Always is when I go away for the weekend with my family...
You can guarantee when I come back he's "been ill". EVERY TIME. So I phoned him - first sentence "I've been ill". Like its my fault because I went away!
STILL not taking all his medication that the GP gave him so I offer ZERO sympathy. Basically, wants me to tell him how he can feel better - "Take the meds the GP has given you Dad, if that fails then go an see you're GP but I'm not a doctor."
His words - "I desperately need you to visit the weekend." "I've got no food in the house" (Brother lives literally 5 mins drive from him - I live 35-40 mins. Brother is probably laying low). Anyway, he knows my car is in the garage so I'm struggling for transport and he knows my wife works weekends so may need our other car. So I tell him I can't promise. Anyone would have thought I'd told him I'd murdered the family next door.
Apparently, I'm "letting him down" and "need to arrange something", and "wife needs to understand". Of course the standby offer of home delivery groceries is not good enough - he doesn't want to spend the £30 minimum - they have to be hand delivered by me!
I've tried setting boundaries, I've said no can do, I've tried ignoring, I've tried just not doing. Give him his due he's relentless in his quest to get me to do what he wants!
Across a few counties (I never knew the US had counties until I watched the news in Florida!).
Thing is its a lot different for vulnerable people anyway. Could be even longer than that.
Problem is he refuses to watch the news. Then he speaks to his stupid friends on the phone. Then I get "ITS GETTING WORSE!". "WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"
Its not getting worse in the UK, the peak is over, bit like the USA. Still serious of course....
Its going to be tough when it all ends. I'm the opposite of most people lol.
I took the night bus once from Bristol to Fishguard for the ferry to Ireland. May have travelled that way? I was a bit traumatized after just missing my morning bus & spending the day in Bristol as my backpack seemed to be a magnet for beggers & drunks. It was a long time ago... but I remember being very impressed with the Welsh signs & happy to be on a warm bus at last!
1) With the exception of virus and face masks, my last 2 years has been on pretty much the same "lockdown", aka minimal trips anywhere, minimal purchases, etc. (shortage of funds, managing mom's care were/are the big issues in that.)
2) My first college degree was Anthropology, so the Time Team episodes were interesting (I like seeing other places and history too.)
3) I don't watch TV, haven't in MANY years! Don't feel like I have missed much of anything there!
Sadly I finished most of these (prior to those it was Vet Ranch) just before this virus came along and prevented me from coming out of hibernation, just as the financial woes were ending!!!! I also watched a number of YouTube programs on WWI and WWII (some are VERY eye-opening, and heartbreaking, as we only learn such a minimal amount about these and other history in school.)
As to opening up the US for "tourists" and "visitors", you'd best check from time to time what's the latest in the "news". One minute all is well, we will be back to normal yesterday, then the next minute, no one said that! I did see an article (but didn't read it) about Disney plans in FL, I believe it mentioned July, but that could change at any time. If deaths start increasing in FL (I am VERY surprised their number is so low, given how many seniors retire there AND the blind eye they took to the virus and lock down, esp for spring break - FL hasn't been referred to as God's Little Waiting Room for no reason! However, given some "in charge" may be masking numbers...)
Anyway, if you search for "disney world opening plans", it currently says the target is July 1, but you'll have to keep checking back. That is a tentative date.
Also, given that many places are planning to "limit" how many are allowed in at any time, you'll want to be sure that if you spend all that money to get there and get in and then can't get in... what a waste that would be! (better than staying home fielding Woe is Me phone calls, even if you don't get into Disney!)
Until a few years ago we had to pay a toll - we don;t have many tolls in the uk. It was not cheap - £6 or so a day. I used to work in Bristol so it cost a lot every month. I heard since the toll was stopped the house prices just in wales went up loads - people working in bristol bought houses because its cheaper in wales.
Croeso i Gymru! (welcome to wales).
p.s. As I've said before, I'm not fluent but my kids are. Certain parts of the country - mainly rural - is ALL welsh speaking but around here (the cities) not so. Its something like 25% I think.....
Confident WDW will be open. I WAS confident we'd be OK for august.
Problem now is the UK government are STILL advising against ANY travel abroad. That causes problems with insurance etc.
Also, the USA still won't let anyone from Europe in. ITs going to be 50/50. Private villa rentals are still on hold in central florida too.
Fingers crossed. We'll be going if we can. We've done it every year so it wont matter if some things are closed. Might be a unique experience with the parks being so empty too.
So instead of getting the facts he listens to his friend and works himself up :-(
English people used to enjoy wittily pointing out that the toll would have made a lot more money if you'd had to pay to get *out* of Wales, instead of the other way about. Tee hee hee.
Either way it is not fun to drive over in a high wind and heavy rain in the dark flanked by HGVs; but on a misty morning with the sun breaking through it is very lovely.
The original Severn Bridge was opened much more than 20 years ago (opened on 8 September 1966, so about 54 years ago.) So Countrymouse correct there.
The second Severn Bridge, renamed on 2 July 2018 to Prince of Wales Bridge, was opened on 5 June 1996, so about 24 years ago for the second bridge. Close enough to say 20 years, but Countrymouse right again!
All info and quotes from Wikipedia:
Interesting that plans for a bridge over the Severn go back even farther! "The first proposal for a bridge across the Severn, approximately in the same location as that eventually constructed, was in 1824 by Thomas Telford, who had been asked to advise on how to improve mail coach services between London and Wales. No action was taken, and over the next few decades the railways became the dominant mode of long-distance travel, with the Severn Railway Bridge at Sharpness being opened in 1879 and the main line Severn Tunnel in 1886."
The next discussion for a bridge at Severn and other improvements was after WWII, in 1946, but another bridge project (Forth Road Bridge, over the Firth of Forth Scotland) delayed those plans.
I also read that cars could pass through the train tunnel on special train cars or via ferry, before any bridge was built - otherwise it was a long trek by car!
The tolls were a way to pay the construction groups for the projects (accepting the contract to build the new bridge required taking over the management and debt on the first bridge - £100 million. Original bridge tolls were to help pay the cost of building it.) Tolls were originally both ways, but was "changed in the early 1990s to eliminate the need for a set of toll booths for each direction of travel and the potential for traffic waiting to pay the toll backing up onto the bridge itself." Makes sense not to have traffic parked for long periods, esp for the older bridge, then about 25 years old, and had reduced traffic and lane closures to allow repairs to the structure.
It does mention that both bridges were closed twice in 2009 due to falling ice - at my old house, ice dams fell and broke my front railing - you don't want those hitting you!!! It mentioned several cars having windshield breakage. The design of the second bridge took into account the wind factors, to reduce impact.
"The consortium consisting of two civil engineering firms and two banks that funded and built the bridge had a 30-year concession to redeem its outlay from tolls collected from users of the bridge." Tolls eliminated in late 2018 (previously the plan kept the tolls) was based on assumption that removing the tolls "would boost the South Wales economy by around £100m a year." Ownership reverted back to the UK government on 8 January 2018. It was planned for 2017 (back in 2010), but the cost of installing CC systems for tolls increased the total cost to be recouped.
As much as tolls do stink, they are a way to fund major projects. The original plan for the Mass Pike was to eliminate the tolls once the project was paid for, however that never happened! It's been a bone of contention for a long time, but one argument is that the cost of keeping the road in good repair is a lot, so the tolls (includes other toll sections as well) continue, but are now transponder driven. No transponder, you get billed by plate info (it was extremely rare for me to use these roads, and now I see NO need, so it doesn't bother me!) It certainly makes sense that those who USE these roads/bridges should be the ones to fund upkeep, not the general public who might never use them (I recall a plan to tax everyone for owning a car, but if a car never uses those roads/bridges - WTF!!!)
Other fun facts:
Second largest tidal range in the world, 48 ft (15 m) (first is the Bay of Fundy.)
The tidal bore travels upstream against the river current at 13 to 21 km/h, 8-13mph.
People SURF the tidal bore!
Yes the old one was a bit scary at times!
I remember there being tolls both ways - 50p,
And the old Aust services. Got to be a bit pointless with the opening of the new bridge as did that motorway (they called the m48). Unless you were doing to chepstow area it was pointless going that way.
When I worked in Bristol I occasionally came back over the old bridge because I was bored!
The next road crossing of the Severn is Gloucester. I used to work there and could see it out the window of the office. I worked with a lad who drove every day (he lived in newport like me but I got the train). He used go to work over the bridge but then come back the "long way" so he didnt have to pay the bridge toll. Roads not the best.
I remember people watching the Severn Bore once. Not so good when it got to Gloucester of course.
It might or might not happen. If the planes going we're going.....
Dads mentioned about 10 times now how he thinks I should cancel. I can't cancel now you've got to wait until they cancel to get a refund.
Of course, he doesn't like me going away anyway so it'd be ideal for him.
I only thought the (second) Severn Bridge had been opened a lot earlier because I didn't realise it was so new when we were driving over it - there and back again to my son's annual rugby camp in Kidwelly, where the great Phil Bennett generously gave the children a masterclass. Ah happy days.
Or tell him you might be relocating there... apoplectic fit?
Not only that, but from all accounts they've handled the virus VERY well - just under 1500 confirmed cases and 21 deaths... not too bad!
Depending on the cost of gas/petrol, and the wear and tear on driving farther, did he really save anything? Most likely not! I laugh at people who line up at gas stations because the price is $0.02 cheaper at that one, even when sometimes it is father away. What they don't realize is they are wasting more driving there and sitting in line! $0.02 for 10 gallons saves $0.20! If your tank is larger, say in a truck, maybe $0.40. The station with the cheapest gas (sometimes $0.10 less than the closer stations) is a place I will go ONLY if I am delivering and/or visiting mom's place, as it is on the way. Otherwise, driving 10 minutes out of my way, each way, isn't worth it!
"I remember people watching the Severn Bore once."
Funny you said that... I thought about it when reading/posting the Severn Estuary info (learned a lot about that through those videos and already knew the tide came in VERY quickly.) When I was a kid, we used to visit relatives in Nova Scotia, so one trip we went to see the "bore". It WAS a huge bore... as in boring! Must be we went during a very low tide as it was NOT impressive...
My grandparents went when they retired. First & only OS trip they did. A real luxury back then. So exciting watching & hearing the roar of the big jumbo from the outside viewing deck. I thought they were very brave! Brought back Maori dolls, Tikis & beautiful jade jewellery. So exotic it was.
Then came 2020. For the brave again now.
Of course, "gas" is a lot more expensive over here. £6 ($7.50) a gallon approx although its gone down a lot. Cheaper in the USA.
When I've hired a car there - usually a bit SUV I see mpg and its like 14mpg! WOW No-one in the uk - apart from the mega rich would buy car like that.
My wife has got a lovely new merc a class. Diesel. Does 55-60mpg.
Trouble is they're still WAY better than wales at it.
PS They play rugby in the eastern states of OZ. It's just as stupid as Australian Rules and soccer. I'm not keen on the intellectual value of chasing balls around a paddock!
Everyone else - yes there are two forms. Rugby League used to be pro with rugby union amateur. Games are slightly different. In the UK, league is popular in northern england. Very little in wales at all.
Used to hate each other. Of course, being pro they used to poach welsh amateur players to "go north" for money. In the 80s, if you "went north" you got banned for life from playing union ever again.
Victoria?
Can bet Dad is watching TV for that one.... Can't wait to visit him again ;-)
Yes I think I'm going to hell :-)
Hes now absolutely FULL TILT on trying to convince me NOT to leave the country this calendar year because "its not safe". I know some people feel this way but not me. If the experts say its ok I'm going.
He keeps on and on and on. Its nuts. I don't get why he thinks I'm going to change my mind because of what he thinks.....
Of course, as I've always said, 2-3 weeks away is 2-3 weeks he loses of me running around for him so thats part of his agenda.
Be careful if you are thinking of another Florida holiday. It doesn’t sound the greatest option, health wise. However the UK is hardly ‘safe’. You should have taken my advice and emigrated to SA. No new cases for weeks!
What you call football we call soccer. At my son's school the kids organised their own world cup on a nearby oval. Entire year level left the school grounds to attend on mass without any Teacher's permission. Hilarious! Teachers had to punish them all but were actually very impressed with the level of organisation it took. (Planned for weeks & kept secret). Ethnics vs Aussies. Before anyone is offended (I was what!!? when I heard!)... The kids chose their own side. Were Euros on both sides, most but not all Asians played for Aussie & the 'Rangas' all voted on mass to be Ethnic. Made me laugh. My son was included in the Rangas which he's never been proud of before, but now is. Sport, eh.