GET ABOUT WITH GAD-A-BOUTS!

What has a manicure and a travel club got in common? Nothing at all! But, when the therapist giving it and the client receiving it realise that they have got an awful lot in common; one organising group travel and the other a history in the hotel industry, their conversation turns to dreams, then reality. Gad-a-bouts has begun giving Broadstone residents a great opportunity to enjoy a range of super days out and holidays whilst benefiting from Group Rate reductions.

Val recently retired after 12 years organising social travel visiting far flung corners of the world and in the UK, on many occasions escorting the trips together with a long suffering husband who has never managed quite to keep the suitcases hidden away for any longer than a few weeks! And Elaine? Well one day whilst Val was having her manicure, and long having had an idea of setting up a local travel club, she spontaneously asked Elaine if she would like to join her in this new venture. No hesitation, Elaine jumped at it, then went on to explain that only a few weeks earlier had been to see a fortune teller who told her that very soon her working life would come full circle; she had only started her working life as a booking clerk for Wallace Arnold! She stresses however that she is not giving up her day job and she can still be found at her beauty salon Skin Deep on the Broadway.

In April our Cheese & Wine evening to launch the club drew a fantastic response of nearly 100 people. Group Travel Companies that Val had used for many years were represented, and with such a great atmosphere it became obvious that residents are very excited about this new venture. So much so that to date gad-a-bouts has over 350 members and growing all the time through recommendations, and village posters. We are pleased that a lot of solo people have joined us as a way of making new friends and to feel secure in a group environment, but although travel is within a group, members will always be treated as individuals at the resort and it will be entirely at their discretion whether to take advantage of included activities within the programme. All trips are escorted by either Elaine or Val.

Our trips this year, with some already sold out, include Buckingham Palace, Sissinghurst Gdns, Hampton Court Flower Show, the Jaguar Car Plant, Glastonbury Carnival, Bath Xmas Mkt, and the Lake District. Some tickets still available for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Dec 27th. A big one for this Xmas will be the Paris Disney Christmas Lights Spectacular with travel via Eurostar direct into the Park. Our prices are brilliant.

Next year will see: Eden Project, Brussels Carpet of Flowers, Champagne Region of France, Staffordshire Potteries, the late Geoff Hamilton's Barnsdale Gardens, and Brecon Beacons "walking for softies". Plus our big trip next Spring to Toronto & Niagara Falls, booking now. Members will benefit from reduced theatre tickets, (where group reductions are advertised) reduced entrance fees and payments by instalments. Also discounts on Haven Holidays to benefit the family (a special booking number required from gad-a-bouts). It pays to join! Members can rest assured that we only use reputable group travel companies who are ABTA, ATOL or IATA bonded. Only local executive coaches are contracted. Gad-a-bouts is also a member of the Group Travel Organisers Association. We welcome any ideas from local residents as to what they would like us to include in the diary. From initial responses, we are optimistic that gad-a-bouts will have a big part to play in the local community. Find out where we are going on Broadstone.net/events or come along to the Broadstone Community Centre, on the 2nd Mon. & 4th Weds. of every month between 10.30 and 12 noon. Call us on 697107 or 07866 231979 (Elaine's no.) and you can email val@gad-a-bouts.fsnet.co.uk. Remember - get about with Gad-a-bouts!

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