Harry Peterson

Paul Hudson for me!

What a great post! I could hardly believe all the bile and hatred aimed at Khan in certain newspapers the other day when he announced that Severe Weather Protocol following the Met Office weather warnings. When I worked in London near Lincoln’s Inn Fields it used to be a popular sleeping spot - cardboard boxes in evidence for use as blankets at night. A colleague of mind once shocked me with the comment that he’d like to burn all the boxes so they’d freeze to death. Maybe something to do with the fact that his father was an undertaker and one of his fondest childhood memories was being taken to the window by his parents to watch old people falling over on the icy pavement outside. Lifestyle choice? Oh yes - it was always one of the choice options, wasn’t it, along with gap years, Agas and SUVs.

Graham, those chips look particularly good. Is that mayo in the little metal dish?

I see absolutely no wickedness there! 🙂 Hope you got some more sleep.

Always bang on the nail, Matt.

Apologies! Well done Saga!

30 lives saved - well done P&O.

That is just so moving to read, and I’m so sorry you’re going through such tough times. Your children would say exactly what our children, and all decent children, would say - whatever it takes, whatever it costs, do try to achieve some relief or, ideally, resolution. Just a thought though, both of us having had spinal issues which were very satisfactorily resolved through NHS surgery by neurosurgeons, has this all been fully explored by an orthopaedic specialist? If there are delays within the NHS, highly likely with orthopaedics, perhaps a private consultation to explore the possibilities of surgery? Apologies for seeming to interfere, and I’m sure you’ve already been through all this, but even a second opinion might be useful.

Damn and blast! I’ve spent the whole day rolling around in a vat of green slime for a new lease of life. And now I find it was just a typo? Still, it’s given the neighbours something to talk about………

Now here’s a thought to avoid those empty sunbeds. Early polling by Carnival suggests that 99% of all users would like to see them charged by the minute. Or was that 99% of all Carnival finance directors?

Looks like a really nice cruise, Graham. Pauline’s done you a fantastic dinner too, I see!

Watching it later……..60 years since I rushed back from St John Ambulance cadets in Truro to watch the very first episode (now colourised!). No PVRs or iPlayer then. No sonic screwdrivers either!

That is seriously weird!

Norwich and Norfolk University Hospitals Trust make the distinction between sop and water and hand gels pretty clear - compulsory hand basins on ships at food service points? Washing your hands with hot, soapy water is the best way to protect yourself from Norovirus this winter, according to experts at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The Norovirus stomach bug causes nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting and is very easily spread from person to person. The spread of infection is easiest in places where groups of people are in close proximity for reasonable amounts of time such as residential homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces. Norovirus is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting) in England and Wales. The symptoms last around two days and no specific treatment is required apart from rehydration. However, even after the symptoms have cleared up people may still carry the virus and infect others and so good hygiene is important at all times. Dr Ngozi Elumogo, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at NNUH, says: “It is that time of year where we see Norovirus circulating in the community and our advice is to wash your hands as a matter of routine with hot, soapy water. Hand sanitisers and alcohol gel will work against some bacteria and flu viruses but they will not protect you against Norovirus. “This winter, we will be removing hand sanitisers from ward areas during Norovirus outbreaks and asking people to wash their hands instead. “To keep Norovirus out of hospitals, it is important that people do not visit patients if they have been ill with a stomach bug in the past few days or in close contact with someone who has had sickness or diarrhoea.”

And you can always tell which are their table companions, because they’re all wearing oilskins! Thanks for all your reports, Pete. 😉

To put the discussion back on track, P&O used to leave a chocolate on each pillow every evening.They don’t now. So given the choice, what would be your favourite chocolate? Thornton’s, Hotel Chocolat, Leonidas (mine), Cadbury, Hershey’s? 😇

You could drop the CEO an email, which will result in a phone call from the Customer Service team, but that’s no good if it’s time-critical, which I imagine it is. We’re probably using the same TA, and unless they’ve changed I always found them to be excellent and never booked direct again. They value their customers - P&O don’t.

I’d agree with you on the price - they’re very cheap now in real terms. Not on the quality, though.

Nothing! 🤮 Two? 😇

The pre-Ferrero days, or before they overexpanded and started the pile it high approach? Being southerners we didn’t discover them until the mid 70s when we came across a shop in Worcester on holiday. Thornton’s Continental - magic in a box to two young people who’d never heard of Thornton’s. Giffard Hotel, on a THF Touring Bargain Break, most of the box gone that night, in bed, supply replenished the following morning before we moved on to the next place.

And as a pedant, are we talking real tins here, or the usual plastic tubs?

This is most definitely not a plea for sympathy - it is what it is - but since March 2020 neither of us has been able to go inside any shops, banks, restaurants or indeed any public places barring the very occasional health facility. Which has made online banking, shopping, indeed everything, absolutely critical. When this first kicked off we couldn’t quite see how it was going to pan out, but it’s worked incredibly well. Every single item, food and otherwise, has been delivered to the door. Amazon and eBay have provided most of the non-food stuff, and various supermarkets the rest. Cash has proved almost completely unnecessary, but online financial services of inestimable value. This isn’t good for shops, banks or High Streets, and I’m not proud of it - but it’s literally been a lifesaver to be able to order every single thing required in - even to the extent of a couple of OXO squeegees that Amazon have just delivered! This may be the way forward for a lot of people, perhaps more by choice than the compulsion we’re driven by, and if so there’s a lot more change coming to bricks and mortar shopping and banking.

Best not. I saw Panorama.

You could afford to eat out?!!! We were on full board in a hotel lovingly described on Tripadvisor as 'Worst Hotel experience in 40 years of travel'. It was cheap. We were very young. The 'en suite' shower was in the corridor outside the room. And we were terrified that we'd be arrested by Franco's police for the very much frowned on public misbehaviour of holding hands in the street. Really great holiday though! Apart from the sunburn.

Well brought up and behaved children are an absolute delight, wherever they happen to be. And their parents are likely to be equally delightful. Out of control children are a nightmare - probably along with their parents. It’s rarely the fault of the children when they’re disruptive.