Holidays

Be fore I was widowed my husband and I used to enjoy going on holiday several times a year. We also enjoyed travelling around Great Britain and having weekends in nice hotels.
So after the first year of being on my own I began to miss these regular jaunts,but as all my friends still had partners I thought that was the end of holidays for me A couple of times when I was young I had been away on my own but somehow now I didn't feel I could do that again.
Then a work colleague told me about a group of people she had seen whilst on holiday,who seemed to be having a really good time and when she inquired was told they were on a singles holiday run by a company called called Solos. So I went on line to have a look and sent for a brochure. I booked my first trip with them to Portugal. As I set off on this momentous journey I was full of dread and didn't know what to expect but I need not have worried and I had one of the best holidays ever.
We met our fellow travellers at the airport and were met by our rep who stayed with us all week. We met more people in resort who had flown in from other UK airports. We each had a room to ourself so no sharing with a stranger.Once settled we met up for pre dinner drinks in the bar and we had our own group table in the restaurant. Once introductions were made we were free to join in with other people or do our own thing.The best thing was
knowing you did not stick out as a single but were just with a group of friends.
It is a misconception that these types of holiday are for those looking for love although I know some have found a new partner in this way, I personally made a new friend with whom I now go on regular holidays.
I have just come back from my fourth sinles trip-I prefer to call them group holidays- and once again I have had a wonderful time and met some really nice people some of whom I will keep in touch with.
So if anyone out there reading this finds themselves without a holiday companion-get on line and take a look at these fantastic oportunities.There is a trip to suit everyone from sightseeing or activity to lazy beach holidays in the UK or far flung destinations around the world.Go on-do it,you'll be glad you did.

Christmas

A time of joy for most people when we get together with friends and family to celebrate and make merry. However for many people this seasonal merry-making only emphasises their alone-ness.It is swiftly followed by New Year which somehow just compounds and reinforces that feeling.So, if you know of such a person who for whatever reason is without family or friends it may be a good idea to invite them round .However just a thought,often such an invitation will only serve to emphasise their situation.Tread carefully and please consider this before carelessly or casually enquiring "What are you doing this holiday".

Thank you.

The 3rd Age

Hi

It's a fine October day in Northwest England, I hope you are well and more importantly I hope you are feeling POSITIVE. On a personal note, next week will be my birthday-so what? yawn yawn-we all have one. Yes it's true but some of us have fewer(birthdays) yet to come than others-it's what you do with them that counts.

Some of you may have heard of an organisation called U3A-University of the 3rd Age-what a fantastic name that is.As someone who"qualifies" as part of that 3rd age,i.e. over 50/retired I have come to see life in a whole new light.At this point in we are suddenly free to do just what we want. Unrestricted by work/family/financial ties, we now have the time and resources to do all the things we always wanted to do.You just have to know where to begin.

The internet is a marvelous way to find what's out there.The next step is to seek out things in your local area-then the big one is GO ALONG AND JOIN IN. You will be amazed and overjoyed at the world that opens up to you. Everything from painting,walking or family history to dancing,drama or writing-whatever your interests there will be a group somewhere out there.

We are all fitter and healthier in our sixties than we used to be so, once our working life is over it's time to enjoy our leisure.It's a great social thing too, especially for anyone who through divorce,bereavement etc finds themselves alone. Here is where you start to build a new life,make new friends and try something different. You just have to take the first step. Remember we are all in the same boat- we all have our reasons for being there but coming together for a common purpose is all we need to know.

The place to be

A fine October day-my day off. Had a really good lesson on "blogging" this morning at Sunshine House. What a great place it is. You can try your hand at almost anything.
Ian, the tutor is a local author. Also there was Janet a fellow artist and Sharron (Cupcake Lady).
Ian patiently and with much humour explained the basics to us and talked us through the process of setting up your own blog.So now we are up and running-watch this space....

Darning

It's a thing of the past.  No-one does anymore. But in days gone by, when things were precious, a little time and effort spent with needle and wool could breathe new life into a cherished garment.

Picture the needle carefully dipping in and out around the edges of that hole in the garment. Hunting through the workbasket, searching out odd strands of thread once put aside unthinkingly when first the garment was made.  With great patience  one thread woven over and under another, anchoring itself to the jagged edges and back again until a fine web is created and covers the gaping hole. And onto this frame are woven sturdier threads that go deeper into the edges to make them stronger.  And, if you managed to find enough thread and worked on steadily,weaving with care and skill, then miraculously the garment became whole again and almost as good as before.

I am the needle; the garment is my life; the hole the death of my husband.

The threads are the friends who helped me close up that hole and again make my life whole  and almost as good as before.

Blogging

Despite lots of help from a very kind "tutor" still having problems accessing blog website-but I will keep trying and hopefully I'll have something interesting to write by then.

Hello

Got up today and went to my local community centre and was introduced to blogging.Just experimenting at the moment but hope it opens up a whole new world to me