When will this shit end?

[Homer]

Just now, Paul ™ said:

We've booked for Goa for the winter, and a load of mates are coming out for 2 weeks when we are there.

I think it will be fine, flights refundable/rebookable anyway.

Ah, nice one. Have you been before? It's v nice and there are a lot of parties.

How much does it cost if you don't mind me asking. I think I paid about £600, flying out just before Xmas for three weeks.

[Homer]

Thanks for all the India info. All very helpful and interesting!

[Paul ™]

Just now, Homer said:

Ah, nice one. Have you been before? It's v nice and there are a lot of parties.

How much does it cost if you don't mind me asking. I think I paid about £600, flying out just before Xmas for three weeks.

Yes when we went traveling SE Asia a few years ago, we started with 2 weeks in Goa.

We've only booked one way flight, from Nice - Heathrow - Mumbai as going to see a friend there first and then get the train/plane down to Goa a week later. Cost for the single was £320 each. 

Mates who have booked the last 2 weeks in November paid about £500 to start, return from Heathrow - Delhi - Goa - Mumbai - Heathrow.

As more booked, it's sneaked up £50-70 each.

[westholtschic]

3 minutes ago, Leyrulion said:

Same, not heard anything through either system which is a shame.

I think this might end up being like my "volunteering" for the 2012 Olympics where I get a letter from the prime minister thanking me for volunteering despite not actually being able to do any shifts because my London accommodation fell through 6 months before hand.

I'm very sorry you missed out on the Olympics. I was lucky to be involved at the Olympic park on the Spectator Services team. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

4 minutes ago, Leyrulion said:

Same, not heard anything through either system which is a shame.

I think this might end up being like my "volunteering" for the 2012 Olympics where I get a letter from the prime minister thanking me for volunteering despite not actually being able to do any shifts because my London accommodation fell through 6 months before hand.

Ah that is a shame. Won't get my hopes up then! It does seem a bit of a waste of their resources to put everyone through the training if never going to come to anything, but at least they've got the people they need.

[xxialac]

6 minutes ago, Paul ™ said:

We've booked for Goa for the winter, and a load of mates are coming out for 2 weeks when we are there.

I think it will be fine, flights refundable/rebookable anyway.

Yeah, that one should be a Goa.

[Homer]

3 minutes ago, Paul ™ said:

Yes when we went traveling SE Asia a few years ago, we started with 2 weeks in Goa.

We've only booked one way flight, from Nice - Heathrow - Mumbai as going to see a friend there first and then get the train/plane down to Goa a week later. Cost for the single was £320 each. 

Mates who have booked the last 2 weeks in November paid about £500 to start, return from Heathrow - Delhi - Goa - Mumbai - Heathrow.

As more booked, it's sneaked up £50-70 each.

Great, thanks for that. I didn't get to Mumbai last time, so want to this time, but I've got a mate who told me it was his highlight when he went.

[steviewevie]

2 minutes ago, Homer said:

Great, thanks for that. I didn't get to Mumbai last time, so want to this time, but I've got a mate who told me it was his highlight when he went.

Got lost in Mumbai once. Fuckin'ell.

[Guest]

Vaccination update:

[Homer]

1 minute ago, steviewevie said:

Got lost in Mumbai once. Fuckin'ell.

Recommended?!

Reminds me of yet another shit pun I made up on the spot once. I told my mate I was going to India.

He replied: Mumbai?

Me: No, I paid for it myself.

Edited February 16, 2021 by Homer

[steviewevie]

2 minutes ago, Homer said:

Recommended?!

yeah...India altogether is amazing...but on first day getting lost in Mumbai probably wasn't the best start. Looked simple on map, so didn't take it, doh. It's definitely a shock to the system that place, sensory overload, but you get used to it after a while. I would say that my missus wasn't so taken with India, I think much easier being male. Oh, and be careful what you eat!

[Hannibal Schmitt]

Don`t know if this has already been mentioned but

Johnson & Johnson has applied for vaccine approval in the EU. Decision by EMA should be made in March.

[philipsteak]

10 minutes ago, Leyrulion said:

Same, not heard anything through either system which is a shame.

I think this might end up being like my "volunteering" for the 2012 Olympics where I get a letter from the prime minister thanking me for volunteering despite not actually being able to do any shifts because my London accommodation fell through 6 months before hand.

I've signed up through Lancashire Volunteer Partnership who are running the volunteer recruitment for my local NHS trust. Once you are signed up, done the online training and sorted references it's just a case of booking onto shifts on their website.

 Doesn't look like many places are using the GoodSam app. I initially signed up through that but realised I'd be better going local. 

LVP have stopped recruitment as they have way to many volunteers now. Although it seems to vary from place to place. My nearest vaccination centre is only small  and seems to have no problem filling the available places. I went to my first shift on Friday but wasn't actually needed so sent home. I have noticed that my next shift (tomorrow) has fewer people so they seemed to have figured out what they need. there's then nothing available for the rest of the month (they haven't released any more shifts after that.

I have noticed that some towns with bigger centres are struggling to fill all their shifts. Unsurprisingly, the external and car park marshal positions are proving harder to fill. Mine doesn't actually have external marshals as it's inside a shopping centre

[Homer]

1 minute ago, steviewevie said:

yeah...India altogether is amazing...but on first day getting lost in Mumbai probably wasn't the best start. Looked simple on map, so didn't take it, doh. It's definitely a shock to the system that place, sensory overload, but you get used to it after a while. I would say that my missus wasn't so taken with India, I think much easier being male. Oh, and be careful what you eat!

Yeah, I've been mate, not to Mumbai. My number one tip for anyone would be to go vegetarian. I only ate meat twice in three weeks (once in a really fancy restaurant; the other time I was hammered at a Gota trance party) and I didn't get ill at all. That decision was inspired by a girl I met on Bumble who told me she had a steak in Goa and ended up on a drip! The paneer curries are awesome anyway.

[Gilb]

52 minutes ago, Homer said:

My mate and I got drunk at the weekend and decided we are going to go to India in November for the 20 over cricket World Cup. Anyone actually think that would be viable? I reckon the holiday is prob more likely than the tournament!

 

I've also booked to go to India in Dec21/Jan22, taking part in the Rickshaw Run (basically driving the whole length of India in a tuk-tuk)

 

31 minutes ago, Paul ™ said:

We've booked for Goa for the winter, and a load of mates are coming out for 2 weeks when we are there.

I think it will be fine, flights refundable/rebookable anyway.

and Goa is on the route! See you there 🙂

[steviewevie]

2 minutes ago, Homer said:

Yeah, I've been mate, not to Mumbai. My number one tip for anyone would be to go vegetarian. I only ate meat twice in three weeks (once in a really fancy restaurant; the other time I was hammered at a Gota trance party) and I didn't get ill at all. That decision was inspired by a girl I met on Bumble who told me she had a steak in Goa and ended up on a drip! The paneer curries are awesome anyway.

yeah, also didnt' eat meat/seafood and didn't get ill...we were in India for about a month. Ate where the locals ate, thalis and stuff, loved it. We were only in Mumbai for 2 nights and didn't see a great deal of the place...would like to go back one day..

[steviewevie]

Just now, Gilb said:

I've also booked to go to India in Dec21/Jan22, taking part in the Rickshaw Run (basically driving the whole length of India in a tuk-tuk)

Ha! Brilliant.

[Homer]

2 minutes ago, Gilb said:

 

I've also booked to go to India in Dec21/Jan22, taking part in the Rickshaw Run (basically driving the whole length of India in a tuk-tuk)

 

and Goa is on the route! See you there 🙂

My old colleague did the rikshaw run. It sounded fucking crazy! I think you'll def return with some anecdotes!

Nice one, I know a good bar in Goa!

Edited February 16, 2021 by Homer

[Gilb]

2 minutes ago, Gilb said:

 

I've also booked to go to India in Dec21/Jan22, taking part in the Rickshaw Run (basically driving the whole length of India in a tuk-tuk)

 

and Goa is on the route! See you there 🙂

 

In case anyone wants to join in!

https://www.theadventurists.com/guides/rickshaw-run-india-full-details/

[Homer]

2 minutes ago, Gilb said:

 

In case anyone wants to join in!

https://www.theadventurists.com/guides/rickshaw-run-india-full-details/

Yeah,. this was basically my mate's experience I think!

"A unique way to see a country, coupled with the constant fear of breaking down in the middle of nowhere, was very exhilarating."

[Copperface]

14 minutes ago, Homer said:

Yeah, I've been mate, not to Mumbai. My number one tip for anyone would be to go vegetarian. I only ate meat twice in three weeks (once in a really fancy restaurant; the other time I was hammered at a Gota trance party) and I didn't get ill at all. That decision was inspired by a girl I met on Bumble who told me she had a steak in Goa and ended up on a drip! 

When will this shit end?

[Zoo Music Girl]

6 minutes ago, Gilb said:

 

I've also booked to go to India in Dec21/Jan22, taking part in the Rickshaw Run (basically driving the whole length of India in a tuk-tuk)

 

and Goa is on the route! See you there 🙂

My friend and her partner did this a few years back. They absolutely loved it, although certainly had some stories!

Would love to go some time. We've provisionally booked for Ecuador in autumn mainly because it was a great price and cancellable, as currently on the naughty list. I don't imagine we will get there this year, but it has lifted my mood to pretend! 

[Gilb]

1 minute ago, Homer said:

Yeah,. this was basically my mate's experience I think!

"A unique way to see a country, coupled with the constant fear of breaking down in the middle of nowhere, was very exhilarating."

 

I've been to India twice before. Once driving around the southern tip from Chennai to Goa (Palolem), and then a family trip to Goa (Arambol).
This time I fancied something more extreme! Gangtok (on the Himalayas) to Kochi is pretty damn extreme! Have watched plenty of YouTube vids by others who've done it and it looks fantastic.

Imodium at the ready!

[xxialac]

India is the most amazingly chaotic country I've ever been to.

It's like being on hard drugs.

[Gilb]

2 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

My friend and her partner did this a few years back. They absolutely loved it, although certainly had some stories!

Would love to go some time. We've provisionally booked for Ecuador in autumn mainly because it was a great price and cancellable, as currently on the naughty list. I don't imagine we will get there this year, but it has lifted my mood to pretend! 

 

Exactly same reason why I booked the trip to India - having something so extreme to look forward to totally lifted my spirits out of the bleak winter/covid darkness!