Ardennais

What a great review. Makes me want to revisit Tallinn and Helsinki!

I’m too busy eating to give anyone ‘looks’.

That doesn’t sound good at all. Reminds me of one I attended on RCI which was basically buy a kit and assemble some pre-made elements. I didn’t stay! The craft classes on Ventura to the Caribbean and back were very good, well planned, well resourced and well taught. For instance, we used different inking techniques and were introduced to Zentangle, etc.

Disappointing if true. Loved the craft classes on Aurora 17 nighters and Ventura 35 night.

During the winter, I change sheets once a week but I do change them more frequently during hot weather.

If we shower twice in a day at home, we use clean towels, so yes, I would want them changed twice a day on holiday. It’s not a case of having an accident. It’s a case of rubbing skin and shedding skin particles and just the yucky feeling of an used towel.

To reduce our carbon footprint, how about getting rid of tablecloths?!

I’m not bothered about changing sheets more once a week, but I am fussy with towels. I use mine once only and then wash them. I change the hand towel in the downstairs toilet every day too. My husband had cellulitis 20 years ago and was hospitalized for 10 days. It was recommended then that he had clean trousers and towels every day which is what he did even before then as a builder. So I expect plenty of clean towels on holiday.

Why would the membership number change?

We did the return cruise from Ambleside. Lovely part of the world!

We’re enjoying ourselves in Morecambe and the surrounding area.

Speak for yourself! I sleep well as per usual.

Oh dear! It worked well for us because my mother took her walker too, and we didn’t have to change at Birmingham which can be a pain with luggage and for those with limited mobility. Also easy to use the toilet with a clear corridor at all times. We will definitely use it again, so cheap too.

This is the reason why we decided to use National Express to travel to London in June. Ok, it took 6 hours rather than 4 on the train, but the return ticket only cost £78 for 4 of us! Yes, a total of £78 to which I added £2 each to reserve seats in the first 3 rows. The train would have cost £80 EACH! Lovely air-conditioned coach and we could forget about our luggage. I appreciate that the coach isn’t feasible for work journeys, but for us, it was great.

In our case, my husband and I want to chat to each other in our first language. We go on holiday to have quality time together as life can be hectic at home! It’s definitely not a case of being unsociable. We don’t mind sharing in the buffet or even lunch time, but dinner, no way.

Some businesses are really hopeless. Last night, I visited the WHSmith website to order my usual photo albums as I’d been sorting my photos over the weekend. To qualify for postage I looked for some 2024 A5 week to a view diaries for business use as we need them now to schedule business events for next year. They only had a few fancy ones, not their basic standard diaries. No wonder they’re struggling if they can’t provide their core products in a timely manner. If they don’t have them ready by mid September, I will look elsewhere.

Lovely photos. We will be travelling from Morecambe. September should be less busy so will probably head to Bowness.

Never been to Wales!! Then again, I don’t think I’ve been to Essex either - not to stay, might have driven through. I remember the Dartford Crossing, now that was a mission!

I was actually thinking of the cruise itself, not getting there! There are 3 coloured routes for the lake cruises and I’m trying to decide whether to board at Ambleside, Lakeside or Bowness.

Well I’m Welsh and don’t feel in the least mortified! What a stupid thing to say.

I would be the same. Had a panic attack when flying years ago and pledged there and then never to fly again. I take the view that if something medical happened to me when cruising which meant that I had to fly home, then I would be heavily drugged!

Lovely photos. Is that Lake Windemere by any chance? Will be visiting the area soon and we’re keen to do a lake cruise. Trying to work out the best route. Any recommendations anyone? Thanks.

Great summary Selbourne - your posts have been very interesting and informative. We really enjoyed our cruise on Iona earlier this year and on the back of that, have booked a family cruise next year with our three daughters and their partners - similar in age to your daughters I think. You have given us many tips!

We don’t get them now either, and we accept all their emails. I don’t think they really want any feedback!

There was a shuttle there when we visited in 2018.