It probably depends on the boat. I tend to allow a good time because I have been caught up in traffic before and got there at the last minute (they close check in 45 minutes before sailing, so realistically you need to be there at least an hour before).
The worst mess I’ve seen at a port was Holyhead last week when we sailed from Dublin. There were no passport or customs checks. It was just a mess. Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Newcastle and Hull all seem to be fairly well organised.
Generally, we get boats via the Netherlands and they will typically speak English, Dutch and German so it isn’t a problem.
Tends to be Calais and Dover for me. A real mess every holiday.
Even non holiday times I almost missed the ferry due to passport control. I only had 4 cars Infront of me when I arrived over an hour in advance. I have no idea what they were doing. It was in April and not Easter FFS.
Leaf blowers. I’ve always thought that they are a pointless invention but my wife bought one as a middle isle special because they suck as well.
I’ve tried it, and it sucks alright. If you want something that takes longer, is more hassle and much harder work than a yard brush and shovel, then a leaf blower/sucker is definitely your toy.
We had them come around with them every few days near my flat, I got used to them after a while but my brother was moaning about them the entirety of his visit.
And yeah they did fuck all hence why they came around every few days. Like we only had two trees near the walkway.
Interestingly enough just now a story about Brian May being angry at leaf blowers came up on my feed
I ordered some online for Amazon and sent the email to myself to print off. They no longer have the code printed on them. Bastards!
I will shortly be driving down to the Volksbank Automat which issues gift certificates called 20€ notes that can be used in the majority of shops in Europe.
I will drive to Europe every single time. Put the car on Le Shuttle, no luggage restrictions, no disapproving looks when you’re yelling at your kids for being little shits.
Plus you have a car when you get there. Have seen so much of France and Switzerland we would never have seen otherwise. Belgium, Austria, northern Italy and Slovenia in 2026…
