1.  It’s a Bank Holiday here in the UK, so a lot of us don’t have to go to work. Are you working today?
It is not a holiday here is South Africa but no I am not at work as I am retired.

2.  What do you like to do on your days off (not holiday/vacation)
In the days that I had a day-job my off days would be spent catching up with reading, visiting friends and relatives, or catching up with chores that needed to be done at home.

3.  Have you booked a holiday/vacation this year?
Perhaps for the first time ever we have not booked a proper vacation or trip this year. We were going join friends an a five-day trip to a game reserve but had to cancel when I took ill and landed up in hospital. I am fully recovered now but did not want to risk having a relapse in the bush, far from medical back-up!
We will be going to our children in Plettenberg Bay for the Christmas holidays and will also spend two nights at Addo Elephant park.

4.  Have you ever had a Staycation (question definition revised)
as per WIKI extract:
In the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong, the term has increasingly come to encompass domestic tourism, or taking a holiday in one’s resident country or territory as opposed to traveling abroad.
Personal note:
this could also be seen as a ‘holiday’ at home or within close proximity of home.

I love the idea of local tourism and yes, we have done a lot of staycations in our own country. There are lots of wonderful places to explore within our own borders and of course the game reserves are our main choice for staycations. I have visited every province in South Africa and seen most of the main tourist attractions but there are still plenty more that are calling to me.
I also enjoy exploring our own ‘backyard’ and visiting places that are less than an hour from where we live. It is also fun showing visitors our own special hot spots.
I grew up in Cape Town and have visited most of the attractions there except for Robben Island.

Gratitude

I recently spent two weeks in hospital and am grateful to the amazing doctors and nursing staff who looked after me. The carers (previously called nurse-aids) were the most tolerant and caring people I have ever met. Nothing was too much trouble and their patience with some difficult patients was humbling.