessertion of the family. Its a long story but we are going away rather than spend christmas alone as we find it rather miserable.

 

Gosh my house is not damp and I do not have the heating on until February! I heat using the Aga and the fire only - just that those 2 weeks are the one time I'm here a lot, I'd actually rather be at work than have those particular 2 weeks off, although not this year as I mentioned earlier I am just sick of being sworn at day in and day out, its bordering on depression.

 

As for the whole Christmas thing, I was going to ask Mum to cancel this a while back but I am glad I didn't. Christmas is not always a happy time for people and when the rest of your life is getting you down you just don't need it.

 

And I do take packed lunches for days out, all summer when there is somewhere to sit and eat them. Kids seem to need a little more though, the ice creams etc

 

Feel free to stay at home which clearly makes you happy and thanks for the "advice" I would like nothing better than a happy family Christmas - Thanks again for reminding me that I dont have one.

 

Omlet preaching at its finest again - when you moderate me delete my account.

[Blackrocksrock]

LOL the turkey was a free range local one. I was desperately trying to have a proper family christmas despite the annual dessertion of the family. Its a long story but we are going away rather than spend christmas alone as we find it rather miserable.

 

Gosh my house is not damp and I do not have the heating on until February! I heat using the Aga and the fire only - just that those 2 weeks are the one time I'm here a lot, I'd actually rather be at work than have those particular 2 weeks off, although not this year as I mentioned earlier I am just sick of being sworn at day in and day out, its bordering on depression.

 

As for the whole Christmas thing, I was going to ask Mum to cancel this a while back but I am glad I didn't. Christmas is not always a happy time for people and when the rest of your life is getting you down you just don't need it.

 

And I do take packed lunches for days out, all summer when there is somewhere to sit and eat them. Kids seem to need a little more though, the ice creams etc

 

Feel free to stay at home which clearly makes you happy and thanks for the "advice" I would like nothing better than a happy family Christmas - Thanks again for reminding me that I dont have one.

 

Omlet preaching at its finest again - when you moderate me delete my account.

 

I am far from "preaching" to you again as you say and would not presume to give you "advice" but if you cannot afford to go then as said before on this thread stay at home! -staying at home is within my means only as I have not the wherewithall to travel to the foreign climes should I feel the need to do so - This xmas we shall also be on our own and for the first time in our 37 years of marriage and I am really looking forward to it. This also means we do not see our families but it sometimes happens that they need to go to other new families. I understand xmas is not a happy time for many - ourselves included but we wont go into that part of things - many of the rest of us must also be feeling far from christmassy but hey ho we have to try. Do enjoy your holiday and think of the rest of us sitting by the fire on a cold winters day reading a book and trying to keep warm while you enjoy the heat and the company.

[Lewis]

Some friends of ours shut up their house for the winter while the neighbours watch it and they go to Spain (I think) for 2/3 months ... the money they save is enough to pay for their 'holiday' and they like the heat!

 

Mom has always said she'd like to do it, but she never would because of all the family we see and obviously we're at school

 

Just to pull it back to the topic If your mom paid for the cruise, then even better that you can save money on the trips while your over there and meet other families at the same time

[Christian]

 

Omlet preaching at its finest again - when you moderate me delete my account.

 

This won't be moderated Pengy. It is just a shame that you can't see that people are trying to support you and offer advice, during an obviously difficult time for you.

 

 

Many can't afford holidays and really struggle at Christmas time too. You have been offered a lovely holiday with your Mum and adorable son and I hope you enjoy it. Make the best of what you have, some are completely alone in the world. Please don't see this as preaching, I am only offering an opinion.

[Geoid]

A saving of $1015. A saving of that much is very impressive. Well done

Enjoy your holiday, you need it!

[TAJ]

Enjoy your holiday and you have a great bargain on the trip - quite clearly cancelling a holiday at this stage (and losing 100% of the cost) would not be sensible and I don't know why anyone would suggest this at this stage so close to Christmas. So enjoy it.

 

Tracy

[fluffyknickers]

Great saving Pengy, just shows you how much some companies make on these things.

 

Enjoy the holiday - sounds great.

 

M x

[Sunshine]

We are away again at Christmas too. Just 5 days in Scotland around Christmas day. We stay in a big hotel with activities all day and ceilidh's in the evening. It is what makes Christmas for us, we stayed at home for Christmas a few years ago and hated it. We were debating not going this year for money reasons and so my dad has decided not to come with us this year. It will be wierd without him but its his choice and tbh i think he will be happier at home with the dog for company-he can get some peace, with 4 children the house is never empty!

 

Christmas is different for everyone and it depends what you are used to. This year will be extra special as my grandma is recieving treatment for cancer so you never know if she is going to go downhill and she is coming and all her grandchildren will be there. So it will be 7 grandchildren(aged 11-25) plus grandma and my mum. I'm so excited!

 

I agree about the internet being ace, i am always checking things out before i buy stuff. When you read things about how much money people have managed to save it makes you realise with a bit of research people could be saving loads.

 

Have a great time at Christmas Penguinmad!

[craftyhunnypie]

For the past 2 years we have done Christmas at our house. It's been lovely with the chickens, the fire lit, mum & dad, my sister & her hubby , my hubby & myself. We've done the dinner & had prezzie exchanges & fun - then gone over to mum & dads house later in the evening for a buffet tea & played some games (only allowable at Xmas).

For years I was always abroad away from my mum, dad & sister at Xmas - beautiful, with lots of snow but a very lonely time. It's not always hunky dory thinking the grass is always greener on the other side.

Anyway, this year we are all going to my sister's house for dinner & possibly the evening too. With my new little nephew, this Christmas will be perfect!

 

I agree Christmas is a mix of emotions - good & sad for everyone.

My heart goes out to many people at this time of year & I usually have a cry for those less fortunate than myself.

Emma.x