LC1950

Uncle Les, the blue box wrapped in foil had some sort of "cheese" ... but if memory serves me correctly, I think the Velveeta was wrapped in foil in an orange or yellow box.  Both were super errkkkky!!!!  The Velveeta lasted in Australia for a few years but the one in the blue box went on "forever"!  Hideous stuff both of them IMO.

Speaking of cheese ... has anyone tried this one?

https://www.kingislanddairy.com.au/product/lighthouse-blue-brie/

I tried it at a wine tasting at Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tassie many years ago.  It's delicious with just a small dab of quince paste.  Angels dancing on your tongue IMO.

Thinking about this orange cheese everyone is talking about ... remember "Velveeta" from Kraft?  Errrrkkkk! 🤢  My Dad worked for Kraft for 35 years and he got his gold watch, an Omega - I'm still wearing it and it goes like the klappers.  Thanks Kraft. 😉

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

Depends on the State, aaarntray, entree, ontree or for the red necked republicans... gimme food, now !

Oh dear!  LOL sounds very weird, right?  If you've done high school French you would know that "entree" means "to enter" - as in entering a room or a meal?  So it would seem that Americans can neither speak English nor French? 😉

Have my trusty Shield of Power ready to deflect incoming barbs and arrows.  LC is ducking and weaving. 😷

Your persistence has paid off.  Well done Russell21.  👍

Masks are simple.  I get into the car and immediately put on my mask.  This means I don't forget to put the mask on when I get out of the car at the shops or wherever I'm going.  If I drive without one, I forget to put it on when I stop and get out ... sooo, simples. 

But I'm from Melbourne and we have all lived with masks for months. I've gotten into the "rhythm".  Get used to them and ... get over it!  Just sayin'. 🙄😷  They aren't that hard, truly.

4 minutes ago, getting older slowly said:

 

I like the  point  no age limit to jump in...lol  ( can i wear a jacket jacket )

 

Did they have flake and chips for dinner ??

 

Generally don't click on links.....   but I did   what next ??? 

what about wedding photos in space suits on the moon

 

Don

Don, I can vaguely remember my wedding dress way back in a previous millenium, and it weighed a ton!  I certainly would NOT go swimming in it, especially with bloomin' sharks!

Isn't it weird how so many weddings these days are blown out of all proportion?  And let's not mention the cost of them.  The sad thing is - all that money spent when so many marriages are ending in divorce.

If you can be bothered to click the included link in their post Uncle Les I think you will find a blatant ad for their company. 😏

Russell21, I encountered the exact same "confusion" as you a week or so ago when trying to book a 3 for free cruise.  I also posted this problem here on the 3 for Free topic (post # 42).  Yes, I also sent screenshots, etc., after much to-ing and fro-ing with them.  The following morning I received a call back from Princess agreeing to my request.  Confirming email from Princess at the "right" price and specified cabin number (Premium Balcony mid aft) was in my inbox within seconds.  The cruise appeared in my Personaliser within 30 minutes.   Obviously there are discrepancies on the Princess website vs their call centre programme.

Hang in there and keep 'annoying' them in the most polite way of course!   Good luck.

14 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Do the new booking on hold trick, then phone them. When I called them this morning (about 10am) I originally got someone who was possibly Filapino. As soon as I mentioned refaring I got transferred to an Australian operator, who refared my booking immediately. I think part of the problem is that we have different promos to the US and sometimes the support people don't understand that.

Thank you for the encouragement OzKiwiJJ ... have been in contact with Princess and tah dah, I've got what I wanted.  Thank you Princess, and thank you "me" for persevering! LOL.

Just received my confirmation email from Princess.  Doing a little happy dance.  Now for this cruise to actually happen.  Oh let's hope 2021 is the turning point with this Covid thing!

I'll try again in the morning OzKiwiJJ, it's too late now.  LOL I'm a wee bit over it all.  I originally booked using a FCD.  The prices on Princess' website are as plain as the nose on one's face!  But their operators (4 in all) that I spoke to today just couldn't *cough* "see" it.  Weird, hey?  One person I spoke to actually sounded terribly confused and asked "what cabin category are you talking about?".  When I answered the correct category immediately, they ummed and ahhhed.  Do their people actually know what they are there for?  Oiy veh!  Think Princess has realised it's mistake now by their IT people and are trying to fudge it all. 

I have screenshot proof of what I have seen on their website (which is still there as of 1 minute ago, it hasn't changed!) so IMO, honour it Princess, or suffer the consequences!  But I'll remain cool, calm and totally adamant.

I await tomorrow's decision. 

LOL have been jumping through hoops today with this 3 for Free offer while trying to upgrade from my original booking.  I had already booked the November 21 Sapphire cruise to NZ with Princess Plus but when I saw the 3 for Free offer email yesterday (also using Princess Plus) and I could upgrade to a Premium Balcony with the new benefits at the el cheapo price ... when I phoned Princess today and requested, nobody at Princess believed me.  I had to supply screenshots to show the pricing on Princess' website (which I did) and they still weren't quite sure.  LOL it's been moved up to "higher management" to sort it out ... after 3 call backs from Princess to recheck. 🙄  Well, the website price is as plain as day (I have proof) so if they argue the point I'll report them to ACCC (yeah I know, 'paper tigers') but I have proof!  Is misrepresentation of advertising (or whatever it's called) still illegal?  If so, I think I've got 'em over a barrel.

Ellie, sorry to interrupt your wonderful review, hope you don't mind ... you may (or may not) have heard of the wonderful Gracie Allen.  May I offer a small clip of Gracie on a cruise ship to Honolulu - obviously in better weather that you experienced. 😉  She is featured with Eleanor Powell, arguably the greatest female tap dancer of her time.  But when they dance together, who can't you take your eyes off?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN3aETNaThI

Hope you enjoy.

It's sure making Bed and David nervous!

Not sure if this has been posted?  There are 2 Brits on Seadream 1 who have been vlogging this journey.  Here is todays latest vid ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4CNM98JgXw

Oh Halls Gap is gorgeous Don!  And you'll be close to Dunkeld.  Make sure you have a lunch or dinner at the Royal Mail Hotel.  It's been quite a while since we dined there but OMG, delicious!  Must get up that way again ... oh!  We can now - whoopie!

https://royalmail.com.au/

Edit:  Oh, hang on, just checked that website.  Looks like it's changed hands.  Oh well it might still be wonderful or .... maybe not?  Check it out and if you don't like the look or "smell" of it, just walk out!

Yes, it's strange.  No explanation that I can see either.  But it is 2020 so anything can happen, right? 😷

9 minutes ago, Ginnyfyr said:

Apparently there are UV lights that kill it...maybe they will use something light that. I was just reading an article from Cruise Critic the other day from two guys who are doing a transatlantic right now (I forget which line they're on...Crystal maybe? I know it's a very small ship) and they said part of the daily cabin cleaning involves UV light.

They are on Sea Dream Yacht Club and have a video about this cruise on Youtube.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5879UN2ltmw

Well!  It will be 5 hours of class for you tomorrow instead of 2.  You naughty ballerina!!! 😉

Actually watching the podcast, I was very impressed with how far the Company has come from back in the very old days.  I remember very well when old "Boro" fell off his perch and Peggy Van Praagh was brought from England to form what became The Australian Ballet.  She was made a Dame of the British Empire for her services and what a hard working person she was.  She set it all up here and carried it for years.  I was fortunate as a young person to attend some classes she took.  She was so knowledgeable and so encouraging - despite being practically crippled with arthritis.  The Company has come so far from those days.  I think it is all down to her initial dedication.

Oh yeah!  And daily class hasn't changed in decades really ... it's still tedious, it's still same old same old, day in day out.  I used find "auto pilot" a help. 🙄  But I was never ever going to be a ballerina no matter how hard I worked LOL.

Oh thanks for the head up MMDown Under.  I've just caught the 'I am Spartacus' thingie ... still laughing!  Hey, wanna chip?  Hee hee

After reading several hours ago of the Princess pause here on CC (see how I'm joining in here?) we have now just received emails from Princess advising of cancellation of our Feb/March '21 cruise on the Sapphire Princess.  First thought ... what took 'em so long to cancel.  We all knew it was inevitable, right?

5 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Thanks for sharing your team with me.  It made the experience of watching the Grand Final so much more enjoyable.  My daughters even took a yellow and black ground blanket with them to the game.  We don't need long warm scarves here!

I'm glad you enjoyed the experience and that the Tigers came through.  I suspect there will be a few sore heads this morning.   To me it felt quite odd to see the GF played under lights.  Wonder if others felt the same?

Oh and I think we've got the BIL sorted - gave him a large glass of wine with dinner last night LOL and he went to bed at a reasonable time and he's still sleeping so no midnight wanders happened here last night.  DH and I are doing OK, we were having a quiet giggle at the weird situation we've found ourselves in and the irony of it all.  Oh well, onward and upward.  Who knows what today will bring?

Thank you all for your understanding.  I've always said that when cruising you meet some wonderful people.   There's something special about us all, isn't there? 😉

Possum, "here" is just my close family LOL.  Just responding to MMDown Under's lovely posts, OK?

Yep Uncle Les, those umpires always looked like undertakers to me.

Cut me some slack here ... I don't follow sport at all!  But we've been hit by a "not very close" family tornado 2 days ago.  DH's sister had a fall and broke a hip on Thursday.  Her husband has dementia ... quite far gone.  She was taken to hospital and we were the only people she could call on.  Consequently we've had to take her husband to stay with us because their children have moved as far away from them (!!!) as they could get ... we've never had experience with dementia type people and it's very hard for us and this couple have never been what you'd call 'close family'.  He is walking through the house all night, turning lights on and off and trying to open the front door to go wandering.  It's proving very difficult for us.  And it's gotten worse today.  Sorry to vent.

Anyhow, that's our problem and I was just responding to dear MMDown Under's lovely support for our team "here".

I'll shut up now, it's our problem and no-one else's.  Have a great night and I hope your team wins.

P.S.  We REALLY need a cruise right now! LOL

Go the Tigers is the saying of the day down here.  Thanks for the updates MMDown Under, hope you're singing along with the theme song.  Did Facetime with the grandies this afternoon and they were both singing and dancing and doing "interpretive dance" with their Richmond scarves.  The baby (2 years old) was doing Tiger roaring impersonations for me - I hope she has a voice tomorrow! - and there is so much excitement and anticipation in the  family. 

Fingers crossed they play well and it's a great game.  Best chookas to all the players.

And Uncle Les, get your act together, it's AFL NOT cricket old chap, righteo old bean?  May the best team win ... and it won't go on for days, unlike test matches. 🙄

Thank you MMDown Under.  Appreciate your confidence.  Now I'm hoping that they play at the top of their game for you.  As my Dad would have said "Go Tigers!  Eat 'em alive"

MM Downunder may I urge you to barrick for the Tigers?  My darling Dad was a Richmond fan through and through.  My daughter and S-I-L are Richmond tragics and when No. 1 granddaughter was all of 2-1/2 years old she sang the Richmond theme song for me at the top of her voice including  the last section .... "we're strong and we're bold, we're from tiger ... LELLO & BLACK ... we're from Tigerland."  My Dad would have loved that.  LOL it would have brought tears to his eyes.

Here is the club song if you're interested .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxakg-EgCkk

I also had the very unexpected experience back in the late '70s of meeting "Captain Blood" (Bob Dyer) - the most famous and revered of Richmond players and my Dad's idol.  I was meeting DH and friends at the Espy Hotel in St. Kilda (a bit of a rough pub back in the day) before attending a concert at the Palais Theatre.  I walked in by myself, ordered a beer at the bar then went and sat down.  He came over and asked if I was OK?  A young female alone back in those day when men were gentlemen.  I said yes, thank you.   I'm meeting friends and oh, here they come.  Thank you *cough* Mr Dyer for being so gracious.  He smiled and bowed and said "My pleasure.  Just making sure you're OK."