Mareblu

It does indeed look Lubbly Jubbly 😆

No, she ate it! So funny: when she realised the mistake, she said, "Don't you be worrying. I'll heat it for my lunch". She wouldn't take our money for it. We had some hilarious days in Ireland. On the way from Donegal to Dingle, we stopped for some delicious seafood chowder in a quaint pub. The chowder is always so yummy in Ireland. This was when we and our friends had very young grandchildren, and they loved receiving postcards, even though it was already in the days of emails. Denny, the Publican, came and sat with us because he heard our Aussie accents and had family living here. He asked Bev, our friend, if she would know "his Cathie". Sadly, she had to answer no, but she could still meet her one day. Then Bev asked if the Post Office she'd spotted nearby would sell stamps for our postcards. Denny replied (and we still all chuckle about it): "It would be an old stamp ye'd buy there. It's been closed for years". They are the most wonderful, warm and friendly people.

Now that reminds me of the same trip, when after Scotland, we caught the ferry to Belfast and met friends for a driving tour of beautiful Ireland. A few days later, we stopped for morning coffee at a delightful cafe in Donegal. We ordered three coffees, and a tea (English breakfast). The friendly waitress duly arrived with three coffees, a tea, and a huge plate of eggs, bacon, sausages and beans.

Yummm…ploughman’s lunch. one hilarious food fact: close friends are Scottish, and they warned us years ago, before our first extended trip to that beautiful land, that chips are served with absolutely everything. Didn’t believe them till we ordered pastas. Perfectly al dente, and with a delicious sauce, and without asking, the dishes arrived with sides of….chips🤣

Don’t be nervous, Les, you are in the company and embrace of friends. We’ll all be thinking if you, and eagerly awaiting news bulletins. Pkease keep us in the loop💜

Thanks, Marion. We're sailing on Oceania Sirena, Portsmouth-Portsmouth (14 days). It will be our second Baltic cruise; we sailed on Seabourn Quest in 2014. We're using FCCs from an almost identical 2020 cruise that went the way of all cruises in the time of Covid. This cruise calls at a few ports we haven't visited, and some we've actually stopped in for a few days before prior to boarding other Nordic cruises. We love that part of the world, particularly the fjords. One of the attractions of this cruise is the passage through the Kiel Canal, twice (going and returning). We did that once on the Seabourn cruise, and found it fascinating. Such marvellous engineering for its time, and so very picturesque. We felt we could shake hands with the farmers waving to us from their fields, they were so close. Oceania was the first line to drop St Petersburg from its Baltic itineraries following the Ukranian invasion. We, like you, enjoyed visiting there last time, but after experiencing the wondrous treasures of the opulent Hermitage, and cruising the canals, we have no need to return. I wouldn't wish to patronise Putin's tyrannical regime in any manner, and many cruisers I've had contact with feel similarly. Sadly, that means economic hardship for the Russian people, but an end to his madness can only come from within.

Bailey is a handsome young man, with kind and intelligent eyes. Chevy looks totally chilled. They're both beautiful, Lyle.

You'll need to dust off your uniform then, Les👮‍♂️ Really happy to hear you'll have great company, and it's a thrilling buzz, getting ready to cruise again, isn't it? Are you sailing from Sydney on the 13th? Coincidentally, that's the day we fly out of Sydney for London to embark our Baltic cruise. We both wish you clear skies and sparkling seas. Linda

Both wonderful cities, also with truly good, genuine Italian fare

That’s exciting news from Batehaven, Les. Well done✅

Excellent point

Must be from Hansdorf?

Need to try P and O UK after you explained the difference, Les

We should have dinner

Rats, really🤪

We did a road trip with friends to SA a few years ago, Great Ocean Road and wine districts on way over, then returning via Mildura. We stopped at Banrock Station for lunch and a tour. Truly impressive estate in beautiful setting on Riverina wetlands.

Les!!!!

It was enchanting. Street vendors and the aroma of their roasted chestnuts. It was a stop on our way to skiing in the magnificent Dolomites, and visiting our extended family in Friuli, our second home💜💜

We once left Canberra Australia Day weekend, almost 40c. Walked out the door of our hotel in Vienna to -20.

It's a rare chardonnay I like, but for chicken: pinot grigio or sav blanc.

My mother was in the Air Force during WW2, and she was posted to Townsville. She loved Magnetic Island.🍷

Wonderful to hear from you, Les. You are missed💜 Have a wonderful break with your granddaughter, but don't take a break from us. We miss your jubbly comments😁

He usually lets us know when he’s planning a drive. Maybe he’s on that trip to Eden he had to postpone after his accident. Les?

Looks and sounds delicious. Would you be willing to share the recipe?

Maybe we had both. Our wine was definitely served by the bottle, and cocktails were covered by the package.