Just like shopping with mum.

[canalchris]

Hiya folks, Chris here again.

The title is probably going to be a bit misleading but bare with me. Does anyone remember being taken shopping by your mum and having seen the item you went shopping for in the first shop you visited, you were then dragged around every shop in town looking for the same item, only at the last minute of the day to purchase from the very first shop after all? Course you do!!

Well, since visiting Portugal last November both Lilian and myself have run through so many ideas as to our future plans. First up was to buy a largish caravan with awning and stay down here 10 months of the year, visiting Britian only when the temps down here got too hot. Next up was falling in love with Brittany , planning to buy a cottage there and still wintering in Portugal, . After several more schemes have come and gone , we are back to plan A. We are now waiting for a caravan which is being brought down from Germany by an English lad who brings one down every year to sell and top up his holiday fund. We haven't seen it yet but think we have first refusal. Very excited at the prospect , other Brits who have done the same have showed us their vans , complete with awnings which have had timber framing done and wooden flooring put down. They then furnish the awning like a conservatory on one end, but have small kitchen area at the other end, and virtually live in the awning in the warm periods, retiring only to sleep in the caravan at night, they even fit free standing air conditioning units in the awnings.

Back to plan A then, just like mums shopping trips. Sorry for the tenuous link.

Lots of love to all. Chris and Lilian.

[DozyDormouse]

Would love to see a picture of that set - up as we have a seasonal pitch in Dorset. However it is not any where near as homelike as that sounds.

Take care Dozy xxx

[jenss]

Hi Chris, lovely post thanks. Yes I do remember those shopping trips with mum Good luck with the caravan hope you will like it when it arrives. Take carexx

[Hidden]

Lovely Chris. My bags are already packed for visiting you x

[sassy59]

I am liking the sound of your plans Chris and really hope you get to do what you want. Pete and I bought property in Spain back in 2000 and had some fun times there in the sun. We kept a place here too and then decided, after a few years, to come back home and stay. We have been here ever since but never regret doing what we did. So nice not to have to say "if only." You and Lilian live your dreams and make the most of the good times. Wishing you well. xxxx

[Toci]

Sounds like a plan, Chris. I hope you are keeping well in the sunshine. xx

[peege]

So pleased to hear from you. You sound very upbeat. It must be lovely down there right now.

My son is by the Med. Cassis, 20 minutes East of Marseille and I know he and his partner were swimming and diving last weekend. Their photos showed blue skies on the boat.

I'm joining them in two weeks, staying 3 months in my rented apartment overlooking the little harbour.

We cannot wait my dog and I.

Much warmer for you down in Portugal though.

My husband and I used to make plans. One of us would mention something and the other would say "was that plan 45 or plan 99" then we'd usually go back to the one we first thought of (my idea usually )!

Two of my friends sold up from near Cambridge. They bought two building plots off the beaten track near Nevez, Brittany. They built a house on one plot and turned the other into an orchard...... He then got bad arthritis, hip replacements etc so the made a plan to move south because: THE WEATHER IN BRITTANY CAN BE TERRIBLE! Damp wet & miserable for weeks on end.

Anyway, this year they decided to stay put, they've really put down roots there with the locals, have mostly fabulous summers, beautiful walks on endless beaches and terrific health care. Their garden is stunning, like a little bit of England. I think they just sold the other plot for some cash.

Good descision of yours & Lillians to stay in the sun. Nip up to Brittany for the hot summer months...... how's the dog by the way?

Take care, might see you there next year. Peege x

[canalchris in reply to peege]

Hello Peeg, nice to hear from you. The weather certainly has a good effect on my general health. After last summer on the boat ( we were only back in Britian for 5 months) I had a terrible time travelling back to Portugal. We visited family in Yorkshire ,Wales ,Oxfordshire and Kent before boarding the Ferry, and I just started with a chest infection, I virtually never got off the motorhome apart from visiting a Doctor in France. Then it was an exhilarating but exhausting 3 day trip to the Algarve ,doing ten hour days. Within the first week I was sat oitside the campsite restaurant having a meal with Lilian. My breathlessness is significantly worse than last winter down here, but immensely better than it would have been in England. Still going to visit Doc's soon to enquire about flu jab. Take care of yourself, love Chris.xx

[canalchris in reply to peege]

Hello Peeg, nice to hear from you. The weather certainly has a good effect on my general health. After last summer on the boat ( we were only back in Britian for 5 months) I had a terrible time travelling back to Portugal. We visited family in Yorkshire ,Wales ,Oxfordshire and Kent before boarding the Ferry, and I just started with a chest infection, I virtually never got off the motorhome apart from visiting a Doctor in France. Then it was an exhilarating but exhausting 3 day trip to the Algarve ,doing ten hour days. Within the first week I was sat oitside the campsite restaurant having a meal with Lilian. My breathlessness is significantly worse than last winter down here, but immensely better than it would have been in England. Still going to visit Doc's soon to enquire about flu jab. Take care of yourself, love Chris.xx

[ostiad]

Good luck with your caravan it sounds lovely. Yes I do remember the shopping saga with mum, I used to hate it, particularly I suppose because generally the shopping wasn't for me! I now do exactly the same thing, usually a last minute rush when the bus is nearly due, only difference is I'm normally treating someone else. Take care June