The Retirement Thread

[oldwheels]

What: active discouragement of holidaymakers bringing income to the areas?
Seriously?
Seems....harsh 🙄

DD had a great week recently from her job in Glasgow with her pals - 2 cars, 7 of them, up to Inverness, out to Skye then back up round the NC500 coast. Early 20s, they will all have great memories of a summer week for years to come.

Pleased to hear only positive reports from them. I imagine most guest houses, hostels & eating establishments welcome the influx of visitors!

I can imagine a few 'bad apples' parking badly etc, causing some upset.....but please don't tar all visitors with that brush!

Income to a very few but inconvenience to many. One party of people will not cause problems but multiply that by thousands and imagine the disruption to normal life. I live in an area so affected.

 

[oldwheels]

& equally, I bet a lot of people spend a lot of money on their trip...perhaps more than just drive around self-contained - not everyone is a boy racer trying to clear it in 3 days!
DD stayed away 7 nights in hostels/B&Bs, mostly ate out (with 1 or 2 BBQs) - precisely the point for a tourist economy, surely?
My LEJoG earlier in the year was done with pretty well all accommodation and food being sourced along the way (okay, I'm not doing the NC500, but did head north from the Crask Inn then along the coast)

Or maybe it should all be sheep and local moonshine

Other pals of ours did it last year when things were released a bit, & certainly bought local things and ate out as well.
No doubt there will be a few ignorant folk matching your description, but I suspect most people touring anywhere are also keen to sample local stuff....

The benefit to the area is largely a myth. The majority where I live get nothing but the inconvenience and disruption. I have not been able to travel to appointments due to tourists. Why should I and others like me have any liking for them?

 

[Dirk]

Morning all

Meeting up with our friends for lunch in Watchet today.
Going to explore some of the villages around the Quantocks this morning. Just getting a proper feel for the area, as we are considering moving within a 10 mile radius of Minehead in a couple of years time.
Ideally, we would like a local stone built character cottage near a village with a pub and a shop. No rush - something will turn up.

 

[Mo1959]

Morning. Bit cloudy but still warm enough for me. Short sleeves and a very light gilet which I could have done without.

The schools are back here this morning so maybe the area will be a bit quieter. Shame all the barking dogs didn't bugger off to school too. At least a couple have disappeared as the man two doors along has gone off in his motorhome with his new girlfriend and taken their two little yaps with them.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Totally agree the NC500 has been disastrous for the Highlands...Many people who love the highlands arent coming anymore because its being ruined.

MrsF and I took a cottage in Lochinver for a week a few years ago, in October. The NC500 traffic made it a unpleasant experience even at that time of year. And that was Before Covid. A great shame because the scenery is just amazing. Unfortunately the only way I can see us going back would be in the winter,in the hope that the roads would be quieter.

 

[Dirk]

Income to a very few but inconvenience to many. One party of people will not cause problems but multiply that by thousands and imagine the disruption to normal life. I live in an area so affected.

This might help a little bit.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...aravans-banned-from-stand-by-scottish-ferries

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Morning all

Meeting up with our friends for lunch in Watchet today.
Going to explore some of the villages around the Quantocks this morning. Just getting a proper feel for the area, as we are considering moving within a 10 mile radius of Minehead in a couple of years time.
Ideally, we would like a local stone built character cottage near a village with a pub and a shop. No rush - something will turn up.

My parents retired to Minehead many years ago. The first twenty years were brilliant for them, they described it as like being on holiday every day. But in recent years the lack of hospital facilities in Minehead and the awful bus service to the nearest one in Taunton made life very difficult indeed.

 

[Chief Broom]

Of course there are respectful and well behaved tourists in the highlands but there are far too many that arent . I wrote the following last year for an anti nc500 group which sums up the 'NC500' experience for many locals

Taking the **** out of uncaring tourist on the NC500....

Maya's Puppets and Straw Dogs Co
proudly present NC500 Action Figures!
Dont know what to get the little ****ards this Yaks mas...then we have the answer for you ! NC500 Action Figures!
Watch'um walk Watch'um talk! Watch'um wind themselves up into a frenzy of 'DOING THE NC500! '

Mr and Mrs UglyEgo with huge MoHo towing a smart car. These characters have no shame! Uncaring about the environment or others, they bring ugliness wherever they go. Watch with glee as your sprog plays 'cheapskate freeloading' 'inconsiderate parking' or crash and burn! -matches supplied

Mr OffRoader and rediculously tented 4 x 4. A splendid detailed action figure wearing stupid mirror shades and a simpering twat expression. Delight as little Johnie vrrrm vrrrms and imitates a destructive wheel spinning drive on the machair!

The Dirty Camper A***hole Convoy. A comprehensive collection of ratty vehicles and an amazing 6 zombie scum action figures-.2 boozing 2 crapping 1 vomiting and 1 OD'ed and dead.. Accessories include realistic turds, garbage and a burning gazebo-matches supplied..

Adventure motorcycle and rider A generally well behaved addition to the set he carries enough equipment to tour Patagonia. With an ear splitting exhaust you cant help but be informed of the loud arrival and departure of a child grown tall. Now watch him death defyingly traverse the Bealach na ba! What a hero!

Mr MidlifeSadTwat and Sportscar
This has gotta be fun....round and round he goes...and round..and round....and he's going nowhere actually. Comes with miniature vanity mirror, viagra bottle and DIY rope noose suicide kit.

By special request an additional action figure has joined our impressive cast of NC500 ers...
Mr Pushumoffacliff the Farmer! He comes ready to go with his bloody great tractor with bale spikes. Specially introduced to 'interact' with all the other NC500 ers! Ramming, upending. impaling great fun for all ages!

*Limited availibility as soon to be replaced with next years Ibiza edition..hopefully...😊

ps i wont be commenting much on NC500 issues as its just too sad/sickening and depresses me for the whole day..

 

[welsh dragon]

Good lord. I forgot to join in the parade this morning I was browsing all over the place

Dark, dull, overcast and quite sh*'te to be honest.

I have my bedding in the washing machine. God knows if I will get it dry though

Stay safe peeps.

 

[welsh dragon]

Well. I'm not going to be putting my washing on the line today.

 

[Mo1959]

Well. I'm not going to be putting my washing on the line today.

Sun is out here now.

 

[welsh dragon]

Sun is out here now.

Grrrrr

 

[Mo1959]

Grrrrr

If you teleport your washing up here I will hang it out for you.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Well. I'm not going to be putting my washing on the line today.

My washings on the line, its very cold here and very breezy but its dry, its more like November than August.

 

[Tenkaykev]

My washings on the line, its very cold here and very breezy but its dry, its more like November than August.

“ Like July in Aberdeen “ as my Glaswegian running coach would often remark…