General Chat

Liz,

At least you had SUN..!!

We had torrential rain here in Devon while you were away.

Sounds as though you had a good time...

Now the next chapter PLEASE......LOL

We'll stick to Tenerife then!!

Was Thos Cook this time and they did it in Corfu too, saw lots of people having theirs weighed. Apparently very strict in Corfu airport.

Lizx

Maybe it is the budget airlines that weigh hand luggage then, although we have flown with Thomas Cook before and they didn't weigh it then from Gatwick that was.

Ann, my son and I had our hand luggage weighed in Luton airport with Ryanair, when we flew to Malta two years ago. Will tell more about the chaos at Corfu when I get to the end of the diary lol

Always difficult the first night/day to get your bearings etc and it sounds as if all in all you enjoyed it. Strange that the weight was wrong in Corfu, have you checked your scales against something that you know is correct? But what you are saying is that you had a different weight in UK to Corfu is that it. It is very unusual to add the whole weight allowance together though, usually they just add the two allowances for the hold, and I don't remember ever having my hand luggage weighed. I expect K forgot that the mouthwash was in his shoe, silly mistake but easily done, we see it every time. Makes you wonder what happens to all those full bottles doesn't it?

On the Wednesday evening we both had a snooze before getting dressed to go and try out the Greek Sausage salad with tzatziki and the Stifado, a beef stew with onions and roasted potatoes, Corfu style. Elana came down and knocked for us as she was worried we had fallen asleep and was about to dish up, so we went down to eat and met many of the other guests. The food was great and afterwards Elana announced that instead of the Greek entertainment we would be playing Silly Bingo which is not something o.h. and I are into. However, we had a go and what a laugh, certainly broke the ice and there was great hilarity.
Every so often instead of a line or whatever being called, Elana would ask who hadn't had a number to cross off on that call or who still had a line uncrossed etc and those people had to answer a question, except when you got it right you had to drink a tot of liquer, varying from the local syrupy Kumquat one which is delicious, to a Curacao to Ouzo and grenadine! I think I ended up drinking about five and was feeling a bit merry after a while lol and at the end one chap who did finally call house got 20 euro prize. It was a fun way to spend an evening and I slept through several cockcrows that night lol

More later....

Ann, they didn't add the whole lot together when we came back so had to pay but am going to complain as when we got back we weighed the bags before opening and they were nowhere near what Corfu airport said, and we had used stuff too. Had to pay that end too! Hardly bought a thing to bring home and what we bought were tiny very lightweight items, a couple of little lace things and a tiny bottle of Kumquat liquer.

K had moved some things from his case to his hand luggage which is 5kgs, same as Ryanair when I went to Malta, and typically, when it was checked, his shoes had a large bottle of mouthwash inside which was confiscated, brand new bottle and a third of the price of stuff in Corfu so ended up with none to use while away. I hadn't seen what he had transferred to his bag and he hadn't taken in anything I'd said about not carrying anything over 100ml
I am supposed to use mouthwash twice daily cos of my gum problems, have to have a deep clean soon.

Right, next episode.....

As we were getting sorted out that first morning all we could hear altho still dark, were cockerels crowing and dogs barking. The noises had been mentioned on reviews so we weren't surprised but the sound was annoying. We both woke about 11am and sorted ourselves out, sun was shining and lots of blue sky, then went to the bar/cafe/restaurant which was also the main 'reception' area. We met the owners who are a very friendly and helpful couple in their early fifties with a daughter of 5 and a barman who is the cousin of Elana the 'boss' We explained we had asked not to have a maisonette apartment and she said we could change to a two bed apt on one level but that Thos Cook were late sending info through cos we booked late and they had not requested anything more than a two bed place. We went to have a look at the apartment but when we realised it had a smaller kitchen area and no stairwell area where we could put one of the plastic tables etc if we wanted to eat inside, we decided to stay put and it worked fairly well except we had to buy a second supply of toothpaste and shower gel because of having seperate shower rooms on different floors.
We then finished our unpacking and the maid came and made up one of the single beds upstairs for o.h. We were able to get toasted sandwiches etc at the cafe bar and attended the Welcome meeting but didn't book any trips as we had seen on reviews that it was cheaper to use a particular agency locally. We complained about the transfer rep as did three other couples so hope she got a lesson in helping people move into their holiday homes.
Trying to have showers we found we couldn't get any hot water so had to tie my hair back under a kerchief and we went to the village for provisions. There was a well used pathway through a field of olive trees and shrubs next to the complex and alongside the apartments we had turned down when we read bad reviews about dirty sheets and disgusting mattresses which was interesting as we hadn't realised the two complexes were next door but there hadn't been much difference in price and we definitely got the best of the deals. It was only about a quarter of an hour's walk through the field to the village and we soon got some cornflakes, milk, fruit,eggs and bread etc for breakfast and snacks and wandered back. Despite my moans about cooking on holiday I cobbled together a dinner of beans on toast and poached eggs before we had an early night - wouldn't go out till I could have a hot shower and wash my hair lol
The hot water problem was sorted out the next morning (Wednesday) - it was solar powered and boosted by a boiler for cloudier days - and we were able to use all the showers and basins etc, so went out to explore the village more. The beaches weren't very impressive, very scruffy and quite stony, lots of cigarette ends in the sand and the sea wasn't as clean and clear as Kefalonia but lots to see, plenty of tavernas and supermarkets etc and all in all we were satisfied. Everyone seemed very friendly, especially a woman who originates from Belfast but is married to a Greek man - she worked in a bar/restaurant and was another Liz, altho known as Lisa there. We chatted with her every time we went by and we did use the restaurant a few times too. K took a pic of us before we came home and titled it The Blarney Sisters lol. She was great fun.
We picked up info on trips to make a decision later on, went back to sit in the sun on the balcony and booked up for the Greek meal the bosslady was making for the Wednesday evening as it was a good way to get to know the other people in the apartments, 12 in all. We were in an apartment furthest from the pool, as requested, so nice and quiet except for the cockerels but after a few mornings we became more used to them and weren't disturbed much even tho they crowed most of the day.

Dear Purple

Hello

Why are we waiting?!!

We want the next thrilling instalment of your holiday.

You should turn this saga into a book.
Could be even better than Michael Palin's journeys!

I hope things got better!!

Best wishes to you
xx

Wendy (scuse me Liz) I knew we should have found a way to come in October, although if we had it would have rained all month Lol!!!!

Lol, be patient my friends, am just on here for two mins while I wait for o.h. to come back from taking a call, so will be back later when he goes to bed and I can take my time!

Lizxxx

*tickles Liz's feet........

Hi Ann

(Can I just pinch your thread for a minute Liz?)

We are both fine, the weather has been sooooooooo hot but about 15 minutes ago we got a quick shower of rain and it has cooled down a bit.

Hope you are both well

Wendy xx

Wendy, they should have gone to tenerife!! How are you and your OH?

Come on Liz where are you? Surely this holiday can only get better! ................................I hope

Wendy x

Well, no way am I sitting here waiting until 4am for the next instalment!!!

WAKE UP LIZ

F.G.S. Liz, I can't read all that I'm exhausted....;-0)

Glad that you enjoyed yourself and very happy that you are safely home again.
Phone me and tell me all, you know that talking never tires me!
love Deanna XX

What a start to your holiday Liz,but good view from balcony sounds promising!

*shhh whispers..'Poor Liz I think she's making up for all the sleep she lost'

....joins BC with my wine glass in hand :O)

You're in for a long wait BC.....You had better move your bed in and open up a bottle of Baileys.. Look at the time Liz Posted :-)))

I just had a thought Liz......Perhaps the woman didn't stay to help you with the leccy thingy because she took heed of your mo....... ermm guidance, about how long she was taking to show people their apartments.

Sounds like an episode of Benidorm so far

Susan who is sitting back, reading war and peace, expecting to finish it before Liz continues :-)))

*sits back with a cup of tea and waits for next instalment....BC XX