lincslady

I love the idea of the round the world weekend meals. Sounds lovely; I would invite myself if really cheeky and lived nearer to you! My order for delivery is always before noon, and the email confirming what is coming arrives before 8, so at least I am not interfering with shoppers. It often arrives at 5, hence me picturing them going round in the middle of the night to find my goodies. I have just been sitting in the garden - almost too hot. Heavenly. I fear the weekend forecast is, naturally, nothing like as good.

Good morning everyone. I hope we all have a good day - and I was wondering where everyone was too. It is funny how the smallest thing can cheer you up. My supermarket order this morning has one substitute, a much more expensive Greek yogurt which I have looked at but never ordered. For the price of the cheaper one, of course. And it gets great reviews. I just think 'how kind of the packers to send me this one', though my cynical son says they don't choose, just get an online message. Ah well. I sometimes think of them all, going round the shop (mine do come from the actual shop) at 2 or 3 in the morning and wish them well. Tiny pleasures.

Apologies if so - I have been wasting my dollars giving those large tips then (Joke). I had understood that on some ships at some times the staff had been enforcing the rules; maybe I am wrong.

But they are hardly likely to be unbiased, surely. You only get those, sometimes, from a fair minded paying passenger. Any journalist reporting on a ship will almost certainly have been 'comped', and will have been shown the best the ship can offer. Anyone on a freebie is not going to bite the hand that feeds it.

If your cruise starts or ends in Dubrovnik obviously it will be the port; if you are booking a local firm for an excursion or similar they should/will be able to find out where to meet you. It is a tricky one, as sometimes a ship intends to dock but has to tender, or the opposite, in a fairly late decision.

I fear this situation will not change any time soon for two main reasons - staff do not like to be involved in any possible unpleasantness, and it can happen that staff receive a crafty tip for ignoring the rule for certain very self-important and selfish passengers. I would like to think that this does not happen, but it does, at least occasionally.

Dubrovnik is one place where it is much pleasanter to be tendered; a vey short tender ride and lovely views from the ship, as opposed to a coach ride from the port, with a very congested area to board the coach on the way back. The only disadvantage would be for anyone who could not manage to get in and out of tenders.

Mixed blue and cloudy here, but mostly blue. Watching GP later (no Sky) but saw the result on the news - a nice change.

And there won't be much hanky-panky if they are dressed like that.

Thank you, Lois. Most Brits, even those who are not Royalists, will feel sad that someone so young and with young children should be going through this, and having to make it public knowledge in view of the nastiness of some people on social media. I hope they feel duly ashamed of themselves, and that the cancer she has is one of the 'better' ones and still at an early stage. I was lucky to have had one of those, and over ten years on seem to be getting away with it so far.

Hoping that it is a low grade early stage that she has, and it is really just a belt and braces chemo. that she is going to have. I don't often shed a tear for someone I don't know, but did this evening, as she is such an asset to the Royal family and far too young to have something which could be life threatening to deal with. Th vast majority of Brits will be feeling the same, and hopefully the trolls will now shut up and go away. And feel ashamed.

Sadly, the problem for men is that they tend not to confide in their friends like women do - in fact, many of them do not have close men friends, and do not like to appear emotional in front of their women friends/relatives. Fortunately younger men are getting more able to do so than the older stiff upper lipped generation. I found talking to my friends and my children about grief, guilt and anger fairly easy and their views helpful.

Don't tell him, Pike. Sorry to read you can't/shouldn't have bacon.

Love the cress with everything!

Looks great - apart from no bacon, and the dreaded beans on the plate!

Yes please. This has been one of the most interesting cruises ever to enjoy from just sitting at the laptop. Many thanks.

Safe journey back, Brian - and hopefully you will go back in the years to come to see your friends and enjoy meals in the restaurant again.

That last photo in particular is amazing, Mysty. Quite an experience.

Yes, the shiny ones are a mystery to me also - but do look like blackcurrant somethings. The whole tea looks lovely.

The small lavender coloured 'sandwich' type cakes are macarons, wildly popular in the UK at present, made with egg whites and almond. Not to be confused with 'macaroons', which are also made with egg whites but with coconut and less elegant to look at, a sort of 'British version. Neither has flour in them, and macarons are at present considered a very smart addition to any afternoon tea. And delicious if you like almonds.

I guess the 'extras' add up a lot - my first prescription spex are just for driving, and with just an antiglare coating two pairs (one slightly tinted) was just over £100. Needless to say they are not Designer ones.

That sounds like the early days of TK. The wine staff had obviously been told to just mention the extra charge wines, which did not go down well with many patrons. No really their fault, and it soon got rectified.

It is the humidity - and I noticed especially in Singapore that the aircon is set so cold indoors that outside feels even worse than it needs to.

All the difference in the world between a frozen commercial hash brown and some of last night's leftover mash made into a pattie and fried until brown for breakfast at home.

I do like beans on toast, for a light midday meal. Or possibly with sausage and mash or similar. Not exactly haute cuisine, but tasty when you are in the mood. Just definitely not for breakfast.