So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
I'd highly recommend a safari in South Africa, or if you don't want to fly as far as that then Kenya. It definitely fits the wildlife category but if you haven't been before it's extremely memorable and you'll create a lot of wonderful experiences there with your wife.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
I love Rome, but you'd definitely want to go when nobody has school holidays if you want to visit any of the main tourist sites (unless you don't mind crowds). I'd recommend skipping them altogether. You'd have to give examples of what you mean by 'romantic with lots to do' - Learning to dance tango? Indoor skydiving? Climbing volcanoes? Art galleries? Candle-lit dinners?
No Overall Control - No Change (though was initially Conservative in 2021).
Cornwall is always a law unto itself. A last redoubt for the liberals (a hangover from Methodism I reckon), yet quite often it goes quite Tory and once every couple of decades Labour does well
Given the appalling Tory collapse and the dire unpopularity of Labour you’d expect the Lib Dems to triumph
They’ve done well but they’ve been beaten by an entirely new party. Reform. This will deeply unnerve all three trad parties in Cornwall; my whole family is in shock (they’re quite political and have a range of views - eg my reform voting niece is ecstatic and my Tory voting brother in law is in despair)
In other words, the old NOTA party, LibDem, was eclipsed by the new NOTA party, Reform.
Yes, but the big thing is the shock. As I say my family is quite political. My 30 year old niece - young mum, two small kids, v bright and funny - has been voting Reform for a while. She follows politics closely
My brother in law is a Tory member etc
No one expected this. There was no sense this massive change was coming - people expected the Tories to suffer and Reform to prosper - but this? Wow
I think the reform "surge" has been exacerbated by the FPTP aspect. I am looking at the numerical analysis (specifically Bucks to start with) and the closeness of all the scores is quite startling. I can see this happening in 2029 unless Labour gets its act together.
Except both Curtice and Thrasher crunched the numbers and it wasn't that. With their projected national vote share models, they had Reform on between 30-32%, Labour / Tories sub 20 on around 18%/17% (their worst performances ever).
I meant the closeness of the scores in each electoral ward, leading to a more volatile set of results
But there were others that Reform didn't win that were close. They could have easily won 2-3 more of the Mayoral races.
I don't think FPTP did exacerbate thing when you are 14% clear in the national projected vote share you are going to win lots of wards.
Reform got 32% in the projected national vote share. That’s a lower vote share than the LOSING party in the 1945 general election, and in 1950, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1974 twice, 1979, 1992 and 2017, and lower than the winning party in every election since the war. Winning with 32% requires some FPTP magic.
Labour got a 170 seat majority in 2024 with 34%...
It did, and that was very definitely with FPTP magic.
I would hope everyone here could admit (even if it has to be through gritted teeth in some cases) that Labour's current majority is in large part due to tactical voting against the Tories.
And also that if Reform stood any real chance of winning a general election, there would be tactical voting on an even larger scale against Reform.
I think that’s wishful thinking.
There would be tactical voting against reform - whether it was organised enough to ensure reform was defeated is a different matter.
The question was whether Reform could win on 32%. Someone noted that Labour had won a large majority on 34%.
The point I'm making is that Labour achieved a large majority on a small vote percentage largely because there was strong tactical voting against the Tories.
If Reform were deemed to be in contention there would be even stronger tactical voting against them. I think it would be out of the question for them to win a majoirty on 32%.
No, they did not win a large majority because of tactical voting against the Tories.
They won a large majority because they got nearly 50% more votes than the Tories did.
Getting 34% of the vote is enough, barring shocking distribution of the votes, if your rival only gets 24% of the votes.
If Reform gets 32% and Labour gets 31% then tactical voting might determine who gets more overall.
If Reform gets 32% and nobody else gets more than 20% then they'll almost certainly win a majority.
Exactly
Labour won a large majority because they retained most of their 2019 vote while the Tories lost almost half theirs, either to Reform or DNV. The Lib Dems also retained most of their 2019 vote, and that was enough.
Had the Tories retained a similar proportion of their 2019 vote, they would have won a majority, but their voters stayed at home, so Labour did
Not sure about this. There were many examples of the libdem votes shooting up to overtake the tories so there must have been some tactical voting.
In general, I think people saying "tactical voting defeated the X-party" relies on X getting their normal or expected share of the vote, but the party who beats them being lent votes from a third party in order to make sure X loses. Obviously there is some churn between elections, but the reason for Labours landslide was the 6 million Tory 2019ers who didn't vote Tory in 2024.
I wonder if most 'tactical' voting involves only half conscious conduct rather than calculation and sharp choice.
I live in Cumbria in a currently Labour seat. Leave aside Tim Farron's soft southern enclave in the region, after 2019 all seats were Tory. After 2024 all seats are now Labour. If current projections are correct all seats will be Reform in 2029.
Leaving aside Farron's seat, there is no point in considering the LDs, however LD possible you may be (which I am). It doesn't enter calculations for most people.
So in Cumbria, for the 60%+ who don't want Reform, the only issue will be whether you vote Tory or Labour to ensure Reform doesn't win. Current incumbent advantage says Labour. But this could change. But LDs don't appear in the equation.
That's how sub conscious tactical voting works over last parts of the country.
Real tactical voting on a mass scale does exist, but it takes years to build up.
Scotland had it, first against the Conservatives, later against the SNP.
But it only really works if you have a party that is on less than 35% that people actively dislike, and where the challenger is clear.
You can only do tactics if you know where the battle lines are. On Thursday, I don't think anyone knew that.
Given that Reform outperformed the polls, can we expect to see some methodology adjustments that will boost their polling figures and make everyone’s numbers look more like Find Out Now?
No, because they outperformed the polls in a limited set of local elections, not a GE.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
I'd highly recommend a safari in South Africa, or if you don't want to fly as far as that then Kenya. It definitely fits the wildlife category but if you haven't been before it's extremely memorable and you'll create a lot of wonderful experiences there with your wife.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
I'd highly recommend a safari in South Africa, or if you don't want to fly as far as that then Kenya. It definitely fits the wildlife category but if you haven't been before it's extremely memorable and you'll create a lot of wonderful experiences there with your wife.
Namibia!
You probably couldn't get in the budget for Namibia or Botswana, but yes to both.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Italy is potentially a good choice. October is a good time to visit Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, although it will of course be very crowded. Something more unusual might be to combine some time on one of the Aolian islands - Lipari or Salina - with time in either Taormina (also crowded) or Palermo.
In other Australia news, I was down in Leith this morning, and it is hard to miss the giant Australian car ferry moored up there. It transpires the Australians ordered this to replace those plying the Tasmania to Australia route, but did so years before the facilities needed to cope with such a large ferry were ready in Tasmania, now due for completion in 2027. It was made in Finland, but had to leave there pdq before the sea froze, since it cant cope with the ice. So Australian taxpayers are forking out to have the ship sitting idle in Edinburgh for the foreseeable, it being too big to put to any constructive use in Europe.
That's interesting. I wonder what sort of voyage the mariners will have, getting her down south when the time comes.
Given that Reform outperformed the polls, can we expect to see some methodology adjustments that will boost their polling figures and make everyone’s numbers look more like Find Out Now?
No, because they outperformed the polls in a limited set of local elections, not a GE.
The problem is what starts as a "free hit" can quickly turn into a habit. There will have been a lot of first time reform voters who broke their voting habits if a lifetime from Labour or Tory, it's much easier to break that a second, third or fourth time etc...
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
I'd highly recommend a safari in South Africa, or if you don't want to fly as far as that then Kenya. It definitely fits the wildlife category but if you haven't been before it's extremely memorable and you'll create a lot of wonderful experiences there with your wife.
Namibia!
You probably couldn't get in the budget for Namibia or Botswana, but yes to both.
I did it in a VW Polo with a tent on the roof. Certainly "memorable".
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Alternative to Turkey, and if you've not been: Japan
JAPAN IS INCREDIBLE
When people ask me "what is the one country I should visit" I say Japan - the food, the people, the culture, the cities, the welcome, the weirdness, the friendliness, the safety, the mad crazy Japan-ness of it all. Every day is brilliant in Japan. I LIVED there for a few months and I still find it wondrous
GO TO JAPAN
Your main expense will be flights, and they are pricey, but once you are there it is insanely cheap as the Yen is so weak. You can get a great meal in Osaka, say, for £15 a head including beer. No kidding. Trains and buses are superb, no need to hire a car, cabs are cheap, hotels are pretty good value (outside insane 5 stars in Tokyo and Kyoto)
It will be the the trip of a lifetime and October is the ideal month, still warm and sunny but the horrible hot humidity of summer has passed. Japan!!! (if you have not been)
Treasury threatens Defra with £4bn bill if Thames Water nationalised Exclusive: Treasury threat an example of ‘scare tactics’ to help force through private sector deal, sources suggest
Some estimates have suggested temporary nationalisation could cost as much as £4bn over 18 months, a figure used by senior Treasury officials in discussions with counterparts at Defra, sources said. With Defra’s annual budget for last year totalling £4.6bn, the costs could be crippling...
I'm not following the logic here. The costs will be the same whether there's a nationalisation or a private sector sale.
The variables are how big a haircut bond holders take, how big the customer bill increases, and how much of future revenues stay in the UK.
Only the last one really differentiates the two options.
Kent is interesting. Total wipeout for the Tories, down 57 seats and control to 5, on level pegging with Green in third place. Labour largely out of contention with 2. Reform dominant on 57.
With the Lib Dems up 6 seats to 12 they are now the primary opposition. They and the Greens have 2 strongholds: the East Kent downs around Canterbury (including my vineyard), and the inner Weald around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells. That’s the only area Con are hanging on too.
I think this is an example of a clear permanent flip. I can’t see the Tories coming back in Kent unless Reform implodes, so complete has been their like-for-like replacement. The electoral geography is also such that Reform will probably be in power indefinitely. If they do fail in running the council, I think the Lib Dems and Greens will chip away at the edges but most of the county’s population centres are not fertile ground for them. So Kent is Reform for the foreseeable.
By contrast I could see Cornwall flipping back in various directions, so too places like Warwickshire.
Not sure Cornwall flip back that easily, it really all depends what happens at the next GE
The Boriswave has crossed the Tamar and the locals ent appy
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Turkey, if you've not been
It's cheap and the south will still be warm and sunny in October (and delightfully empty)
Do a few days on the Med Coast, do Cappadoccia, and do Gobekli Tepe and the Tas Tepeler - the last-named in particular will blow your minds (if you have ANY interest in history) and you will never forget them: they are, without doubt, the greatest and most exciting archaeological discovery in history - they CHANGE history
Include 2-3 days in Istanbul as a stopover for big city fun, if you have the chance. It's endlessly fascinating
Rome is world class and a must-visit if you've not been, but if you have then Hmm. Sorrento is overrated and touristy
@leon is right about Sorrento and come to that the Amalfi coast. It is lovely, but heaving, but worth it for Pompeii and Herculaneum. Trains in Italy are good and cheap. This is our third trip using them to get around. That said there was a derailment yesterday that caused havoc. 30 min journey took over 4 hours. Taxi drivers were asking 200 euros for a 20 euro trip.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
No Overall Control - No Change (though was initially Conservative in 2021).
Cornwall is always a law unto itself. A last redoubt for the liberals (a hangover from Methodism I reckon), yet quite often it goes quite Tory and once every couple of decades Labour does well
Given the appalling Tory collapse and the dire unpopularity of Labour you’d expect the Lib Dems to triumph
They’ve done well but they’ve been beaten by an entirely new party. Reform. This will deeply unnerve all three trad parties in Cornwall; my whole family is in shock (they’re quite political and have a range of views - eg my reform voting niece is ecstatic and my Tory voting brother in law is in despair)
In other words, the old NOTA party, LibDem, was eclipsed by the new NOTA party, Reform.
Yes, but the big thing is the shock. As I say my family is quite political. My 30 year old niece - young mum, two small kids, v bright and funny - has been voting Reform for a while. She follows politics closely
My brother in law is a Tory member etc
No one expected this. There was no sense this massive change was coming - people expected the Tories to suffer and Reform to prosper - but this? Wow
I think the reform "surge" has been exacerbated by the FPTP aspect. I am looking at the numerical analysis (specifically Bucks to start with) and the closeness of all the scores is quite startling. I can see this happening in 2029 unless Labour gets its act together.
Except both Curtice and Thrasher crunched the numbers and it wasn't that. With their projected national vote share models, they had Reform on between 30-32%, Labour / Tories sub 20 on around 18%/17% (their worst performances ever).
I meant the closeness of the scores in each electoral ward, leading to a more volatile set of results
But there were others that Reform didn't win that were close. They could have easily won 2-3 more of the Mayoral races.
I don't think FPTP did exacerbate thing when you are 14% clear in the national projected vote share you are going to win lots of wards.
Reform got 32% in the projected national vote share. That’s a lower vote share than the LOSING party in the 1945 general election, and in 1950, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1974 twice, 1979, 1992 and 2017, and lower than the winning party in every election since the war. Winning with 32% requires some FPTP magic.
Labour got a 170 seat majority in 2024 with 34%...
It did, and that was very definitely with FPTP magic.
I would hope everyone here could admit (even if it has to be through gritted teeth in some cases) that Labour's current majority is in large part due to tactical voting against the Tories.
And also that if Reform stood any real chance of winning a general election, there would be tactical voting on an even larger scale against Reform.
I'm sure you are right. Farage is repulsive to a great number of people of which I am one. If he became PM I would emigrate full time.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
I'd highly recommend a safari in South Africa, or if you don't want to fly as far as that then Kenya. It definitely fits the wildlife category but if you haven't been before it's extremely memorable and you'll create a lot of wonderful experiences there with your wife.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Turkey, if you've not been
It's cheap and the south will still be warm and sunny in October (and delightfully empty)
Do a few days on the Med Coast, do Cappadoccia, and do Gobekli Tepe and the Tas Tepeler - the last-named in particular will blow your minds (if you have ANY interest in history) and you will never forget them: they are, without doubt, the greatest and most exciting archaeological discovery in history - they CHANGE history
Include 2-3 days in Istanbul as a stopover for big city fun, if you have the chance. It's endlessly fascinating
Rome is world class and a must-visit if you've not been, but if you have then Hmm. Sorrento is overrated and touristy
@leon is right about Sorrento and come to that the Amalfi coast. It is lovely, but heaving, but worth it for Pompeii and Herculaneum. Trains in Italy are good and cheap. This is our third trip using them to get around. That said there was a derailment yesterday that caused havoc. 30 min journey took over 4 hours. Taxi drivers were asking 200 euros for a 20 euro trip.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
You can of course get to Pompeii and Herculaneum on the Circumvesuvio train from Naples. Including the oldest section of track in Italy (built to carry the King of the Two Sicilies to his country palace)
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Verona? Nice, historical, pretty, quiet. I'd like it, but what I like and other people like are not the same thing.
Seem to have a vague recollection that the last great romance there didn't end particularly well. But it looks pretty.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Turkey, if you've not been
It's cheap and the south will still be warm and sunny in October (and delightfully empty)
Do a few days on the Med Coast, do Cappadoccia, and do Gobekli Tepe and the Tas Tepeler - the last-named in particular will blow your minds (if you have ANY interest in history) and you will never forget them: they are, without doubt, the greatest and most exciting archaeological discovery in history - they CHANGE history
Include 2-3 days in Istanbul as a stopover for big city fun, if you have the chance. It's endlessly fascinating
Rome is world class and a must-visit if you've not been, but if you have then Hmm. Sorrento is overrated and touristy
@leon is right about Sorrento and come to that the Amalfi coast. It is lovely, but heaving, but worth it for Pompeii and Herculaneum. Trains in Italy are good and cheap. This is our third trip using them to get around. That said there was a derailment yesterday that caused havoc. 30 min journey took over 4 hours. Taxi drivers were asking 200 euros for a 20 euro trip.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
You can of course get to Pompeii and Herculaneum on the Circumvesuvio train from Naples. Including the oldest section of track in Italy (built to carry the King of the Two Sicilies to his country palace)
That's what we were using. We broke it and broke it good and proper. Havoc is putting it mildly.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Alternative to Turkey, and if you've not been: Japan
JAPAN IS INCREDIBLE
When people ask me "what is the one country I should visit" I say Japan - the food, the people, the culture, the cities, the welcome, the weirdness, the friendliness, the safety, the mad crazy Japan-ness of it all. Every day is brilliant in Japan. I LIVED there for a few months and I still find it wondrous
GO TO JAPAN
Your main expense will be flights, and they are pricey, but once you are there it is insanely cheap as the Yen is so weak. You can get a great meal in Osaka, say, for £15 a head including beer. No kidding. Trains and buses are superb, no need to hire a car, cabs are cheap, hotels are pretty good value (outside insane 5 stars in Tokyo and Kyoto)
It will be the the trip of a lifetime and October is the ideal month, still warm and sunny but the horrible hot humidity of summer has passed. Japan!!! (if you have not been)
Some friends are going to Japan this summer. The guy who is organising it says he has been shocked at hotel prices, which doesn't really chime with what I've heard about the yen being weak and everything quite cheap (as you say). Is he just looking in the wrong places?
Given that Reform outperformed the polls, can we expect to see some methodology adjustments that will boost their polling figures and make everyone’s numbers look more like Find Out Now?
you really dont understand how polling and turnout for different elections interact do you?
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Turkey, if you've not been
It's cheap and the south will still be warm and sunny in October (and delightfully empty)
Do a few days on the Med Coast, do Cappadoccia, and do Gobekli Tepe and the Tas Tepeler - the last-named in particular will blow your minds (if you have ANY interest in history) and you will never forget them: they are, without doubt, the greatest and most exciting archaeological discovery in history - they CHANGE history
Include 2-3 days in Istanbul as a stopover for big city fun, if you have the chance. It's endlessly fascinating
Rome is world class and a must-visit if you've not been, but if you have then Hmm. Sorrento is overrated and touristy
@leon is right about Sorrento and come to that the Amalfi coast. It is lovely, but heaving, but worth it for Pompeii and Herculaneum. Trains in Italy are good and cheap. This is our third trip using them to get around. That said there was a derailment yesterday that caused havoc. 30 min journey took over 4 hours. Taxi drivers were asking 200 euros for a 20 euro trip.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
I did Andalucia by train as my first post-lockdown trip (actually Málaga - Granada was by coach but I believe they have improved the train connections since then).
Málaga old town is surprisingly nice, and it has a nice Moorish castle. The Alhambra and the Mesquita are as good as you would expect. I found Sevilla a bit meh but it has the best craft beer in Spain, and Trajan's and Hadrian's home town* of Italica is well worth a visit. I enjoyed Jerez, flamenco in a sherry tabanco and day trips to Cádiz and Sanlucar, and then got the bus to Gib and flew home from there. However, in October it was pretty hot in Córdoba and Sevilla, although the temperature starts to drop from about 2pm, not sure I would go there in June.
*It's actually the new town built by Hadrian in his adoptive father's memory, the old town is still under the modern town of Santiponce. Bus from Plaza de Armas.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Turkey, if you've not been
It's cheap and the south will still be warm and sunny in October (and delightfully empty)
Do a few days on the Med Coast, do Cappadoccia, and do Gobekli Tepe and the Tas Tepeler - the last-named in particular will blow your minds (if you have ANY interest in history) and you will never forget them: they are, without doubt, the greatest and most exciting archaeological discovery in history - they CHANGE history
Include 2-3 days in Istanbul as a stopover for big city fun, if you have the chance. It's endlessly fascinating
Rome is world class and a must-visit if you've not been, but if you have then Hmm. Sorrento is overrated and touristy
@leon is right about Sorrento and come to that the Amalfi coast. It is lovely, but heaving, but worth it for Pompeii and Herculaneum. Trains in Italy are good and cheap. This is our third trip using them to get around. That said there was a derailment yesterday that caused havoc. 30 min journey took over 4 hours. Taxi drivers were asking 200 euros for a 20 euro trip.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Turkey, if you've not been
It's cheap and the south will still be warm and sunny in October (and delightfully empty)
Do a few days on the Med Coast, do Cappadoccia, and do Gobekli Tepe and the Tas Tepeler - the last-named in particular will blow your minds (if you have ANY interest in history) and you will never forget them: they are, without doubt, the greatest and most exciting archaeological discovery in history - they CHANGE history
Include 2-3 days in Istanbul as a stopover for big city fun, if you have the chance. It's endlessly fascinating
Rome is world class and a must-visit if you've not been, but if you have then Hmm. Sorrento is overrated and touristy
@leon is right about Sorrento and come to that the Amalfi coast. It is lovely, but heaving, but worth it for Pompeii and Herculaneum. Trains in Italy are good and cheap. This is our third trip using them to get around. That said there was a derailment yesterday that caused havoc. 30 min journey took over 4 hours. Taxi drivers were asking 200 euros for a 20 euro trip.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
Currently in Rome (1st time) great fun and seemingly endless culture..👌
Treasury threatens Defra with £4bn bill if Thames Water nationalised Exclusive: Treasury threat an example of ‘scare tactics’ to help force through private sector deal, sources suggest
Some estimates have suggested temporary nationalisation could cost as much as £4bn over 18 months, a figure used by senior Treasury officials in discussions with counterparts at Defra, sources said. With Defra’s annual budget for last year totalling £4.6bn, the costs could be crippling...
I'm not following the logic here. The costs will be the same whether there's a nationalisation or a private sector sale.
The variables are how big a haircut bond holders take, how big the customer bill increases, and how much of future revenues stay in the UK.
Only the last one really differentiates the two options.
Surely KKR will be in it to maximise profit for themselves, before delivering a good service to customers, just as the previous owners were.
So, since there isn't much going on, can I ask the advice of the PB cognoscenti about holidays?
It is our Ruby wedding in October. Plan A was that we were going to the US but Trump has really put us off that. What we are looking for is something romantic with lots to do, not a beach or pool type holiday, not obsessed with wildlife, good food, not too much travelling, somewhere between £3k and £5k per head. Something memorable.
We are looking at Rome and Sorrento as a 2 centre holiday in Italy. It looks really nice but it is maybe lacking that wow factor, especially in October.
Any ideas welcome.
Alternative to Turkey, and if you've not been: Japan
JAPAN IS INCREDIBLE
When people ask me "what is the one country I should visit" I say Japan - the food, the people, the culture, the cities, the welcome, the weirdness, the friendliness, the safety, the mad crazy Japan-ness of it all. Every day is brilliant in Japan. I LIVED there for a few months and I still find it wondrous
GO TO JAPAN
Your main expense will be flights, and they are pricey, but once you are there it is insanely cheap as the Yen is so weak. You can get a great meal in Osaka, say, for £15 a head including beer. No kidding. Trains and buses are superb, no need to hire a car, cabs are cheap, hotels are pretty good value (outside insane 5 stars in Tokyo and Kyoto)
It will be the the trip of a lifetime and October is the ideal month, still warm and sunny but the horrible hot humidity of summer has passed. Japan!!! (if you have not been)
Osaka Castle a month ago when the cherry blossom was out. I explained the Onsen/public bathing system to my wife and Japan is now off the list. But I agree with @Leon it's a fantastic place to visit. Route through Singapore and you can see the Gardens by the Bay. Changi Airport is worth a visit in itself.
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JAPAN IS INCREDIBLE
When people ask me "what is the one country I should visit" I say Japan - the food, the people, the culture, the cities, the welcome, the weirdness, the friendliness, the safety, the mad crazy Japan-ness of it all. Every day is brilliant in Japan. I LIVED there for a few months and I still find it wondrous
GO TO JAPAN
Your main expense will be flights, and they are pricey, but once you are there it is insanely cheap as the Yen is so weak. You can get a great meal in Osaka, say, for £15 a head including beer. No kidding. Trains and buses are superb, no need to hire a car, cabs are cheap, hotels are pretty good value (outside insane 5 stars in Tokyo and Kyoto)
It will be the the trip of a lifetime and October is the ideal month, still warm and sunny but the horrible hot humidity of summer has passed. Japan!!! (if you have not been)
Exclusive: Treasury threat an example of ‘scare tactics’ to help force through private sector deal, sources suggest
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/03/treasury-threatens-defra-with-4bn-bill-if-thames-water-nationalised
...That pressure to find a private sector solution rather than a state rescue is helping to force through KKR’s bid uncontested, with potential long-term challenges and associated costs not being given serious consideration, sources close the bid and Whitehall insiders said.
Some estimates have suggested temporary nationalisation could cost as much as £4bn over 18 months, a figure used by senior Treasury officials in discussions with counterparts at Defra, sources said. With Defra’s annual budget for last year totalling £4.6bn, the costs could be crippling...
I'm not following the logic here.
The costs will be the same whether there's a nationalisation or a private sector sale.
The variables are how big a haircut bond holders take, how big the customer bill increases, and how much of future revenues stay in the UK.
Only the last one really differentiates the two options.
In a month we are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train.
Hungary is also a possibility if the politics don’t put you off, and had great spas and wineries as well.
if you are into cycling, there are a few gentle tours you might like, l can recommend this couple who do several:
http://www.cycling-tours-in-hungary.com/bicycle-tours/bike-tours-italy-lake-como-dolomites-prosecco-venice
Málaga old town is surprisingly nice, and it has a nice Moorish castle. The Alhambra and the Mesquita are as good as you would expect. I found Sevilla a bit meh but it has the best craft beer in Spain, and Trajan's and Hadrian's home town* of Italica is well worth a visit. I enjoyed Jerez, flamenco in a sherry tabanco and day trips to Cádiz and Sanlucar, and then got the bus to Gib and flew home from there. However, in October it was pretty hot in Córdoba and Sevilla, although the temperature starts to drop from about 2pm, not sure I would go there in June.
*It's actually the new town built by Hadrian in his adoptive father's memory, the old town is still under the modern town of Santiponce. Bus from Plaza de Armas.