MMDown Under

So would I. I don't understand why small ships don't visit these wonderful islands. Often shore activities are included in the price of small ship cruises, which explains why they are more expensive.

You must be special, as not everyone gets the ambulance as well as the fire brigade to come to their rescue. Nice to see you still have a sense of humour, despite your episodes. Good that you still have a cruise booked for 2024 to look forward to.

What a great idea raising money for breast cancer research, through Grease Day at your granddaughter's high school.

Grease is currently showing on 9. Wonderful memories of another era.

I choose to eat on the pier overlooking the harbour, because I have fish, chips and salad, with two sauces. However, they still did take away fish and chips on the pier when I was last in Sydney prior to Covid. I'll be in Sydney again in October so I'll check it out.

Yes irukandji can be found at off-shore islands and outer reefs, including the beautiful Whitehaven Beach.

My response disappeared. No, but I admire the skill involved. Your father must have been proud of his 125 sailing dingy,

Wow that is really impressive. I've never seen a pie cabinet anything like that. Is that because you live in a holiday place with lots of tourists?

I was going to suggest you take the ferry to MONA, then I learnt there were 99 steps, so taxi is a good idea. Enjoy your visit to Hobart. I love Hobart which I visit bi-annually for the Wooden Boat Festival. If you have any spare time on your first day, you might enjoy the beautiful Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens which your mother could enjoy at her leisure.

Yes, best advice. I notice my daughters fly domestically with only hand luggage because it is often less expensive.

As a regular visitor to Sydney from Interstate, a visit to both Watson's Bay and Manly by ferry are musts. When I arrive at Watson's Bay by ferry I go on a walk to the left along a small beach and interesting residential area to the Harbour overlooking the Entrance. Then I return and have a seafood lunch at Doyles on the jetty. Then I walk through the park to The Gap on the Oceanfront and walk along the clifftop until I've had enough. Then I catch the local bus to North Bondi, where I have a drink at the RSL with its beautiful view along Bondi Beach. Then I walk along Bondi Beach to Icebreakers where I watch the swimmers in the rock pool, plus on Bondi Beach, You can continue to walk along the waterfront before catching a bus back in to the city. Manly, I do as others have suggested, except there is a lovely harbour front walk to the left as far as the Spit Bridge as well.

You don't always have to pay extra. Currently with the Commonwealth Games, you can choose to watch any sport you choose.

That is a shame, Yvonne. Next time ask to speak with the Concierge. I'm sure he/she could find you a share table, especially as you had booked a sharing table. I've met some lovely interesting cruisers on big, but not too big, sharing tables.

Flo was a member of the Australian Senate for many years, so was entitled to her own pension. She lived to the grand old age of 97.

Having always pooled a family of four tax exemptions, I claimed a tax exemption on a large laptop. Returning home, I ticked that I claimed a tax exemption on a laptop. Lucky I did, because the Customs Guy could see on his computer that I'd claimed a tax exemption. He could see my genuine shock that I wasn't entitled to claim that much and sent me on my way!

Yes, local senior bus tours still call at the family home for those famous pumpkin scones.

I thought there would be more ships and sooner. Could it be because the South Pacific islands haven't opened up? I thought the Alaskan Season might have been shortened when they stopped the land tours attached to cruises. They keep extending the Alaskan cruising season, although it was all over mid September when we visited on the last ferry of the Season.

Agree Watties are the best. I did get some American ones on special once which were very good. I bought a few cans, as I thought they would be too expensive for the local market.

Bon Voyage! That should be a lovely time of year.

Thank you. It will be lovely to see ships in Sydney Harbour again when I'm visiting Sydney.

Thanks. So transpacific cruises should be the first around NZ cruises in 2022.

I always assumed fairy floss came from England. Cotton Candy, Cotton floss overseas, but no fairy floss.

In my family they are called scons. My grandmother used to make pumpkin scones, date scones and plain scones. All whipped up anytime unexpected visitors arrived.

When are the first around NZ cruises then across to Australia?

I hope you enjoyed your cruise on Sky Princess, Yvonne.