Snow Hill

When this system comes in to operation in May 2023, it should end the need for passport stamping. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_en Apparently U.K. is developing its own system to check entry/exit, due sometime in 2025/26 allegedly.

If you used the E-gates then your passport will have a “virtual stamp”, but not all EU countries are letting U.K. passport holders use those gates yet, Portugal is one country that is.

Not everywhere it isn’t, until The EU EES system comes in next May, until then passports will need to be stamped, otherwise you maybe refused entry the next time you turn up at immigration, as a number have already found.

Her Majesty came to the throne 6 months before I was born, so she has been a constant in my life, it will be very strange that she is no longer with us. Rest in Peace. Artwork: Eleanor Tomlinson

Our neighbours Apple trees have loads of fruit, but they very small compared with last year and according to my neighbour dry & tasteless, the lack of any rain is the probable cause. We had some cooking apples from my in-laws tree, we decided to bake them stuffed with our homemade mincemeat, the apples collapsed to mush and we ended up with a a mess of purée and mincemeat, we removed the tough skins and ate it with Greek yogurt. The remaining apples have been chopped and put in hot bin composter.

Looking at the rapid fall in exchange rate between the £ & $ over the last week, it’s fortunate that P&O price there on board purchases in £s, it’s going to be more expensive for those who book with lines who price in $s. Current Tourist Exchange Rate is between £1.09 and £1.12 to the $

Just looked at my chequebooks, one account has 5 cheques used the first in 2011, last used in 2016, the other has 4 cheques used first in 2016, last 2021, all but one used to pay various tradesmen. I have been using online banking for best of 15 years or more, I did work in the finance industry in IT, developing online systems, haven’t used the branches of either bank I hold accounts with for 7 years or more.

Decided that cleating out the greenhouse is not an ideal job whilst there is a thunderstorm, aluminium greenhouse and we live on the top of a hill, so a high spot, so decided to abandon task. Came back into the house to smell the aroma of the chicken korma I have cooking in the slow cooker. That’s tonight’s dinner, with basmati rice and a glass of Kopparberg Rose Cider.

Had a shock today our House Insurance renewal came through and it has gone down by £50 a year. Given the rises everywhere else, it’s a welcome reduction.

Same here put my request in online on Sunday, will pick it up tomorrow after midday.

The best photo taken of my wife and I on a Black Tie Night was taken by a passenger with my camera, the ones taken by the onboard photographers were poor in comparison. Little did we known at the time he was a retired press photographer, which he told us when we sat at same table in the MDR one evening a few days later.

Our small freezer keeps icing up, a problem that keeps reoccurring every 12 months or so, we have had the “heater” part replaced 3 times previously under the extended warranty, the engineer is due tomorrow to look at same fault as we had in late Feb 2021 & in December 2019, both times same part replaced, cost of part, labour & call out all covered under warranty insurance was in excess of £100, the total cost just £50 short of the price we paid for it. For the part to fail again in less than 18 months there must be something causing it to happen. The last 2 times we were on holiday when it completely failed setting of alarm & caused temperature in Freezer to rise, we came home to a freezer full of thawed & very smelly food, this time we are hoping to have caught it before we lose contents. We hope the engineer will write off appliance & thus we get a equivalent replacement under the insurance, my wife will be responsible for persuading him.

Was meant to be dry with sunny spells today, so this morning sanded down garage doors ready for re-staining, nipped inside for a drink and a bite to eat, then a crack of thunder then a downpour, followed by 3 more short showers, glad I hadn’t started to paint.

Set to rise even further over coming months as price of potatoes expected to rise by around 30% due to the drought and lack moisture in the soil for potato crops meaning yields are going to be down. Apparently price of cod has already risen by 75% in the last 6 months.

Decision day air fryer/multi cooker or a new kettle.

We have looking at them in the last week, just being the 2 of us and heating the oven can anything up to 10 mins, we are probably going to decide whether to get one over the weekend.

It is Pretty……Pretty Ugly

Workflow diagram I often send when someone “reaches out” via email or messenger

We use 30 degree wash regularly as is default temperature for machine, very few problems.

I was reading an article in the FT this morning, which highlights the issues cruise ships ina number of ports in Europe, the likes of Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma, Venice, Bergen and Dubrovnik have already or are I the process of placing restrictions on numbers of cruise passengers and sizes of ships allowed to dock. Others will no doubt follow in the coming years. With the EU requirements that cruise ships use port side power from 2030 the pressure is on cruise companies to adapt. Often said that LNG is the answer to pollution from cruise ships and container ships, but currently there are only 26 out of 272 cruise ships that use LNG.

Aching a bit this evening have spent a great deal time stripping the paint off garage window, which as flaked off after just 18 months, do needs to be done again so back down to bare wood. Also removed loose masonry paint from external rendered walls, and sanded garage doors in readiness for re-staining. Have chosen new paint for walls an Olive Green colour after 10 years time for a change. Tomorrow will prime the window frame plus a trip to either B&Q or Wickes, depending which I can get best deal on the paint. Was planning to do this a few weeks ago, but the extreme heat put a stop to that, but the next week looks dry so might get much of it done over next 5 days or so.

We have been on Azura twice, We are OK with her, but didn’t like Britannia. Couple of cruises each on Arcadia, Oceana and Aurora, doubt we will entertain going on Iona or “Our Vera” given their size and number of passengers. Hence if we did eventually book a cruise, it may not be with P&O.

If unvaccinated then a number of insurance companies won’t provide Covid Cover, this includes Holiday Extras Travel Insurance, which I believe P&O recommend. Am I covered if I do not have the COVID-19 vaccination? If you or any other traveller on this policy contract COVID-19 and have chosen not to have the recommended vaccination(s) you will not be covered for any COVID-19 related claims under this policy. The UK Government has recommended that all eligible persons have a booster vaccination. If you have not had the booster vaccine you may not be covered under our policy. Discretion may be applied if you are medically exempt to have the recommended vaccination(s) and this is shown on your medical records. Currently P&O are not accepting unvaccinated passengers, but that could change at some point, but when it does P&O will need to review who they recommend as travel insurers.

Decided to increase the number of water butts we have went to 3 locations none in stock, the man at B&Q said that as fast they get them in they go. Went online just found a few including this one with a planer on top, might put this one in front garden as quite decorative, but typically it’s current sold out in the colour we like. https://www.freeflush.co.uk/collections/water-butts/products/180l-city-water-butt-planter?variant=32319059132503

If you are on any medication, check with your GP, this and another sea sickness remedy clash with one of my medications, so I have to resort to the bands & ginger biscuits!