Canal archive

Suites from a small tailors in Sunningdale who apart from the fuss of choosing the aforementioned suites I was on tie choice duty and yes I believe a gentleman should have just that little Je ne sais quoi, so two suites needed at the very least four ties, silk of course as I have it on good authority no other fabric ties so well. Liberty’s scarves are to die for.

As I’ve said before email or phone the ship nearer the time. I bet the crew will be far more accommodating.

They appear in most of the adverts and brochures.

I used to wear a tie as part of my school uniform and once on a school trip going across the Italian border the Carabionarie complete with guns came on board the coach and one told me off because he was not happy with the way my tie was tied, us teenagers were quite pleased at all these fit young Italians checking the vehicle. When DH retired so did his ties and he had some really nice ones.

Precisely!

Yes ask for a ‘black coffee’ and the server says ah yes an Americano will that be with ‘milk’ dahhhhh. Another dislike is Irish coffee with squirty cream. Leave me to hunt say in Whittards to find different coffee beans to try.

Notamermaid what a super analogy MS Gentleman, inside design ‘looks a bit male’ wonderful!

I’ve never done it but taking the train in Europe is usually a safe bet, obviously the Swiss and the Germans are the best at timekeeping but the trains are good. At my age though (having trained all over the world) lugging luggage around would not be my choice. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Absolutely b********* brilliant, thank you.

Were those who went to the Commonwealth Cemetery given poppies? Each year in the past we have been especially on our first Seine Cruise. In each instance we’ve had people on board who for whatever reason could not make the tour so we ended up with quite a few poppies which we placed them on the memorials of those ‘known only unto God’ these places a so special. I lost two grand uncles in WW1 and my dad was on HMS Rodney WW2. Your last pictures bring back memories but I’m kicking myself as somehow I missed the Chocolate!

Now that would have been a difficult choice Ghent or Brugge. My first European school trip was to Brugge to see the Pagent Of The Holy Blood if you ever get the chance go it is amazing and again an amazing city. It was going there that started me learning to make lace, Bruges lace is exquisite.

Looks beautiful although I do wish some of these places could get someone more used to the English language to check their websites, it’s not really a complaint and I for one wouldn't but some most certainly do. It’s now on my ‘oh dear’ ever growing list.

WOW!

You should have seen the picture (in your minds eye) of my grandson soon to go to senior school being taught to tie his tie by his grandfather my DH. I must admit definitely an ahhh moment. Wow did DH and GS get brownie points GS ended up passing on his new found expertise to not only his class mates but others as well. GS’s dad rarely wears a tie so couldn’t do the honours not surprising as his job working for The Kings Trust doesn’t call for it.

I’ve tried to copy the French Waterways website but failed abysmally see if you can find it. Reading it, it looks like low water would be more of a challenge. There’s been nothing on the news.

Ohh makes me think of Rudesheimer Coffee! Definitely not to be missed. There are two places a few steps from the music museum and Christmas shop that sell the best!

Ohh Ghent is one of the must see cities in Europe. Jazz tucked under your arm maybe never turn a book down but then I’ve just had to thin down my recipe book collection. The U.K. small backpacks were definitely not heavy, not large enough for overnight but good enough for a long day. I actually phoned Scenic U.K. about the OBC and had an interesting conversation, it was, here in any case a bit of a test, not as successful as they would have hoped because the wonderful people who devised it didn’t realise that they hadn’t covered all questions it raised ie it wasn’t explained very well to both recipients and their own employees. On board I used mine in the wellness centre I tried to pinch my DH’s for the shop and failed abysmally, ie I will buy it for you but your not using that - dahhhhh. I did get the distinct impression that it may a big may be used in the future, similar to the personal car is now again as a perk. All these things come and go look out for an extra offered by a cruise company and soon it will pop up elsewhere somewhat changed but essentially the same.

They do say the old ones are the best! Well remembered.👍

I must admit that is exactly what our butler told us, brollies and walking poles can be scrubbed and cleaned but I’m pretty sure no one would want to use a pre-used water bottle as it is mine sits quiet nicely in my Mini. Any more I might collect will be surgically cleaned and donated as have my collected back packs which have proved very useful for kids doing their D of E.o

For us ladies a wrap is useful for the evening meal just round your shoulders until you acclimatise. Gentlemen you’ll have to practise your shivering 🥶

Latest offer private door to door chauffeur transfers, it’s gone back to being a perk rather than for everyone. Oh and automatic OBCs have been discontinued so could come back as a perk. In all but top of the range cabins.

Absolutely beautiful in the U.K. known as ‘heavy horses’ we have four breeds three native and one introduced so long ago it’s now regarded as native. Up until recently in Devizes the beer produced in the town was delivered by brewers dray pulled by two beautiful huge Shire horses.

We went to the Delta Works with Scenic really something special, chocolate ohh yes please. Those two chefs look a lot of fun not names heard of in the U.K. but will definitely look them up. Maybe we can swap chefs two of yours for two of ours!

Absolutely agree earlier in my many years I splashed out and bought a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt’s jeans named after an American designer, oh they were definitely jeans but I’d defy anyone to complain about them at dinner! If anyone complains about jeans what about ‘cargo pants’ I think as long as you look as if you’ve made some kind of effort and are clean and er-tidy it will do. Although if for whatever reason there is a dress code common politeness really should apply, shouldn’t it?

I’m sure you’ll manage a good pair of gloves a few jumping jacks oh and how about a hand warmer plus lots of hot chocolate.