We just stayed in Faliraki, didn't see two many creepy crawlies. Think the 5ft long snakes outside our hotel must have kept them at bay.

End of June off to Tenerife for a week with the girlfriend, staying in a little place just outside of Los Cristianos and Playa De Las Americas; but in walking distance of both. Never been there before, and its probably 11 or 12 years since I was last in Spain, so looking forward to it. Staying at a lovely looking little apartment complex, not one of these high rise places, looks quite nice and compact. Gets favourable reviews across the web, too.

Intending to book something for a week with two of the lads for the start of August too. Think that will have to be a "book it now and cross the spending money bridge when I get to it" approach; my bank manager will be up in arms come mid-August. Maybe go back to Albufeira, as one of the lads hasn't been there before and fancies it. Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) is also on the radar, as all we're after is a week somewhere not too grotty, with good weather and plenty of nice local beer. Hence the Malia and Magaluf type destinations are off the list, fingers crossed the scallies haven't made it to Sunny Beach. Although Albufeira is probably the safer bet at this moment in time.

Aside from that, got another small project for the end of August; off to a caravan site just outside Blackpool for four nights with the girlfriend, her mum, her mums chap and the collective brood of kids. Should be cheap and cheerful, stock the caravan with meat for a few barbecues (fingers crossed regarding weather) and hit the supermarket for some beers. It is getting extortionate in Blackpool these days, but will probably still venture there a few times.

Cheers for any advice offered but we booked a week in Ibiza, Es Cana last night. It was to good a deal not to.

Not strictly a holiday, but I have just put my name in at work to do two weeks for Habitat for Humanity, I give a weeks leave to go and they match it. Not sure where yet, but they have done it before in India, Romania and Central America. I have suggested we should do something in NSW so I can get some RL in. Got to raise £2.5k now (if I am selected).

Croatian Dalmatian Coast for me again.
I know it's boring but looking at it puts a smile on my face.
Don't panic! That will be ace trip to do by yourself!

I flew to Vietnam by myself last year and it was my first venture by myself and the excitement and adrenaline I experianced at doing so was quality!

The journey back on the other hand was spent mostly asleep apart from 2.5 hours in Dubai airport!

Just seen this – and thank you, Lawrie. It was great, if far briefer than I would have hoped – and did include an airport 'event'.

But if anyone's interested, the rlstory of the trip is now appearing hererl, and will be doing so for a few days to come.

A little hop skip and a jump booked for millionaires row on The Algarve again in June, me wandering around in my charity shop clothes pretending that I'm just eccentric and actually much richer then most of the other clients there

Spot of painting for four days, sell enough to pay for the trip, excellent seafood and beautiful surroundings - and the wife now knows about it and hasn't gone ballistic.

Somethings wrong somewhere, can't put my finger on it yet.

Hey don't forget the Lübeck marzipan for your fellow sinbinners.
In Hamburg there's a nice restaurant in the cellars of the Rathaus ... they have Labskaus on the menu there.

Funny you should say that – I bought marzipan for colleagues, and also ate Labskaus at Schiffergesellschaft, a 1535 restaurant! It's also the Labskaus that Mimi Shereton, author of the seminal [iClassic German Cookery[/i, said was the best she had on her travels.

And that's up in the next post, along with lots of art – including a piece I bought for myself from a (perhaps) surprising source.

But I should add that it's a delight to find another Brit who knows the general area!

Five days in Delhi either side of the May bank holiday. Should be good for Indian food