techteach Posted August 14, 2023 #3551 Share Posted August 14, 2023 @Bigmike911 What has happened in Maui is very very sad. So many lost lives. Church friends have family on Maui and were telling stories of how they are supporting the community. I just read an article in the Wash. Post about the possible environmental impact on the coral reefs around Maui. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techteach Posted August 16, 2023 #3552 Share Posted August 16, 2023 Can’t believe it - I got an actual mailing from Cunard today about the Labor Day Sale. I entered the website listed and it says sorry, it is closed for 2022. Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted August 16, 2023 #3553 Share Posted August 16, 2023 10 hours ago, techteach said: Can’t believe it - I got an actual mailing from Cunard today about the Labor Day Sale. I entered the website listed and it says sorry, it is closed for 2022. Oops! It’s what makes as love Cunard and, as I often say, the fact that they run their ships so much better than they run their admin. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted August 20, 2023 #3554 Share Posted August 20, 2023 (edited) On 8/13/2023 at 8:43 PM, Bigmike911 said: I have been reflecting on a round trip I took in 2015 from Los Angeles to Hawaii and Back. We had a day on Maui, and the ship was tendered to and from Lahaina. When you first got ashore there was an enormous Banyan Tree, now we are told it was (or maybe is) the largest in the islands. Banyans have the habit of creating support for long branches by dropping roots down and creating new trunks. We walked along Front Street and had lunch at the Lahaina Yacht Club a favorite eatery of mine over the years on a deck over looking the pacific teeming with whales. On either side of the street were shops and one story shopping centers selling all kinds of Hawaiian gifts, including shirts from Hilo Hatties. Now it is all gone, and the terrible fire has taken the lives of 100+ people and probably many more. The historic Hawaiian Royal Capitol is mostly gone. I feel very sad. I took a picture of the Banyan Tree and it is here I watched a program on the tree, with a Hawaiian Arborist who has examined it. He says that the trunk branches and the 25 roots which extend from the branches have live sap. They have aerated the ground provided nutrients and a compost cover to the ground below the tree, and are watering it. It could be up to six months to determine if it will live. It would be glorious if this old specimen actually makes it. On the Monday before the Fire, I bought two tee shirts on the Lahaina Yacht Club's web site to replace a couple that have gotten tattered. I got an email Friday from them saying their stock and the building were destroyed. He gave me the choice of a refund or appling my purchase money to their employee fund. I chose the donation. Edited August 20, 2023 by Bigmike911 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronpes Posted August 24, 2023 #3555 Share Posted August 24, 2023 Todays ahem “shore excursion” a great day out. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronpes Posted August 24, 2023 #3556 Share Posted August 24, 2023 Ssh..🤫 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techteach Posted August 24, 2023 #3557 Share Posted August 24, 2023 @ronpes That looks like a great “shore excursion”! Which was your favorite? Was there one to be avoided? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronpes Posted August 24, 2023 #3558 Share Posted August 24, 2023 2 hours ago, techteach said: @ronpes That looks like a great “shore excursion”! Which was your favorite? Was there one to be avoided? I really liked the 12 year old single malt “Blair Athol”. I didn’t care for the “Isle of Jura” as it was a bit too “peaty / smoky”for me. However it was a great visit all round and we thoroughly enjoyed the sampling and refreshments after. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techteach Posted August 24, 2023 #3559 Share Posted August 24, 2023 @ronpes Interesting coincidence this morning; as I was reading your post the 5 year old was playing in a train sticker book that included The Royal Scotsman Train. So, I was looking at the tours on-line and trying to figure out how to do one of the whiskey tasting tours. The cost is as much as a TA in QG! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted August 28, 2023 #3560 Share Posted August 28, 2023 On 8/24/2023 at 11:04 AM, ronpes said: Ssh..🤫 That brings back good memories. I did a round trip Trans Atlantic, on Queen Mary2. It went on and did a five day to Europe and I spent the five days in Scotland. One of the tours to the Highlands was to Blair Castle, and a trip into Pitlochry and I did a tour of the Blair Atholl distillery, which was quite enjoyable. In the Bond House they had whiskeys dated in the 50s and early 60's which the tour guide said were due to be blended into Johnny Walker Blue label in the fall. I still have a wee dram of Blair Athol whiskey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techteach Posted August 28, 2023 #3561 Share Posted August 28, 2023 @ronpes @Bigmike911 This really is on the bucket list and your wonderful pictures and stories just pushes it up the list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronpes Posted August 28, 2023 #3562 Share Posted August 28, 2023 (edited) 10 hours ago, Bigmike911 said: That brings back good memories. I did a round trip Trans Atlantic, on Queen Mary2. It went on and did a five day to Europe and I spent the five days in Scotland. One of the tours to the Highlands was to Blair Castle, and a trip into Pitlochry and I did a tour of the Blair Atholl distillery, which was quite enjoyable. In the Bond House they had whiskeys dated in the 50s and early 60's which the tour guide said were due to be blended into Johnny Walker Blue label in the fall. I still have a wee dram of Blair Athol whiskey. In the Bond warehouse, the guide told us that the oldest they had in stock (at the moment) dated back to 1968 ie 55years old and yes, it was blended to make Johnny Walker and sold exclusively to the USA. Edited August 28, 2023 by ronpes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted August 28, 2023 #3563 Share Posted August 28, 2023 11 hours ago, techteach said: @ronpes @Bigmike911 This really is on the bucket list and your wonderful pictures and stories just pushes it up the list. I guarantee you, you will not be disappointed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare D&N Posted August 28, 2023 #3564 Share Posted August 28, 2023 I've been very busy sifting through the catalogue for our local shop's wine event, which starts tomorrow. https://www.geantcasino.fr/bons-plans-du-moment/catalogues/ I've checked reviews, profiles and ratings for a range that interest me and have a list compiled to guide me. I hope to pick up the basics tomorrow and leave the expensive stuff until Friday evening when they will give me a voucher for 15% of what I spend on wines that are not on reduced offers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted August 28, 2023 #3565 Share Posted August 28, 2023 With Idalia making her way toward us, we are making preparations. Topped off gas tanks yesterday. Stocked up on staples for cold meals in case we lose power. We have solar for fridge and freezer, but not stove, microwave, a/c. But don’t think it will be strong enough to knock out power by the time it gets to us. Tomorrow to move porch furniture and plants into the garage. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted August 29, 2023 #3566 Share Posted August 29, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Essiesmom said: With Idalia making her way toward us, we are making preparations. Topped off gas tanks yesterday. Stocked up on staples for cold meals in case we lose power. We have solar for fridge and freezer, but not stove, microwave, a/c. But don’t think it will be strong enough to knock out power by the time it gets to us. Tomorrow to move porch furniture and plants into the garage. EM Have you considered a back up generator? I have a 20 kw natural gas (also available in propane) generator that was a god send during Harvey and even more in the Feb 2021 Freeze where the whole grid went down for several days. It will handle A/C, refrigerators and freezers and multiple appliances. It has a smart switch that as soon as we loose 'street' power it starts and when it gets of speed switches over. (about 12 seconds) I also have UPS (Uninterruptible Power Systems) on TV and Satellite, computers, router and internet radio that keep those systems powered during the switch. When you live in Hurricane Alley Gulf Coast is pays to be prepared. Good Luck with Idalia, fingers crossed it looses it's punch before it gets to you. Edited August 29, 2023 by Bigmike911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alc13 Posted August 29, 2023 #3567 Share Posted August 29, 2023 Yes, good luck to all those in the path of Idalia. Mr ALC's two sisters are here visiting us from the Sarasota FL area. They were due to fly home Wednesday, but the Tampa airport has been closed and isn't expected to reopen until Thursday. Here in Maine we depend on generators because of frequent power outages (forests and elevated power lines don't mix well). Can't say enough in favor of them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanky Lad Posted August 29, 2023 #3568 Share Posted August 29, 2023 One more day to work, then it's packing time. I checked my sea sick pills and discovered they were past the use by date, so I got some more today. Hopefully, I will not need them but better safe than sorry. The forecast for the drive to Southampton on Thursday looks like it might be a bit wet but looking ok for Friday when we sail on QV. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted August 30, 2023 #3569 Share Posted August 30, 2023 17 hours ago, Lanky Lad said: One more day to work, then it's packing time. I checked my sea sick pills and discovered they were past the use by date, so I got some more today. Hopefully, I will not need them but better safe than sorry. The forecast for the drive to Southampton on Thursday looks like it might be a bit wet but looking ok for Friday when we sail on QV. Bon Voyage for you LL. Wet sounds great, when you have had only high heat for more than a month. Enjoy your trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanky Lad Posted August 30, 2023 #3570 Share Posted August 30, 2023 6 hours ago, Bigmike911 said: Bon Voyage for you LL. Wet sounds great, when you have had only high heat for more than a month. Enjoy your trip. Thanks. I'm all packed and ready to set off in the morning. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NE John Posted August 31, 2023 #3571 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Started reading this book from 1972. I never realized the very close connection between Cunard and the British Admiralty from the early years. Really good history. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1 Posted August 31, 2023 #3572 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Just had lunch on the last sea day onboard QV, waiting for a lecture on astronomy. It has been a wonderful cruise around the British Isles. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted August 31, 2023 #3573 Share Posted August 31, 2023 32 minutes ago, QM1 said: Just had lunch on the last sea day onboard QV, waiting for a lecture on astronomy. It has been a wonderful cruise around the British Isles. I notice you went to Cobh instead of Holyhead, presumably because Holyhead was such a shambles on our version of this cruise earlier in the summer. Was this notified in advance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1 Posted August 31, 2023 #3574 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Cobh was already in our schedule when we booked 3 months ago. We had a fantastic arrival there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted August 31, 2023 #3575 Share Posted August 31, 2023 1 hour ago, QM1 said: Cobh was already in our schedule when we booked 3 months ago. We had a fantastic arrival there. Interesting. Glad it was nice. I wonder when it was changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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