Happy Christmas from the Head for Points team

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Happy Christmas to you and your family from all of the team here at HfP.

Long term readers will know that this Christmas Day article is generally used for people to discuss where they have flown to for a Christmas break.

This year, of course, is different. Many plans have been ruined, not just now but across the year. Whilst we are a travel site and travel is what unites us, it is important to remember that many people will be having a far worse Christmas than a lost holiday, away for their loved ones or remembering someone they lost this year.

Life cycles on, of course. Anika is just days away from the birth of her second daughter, whilst Sinead is also expecting her first child in the next few weeks. My first child was born on 27th December so I know what a heavily pregnant Chrismas is like. Rhys is off in Canterbury whilst I headed off to the Middle East for a holiday a few days before London dropped into Tier 4. When I will get back is a different question ….

I hope you enjoy a well deserved break, wherever in the world you are and whoever you are with. If you are not with anyone, you are definitely not alone in being alone.

Thank you for your support over the past crazy year. It may get worse before it gets better, but let’s focus on Easter for some sort of return to normality.

We will slowly get back into things tomorrow, with at least one article and the return of the chat thread.

With our best wishes,

Rob and the HfP team

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Roberto says:

25 Dec25 December 10:20

Wishing Rob and the team plus all readers/contributers a very happy Xmas and hoping everybody has an amazing (& covid safe) 2021.

All the best from a warm & sunny Costa del Sol
Aston100 says:

25 Dec25 December 10:23

Happy holidays and seasons greetings to all.
Optimus Prime says:

25 Dec25 December 10:28

Merry Christmas!
Jim McGuigan says:

25 Dec25 December 10:29

Happy Christmas to everyone
Cat says:

25 Dec25 December 10:38

Merry Christmas to Rob and Rhys, and best wishes for easy, unturbulent births to Anika and Sinead!

My OH did a Santa run on his bike yesterday (bless him), to drop off some of the presents, our Christmas pudding that’s been maturing for 2 months, homemade lobster ravioli in a lobster bisque, and salted caramel rolos, and I had a Zoom dance party with the nieces last night.

Next year I have almost entirely refundable trips to Indonesia (first class in Cathay Pacific again), the West Highland Way and the Seychelles booked, and hopefully a few days in a houseboat and a few days in the hills drinking tea in Kerala, as well as city breaks in Budapest and a weekend of hiking near Chamonix. Hopefully some of those will happen!

Merry Christmas to all in the HfP community, and best wishes for a 2021 that is a vast improvement on 2020!
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  25 Dec25 December 11:22
  
  Can’t decide what makes me more jealous – your food or your travel plans 🙂
  - Cat says:
    
    25 Dec25 December 13:24
    
    Well, I’d go with the food, because it’s definitely happening!
    
    Christmas dinner will be a decidedly un-traditional French onion soup (the onions have been caramelising all morning, and the stock was made yesterday), followed by a beef Wellington, lined with pig jowl pâté from Ginger Pig. OH has made both before, and they’re divine. We had our lobster ravioli last night, and I had to resist the temptation to lick the rest of the bisque from the plate!
    
    Fingers crossed that all of our travels happen next year though!
- Peggerz says:
  
  25 Dec25 December 13:45
  
  Hi @Cat. Merry Christmas 🎄
  Great to see you’re planning to do the West Highland Way in 2021. I completed it about 5 years ago. Covid aside, it takes a bit of careful thought as well as leg muscles as I’m sure you are aware. If you want any more info just let me know.
  - Cat says:
    
    25 Dec25 December 13:55
    
    Other than booking accommodation, having decent kit and lots of layers and being careful with water, what else should I know?
    
    I did the TMB in 2019, and have now (out of sheer frustration with being stuck in London zone 1 for most of the year, with no mountains in sight) bought a pretty decent elliptical with different gradient settings, as well as electromagnetic resistance, so I think the muscles should be OK, fingers crossed.
    
    Merry Christmas to you too!
    - Peggerz says:
      
      25 Dec25 December 23:30
      
      Hi @Cat.
      You want to go before midgey time. So before June probably. If this is not possible, then the surprising lotion of choice to fight off the biting blighters is…… Avon’s Skin So Soft.
      Are you carrying all your kit? I did, but next time probably not.There are plenty of bag carrying companies. I knew about them but wanted to carry all my kit to prove I could.
      Are you going South to North? I have done both ways and really liked heading from Ft William to Milngavie. Only a small % do, but walking down the Devil’s Staircase is so much nicer than climbing it. And the views of Buichaille Etive Mor from the Kingshouse Hotel are fantastic. Particularly with a dram in hand. Also, you must stay at the Drovers Inn en route, with its history and (alleged) ghosts.
      I found walking poles a boon – I was a sceptic. And say hello to everyone you meet. They are a friendly lot.
      - Cat says:
        
        26 Dec26 December 00:04
        
        Thanks Peggerz, that’s very useful. I’m heading S to N, which makes sense to me, with my knees I find downhill more difficult than uphill! I always use walking poles, and always carry my own pack.
        
        Does SSS actually make a difference to how much you get bitten?
      - Michael C says:
        
        26 Dec26 December 07:53
        
        Just another vote for Avon SSS! Has always worked for us in Brazil.
    - Polly says:
      
      26 Dec26 December 00:05
      
      Wow, just reading about you lot’s adventures makes me dizzy!
      Cat did you start the Jack `reacher books yet?
      Seasons greetings you all
      - Peggerz says:
        
        26 Dec26 December 00:37
        
        Hi @Cat.
        Re SSS, I walked third week of May in great weather. No midges at that time. But anecdotally it does seem to work. The bars and restaurants en route sell it, so it must do.
marcw says:

25 Dec25 December 10:50

Feliz Navidad!
William Kerr says:

25 Dec25 December 10:55

you have been so helpful over last three years…. Bill in Seaford. Sussex
Michael C says:

25 Dec25 December 11:01

Thanks to all the team and all fellow contributors for making 2020 that more bearable.
On the one hand, my MIL did indeed arrive from GRU. On the other hand, it doesn’t look like she’s ever going to be able to leave…”eyeroll emoji”!!