What are you all up to
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Of the two cruses we have had the first one was the P&O Oceana, 2000 passengers and the second was on the Britannia 3600 passengers. I have to say everything ran like clockwork and I didn't feel either was crowded. No problems with the onboard restaurants either. One thing we did decide on the second cruise was to eat at the first sitting as we prefer to eat earlier and there is the risk of delays with the second sitting. Ship size doesn't particularly bother me. We have recorded the programme on the sinking of the Costa Concordia. Once I have watched that I could be put off cruises for life
David
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Mrs WN and MiL did the fjords cruise on Fred Olsen a few years back. Getting to Norway was the problem as far as MiL was concerned but once around the Norwegian coastline things were fine. They went on a smaller ship which enabled them to get further up the fjords and often dock at the quayside. Excursions were sometimes extras such as a helicopter trip but most times they were able to do their own thing. Their other cruise was a river one on the Duoro like Moulesy which they also enjoyed, especially looking around Salamanca. They did base themselves in a hotel in Avignon on another holiday and took day cruises down to places like Arles which, once again they really enjoyed. All taken on "small" cruise ships.
MiL a bit wary for next year but only due to Covid situation.
Not enough hills on a cruise ship for me.
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What a busy day it has been. Went to pick up my e-bike this morning. Quite a bit of a delay for whatever reason. Not that impressed with service but at least computer consuls thrown in as compensation. Got back just in time for lunch.
Straight back out after lunch to town. Library, bank, deli ( for Christmas cheese order) and Tesco. Back home for coffee and delivery of cards in the close with rest of village to be done tomorrow.
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Like DK, we are disinclined to do Fly-cruises. Living 'just down the road' from Southampton has spoilt us. An Eastern Med taking in Istanbul appeals to us as well. We were due to do one with Cunard also taking in the Black Sea but it was re-routed thanks to Mr Putin so I shan't be patronising his home town again, so there!
I don't favour these mega ships either and the majority of our trips have been with Cunard where spacing and service are exemplary. I share TG's caution about any restrictions on runs ashore and am waiting for things to settle down properly. Like Captain Oates, I may be some time.
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It certainly wasn't great.
We only went on it as we could add a few nights in Rome before the cruise and the first port of call was Cinque Terre.
As it ended up Rome was a delight and we will return. We lost the first port of call due to a suspected Covid case on board, so never got to see Cinque Terre.
We would have gone on a cruise in July for OHs 70th and again in January for our 50th anniversary but as I posted, still not sure it's going to be as we would want.
It's been nice to get out here to our timeshare but we are keeping our distance from the masses. Lots of walking and drives then walking.
We have a big sun terrace so don't even need to go to the pool (it's freezing anyway) we've ate out a few times but go early to miss the crowds, rest of the time we eat in the apartment. Don't need to go down for the entertainment either as it's loud enough to hear it from our terrace 😁
Agree on the Cunard ships CY
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WN Hope that your new bikes are all that you expected and they give you better service that of their supplier.
You just need some decent weather so that you can give them a thorough try out.We too had some decent weather today and managed to get a few of our Xmas cards deliver while out on our morning walk. Another dry walk this afternoon but more rain this evening. Hope it stays dry tomorrow assemble to hear into town and then along to the the local caravan dealer for a replacement roof flynet.
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Beautiful day, me thinks a lunch time BBQ brunch is in the making down the beach house, lovely this time of year as very few people about, sea now too cold for swimming but has now calmed down after a couple of very stormy days.
HMS Queen Liz arrived back in port yesterday, good to see the full might of our Royal Navy tied up in Portsmouth dockyard for their Christmas break, all 6 of them, no doubt the illegals are aware of this and will come across in their droves agen, well great chance for them Boris has bigger fish to fry
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And I hear that the Little Lost Aeroplane was recovered from the not too deep and briny sea so I assume that has been despatched to the relevant place to wring out the moisture and get the goodies fully checked, repaired and restored ready for it's summer {2025 or so } holiday cruise !
Take care everybody ~~ cold day in south Cheshire and showery with it -- Hoping against hope that it is dry tomorrow morning for the Wedding of my Gt-nephew to his Lovely Lady 'cos I've been told I MUST attend, at least till the Photographs are all completed anyway
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After the last couple of days of cloudy dull and windy weather, today it's blue skies, no clouds, light breeze and warm at 23c 😎
A day to chill out on the terrace and enjoy it. Sorry folks but somebodyh as to do it. 😁
Going for a walk later, we've been checking our daily walks to see how many steps we are doing. Wednesday was our best so far.
Have a good weekend one and all.
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Yes she is quite a size, have been onboard, managed to arrange a guided tour with a pilot friend of mine, but that was i guess 12 months ago when she was only doing sea trials in the channel, I did 18 months on HMS Hermes so am quite familiar with aircraft carriers but the Hermes was not quite so sophisticated, Bucanners and Sea Vixens were our main form of defence, we lost a couple of those doing rough weather flying in the Bay of Biscay.
Glad to see not all our ships are in harbour for Christmas, this one is anchored in the Solent , must be very frustrating when you are so near and yet so far from family, and then again they can have parties with little fear of anyone grassing them up
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We are having a small family get together to remember my brother who we lost to Covid a year ago today. Hardly seems possible that a year has gone by. Tomorrow would have been Mum's 93rd birthday too. So a weekend for remberance.
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Tough one M.
I'll have to arrange a day trip to Manchester shortly as I like to take OH and MiL to the area where OH's father has his ashes scattered. He died a few years ago now but it was the week before Christmas. Haven't been able to do this for the last 2 years due to lockdowns.
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Our thoughts are with you M
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Hope the remembrance gatherings bring back fond memories.
I'm feeling in a limbo over Christmas, wondering if we'll manage to be together in a normal way this year. A bit like the year I got noro virus and Mr Brue was left with enough food for ten!
(I suppose no-one will starve so it all feels a bit indulgent.)1 -
Thinking of those remembering loved ones. It's never easy but hope they are able to recall fond memories and happy times. I was similar sutuation a couple of weeks ago, although mum is thought about, and around every day. Sadly the older I get the more remembering days there are in each year 🥲
Brue I'm like you over Christmas, in fact even the weekend before......... Its all beginning to have a de ja vue feeling all round. I have taken the precaution of stocking the freezer with a Christmas dinner for 2 - should it be needed again this year. I felt a bit like Margo, only instead of Christmas being delivered by Harrords it was gathered from M&S 😂. Fingers crossed 🤞 we will get to spend Christmas with our families.
Been a jolly chilly day here but bright and sunny. I even put a hat on for dog walking, not something I do often. From indoors is looked deceptively calm but I caught a glimpse of the ground level bird bath and saw there was a lot of movement on the surface and wrapped myself up accordingly. Dora declined her waterproof coat so she had to run about. Her paws have been really cold when I wipe them before coming home recently.
'We' visited the loft Wednesday and brought down the Christmas decorations, naturally 'we' managed to leave the container with the candle bridges in the loft so another visit required, hopefully when 'we' return the boxes. Various spanners in works meant that we didn't liberate them until late this afternoon, but we have made a start. More remembering I still have my tree ornament given to me by my Nanna on my first Christmas, which gets pride of place on the tree. This is the 3rd year of us using mum and dad's fibre optic tree, she gave it to us the year before she died and she saw it in situ. Poignant times......
Been watching programmes on channel 5 this week on the Secrets Imperial War Musuems. Fascinating and about the only time I miss work when I see them searching their 'stock'and reading in the store rooms preparing displays or exhibitions. It passes quickly 😂😂
Edit Rufus your image made me smile, I received a shared one that I don't feel I should share here which shows the Queen and Boris with a speech bubble from the Queen.
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Thoughts are with you and your family moulesy. I hope you all have some happy memories to share. It the anniversary of when we lost our baby daughter Lucy Kate next Friday. 47 years and it doesn't get any easier. However we are so very thankful for our 3 lovely children and 8 grandchilden. I just hope we can see our 'local' family this Christmas. I think I must do what Bakers2 has done and get stocked up just in case.
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Milliehull I can't imagine losing a baby, life never lived 🥲, sometimes it's very hard remembering those that had lived long and happy lives. I'll be thinking of you and yours.
I whizz into M&S often on my way home after a dog walk, it's on the way and plenty of parking and I like their quality 😉 mask wearing has generally continued when I've been in and it's rarely very busy. But I noticed yesterday that their freezers were certainly emptier than they had been with seasonal items - I think several folks have already stocked up too! Hopefully we'll all be laughing and eating the items well into the new year......
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Thank you for your kind thoughts bakers2. It sounds as though I need to go and get stocked up with food sooner rather than later!
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Our too, M. Must be a tough week for both of you.
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What do you think, Brian? To quote you we "thump" them of course.
We did get the article, and by chance the sales lady was just going to chance the price tag on them to a higher price, but she let us have it at the lower price. That's the second consecutive visit there that we've come away with a bargain.
Weather was not as good as forecast, and we had some light showers, but we managed our walks without getting too wet.
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DD was here again today and we managed to get the last bits of the garage shelving finished, so hopefully I can get more of my tools and timber sorted out.
OH had Nathan and Callum to entertain, Mummy put some "Thomas the Tank Engine" on for Callum to watch, but he promptly fell asleep, which is almost unheard of.
He woke up when it was time for them to head home, and promptly threw up over the lounge carpet, which was not good as we had tomato soup for lunch!
He also had a high temperature, so we are now waiting to see whether this is something else he will have shared with us. We are OK so far, and the carpet has come pretty clean. DD will bring back our carpet shampooer on Monday to give the whole area a good going over.
Once home, after a quick bath he was dosed with Calpol and was soon sound asleep. We shall see how he and the rest of us are tomorrow, we are supposed to be going to them on Sunday to celebrate OH's birthday.
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Hope you all stay well KJ.
Millie these sad anniversaries are very difficult to endure. As you say you have your family and I hope you all have a good Christmas.
OH has gone out to the local Co-op. I decided I'd make my Mum's trifle at Christmas. She wasn't a memorable cook by any means but her trifle recipe was her party piece. I need tinned strawberries for it and Waitrose has let me down on that score! 🍓
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We have decided to stay home this Christmas. Difficult decision as our family did invite us down to Hertfordshire for Christmas, and we would love to see them of course, but it means a stay in the local Premier Inn and that, in the current Covid stage, worries me too much.
Do hope we can get down early next year when we get the caravan out of storage and between my new hip operation.
Hope everyone having a difficult few days, try to remember the good times with your loved ones, although sadly Millie you didn’t get the chance, so really hard.
Re - M&S our neighbour called in a couple of weeks ago and she commented on the empty shelves, especially the ready meals as she likes to have a few in over the Christmas period. Lorry drivers or production issues I wonder?
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Thank you JVB. We usually stay in Ashwell as it’s very close to them. If they had asked us earlier we may have used the caravan but we don’t tend to use it from November to early March and everything, cushions, carpets, crockery, cutlery in fact anything not tied down gets removed and brought home, then it’s covered and in storage about 5 miles away. In previous years we have always used the local hotel but just can’t feel comfortable with that at present. Plan B not good enough for me!!
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Thanks brue. Callum seems to be fine now, slept 13 1/2 hours, had breakfast, and is now helping to put up the Christmas tree.
DD had feared it could be Norovirus, but now thinking maybe something he ate at nursery. Everyone else is OK so far.
Miserable day here, very wet, but we do need to go out to pick up my pills.......soon. Maybe it will stop raining soon. 🤞
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?? What the 'ecky thump do you do with the flies when you have caught them, please ??
