It must be great for you young (sub-75) whippersnappers who can book Channel crossings and sites months before your holidays confident that you will be able to travel on your planned dates. For some of us it's not that simple.

So far this year we have been unable to get away with the caravan due to my being on a waiting list for a cardiac procedure. Not knowing when I might be called and at what length of notice, I was hoping I might be offered a cancellation, I thought it best to remain close to the hospital in case the call came through. Sadly it didn't and I had to wait until July 08, four days before our granddaughter's wedding, before the deed was done.

As I'm now feeling ticketty-boo and the arrhythmia appears to have gone, hopefully for good, last week we decided to remove the winter cover and think about doing a spot of touring. All that remains on the medical front is that I'm to have a heart monitor fitted on Thursday which I will wear for seven days and nights before returning it to the hospital. Nothing further is then scheduled until mid-October when I see the electrocardiologist, hopefully to be given the all clear, have my current medication reviewed and then be discharged.

With September presenting a window of opportunity and after much procrastination we finally decided this morning to take the plunge and book a leShuttle crossing to spend the month touring in France. Being so close to our departure date, I knew the tunnel price would be buttock-clenchingly high and accordingly I just coughed up £652 for the cheapest standard tickets (I can hear Colin gasping.) Now for the travel insurance.

Everything was going so smoothly with CMC 'Red Pennant' until I got to the pre-payment medical questionnaire in which I had to answer 'yes' to 'are you awaiting any medical tests or test results?' and 'have you undergone any surgery within the past 12 weeks?' Bugger! I'm now expecting a phone call within the next two days to discuss my replies. Logically, if I hadn't had the surgery to cure the heart condition I could have answered 'no' to both questions and purchased the policy without challenge for £350. Do insurers think logically though?

I shall soon find out.

#prayforaaroncalder

Stroll on "£652 for the cheapest standard tickets". good job I've had a bottle of IPA and 1/2 a bottle of a rather nice Sangiovese with my Harissa chicken.
I've just been looking at out of high season crossings next summer, as Brittany ferries went live a month or so back. For an overnight out with cabin on Plymouth - Roscoff and day crossing back we are paying £480 this year, but next year will be £510. Your £652 for a late booking doesn't actually seem as bad as it could.
The medical insurance is a bummer. One of the advantages of getting older is still finding you have a pulse in the morning. I can remember my 6th form tutor group saying one morning who wants to be 85, to which I replied somebody who is 84 1/2. But the downside is how much you get robbed for insurance. It seems nuts that you pay more for having had a procedure done that will lower your risks.
It is good to hear your recovery is going well and I do hope all works out well, and you get across to France.

Colin