SeaJane

3 hours ago, bee-ess said:

Anyone guess the place ? It is Italian.

Is this Portofino - we went there once a few years ago on Adonia. 

Pleased to hear the positive news Jean.

Incredibly hot here again today - thermometer in the shade in the garden showing 36 degrees. We really need some rain to clear the air and although I can hear thunder rumbling in the distance no sign of any storms here yet. Sitting in the shade with a glass of wine to stay hydrated 🤣

7 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

A tender to get here which often doesn't happen.

St Peter Port Guernsey perhaps?

Sorry to hear the sad news Jean - a difficult time for you all.

2 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

Barth for me too as I’m a Southerner. A friend of mine who’s originally from Liverpool always moans I’m saying it wrong. I just tell her it’s just the way we were brought up down here! 😁

Same for me. I’m a southerner through and through.

1 hour ago, Adawn47 said:

It's not too late to have your say in the 'Great Scone Debate' Depends whose side your on though 😁

Avril 

Ha ha! Definitely jam first then cream on top for us. We wouldn’t be allowed back in to Cornwall again if we put the cream on first🤣😇

And I ‘m afraid it’s scone as in gone for me (I’ll run and hide now)

On 9/14/2018 at 7:04 PM, jessybell said:

I went on SS Nevassa ..which I think is the sister ship......there were 20 of us from South of England and we went to Minorca, Tangiers and Lisbon. In Tangiers so as not to lose any of us, we had to wear school uniform. That was back in the early 60’s...what a sight we must have made. We also could not use the same decks as the other passengers and the food was much like school dinners. Still I have fond memories of my first cruise.

 

 

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My first cruise was on SS Nevasa for pupils from Surrey CC schools -  I think it was 1971. We joined the ship in Venice and visited Athens, Crete, Tunis, Naples and Livorno flying home from Pisa. I remember it being very exciting and seeing some wonderful places which whetted my appetite for travelling abroad although I didn’t cruise again until 2012. There were major strikes in Italy so we were unable to visit Pompeii or any of the major tourist sites in Florence, but it didn’t spoil the magic of the trip.

4 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

Good Morning all, Day 3 at the office, so crowded, not a mooring left.  Yachts rafted up right left and centre.  Cars doing 20mph this morning on a 60 mile an hour road.  otherwise life is good.  Just planning a trip up to Anglesey in the car in September with the doggie.

Lovely dog Jean. Very pretty markings and kind eyes.

1 hour ago, indiana123 said:

Just before the last two posts,  which say it all, I was about to post  big thank you to you all, with special mention of the foolishness (as Avril eloquently put it).  

 

I can't speak for everyone on here but I'm sure most of us really appreciate the giggles, mainly from frequent posters.  The usual suspects know who they are🤣😍

 

This place has become a little haven to pop in and out of to read (mostly) a friendly word or two.

 

 

My thoughts exactly indiana! I don’t post on here very often, but look forward to reading the posts every day and greatly appreciate the mostly cheerful and informative posts from the regular contributors. 
 

As several others have said we are fortunate to be retired so our day to day lives have not changed that much. However, having no children or family close by we have greatly missed our usual activities and meeting up with friends etc. We have struggled a bit with not having anything to look forward to in relation to holidays and trips away, but know we are so much better off than many in these difficult times. 

37 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

I am glad I am not the only person who is a bit apprehensive about eating and drinking out.  I have got to get brave because I had an invitation this morning to go to a very nice local restaurant on the 20th.  It will be my first meal out since February.  We did go next door on Saturday for a barbecue but there were only 6 of us and we were socially distanced in the fresh air at 2 metres between each couple.

I’m also apprehensive about eating out. Prior to lockdown I usually lunched with friends in a pub or restaurant a couple of times a week, but my last one was 14th March. We have had friends to eat with us in the garden twice recently, but I think it will feel quite strange to go into a pub or restaurant and have strangers sitting nearby.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your fantasy blog Damian. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it - really brings back so many memories of cruising 

16 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

I'm so glad that's not just us then.  Though after an incident (resolved with a wire coat hanger) involving a WC on an early cruise we soon learned.  After that we always took the things ashore to dispose of.  In truth the butlers probably find the whole thing hilarious - maybe there's a competition of some sort behind the scenes.

 

Always optimistic about them, but rarely justified.

Us too! 
I do enjoy the strawberries dipped in chocolate and the smoked salmon on rye though. Most of the others I’d happily do without.

Pleased to have you back and glad you all enjoyed your break away.

Welcome back Vamps -we’ve missed you! Hope all is OK with you and your family.

Really enjoying reading your blog Damian. Thanks so much for taking the time to make it so interesting and help us all relive our cruising experiences.

Just checked bank account and the refund for the deposit on our cancelled October Arcadia cruise was received yesterday. I hope those of you still waiting for refunds have similarly good news soon.

3 hours ago, wowzz said:

Not sure that is actually the case. It very much depends on the ship.

We are the opposite to you. Rather have one cruise in a balcony cabin compared to two in an inside cabin.

I agree. We would rather have fewer cruises in a balcony cabin. We enjoy sitting on our balcony and being able to watch the scenery or arrival/departure from ports in the comfort of our own space. Each to their own though! 

We should have been flying to Bordeaux on Monday for a 3 week trip. So far we’ve also lost 2 trips to Cornwall and 3 nights in Venice as well as our Aurora cruise in October. 
I know there’s a lot we should be grateful for, but as you say SarahHBen - what a year! 

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

July is, imho, along with August, the worst time to go to the Med. Very hot, rammed with tourists and the locals on holiday, and generally unpleasant.

Go in September  - quieter, cooler and much  more pleasant. 

As for the BoB,  that's a lottery whenever you go.

+3

We usually cruise to the Med and generally find the weather excellent for sightseeing so late September should be a very good time. As others have said less crowded than July and just as likely to have a good crossing of BoB as any other month.

11 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We are off to North Cornwall for a week soon, but looked at Cornwall for September. Lots of places are full already . Don't leave it too long or you may have to put up with a cruise.

Already booked! 
Sadly we won’t now be cruising this year - we’ll leave it until the dust settles and we can see what the new reality is for life on a cruise ship. Next one booked is Arcadia in October 2021 - fingers crossed we shall be able to go on that.

3 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

well in real life today I have just put my chicken to marinate for the bbq and cut all my veggies so I’m ready. Kids are in the swimming pool after already having an hour bike ride. 
 

id love days like this if everything was normal  
 

how are we all managing today as it’s stinking hot! 
 

I did wonder which one of us on here I going to be first back on a p&o ship

A bit too hot for me today so although we’re sitting in the garden I’m in the shade. My cousin and her husband came for coffee this morning which was lovely as we’ve not seen them since February.

We’re planning to spend most of September in North Cornwall so are hoping for some good weather then although it won’t really matter as it’ll just be lovely to get back down there.

Salmon Roulade

Cod fillet

Panna cotta 

for me please

Perhaps a bottle of Shiraz for a change this evening.

We are also having fish here tonight - cod in a lemon thyme butter sauce ?

3 hours ago, brian1 said:

I find tuna too dry that way so Caprese salad,grey mullet and tarte citron but the b&b pud was a close second.

Bread and butter pudding used to be on the “always available” list. When we were on 7 Arcadia to the fjords with my cousin and her husband he had it for dessert every night! 

I’d have:

Seared tuna

Leg of lamb (with a dish of extra vegetables)

Tarte au citron

Accompanied by another bottle of Malbec.

12 minutes ago, ann141 said:

I can't remember anyone asking how many cruises we have been on- possibly general questions such as 'Have you cruised a lot?' but if anyone asks how much we paid for the cruise I usually say in a light hearted way 'I thought Religion, Politics and the price you paid for a cruise were taboo subjects.Usually that is enough to change the topic.I do find it useful though gaining tips from others about any aspects of cruising and like sharing tables with other cruisers.I  have a table for 2 with my hubby for meals most days of the year and chatting and getting to know others is one particular aspect we enjoy about cruising in general.

I agree with you Ann. As we share a table for 2 most evenings at home dining with others is all part of our enjoyment of a cruise. We always opt for club dining, table for 8, second sitting. We enjoy the opportunity to get to know our table companions and move on to wider topics of conversation beyond the obvious ice breakers. We have met all sorts of people, inevitably some we gel with more than others, but most have been lovely people.