Holiday in Italy!

[Jigsawlass]

We are back from a wonderful week in Ostuni. Lots of walking up and down as the city is basically lots of winding streets linked by steps! I did lots of doing nothing as well. I did tweak my dose a bit, on 9mg but went up to 10 a few days. The food was lovely and all so fresh. Our apartment had a beautiful jacuzzi with a whirlpool feature-perfect for tired limbs.

It was an opportunity to think about what next...I was able to enjoy the holiday as I was doing nothing really. We discussed retirement -if stopping work, which I love- means I can go on holiday and have a wonderful time then I know which I would choose!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I can really recommend retirement!!! Especially the early retirement variety ...

Glad the awful storms the other day didn't reach you ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Fantastic….

[SheffieldJane]

What a heavenly spot! Lucky you.

Were you in a Trulli? I love Puglia Excuse my spelling. Gosh, I love Europe.

[Jigsawlass in reply to SheffieldJane]

No we were in a little apartment with the pool in the basement. Really stylish . Our first visit to the Puglia region , we loved it

[123-go]

That jacuzzi looks so inviting!Is there room for some kind of compromise with your job to enable you do more of the the things you like? Reduced hours, etc?

[Jigsawlass in reply to 123-go]

I am reducing my hours by a morning a week , I am part time already....I'm OK about stopping, as there are other things I would like to do . If the reduction works that is great , if not , time to stop !

[123-go in reply to Jigsawlass]

Excellent outlook, Jigsawlass! 👏👏

[Lonsdalelass]

Hi Jigsawlass, so pleased you had a great holiday there. Hubby and I have not long returned from Sicily....loved every minute. Beautiful place. Highlight was an excursion up Mt Etna!!! I couldn't believe I'd managed that, mind you, it wasn't a lot of walking 😅. Yes, retirement does seem very attractive but I'll be sticking to my 2 days per week for a little longer I feel, especially if it means we can go away to places like that. 👍

[autumnlass in reply to Lonsdalelass]

Lovely Sicily - love Mount Etna. On opening the shuttered windows on my arrival in bedroom on holiday I gasped when I saw it - truly amazing. Well done you for walking it! 😀

[Lonsdalelass in reply to autumnlass]

Well, it was a bus up so far, then cable car to go higher, followed by moon bus to get to highest part allowed. So not a lot of walking. But we did walk up to one of the craters, a bit precarious as I haven't done uphill climbing for ages since having PMR and there's no barriers of course or anything to hold on to (apart from hubby!), but was so worth it to see the crater at the top, a real WOW moment. Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lonsdalelass]

I did Vesuvius over 65 years ago on one of our VW campervan Tours of Europe, And Pompei. But in those days, Vesuvius was on foot all the way from the carpark part way up!!

[autumnlass in reply to Lonsdalelass]

Well done you! I couldn’t have done it at all. Did you do the trip around Stromboli and see the mini eruptions or we lot would say giant flares!! 🤣🤣☄️🔥

[Lonsdalelass in reply to autumnlass]

Thanks! I had to keep reminding myself I'd actually been up!😅 No, we didn't do Stromboli. After Mt Etna we visited Alcantara Gorge, another beautiful place. You could go in the water snorkeling or whatever, there were activities arranged if you wanted it like some people were suited and booted to go wading, but we were happy just taking in the view....I was still recovering from my Mt Etna experience 😅

[autumnlass in reply to Lonsdalelass]

A Florence and Pisa holiday - another ‘gasp’ moment when I saw the Leaning Tower! I remember my 16 year old daughter then saying ‘that’s ridiculous!!’ 🤣

[Lonsdalelass in reply to autumnlass]

😅😅

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

Hehe - we did it so long ago there weren't many tourists! I would hate to go now ... Never did get inside the Dom in Florence - sat in a lovely restaurant opposite and in a side street and watched people while we fed our faces

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

My late husband and son went up into the Dome whilst my daughter an I just stared at them! Back in 1989! Not too touristy then! One of the best holidays ever and Siena Wow!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

Yes, I liked Sienna, and San Gimignano - had 2 days there and found a church at the back where they were renovating mosaics. SO interesting and beautiful.

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

San Gimignano was wonderful - we liked our time there - although it was more touristy than Florence and Sienna!

On another subject I took a CQ10 supplement this morning - I didn’t notice any effect at first but about an hour ago I realised that I’d put more into my day (which isn’t much!) than I usually do! Hope I don’t regret it tomorrow!

[MrsNails]

Good to hear you enjoyed. We were on a 28day Cruise when l decided l was going to Retire Early……Best Decision l ever made - still haven’t beaten this PMR but at least l can do as l please 🙏🏼

[Pixix]

Deep envy…liked ostuni a lot! Glad it went well, wish we could get away…

[Longtimer]

My son told me yesterday, he and OH have booked for next May, Pompeii/Capri/Sorrento....I am sooooo jealous, they have never been to Italy before, wonderful country. If it means you can travel, and can manage it...do it. You never know when your holiday will be your last....

[Lonsdalelass in reply to Longtimer]

Pompeii and Sorrento are beautiful and great places to visit. Hope they enjoy it.

[Longtimer in reply to Lonsdalelass]

Yes, I'm sure they will....thank you....

[Telian]

Sounds idyllic! You did well with the walking too! Early retirement wouldn’t take much deciding - I did it and best decision ever. Hope you make the right choice for you. 🌺

[Tiggy70]

Pleased you had a lovely time. They say a change is as good as a rest! 🌸

[Sharitone]

My BIL retired early as a GP because he read research that said that people who retire early, live longer!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sharitone]

Wonder what they use as controls for the results!!!!!! In that case, since he died at 70, very glad OH retired early!!! We knew he wasn't going to be what my great aunts called "a long liver" after a nasty brush with the Big C at 42 so really I think he didn't do too badly and would have lived longer if he hadn't got up in the night, not put the light on and fell, picking up a spinal fracture which I think really was the beginning of the end.

[Sharitone in reply to PMRpro]

I'm hoping there weren't any controls! and assuming it was all done on statistics, and hoping that they took other factors into account, eg, the people who retire early are the ones who can afford to - or the ones too ill to carry on. I wonder whether they included those in their statistics!But yes, your OH definitely did well, considering. And I guess he's made sure you always put the light on?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sharitone]

If I get out of bed at night - absolutely!!! Even though the room isn't as dark as it was when he fel because in the summer I have the door to the balcony open and the outside blind only partly down to let in the air - and of course some light from the street lights.

[Sharitone in reply to PMRpro]

We have a Thomas the Tank nightlight left over from along time ago. We put it on it the next room, and leave the door open a chink.

[Hidden]

We love the Italian likes and drive there each year, pandemics permitting. We have next year booked.The steps kill my knees but it’s worth it. Glad to hear you had a great time.