We have been in Goa now for 10 days and it feels like forever – in a good way! Certainly feels much longer than 10 days anyway and cannot quite believe we’ve still got another 44 days to enjoy…

I remember when we first came to Goa for a three week holiday – our friend Dave (yes, you Mr Fleet!) said three weeks was always good because when you got to the end of the first week, you still had a fortnight’s holiday left… this feels a bit like that but on steroids! 💪 I would normally, if this was a two-week holiday, be turning my thoughts to returning to work, and the anxiety around that would start building… but, of course, I don’t need to worry about that at all, especially as we have another 6-weeks yet in this amazing place…

It’s now only 12 days before Christmas… we still haven’t really decided what we are going to do on the big day although Pete has already started talking about what he might eat on the day… something plain is his choice at the moment which basically means non-curry! 🤣 That said, after having an Aloo Gobi on the beach for lunch yesterday (12th) he had said he wanted something plain last night for dinner and ended up having a chilli chicken dish instead – which to me was the hottest dish he’s had so far! 🥵

With Christmas not too far off now, we talked the other day about perhaps having a 500 R/s Christmas – the equivalent to a £5 one at home although 500 R/s is currently worth around £4.60! I am not sure if we will do it but it might be fun to see what we could get for the money… to give you some idea, I bought 4 bananas off a street vendor yesterday and they cost 5 R/s each – so at least I know I could get Pete 100 bananas if I don’t have any ideas! Alternatively, a bottle of Pete’s favourite white rum (local, Indian brand) costs 350 R/s – yeh, that’s less than £3.50 – madness! 🤣🤣🤣

Enough of that though, time for a catch up on the past few days which we’ve spent bombing about on our scooter here, there and everywhere, exploring the back roads and seeing where we end up! Here’s some pics…

One thing we have noted is that, although on the 9th, the beaches were empty of holiday makers, the numbers over the last few days, especially where we are staying, do appear to be picking up. One of the lads at Mobor Beach told us they expect numbers to keep rising over the next few weeks and, from the 20th December, there will be many more visitors from the UK, Russia or India. That said, he also said that the Brits usually turn up in January after Christmas and New Year! This will, of course, be very good for local businesses although it might make competition for a sunbed on the beach a bit tougher… 😂🤣😂

As previously reported, we were due to pick up Pete’s new wedding ring on Tuesday night – the arrangement being that the jeweller would deliver it to our friend Ida’s restaurant which is just a short walk down the road from where we are staying… having visited Ida on Monday for dinner, she told us she had forgotten she had to go to a wedding on Tuesday and would not be returning until quite late at night – thinking that we would prefer her to be around when the ring was delivered (in case there were any problems) she had rearranged for delivery to take place on Wednesday instead…

When we got to the beach on Wednesday afternoon, I noticed a missed call from Ida – calling her back, she said the Jeweller had been in touch and, due to them being extremely busy with the Christmas rush of gift buying, he would not be able to deliver until Thursday… so last night was the night we went again to Ida’s for dinner and to wait for delivery… it was a lovely evening spent catching up with Ida and meeting a couple of other Brits who are staying locally – one chap, call Gerry, is here for 6-months! Something he’s done since he retired… I love it here but not sure I could manage 6-months… there’s only so much beach and sun you can cope with surely??! It was nice to hear how, when he got stuck here following the world-wide pandemic, for an additional 3 months, how well the locals looked out for him and helped him sort out his Visa extensions! He seems like a very nice chap (even if he seems to spend most of his days scootering from one bar to the next!) and is likely someone we will enjoy having drinks with again over the coming weeks…

Anyway, the Jeweller’s lad finally arrived around 10ish last night – and Ida had the Jeweller on the phone checking everything was OK… which it was – see pic below. Pete is well happy to have a wedding ring again and we are both pleased that it matches mine & looks just like the original one he deposited (unknowingly) either in our garden or down the allotment! That will be a very lucky find for someone in years to come!

Once we confirmed we were happy with the ring, it was time for paying… although the lad had brought the card payment machine with him, there was some issue (think Ida said he didn’t know how to use it?)…

Anyway, today we have made sure we have enough money to pass to Ida this evening to pay the Jeweller for the ring – she will take it to his shop tomorrow as she is taking some more friends into Magao – perhaps she’s on a commission!? 🤣🤣🤣 Wouldn’t suprise me and who could blame her!

Today, we decided to spend time away from the beach and went shopping instead – buying some supplies (having lunch at the apartment with fresh salad purchased from one of the many road-side vendors made a nice change!), filling up the bike with fuel and heading for a bar called “Cheers” down in Cavelossim which our new friend Gerry had told us about… no, not for a drink! But because Gerry told us the lady who runs the bar with her Indian hubby is a Brit and makes the best pies in Goa! We thought we would have a look and came away having ordered two pies ready for collection next Wednesday which we will either scoff that night or put in the freezer for that inevitable day when we really cannot face another curry! 😂😂😂 Time will only tel whether they are as good as Gerry suggests 😀

I had also planned a catch up FaceTime call with Mum today… as this had worked fine from Spain, I didn’t think to test things out and when it came to the arranged time with Mum’s care home staff, I couldn’t get the iPad to work… can’t tell you how disappointed I am about this as I miss seeing her so much when I am away and there’s always a fear, with being away for a long-stretch of time, she might not remember me when I get home 😢 I think the problem is probably something to do with the Indian SIM card I am using but also, when I put my usual UK SIM back into my phone, it wouldn’t work then either… I think it’s something to do with my Dad’s old mobile number & am hoping Brother Steve will be able to help me out – I emailed the Raikes to let them know I was having tech problems my end and, thank goodness, they emailed back almost straight away to say no problem… Brother Steve is visiting Mum next week so maybe he might be able to FaceTime me instead whilst he’s there and I’ll get two for the price of one! Steve, let me know?

When she replied to my email this evening, Becky, the administrator at the Raikes, also sent me a lovely pic of Mum which was a really nice touch and, soppy as I am (I know some will find that hard to believe but it’s true!), it brought a tear to my eye and I had a moment! Anyway, it was a nice touch so thank you to Becky for that!

So, that’s all our news for now… suppose I had better get showered and ready to go out for dinner – what shall I have tonight… maybe a curry I think and a lovely, fresh garlic nan bread…

Talking of “nan”, as my Nan used to say…TTFN (ta-ta for now!) 😘