So do you do winter holidays...if so...

Where do you go?
What do you do?

If not:

Would you like to?
What would you like to do?
Where would you like to go?

and all other winter holiday related stuff!

I have never really gone away on a proper winter holiday although I have been away for a month in February before now but that was to Uganda and it was hot...I am however contemplating the expense involved should I decide to go all out and travel to the Yukon next Feb for ten days to cover an extreme race upto the Artic circle...it will get to around -40 degrees, possibly less, and my biggest expense will be warm clothing! :cold:

Usually holiday in October, as it's quieter and usually cheaper, but have never gone skiing or penquin spotting or stuff like that. Tend to go to the canaries or north africa where it's still hot then..

Haven't had one for a while, but we used to go away in February a lot, cos it was quiet season for Djs and karaoke. Usually the canaries for a week or so, but second last time we went away we came back with Gigi, and the last time we came back with Eddie, so we're too scared ****less to go away again :cool: .

We are going to Gran Canaria in October for a week. Staying at the Gloria Palace Amadores, my son stayed there in July and recommended it so it had better be good.

I have been to Turkey in October and Tenerife in November, liked Turkey hated Tenerife.

The only time I`ve been away in the winter was for my duaghters 21st and she wanted to go to Disneyland Paris in the middle of December. Was definelty the best time to go. The atmosphere was fantastic and it snowed (false) throughtout the day. There were no queues for any of the rides or shows. It was cold but we were well wrapped up and throughly enjoyed ourselves and if we went again if would be the same time of year.

Have had Christmas in the Canaries before - that was good. Temperature averaged about 25 deg C so just perfect!

Have also sailed around the south coast of England in mid-December, but wouldn't recommend that unless you are totally barking (I think I must be!) :laugh:

Not ever been abraod in the winter before, but we are going to Egypt next Feb for a week. (Got to be better than the holiday we have just endured) and we usually try and get a week in Centre Parcs in December.

Has anyone ever spent Christmas abroad?

Mama Coastie and my Brother both have at some stage but I don't think I'd ever want to...:unsure:

Has anyone ever spent Christmas abroad?

Mama Coastie and my Brother both have at some stage but I don't think I'd ever want to...:unsure:
Years ago I spent christmas in Australia with my friend who had moved there. It was totally different and I missed the atmosphere we have here. Swimming in the sea xmas morning was a first but to be honest I love christmas here

I've been to Turkey in October but, although it was hot during the day, it got really chilly in the evening, and the pool was freezing!

Has anyone ever spent Christmas abroad?

Mama Coastie and my Brother both have at some stage but I don't think I'd ever want to...:unsure:

hell yes, its the best way to spend Xmas in my opinion, and I am hoping and praying my back will be fixed enough for me to clear off to spain for or just after Xmas this year with my mate the Duchess.........failing that we have decided to lock ourselves in my flat and pretend we have gone away :naughty:

Ooo you've just given me an idea Isis...I could decorate my house to the style of a different country for Christmas and eat that countries local cuisine 'n' stuff...oooo...

Now the question is..can I be fished? :huh:

I do usually have Christmas II each year when my mate comes to visit...we do a Christmas dinner with all the trimings in January! :wacko:

Me and Hubby are taking the kids to the Highland's of Scotland in October in the half term, we have rented a house right on Loch Ness, only another 7 weeks to go i can't wait. we are flying straight to Inverness this time instead of Edindurgh because of the 3 hour drive, we don't want to hear "Are we there yet?" from the kids every few minutes.

Make sure you bring plenty of jumpers Birdge :D

I shall be making my usual trek down to my parents for Christmas, only this time I thought I might do them the disservice of staying a month - so that's my holiday. Unfortunately they no longer cook for me but they will cook for Samuel and change some nappies :D

Last Christmas I was in Egypt - we went for a hot air balloon ride on Christmas morning which was good, but Egypt isn't a place I'd choose to spend Christmas in again.

I've also had a Christmas in Turkey which was great - a friend lent us an apartment and we got together with 2 couples who lived there for Christmas lunch (one dutch girl who was married to a Turk and and English woman married to a Turk). The town we stayed in was pretty much closed down for winter, but we knew a lot of people there and it was really good fun.

I had Christmas in Majorca one year to when I had a boyfriend there, that turned out to be fun too.

This year I'm going to have Christmas at home and have New Year in Cuba.

Minks do you prefer Christmas at home or abroad? Isis is obviously a fan of Christmas abroad...just wondering if you were to?

I may be popping abroad somewhere in October...Latvia, Estonia that sort of area or possibly Greece...sooo haven't fully decided yet...may just get as far as Hereford! :laugh:

Okay...if all goes according to plan I shall be spending a couple of weeks in March 2007 as a volunteer on this race::shocking:

http://www.6633ultra.com/intro.html:w00t:

I have to prepare myself for -40 to -80 degrees but am totally psyched...I have started my Christmas list already and am just looking to book the leave I will require...I would ask that those who do pray as unfortunately another work chum is on course around the same time so I am hoping I will be allowed to go on leave! :good:

Okay...if all goes according to plan I shall be spending a couple of weeks in March 2007 as a volunteer on this race::shocking:

http://www.6633ultra.com/intro.html:w00t:

I have to prepare myself for -40 to -80 degrees but am totally psyched...I have started my Christmas list already and am just looking to book the leave I will require...I would ask that those who do pray as unfortunately another work chum is on course around the same time so I am hoping I will be allowed to go on leave! :good:

It sounds a bit extreme for me but I hope you can get the time off to go on this it does look really exciting.

Extreme...pah...I'll not be racing SB I shall be manning a checkpoint or two ensuring the races get in on time and are well taken care of once there...I have sent my line manager an e-mail as I wont be seeing him for a month (he's sick...again) grovelling for the leave...

I just don`t think I could put up with that sort of cold. I love the winter and snow but -40 :cold:

Minks do you prefer Christmas at home or abroad? Isis is obviously a fan of Christmas abroad...just wondering if you were to?


Hi Coastie - sorry, didn't mean to ignore you I only saw this today......
I prefer to have Christmas at home (or at least in the UK, I've been to Center Parcs a few times for Christmas and that's quite good). I always like the idea of having Christmas abroad, but for me it doesn't match up to having Christmas at home.
This year I'm having the best of both worlds by having Christmas with my Dad then going to Cuba for New Year.

For New Year it's the other way around, I like the idea of New Year at home but it always falls a bit flat so I prefer to have New Year abroad.

That race you are getting involved in sounds very exciting, I hope you can get the time off work!

I'm waiting for Tchibo to do their annual offer on winter boots...my mate got hers from them and they cost £15...yes £15 and were perfect for her requirements in the frozen north and I wont be doing half as much as she will be in the great outdoors!

They are doing some exceptional deals on thermals next week so I shall be making a trip to my local store sometime then...I already picked up a pair of outer ski trousers for £24 from TK-Max and they are again the same make as my friend has used the last two years so I know they will work...bargin eh!?

I am looking out for good deals on sleeping bags and down jackets now...e-bay here I come!:laugh:

I have boots...not the boots I was going to get but light silver snow boots...they are fabtastic!:cool: £24 bargin!

I also have a Nike down jacket from TKMax...bargin at £40...reduce from over £100!

One of my work chums has lent me some thermals and mittens so all is going well so far on the kit front...I'm well 'appy!:yahoo:

http://www.6633ultra.com/

For those who may have missed it...this is what I'm doing in March...well...I'm assisting the racers:blush:

WOW coastie - looks fab!!! I'll be thinking of you on St Patricks Day [17 mar)..


I was in the artic circle years ago, but was in mid-june - 24 hour daylight and a roasting 26 degrees c!! Don't think I could handle minus40!!:cool2:

T'will be an adventure and a half you loony explorer!!

Flights are booked...I have most of my warm gear...I am very excited! :yahoo:

I'm off to the Brecon Beacons this weekend for some Arctic training....well the athletes will be training I shall be manning a soup and hot chocolate stand somehwre on a hillside...if I don't get whisked away by a dishy SAS god that is! :w00t:

If I survive I will tell you what I have learnt on my return to the board on Tuesday night! I know you will all be dying to hear all about it...:w00t:

Well Coaster, the Artic Circle is just a bit North of Mississippi...maybe you can get your bum down here!! J/K!! Have fun and don't freeze anything off.

Arctic training weekend...update:

THEY MADE ME DO HILLS! :shocking:

I now have butt cheeks so tight I can crack walnuts between them...it was a great weekend though as I got to meet a few of the racers and volunteers I'll be working with in the Artic and gladly they are all as mad, if not crazier, than me! :w00t:

That's basically it...I am pretty well set and and very, very excited...hopefully there will be a bit on the regular web-site (link above 6633 ultra) each day of the race so that, if they want to, people can keep apraise dof the adventures that occur that far north!

Arctic training weekend...update:

THEY MADE ME DO HILLS! :shocking:

I now have butt cheeks so tight I can crack walnuts between them...it was a great weekend though as I got to meet a few of the racers and volunteers I'll be working with in the Artic and gladly they are all as mad, if not crazier, than me! :w00t:

That's basically it...I am pretty well set and and very, very excited...hopefully there will be a bit on the regular web-site (link above 6633 ultra) each day of the race so that, if they want to, people can keep apraise dof the adventures that occur that far north!

:applause: Good luck Coastie

:applause: Good luck Coastie

Why thank you Taffers...:good:

Have just been chatting about the weekend with a work chum...I was explaining how the racers I met and how fab they were and that their idea of being unfit was not being able to complete a marathon in under 3hrs! :shocking:

I would like to state that my idea of being unfit is not being able to complete and marathon in three days! Come on who's with me! :w00t:

Right...I got a couple of bargins the other day...I have my hat reduced from £15.99 to £2.99 and it is red and black and has bells on...wooo...love it!

I have my windproof reduced from £60 to £40...yay...but's it's boring black.

My new sleeping bag is very warm...I only lasted three minutes in it the other day before I had to get out...yes I did try it out:blush:

About 6 weeks to go now! Very excited.

Just to say toodle-oo as we're in Florida during Feb.

I shall be packing my suitcase and setting of for Egypt in approx 11 days:applause: :applause:

Ooo how exciting....

Have a fab time SF and don't go gettintg all sun burnt!

Buzz...what bit of Egypt are you doing? - I bet you're well excited...have a great time!

Just wanted to say a quick ta ta to you all. We are heading off for Gatwick this afternoon.:yahoo: We fly out to Egypt tomorrow morning. So see you all in a week!:bye: :bye:

I would like to state that my idea of being unfit is not being able to complete and marathon in three days! Come on who's with me! :w00t:

I can eat one in three minutes easy! :w00t:

I can eat one in three minutes easy! :w00t:

Oh Dol do keep up...they're called Snickers now deary! Tsk...marathon is sooo like 80's man!

Oh Dol do keep up...they're called Snickers now deary! Tsk...marathon is sooo like 80's man!
oh well you know me - not one for chocolate bars!!! :laugh:

I fly out in seven days...seven days...I'm soooo excited! :yahoo:

All the best on your adventure Coastie! :good:

Have fun Coastie, look forward to reading about your adventures.

Off to Bruges tomorrow for a week or so!

I went to Malta for a weekend at the end of February......got there Friday night......got the boat to Gozo for the day on the Saturday.....fell and broke my arm and been off work ever since!!

I went to Malta for a weekend at the end of February......got there Friday night......got the boat to Gozo for the day on the Saturday.....fell and broke my arm and been off work ever since!!

I'm sure there's a Maltese Cross or Malteser joke there somewhere

Minks...whatcha like woman! :laugh:

Hope your arm heals up soon.

I'm back...had a fab time...in short:

Average temp -20
Lowest temp -40
Most extreme temp -24 wind chill -70 - day 1 Arctic Circle:cold:

Total distance travelled by racers...352.64 miles
Total distance travelled by me as support crew...3500 miles...no I didn't get lost...it was the fact we had to drive up and down the roads to monitor our racers and ensure they didn't freeze to death!

Wildlife seen...16 Caribou - 1 Wolf - 2 Red foxes
Wildlife not seen...bears, moose and anything else!

Quote of the race....'You could die out there!'

Biggest giggle...Rauraidgh (Rory) leaping out of a freezer at me (my 19yr old toy boy) - playing skydiving on the ice road.

Scariest moment...but incredible cool to...360 degree spin on the ice road between Inuvik and Tuk...weeeeeee!

Eeew moments....Sourtoe cocktail/Gerrads frost bite/Calvyns smelly feet

Wow moments...Northern lights, general scenery, cheering in the tandum riders and three racers who actually finished....6 racers did not!

Lowest point...treatment of one of the racers at the end :ranting:

Highest point...ooo too many! :applause:

Would I go back...never say never!

It sounds like you had a ball, Coastie, good to see you made it back in one piece :thumbsup:

It sounds like you had a ball, Coastie, good to see you made it back in one piece :thumbsup:

And with my boobies in tact! :w00t:

And with my boobies in tact! :w00t:

Well I had no doubt, that they would be intact :thumbsup:


It was the rest of you I was worried about :laugh:

Nice to see you back Coastie sounds like you had a great time.

Yes, I have had a winter holiday already and we have learnt skee. It is really an interesting sport. I like it very much and I learn it soon.

I've had another e-mail from the guy who organised the race I was support crew on in March askking if I want to play again in 2008...I have said no as it really was a once in a lifetime trip that wouldn't be nearly as much fun without my best mate (who isn't going). I think he's finally getting the message! :huh:

Flor - I have only ever been skiing on dry slopes...one day I shall hit the piste! :) I will need to put any such trips on hold for a while though as I'm saving for my next big adventure...East Coast Australia road trip April 2009! :applause: So excited!