sgmn

Can't remember if I updated you guys on my fainting episode on the flight to Singapore.  To recap I've never fainted before and I had no warning or feeling of being dizzy. 

GP said I had to see neurologist and can't drive until given all clear.  All blood tests and ecg were good. Consultant neurologist gave me all clear but said GP should refer to cardiologist as could be heart issue so back to square one.

Our driving licencing authority has taken away my licence but I'm hoping I may get it back after all clear from neurologist. 🤞

It's now been three months without my licence and very frustrating as we live in the country and I'm dependant on Gary to take me anywhere.

On the plus side my smart watch says I'm in the top 15% in the country for steps 😁

3 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

Hello from Venice!  We are starting our 3rd day here.  Our flight from JFK went off very well and we have had a little rain but still have done all we have planned.  Yesterday was an excursion to Murano and Burano.  Today DH and I are doing the Doges Palace tour.  Tomorrow we meet Explorer of the seas in Ravenna!  Here are some pictures.

Beautiful pics. 

We were lucky to be n one of the final seasons out of Venice in 1918. It was amazing sailing down The Grand Canal 

13 hours ago, clochette said:

As others have mentioned mint is very invasive, I have mine in its own planter and it comes back every year, it is currently big enough for many Mojitos.  

As far as chive same thing also comes back, but not invasive, the plant that I have is 20 years old, my now 26 year old daughter got it for me for mother's day at the school sale because it was a pretty purple flower, my favorite "flower" of all time.

I also grow mint in its own pot otherwise it takes over

23 hours ago, Lionesss said:

Good morning 4:56am. 

 

Why am I up when I do not have to be up. 
 

Frustrating 

 

Cool room. Warm bed. Snuggling cat. 
 

Eyes wide open. 
 

Guess I’ll get up. 
 

Trouble sleeping through the night is more and more common lately. 
 

5 hours, and not straight through is —- what it is. 
 

Be safe. 

I'm the same Sue.

I find if I put my ear buds in and listen to an old favourite story on Audible or BBC sounds, I drop off within five or 10 min, 9 times out of 10. I set the timer for 15 min so it automatically shuts off. DH does the same with his music playlist on Spotify. Others I know listen to podcasts. It seems to put your mind in neutral and stops you overthinking.

On BBC sounds app the lovely Jamie Dornan does a podcast called 'sleep sound' which is good. 

My favorite story is Pride and Prejudice read by Claire Corbett, she has a lovely voice and voices the characters very well

You can bring a bottle of wine each on board plus a limited amount of soft drinks. 

You can also pre buy through RC gifts  bottles of wine and sometimes half bottles of spirits.  Plus cooler filled with beer. They will be waiting in your cabin when you board.  

Handy if you want to limit your on board bar bill

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/royalgifts/wine-liquor

Wines on board are from $8 plus 18% tip, usually choice of 8-9 different wines under $10 a glass including a sparkling wine. Bottles from $35. 

If you don't drink a whole bottle the restaurant will keep it for you for the next evening.

Tea/coffee/hot chocolate/flavoured iced water/iced water  etc are all free.

Factor in how many port days you have. If you're off the ship most days it may not be worth it, plus you can buy a beer or whatever in the ports at more reasonable cost. 

There is usually a 'special of the day' cocktail with a 

 couple of dollars off. 

Before we were Diamond we use to buy the $90, 10 drink cards (up to $14 a drink) on board, but I think since Covid restart they have stopped them. 

The next day we went back to Mevagissey to meet up with my cousins for lunch. Another lovely day. 

Later we went for a cliff walk snd spent some time in the hotel spa before dinner. 

Cornwall, like Wales, is famous for its male voice choirs and the USA tour group had invited one to provide after dinner entertainment. The tour leader asked us if we wanted to come along and listen.   They mainly sing sea shanties which can be funny and sometimes very moving. I tried to attach a little video of the sea shanties but the link keeps failing 

On the last day we went to the very old tall ships harbour of Charlestown. Its used a lot in films. 

2 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I don't get it. If someone is so tortured and hurting as to take that sort of action maybe the church should be a bit more compassionate.

 

Not trying to start a religious debate.

I agree but times were different (and tough) in the 1930s. The  vicar did a lovely little service for us when we erected the memorial stone in the churchyard 

So its been a busy few days away and I've just caught up. 

After our first outing on the boat last weekend and looking after the grands on Tuesday we took the opportunity to have a few days away in Cornwall. 

We stayed just outside Mevagissey in The Cornwall Spa Hotel.  It was very nice but had large tour groups from Germany and USA on two of the three nights and the staff were overwhelmed in the kitchen and restaurant, with dinner on the first night taking three hours. 

On our first full day we went to Perranporth where my Paternal grandmother lived and where we spent most of our holidays growing up.  Then went into Mevagissey where other relatives lived for dinner. 

The surf was up and there were about 20 people surfing, but as the water temperature was about 13c I just paddled

This was the spot where the author of the Poldark novels had a beach but and wrote his books

Mevagissey harbour, still a working fishing port.

Inner and outer harbour. We spotted a seal in the outer harbour

15 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Interesting that suicide is "forbidden" in both faiths.... If a Jew is taking his own life, he's buried "outside" the cemetery's fence....

 

 

That's exactly what I was talking with my cousin (living in Germany).

 

The moment he's selling his parent's apartment (my uncle and aunt), he'll stop coming to Bucharest.

 

At least, Sue, your son(s) live in the same country, not like us, half in Israel and half in Germany.

 

 

Yes, same. She was taken as far as the Lynchgate but not into the consecrated graveyard.  She was likely buried nearby in unconsecrated ground but there was no headstone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lychgate

On 5/16/2024 at 11:50 PM, dani negreanu said:

 

@Momof3gurlz

Thank you Deb (and Andy, of course). You're so right. I'm living with a constant heavy stone literally on my chest, not enabling me to breath.... I'm enjoying some "glimpse" of normal life, like the trip we took to my roots.

 

But, otherwise, all is dark. This war could have been ended months ago, with the same results, but without so much loss of lives on both sides and useless damage. And the hostages are still there, and the Red Cross still didn't manage to visit/supply meds to any one of them.

 

 

+ 1 Pat @taznremmy

 

 

@Sea Dog

 

+ 1 Greg 💐 🥂 😘 [had a good laugh, much needed, at the "sea fog"]

 

@SteelCityCruiser10

 

Mark, may I join all the other posters in saying that I'm so sorry you've lost your regal Oliver 😢.

 

Dani, sending my heartfelt wishes that cool heads prevail, the conflict ends soon and the hostages get home safely to their families 

On 5/16/2024 at 8:21 PM, Sea Dog said:

Thank you Maryann! Will be going out to a nice steak dinner with Linda and son Jonathan!

Happy Belated Birthday Greg. Hope you had a great steak dinner with the family 

On 5/15/2024 at 11:49 PM, dani negreanu said:

 

@jmh2006

 

Of course, Jennifer, it will be more than welcomed 😘

 

 

@helen haywood  Thanks, Marian (was your grandfather Romanian? It is a popular male name there).

 

It sure is a PITA, and quite has me worrying to be sick again so quickly... I assume I've got it on the flight back from Bucharest....

 

So, I've spent 2.15 days in Bucharest, "down the memory line".

 

For many years I've wanted to go back, to fulfill my promise to my mom, to lay a flower on her parents' grave, since she was too old to travel.

 

As frequent fliers with our national company, we get promos on our birthdays, reduced rates (but also very limited dates and cities). Amsterdam is never included...

 

This time, the "stars aligned" and I bought 2 tickets. DH is not the "nostalgic" type, and DS1 was keen to see his mom's roots.

 

It so happened that my other Romanian cousin [living in Germany] was busy emptying his late parents' apartment in order to put it on the market and I had a "ready made" guide to both cemeteries I've planed to visit in Day 2, and then, on Day 1 -- see my childhood home (demolished) and the one from where I've emigrated to Israel.

 

Visiting my childhood homes, I've been surprised how much the distances were wayyyy shorter... From both houses I've also went to my kindergarten and elementary school, and then to high school. It took much less time that I've remembered.

 

At my second home, the door was locked. We waited for someone to pass, no luck, and my cousin just knocked on the window of one of the neighbors.... To my amazement, a guy looked out, opened the window with a smile.... and my cousin said: "this lady here lived on the 1st floor 58 years ago, and she wants to take a look inside...". The guy readily came to the door and let us in....

 

Here I'm waiting at the entrance. So sad to see all the buildings were in a decrepit state  ---

 

 

Day 2, I went to the Sephardic and Ashkenazic cemeteries. My paternal aunt is buried in the Sephardic one, and it was in a dire state of neglect. We had to "battle" trees and branches, and only my son was able to stand in front of the grave, lay a rose and take a pic.

 

 

The state of the other cemetery is a bit better, and my cousin is paying someone to tend to the graves of his parents, our grandparents (actually, only our grannie is buried there, since our grand perished in a camp and, probably, was buried in a mass grave) and our childless uncle.

 

When my grannie died, the 5 brothers and sisters decided also on a bench in their parents' memory.

 

With DS1 on the bench --

 

 

My grands' grave --

 

 

And lastly, but not least, my paternal grannie (grandad fought in WWI, his dying place is not known). Now, that my cousin (left) knows the place, he'll add this one to the "package deal" of tending the graves he has with the cemetery's administration....

 

 

 

I'm relieved that I had the opportunity to fulfill my mom's wish, and it also was a "first" traveling with my eldest son and seeing his interest in his "roots".

So happy for you that you were able to go visit your grands graves again and to pass the interest and information onto your son

Every time we go to Cornwall we put flowers on my paternal Nanas grave and my mother's auntie who took her in when her parents died when she an orphan and my maternal grands memorial.  Because my maternal grandmother took her own life she wasn't given a  Christian burial in consecrated ground (1939).  So 10 years ago we had a little religious service in the graveyard of her village with a granite memorial to her and my maternal grandfather. 

I keep telling my son he needs to come to Cornwall with me so I can show him where the bodies are !!  When we go I don't think anyone will put flowers on their graves. 

20 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

Missing Seychelles is hard to swallow as no other chance now.

Wonder what else will get cancelled.

 

I believe they stopped at Mahè Seychelles. It was the second Seychelles port that was cancelled along with Madagascar 

17 hours ago, twangster said:

Day Two - Dover, England

 

The fog from last night became the fog of the morning.

 

 

It's a busy section of water and I could hear several other ships following fog protocol blowing their whistles, some faint, some loud.

 

marinetraffic.com:

 

 

The white cliffs of... the mist.

 

 

 

 

Confirmed.  The captain found England.

 

Welcome to the UK. 

Just to prove we do have nice weather sometimes, this is Cornwall yesterday . Hope the weather improves for you

21 hours ago, twangster said:

Despite not needing a VISA or travel authorization for entry into the UK just yet, we are required to go through passport control when we arrive in Dover on day two.

 

 

Shortly after 11am we began boarding starting with suites and pinnacle.

 

Fresh from dry dock this is the first revenue cruise.  With a fresh paint job Jewel was looking very clean.

 

 

 

We were welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and wooden tulips for the ladies.

 

 

 

Looking forward to your trip blog. Love Jewel, our favourite RC shop. I've been back and forth about booking her for months this Sumner.  Wish I had now.

7 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

Agreed...but RCCL needs to be careful about getting wrapped up in a race to the bottom.  I'd prefer they keep the standard up and raise pricing if need be.  For us, the strategy has been to buy the UDP....but diversity is starting to lack there AND were seeing quality start to drop there as well.  I'd gate to reach a point where we feel we can't even "buy" the quality of food we'd like on RCCL.

Agree they are pushing people to specialised dining. But our next cruise (Serenade) is 16 nights with only three specialised restaurants so UDP isn't really an option.  Individual prices are very high seeing as you've already paid for dinner in your (high) cruise fare. On Symphony last year Chops was £60pp and half empty.   Other cruise lines are half the price for specialised dinning. 

20 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

Yesterday was the end of the cruise.  We woke up at 7AM finished packing the bags and found our stateroom attendant to give him our information about our new cabin, to hopefully help him transfer the bags.  The process to get the new room key was easy, and we got off the ship around 9AM.  Got to the free shuttle to take us to the World Trade Center in Barcelona.  It left promptly.  According to Dale from the FlowRider they had been on the bus for over 30 minutes before it left.  We had a similar wait at the end of the day.  We walked up Las Ramblas, before very much was open for business.  Arrived at Catalunya Park and started shopping at Zara, Desequil, Primark, UniQlo, El Cortes Ingles, and other shops, as we made our way to La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. We ate lunch at McDonald’s since we were trying to avoid a long delayed lunch. We still arrived early for our entrance time so we walked the blocks around the cathedral, and Krystal bought a t-shirt at one of the sketchy tourist shops.  

 

The cathedral has made a lot of progress since the last time we were there.  The inside to my eye looks almost completely finished.  It is to my eye the most unique and beautiful cathedral we have visited.  I am not a Gaudi devotee, but I think he must truly have been a genius.  He clearly had a unique vision about how to build a Gothic Cathedral.  

 

During our walk around the block, we noticed the shortage of available taxis, so we decided to walk back since we had about 20 minutes to spare at the worst case scenario and most like another 30 minutes.  Our feet were on fire when we got to the bus.  When we got to our state room I had walked 24,449 steps (over 10 miles) per my Apple Watch. Since we had our new stateroom cards with a red sticker we skipped right past the last of the arrivals for our cruise.  Cleared security.  Went to the duty free shop bought our two bottles of wine and was disappointed that there was no more security, I could have bought more! 😂

 

Our luggage was in our new cabin waiting for us.  Our old cabin was 9390 corner aft deck 9.  It was small and run down.  The balcony was nice, but was covered heavily with soot every time we had a port call.  James our steward hadn’t addressed it since before Malaga, and it was pretty nasty.  Our new cabin is much larger, but we lost our two lounge chairs so it only has a taller table and two chairs.  The view from the aft corner was amazing for star gazing and seeing the horizon, our new cabin had been washed and had about 3/4”  of water on the floor.  We asked our steward to address it and after dinner at Giovanni’s it was mostly gone.  We have the upgraded amenities (shampoo etc) in our new cabins.  Much more closet space, bathroom shelves, nicer Villery Boch sink, etc.  Krystal likes our new cabin much more.  

 

After putting my stuff in the closet after unpacking, I headed off to the FlowRider.  Got there about 4;15 and surfed for about 75 minutes.  Line was short with a couple of new boogie boarders.  Holdovers Dale (winner of all the titles for surfing) and Jay the comedian were there.  There is a new blue band young man, Rob from Isle of Wight.  Before Advanced stand-up started at 5:30PM it was just the three holdovers.  I had a blister on my great toe from the walking and I was a sluggish surfer at best.  Jay saw me fall, and said, he didn’t realize I could fall.🤣  I fell about 3 times.  It was coolish, so I left Dale and Jay the wave for the last 15 minutes.  I asked Jay when he performs again, and he actually doesn’t know for sure. I found that strange, but hardly surprising.  

 

Dinner was super slow for our first BOGO at Giovannis, and we met an interesting couple from Florida originally New Jersey which I could have guessed without being told.  The husband used me as a prop for people who are part of his group at another table.  Again, the New Jersey showed thru amazingly well.  😂. It was all fine, but a bit weird.  O well.  He said he would be up to watch me surf at 9AM, and we will see, considering how much wine they had at dinner I would think the chances are slim and none.  After we went to the Schooner bar to get some Gran Marnier to drink on the balcony with its limited view.  

 

The new bed seemed firmer than the last, but it could be the miles we walked and the additional falling on the FlowRider.  In the Crown Lounge this morning, and it is a tiny fraction of the people in line of the previous cruise for the coffee machine.  Last night we arrived after 6PM and there were many empty chairs.  So, that is better.  Heddy, a pin, said she was not allowed in the suite lounge on the previous sailing that she was 5 points short of that cut off, but she is allowed in on this cruise, so obviously, a lot less C&A big numbers on this cruise. Yay!

 

We are doing a Royal tour of Nice and Eze today.  

 

Ciao, off to the cabin to prep for the FlowRider.  

 

jc

Thanks JC, great story telling.  Every time I go through Barcelona I kick myself for not buying wine in the outlet after security 😁

Looking forward to hearing more 

We were in the English surfing town of Perranporth yesterday. There were about 20 stand up and boogie board surfers 🏄‍♀️ in the sea, but water temp was only about 13c so I decided against 

Thank you @BecAusand Laura for keeping this  world cruise thread going, its great to read about here on CC and hear about the great ports. 

Sorry to hear about Madagascar, I would of been upset too at missing that one,  but as you say, safety first. 

8 hours ago, Luckynana said:

 

After seeing the cute cars in Japan @FromSea2ShiningSea Helen posted, it reminded me of an adorable Yellow car I saw in the parking lot when I got out of Church this past weekend.  I had never heard of this car before, nor had Jim.  I do wish I had taken a picture of it.  It was a 1959 Riley made, I believe, in England.  Can you help me out on this, Graham @grapau27, or Sue @sgmn??  I'd also ask our other friend Graham, (Schooner), but he's no longer on here with us.😔

I'm going to a classic car show next weekend, I'll look out for one 

5 hours ago, jmh2006 said:

Thank you for the birthday wishes!  I wish I could say it was the best day ever, but I actually spent all morning at the hospital with my DH, Dave, who had a second kidney stone episode yesterday.  So most of yesterday was in the ER, he spent the night at the hospital and this morning had another stent put in.  The first round came last December.  This stone is bigger and since we are scheduled to depart for Italy and our cruise on Explorer a week from today he is having lithotripsy performed on Monday the 20th.  Not exactly the best birthday but that is okay as long as we make our trip.  Anyway he is comfortable now and we did go to a Sushi restaurant in Detroit tonight for dinner so it wasn't all bad! 😁

So sorry to hear. I hope he makes a good recovery and you make your trip and cruise 

8 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Last but not least, I have to share with you these cute little cars.  I love them and wish they make these cars here in US because I would get one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for all your posts about your Japanese trip,  I've found it really interesting and great pictures 📸 

On 5/13/2024 at 10:27 AM, Ocean Boy said:

For you Samsung users... I noticed this morning that I have a UI operating system update available from 6.0 to 6.1. I'm about to do the update. I hope it doesn't screw up my phone.

Hope it went well,  I also have Samsung 

On 5/13/2024 at 4:29 AM, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Day 11- 4/19/2024- Aomori, Japan- Cherry Blossom paradise

 

Hirosaki Park- A home for 2,000 cherry blossom trees.  We get to witness these trees in full bloom.  It’s like an explosion of cherry blossoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hirosaki Castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Showa Big Buddha Seiryu-ji Temple

 

 

 

 

Your Japanese adventure looks fantastic and i live that you got to see and do so much. . Hubby desperately wants to visit Japan but I am daunted by all the planning and all the unknowns. Its such a different culture.  I'm usually the planner in the family but I just don't know where to start.  Maybe a guided tour would be the way to go ?

On 5/12/2024 at 10:32 PM, Lionesss said:

The meaning of Mother’s Day to me. 

Being a career woman I got married when I was 35. So time was a priority in starting a family. 
 

However;

My first pregnancy ended in a disaster when I started let’s just say losing massive quantities of blood.  They were unable to save the baby. Being of the medical profession and also being stupid at times. I refused blood transfusions because I did not want any antibodies interfering with a future pregnancy. So I was discharged on iron 4 x a day and not permitted to drive till my Hgb was above 10 ( um it was 6.5). 
This emergency happened on Mother’s Day 1992.  

 

We were given the go ahead late summer to start our family. 
Then in September I was pregnant. And had a miscarriage on Sweetest day in October. 
 

I hated holidays. And Mothers Day was very emotional for me. We gave up trying. It wasn’t to be. 
 

But on St Patrick’s day 1994. The spouse was sick as a dog. And I suggested we give it one last attempt to work on the job of getting pregnant. Not just a time for us to bond. ( I was looking at cycles on my calendar. I thought I could be ovulating). 
He goes. “ I can’t breathe… and you want to………”

I go if we get pregnant we will call the child Ampicillin. 
 

I found out I was pregnant on Good Friday and went into labor on Christmas Eve. 
Meet our ampicillin ( Christina). Soon to be 30. 
 

Now. Life happens for a reason. 
Had I had those first two children chances are we would have never known Christina. 
 

Meet Ampicillin (Christina)

 

 

 

 

 

I am blessed. 
 

I LOVE MOTHERS DAY. 

 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY -

To all who have any role in raising children. 
 

💕

 

Sad story but with a happy ending and your Christina is very beautiful.

On 5/12/2024 at 7:56 PM, MJSailors said:

 

Just sharing some cruise news too !

DH and I have been wanting to take a cruise from NYC to Quebec this Fall. I searched most of the usual cruise lines including RCL and found that most are going out of Boston which required round trip airfare to Boston and an overnight hotel stay. Then, I found that Cunard has a round trip NYC to Quebec with an overnight in Quebec!

We booked the cruise on the QM2 early this AM.

So looking forward to this!

We did a transatlantic on the QE2 in 2001. We are familiar with the Cunard way of cruising, although they have made changes in the cruise style since 23 (!) years ago.

The ship stops in Portland ME, so we can visit our niece   who lives there.

Now I need to look at my "fancy" dresses and see if my DH would like to wear a dinner jacket at least for one of the gala nights.

The cruise is set for September. 

🤞that we stay well and in somewhat good shape until then.😊

MJ 🙋🏻‍♀️

On 5/12/2024 at 8:13 PM, MJSailors said:

Graham-Question for you-have you and Pauline cruised with Cunard out of Southampton?

If so recently could you give us some tips to enjoy the cruise?

Thank you!

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Not Graham, but our first cruise was QM.  They had great guest speakers and a planetarium. If you like dancing, they have dancing hosts if only one of you dances. 

Loved the big waves , it was a transatlantic. 

Our teenage boys came too and we bought DS1 and hubby evening clothes (tux) from charity shops. DS1 looked like a young James Bond , hubby more like the Godfather.😁

I bought some of my long dresses second hand on e-bay.

We had a great time and I keep meaning to book again.  

Lots of good info on the CC pages for Cunard