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.... was to get rid of my allotment. TL;DR The allotment was a sanctuary from the 9 to 5. When I retired - I realised that I no longer needed the place to escape to. It's an Odd Move - Isn't It? When I first got my allotment, it felt like the perfect escape. Yes it was just a patch of soil, a shed full of tools, and more digging than actual fresh vegetables. For years, I would keep the weeds at bay whilst balancing the demands of work. The allotment was a sanctuary from the 9 to 5. But when I retired, something changed. The Freedom of Retirement Retirement brings a kind of freedom you can't really appreciate until it arrives. Suddenly, my calendar was blank. I got to fill my time with stuff that I enjoyed - travelling, holidays, chilling.... But with that freedom came the realisation that the allotment was no longer the break I needed from daily stress — it was becoming another responsibility. The Demands of the Plot Weeds don’t stop growing when you want a weekend away. I wanted my retirement to be about choosing what I did with my time, not keeping up with the relentless weeds. Shifting Priorities I also realised that I no longer needed the allotment as an escape, and my sense of fulfilment started coming from different places — from travelling, and simply having time. Letting Go Giving up the allotment and moving on was surprisingly easy - just like with work. I needed to let that chapter of my life go to make space for a new one. I still pass it (the allotment) when I go out for my daily cycle. I've now stopped looking over the fence to see how the poly tunnel is looking. I still garden — but on a smaller, gentler scale. A few pots on the patio, a raised bed for herbs. I've even started growing flowers. Happy travels!

Vienna will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest The Austrian capital has been selected by Host Broadcaster ORF and the EBU to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026. The Grand Final will be held on Saturday 16 May at the Wiener Stadthalle with Semi-Finals earlier the same week on Tuesday 12 May and Thursday 14 May. The logo remains terrible. TL;DR I had already booked my flights and hotel - gambling that Vienna would be the host city, and the Eurovision final will be on Saturday the 16th May 2026. Hurray! The 'Gamble' allowed for me to book cheaper flights and hotel accommodation. Now the news is out, the flights for the weekend will rise substantially. Accommodation is already difficult to find. Next challenge is to secure tickets - which is always tough. Happy travels!

Here's an update to yesterday's previous... Vienna will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest The Austrian capital has been selected by Host Broadcaster ORF and the EBU to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026. The Grand Final will be held on Saturday 16 May at the Wiener Stadthalle with Semi-Finals earlier the same week on Tuesday 12 May and Thursday 14 May. The logo remains terrible. TL;DR I had already booked my flights and hotel - gambling that Vienna would be the host city, and the Eurovision final will be on Saturday the 16th May 2026. Hurray! The 'Gamble' allowed for me to book cheaper flights and hotel accommodation. Now the news is out the flights for the weekend will rise substantially. Accommodation is already difficult to find. Next challenge is to secure tickets - preferably for the final, but the afternoon final rehersal is a good alternative if that doesn't work out. Happy travels!

We plan to visit the land of the rising sun in January 2026. It will be our second time in Japan - and this time we are travelling much further from the normal tourist spots. Our travel itinerary takes us through these four fantastic cities: Sapporo, Osaka, Okinawa, and finally Tokyo. We are flying between each of our stays. TL:DR Japan revisited. A walk through our proposed itinerary before we slot in day trips and experiences. Sapporo (2 nights) The birth place of Japanese beer, and home to o ne of Japan's oldest and most popular beer brands, Sapporo Beer. We'll definitely make a bee-line for the brewery tour. As it will be northern Japan in January - I expect to see snow on the ground - they get 6m a year - a winter wonderland, making it a perfect starting point for our adventure. Osaka (3 nights) Next is O saka which is best known for its food . It's often called "The Nation's Kitchen" due to its delicious and diverse street food. I want to try the takoyaki - grilled octopus, and okonomiyaki, a savory pancake with various fillings. Osaka's street food scene is so good that over 300 food stalls line the famous Dotonbori district alone! Okinawa (3 nights) Then it's on to Okinawa - the birthplace of karate, and first introduced to me as a teenager as the home of Mr. Miyagi, and where he took Daniel LaRusso for a trip. This should be quite different to Sapporo - no snow here - should be t-shirt and shorts weather. . Tokyo (5 nights) Lastly we return to Tokyo famed for its unique blend of futuristic technology and traditional culture, offering a wide array of attractions and experiences. From memory it was a bit mad - the robot restaurant highlighted that. Tokyo boasts iconic landmarks like Shibuya Crossing , Tokyo Skytree , and various temples and shrines, alongside bustling districts such as Akihabara and Ginza .  January 2026 - Japan Flights and hotels are all booked - just need to work on day trips and experiences now. Happy travels!

We love a cooking class. And whilst on holiday in Lecce we have signed up to make the traditional orecchiette pasta. It's not my favourite pasta - but it is traditional in the region, and within walking distance from our apartment. TL;DR Through the use of some tried and tested techniques - I was able to get a great offer on our pasta course. And how I could have squeezed a little more had I tried a little harder. We found the course that we wanted to do on Viator. Let me walk you through how I was able to make a significant saving against the sticker price of £52 per person, as there is 4 of us that makes a meaty £208 potential spend. Quidco Quidco, like TopCashBack, is a click through cashback site that I've been a member of for years. Occassionaly they run quite specific bonuses for certain retailers - Viator is one retailer that pops up quite often. Last nights offer was £25 bonus cashback on £100 spend, together with an increased cashback rate of 10%. You can withdraw the cashback as cash, or vouchers. Viator Viator is a company that sells experiences. They run a 'My Rewards' - which is typically 5% cashback on any purchase. I'll definitely use this for further bookings. Credit Card One of my cards is currently giving me 4% cashback for all spend that I put through on it. So I used that card. Totting up my Savings Head line price £208 Quidco bonus £25 Quidco Cashback £21 Viator My rewards £10 Credit Card cashback. £8 Total price paid £144 Total price per person £36 The cashback from the various parties showed as tracing this morning - so I'm confident in making the savings. However I realised I had missed a trick - I could go back, cancel and rebook - but it feels like too much hassle. The quidco bonus was £25 for a minimum spend of £100 - limited to once per account. But like every good value traveller - you have a second account for exactly this opportunity. I could have made two bookings and followed the same process. That would have meant another £25 off - bringing the overall price down to £30 per person. Too late now - as the bonus offer was only valid yesterday. Final Thoughts - Cashback If you are aware of these opportunities and are set up to take advantage when they come up - there are substantial savings in hotels, flights, experiences and general shopping. Happy travels!

Par Saevik (owner of Havila) gave his 8 grandchildren the task of picking a star to name each ship after. Built in 2021, at Tersan shipyard (Turkey) . Technical Details Length - 124m Beam (width) - 22m Propulsion - Hybrid Ship - large battery packs and new engines Speed - 15 knots Capacity - 179 Cabins & Suites, 640 guests Gross tonnage - 15,519 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Havrand (Main), Hildring (Fine Dining) and Havly (Cafe) 2 x Saunas, 2 x Jacuzzi and 2 x small Gyms Panorama bar and lounge Laundry room Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge / Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Capella's current position using this link; https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Havila-Capella-ferry-2173#google_vignette

Par Saevik (owner of Havila) gave his 8 grandchildren the task of picking a star to name each ship after. Built in 2022, at Tersan shipyard (Turkey) . Technical Details Length - 124m Beam (width) - 22m Propulsion - Hybrid Ship - large battery packs and new engines Speed - 15 knots Capacity - 179 Cabins & Suites, 640 guests Gross tonnage - 15,519 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Havrand (Main), Hildring (Fine Dining) and Havly (Cafe) 2 x Saunas, 2 x Jacuzzi and 2 x small Gyms Panorama bar and lounge Laundry room Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge / Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Castor's current position using this link; https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Havila-Castor-ferry-2174#google_vignette

In honour of His Majesty of Norway, the reigning monarch King Harald. Built in 1993, at Volkswerft (Germany), refurbished 2016 & 2023. Technical Details Length - 121.8m Beam (width) - 19.2m Propulsion - Upgraded to Hybrid Ship in 2023 - large battery packs and new engines Speed - 17 knots Capacity - 221 Cabins and 2 Suites, 498 beds, 590 guests Gross tonnage - 11,205 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Torget (Main), Kysten (Fine Dining), Brygga (Bistro) and Multe (Bakery) Sauna, 2 x Jacuzzi and small gyms Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge Explorer Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Kong Harald's current position using this link; https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-gb/about-us/map/ms-kong-harald?_gl=1*1soor21*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mDBJ_my6ZwXmWvMB2yGhMzFohpoKGLK1aKeo5xWqcriQ41Gy3rIYiUaAt0wEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAABZo3UYWkT5fdKmtNS2JsysfAfFIR

The name means 'North Cape', the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Built in 1996, at Kvaerner Kleven (Norway), refurbished 2016 & 2022 Technical Details Length - 123.3m Beam (width) - 19.5m Propulsion - Diesel engines Speed - 18 knots Capacity - 214 Cabins and 10 Suites, 480 beds, 590 guests Gross tonnage - 11,386 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Torget (Main), Kysten (Fine Dining), Brygga (Bistro) and Multe (Bakery) Sauna, 2 x Jacuzzi and small gyms Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge Explorer Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Nordkapp's current position using this link; https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-gb/about-us/map/ms-nordkapp?_gl=1*rx8nmx*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mDBJ_my6ZwXmWvMB2yGhMzFohpoKGLK1aKeo5xWqcriQ41Gy3rIYiUaAt0wEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAABZo3UYWkT5fdKmtNS2JsysfAfFIR

Named after northern Norway, a region which lies above the artic circle. Built in 1997, at Kvaerner Kleven (Norway), refurbished 2016 & 2022. Technical Details Length - 123.3m Beam (width) - 19.5m Propulsion - Diesel engines Speed - 18 knots Capacity - 211 Cabins and 12 Suites, 476 beds, 590 guests Gross tonnage - 11,384 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Torget (Main), Kysten (Fine Dining), Brygga (Bistro) and Multe (Bakery) Sauna, 2 x Jacuzzi and small gyms Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge Explorer Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Nordnorge's current position using this link; https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-gb/about-us/map/ms-nordnorge?_gl=1*hmzfz*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mDBJ_my6ZwXmWvMB2yGhMzFohpoKGLK1aKeo5xWqcriQ41Gy3rIYiUaAt0wEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAABZo3UYWkT5fdKmtNS2JsysfAfFIR

Named after summer's 'Midnight Sum'; 24-hour daylight in Artic Norway. Built in 2003, at Fosen Mek. Verk. (Norway), refurbished 2021. Technical Details Length - 135.75m Beam (width) - 21.5m Propulsion - Diesel engines Speed - 15 knots Capacity - 243 Cabins and 21 Suites, 500 beds, 500 guests Gross tonnage - 16,151 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Torget (Main), Kysten (Fine Dining), Brygga (Bistro) and Multe (Bakery) Sauna, 2 x Jacuzzi and small gyms Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge Explorer Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Midnatsol's current position using this link; https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-gb/about-us/map/ms-midnatsol?_gl=1*v2ij4r*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mDBJ_my6ZwXmWvMB2yGhMzFohpoKGLK1aKeo5xWqcriQ41Gy3rIYiUaAt0wEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAABZo3UYWkT5fdKmtNS2JsysfAfFIRd=0AAAAABZo3UYWkT5fdKmtNS2JsysfAfFIR

Norwegian for 'Northern Lights', another name for the aurora borealis. Built in 1994, at Volkswerft (Germany), refurbished 2019 & 2024. Technical Details Length - 121.8m Beam (width) - 19.2m Propulsion - Upgraded to Hybrid Ship in 2025 - large battery packs and new engines Speed - 17 knots Capacity - 200 Cabins and 19 Suites, 471 beds, 590 guests Gross tonnage - 11,204 Passenger comfort Free WIFI 3 Restaurants - Torget (Main), Kysten (Fine Dining), Brygga (Bistro) and Multe (Bakery) Sauna, 2 x Jacuzzi and small gyms Large outdoor observation deck and walk around deck Viewing Lounge Explorer Bar Shop Expedition Team Laundry room You can find MS Nordlys' current position using this link; https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-gb/about-us/map/ms-nordlys?_gl=1*xq8sjh*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mDBJ_my6ZwXmWvMB2yGhMzFohpoKGLK1aKeo5xWqcriQ41Gy3rIYiUaAt0wEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAABZo3UYWkT5fdKmtNS2JsysfAfFIR