The Big Four-Oh Why Do I Bother?

I'll be enduring my 40th birthday later in the year, and always intended to blow a couple of 100K miles on a celebratory trip somewhere.

Thing is, Tizer will be 5 at much the same time and will be embarking upon her full-time school career, which means we're going to be limited to going away during school hols. Leaving the fruit-of-my-loins with her grandparents for a week has been considered and pretty much instantly dismissed (a trip away wouldn't be the same without her really), so we're stuck with October or December, and the scarcity of Gs in either month to anywhere interesting is more than apparent. So, should I keep checking and hold my nerve in the hope that some Gs will crop up later in the year, or cut my losses and book something a little less exciting closer to home?

[RichardMannion]

Before I answer, I need to know if you adults are flying upfront in J, and leaving Tizer in Y....

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
Before I answer, I need to know if you adults are flying upfront in J, and leaving Tizer in Y....

Silly question, Tizer doesn't fly in Y...Ever.

Have you looked at partner airlines just in case ?

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
Before I answer, I need to know if you adults are flying upfront in J, and leaving Tizer in Y....


Now that IS funny!

You have left it a bit late for October G's during the kids holidays. Whilst December ones are just starting to come available, so probably a bit more chance for then so long as you aren't too set on a specific destination or date. Flexibility is your friend!

[Darren Wheeler]

Just let the Four Oh slide by.

Worked for me.

You could just take her out of school? I don't know how to go about such things anymore (it was a few years since I went to school!) but most parents seem to do it without much problem, or so it would seem.
If she's only just starting obviously it's important for her to get settled but she really wouldn't miss much apart from maybe the odd good book about a hungry caterpillar and a finger painted self portrait! Unless they actually start teaching them real things from that age now!

Lizz they fine parents now for taking children out of school if it is not cleared beforehand.

Examples include -

This

and

This

And some interesting reactions in this thread

(can a nice kind mod tidy up the links? ta!)

Done as requested - honey lamb

quote:Originally posted by Lizz
she really wouldn't miss much apart from maybe the odd good book about a hungry caterpillar and a finger painted self portrait


OMG [:0] if I missed sticking my finger in a hungry caterpillar I wouldn't be the man (errhm) that I am now! Or did I get that wrong ...

Need not be less exciting closer to home..

A Family ticket to The Deep...

Resolved.

Well well things have changed haven't they!
I'm amazed it doesn't seem to stop people taking them out even in the first week back at school after summer.

quote:Originally posted by northernhenry
Need not be less exciting closer to home..

A Family ticket to The Deep...

Resolved.




And if you squint looking through some orange tissue paper the Humber bridge could pass as the Golden Gate Bridge !
[:D][:D][:D]

Ah, welcome to the real world & for many years to come[;)]

It would be worth checking with Tizer's school to see if they have set the school inset days until the christmas hols. Most schools have by now & many add on 1 or 2 days to the autumn half term, this may help you with you flexibilty.

Happy debating, we did it for years if-ing & but-ing.

R-P[:)]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
Before I answer, I need to know if you adults are flying upfront in J, and leaving Tizer in Y....

Don't worry Rich; we'll be leaving her on her own in Y with naught but a warm cup of piss to entertain her. (Incidentally, I think I did rather well to stay out of that 'other' thread, so don't tempt me now...).

I wouldn't want for us to be frowned upon by her school for taking her away in term time, but as we're only planning a week and she'll only be in her first proper term, it might be worth testing the water with her teachers to see what their reaction is.

quote:Originally posted by mdvipond
it might be worth testing the water with her teachers to see what their reaction is.



V sensible and if you can have the discussion on the basis of we are going to X place and will see Y and Z things and we will get Tizer to do A,B and C for school and how does this fit in with the curriculum.

[honey lamb]

Ah, yes, welcome to the world of higher fares, less availability for G's and the temporary cessation of such family traditions as Barbados in May. We weep with you too. After all it means less TRs - or perhaps more involving young Asbo and Clamydia [}:)] (how I loved that faux TR)

It may well be worth talking to the school. OK so I'm in a different country and not tied into such bureaucracies as league tables, attendance records but I remember asking about taking Aer John out of school early at half term or the end of term. In both primary and secondary level the principals were OK about it so long as it wasn't at the beginning of a school year as they regarded travel as part of his social education in terms of interacting with the public, seeing new places and experiencing new things. One principal was rather strict in general terms and I was surprised when he took this line. We weren't going to Disney but I asked would he be the same if I were and again his view was new experiences, different cultures etc.

Or maybe they wanted to be rid of Aer John for a few days [}:)]

[Darren Wheeler]

Sell it to the school.

Tizer to write a story based on the trip. Lets face it, missing a week at 5 isn't the same as missing a week at 15.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Sell it to the school.

Tizer to write a story based on the trip.

Not before she's done an 800 word TR for on here, Darren...

Just been looking at CPT and there's a good smattering of Gs for December. The prospect of avoiding another frigid Christmas stuck in front of the telly is rather tempting, and it would fit in nicely with school hols. That's assuming there's enough to keep her occupied.

quote:Originally posted by mdvipond
quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Sell it to the school.

Tizer to write a story based on the trip.

Not before she's done an 800 word TR for on here, Darren...

Just been looking at CPT and there's a good smattering of Gs for December. The prospect of avoiding another frigid Christmas stuck in front of the telly is rather tempting, and it would fit in nicely with school hols. That's assuming there's enough to keep her occupied.



You'll love CPT, and the weather when we were then in December was fabulous.Plenty to keep Tizer occupied - lovely beaches and lots of interesting things do do and see. All that lovely food and wine too to celebrate officially reaching middle-age. I can highly recommend the Table Bay Hotel. Fabulous [:D].Drop me a PM if you want any more info [:)].
DL

quote:Originally posted by DragonLady
quote:Originally posted by mdvipond

Just been looking at CPT and there's a good smattering of Gs for December. The prospect of avoiding another frigid Christmas stuck in front of the telly is rather tempting, and it would fit in nicely with school hols. That's assuming there's enough to keep her occupied.

quote:You'll love CPT, and the weather when we were then in December was fabulous.Plenty to keep Tizer occupied - lovely beaches and lots of interesting things do do and see. All that lovely food and wine too to celebrate officially reaching middle-age. I can highly recommend the Table Bay Hotel. Fabulous [:D].Drop me a PM if you want any more info [:)].
DL
Second the Table Bay[y]
G's available, at the right time..
December in CPT
You like wine & good food
dislike Jetlag, especially with Tizer involved
Everywhere kiddy friendly
No brainer..[y]

Please don't take this the wrong way is 'Tizer' a nick name for your daughter or did you really name her after a fizzy soft drink?

quote:Originally posted by richconw
Please don't take this the wrong way is 'Tizer' a nick name for your daughter or did you really name her after a fizzy soft drink?

I think it should be patently obvious that Tizer is just a nickname. Her real name is Dandelion & Burdock.

As I've oft said to my ever-attentive family, a trip that seems like too much hard work in the planning stage is unlikely to come off, whilst one that presents itself effortlessly before you is probably meant to be. So far, Cape Town is looking very much like the latter. Just need to see if there are any Zs out there for Dandelion & Burdock.

NH, DL: I should be knocking on your virtual doors before too long.

[Scrooge]

Dandelion & Burdock [:(!][V][V][V]

quote:Originally posted by mdvipond
NH, DL: I should be knocking on your virtual doors before too long.




Ready and waiting.As usual we'll be much better than tripadvisor [:D]
DL

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Dandelion & Burdock [:(!][V][V][V]


Dandelion and Burdock[^][^][^]

quote:Originally posted by woggles
quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Dandelion & Burdock [:(!][V][V][V]


Dandelion and Burdock[^][^][^]


my money was on her ladyship being called 'Tanqueray T Ten'