Eglesbrech

10 minutes ago, zap99 said:

We went to Morrisons today and purchased cans of caffeine free coke for our RC cruise. Strange folk we are. We go to the supermarket every Monday and into town on Friday. Bank to get some cash and pay the credit cards, shops, lunch ,coffee and a look around the shops. We don't internet bank, or have groceries delivered...Strange people it seems. Death of the High St?. Not our fault. DW tries here best to keep the shops busy.🤣

Our bank closed down, the last one in the village or surrounding area. Every time I visited the one in the nearest big town they try to push me to use the machines which I politely declined. I eventually told them that while I was perfectly capable of using the technology I didn’t want to so stop pushing it. 
 

Same goes for those self service check outs. Even Boots has taken away the counters and replaced them with the pesky machines. Neither wonder people can’t communicate anymore, there is no one to talk to just beeping machines with bar code readers (fe if any of which accept cash).

Im sure the local shops appreciate your DWs efforts, don’t think of it as her spending money, think of it as her civic duty 😀.

2 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

We have also been forecast an arctic blast later this week, 12 oC but feels like 7 oC. 

 

Feels like winter is here early. Hopefully just a blip.

Cold weather makes me feel like comfort food, too early in the year for that!

It’s really cold here tonight, the heating has kicked in. Over the weekend we had lovely weather and now it’s baltic,

Promised a smattering of snow on the hills tomorrow.

Hopefully it’s warmer further south.

1 hour ago, FangedRose said:

But the op specifically states that they want to guarantee that they are seated together, they also they want this Select Fare benefit without paying for it. Cheeky is at the lower end of adjectives I could have used!

No they don’t.

Add to that the fact that the op is new to CC, just 3 posts. Not a very warm welcome when they asked a perfectly reasonable question which thankfully @Selbourne answered in a courteous and helpful manner as he always does.

2 hours ago, showingdiva said:

Been foggy here in Edinburgh for days.   Caribbean Princess took one look at the weather and left - tendering at South Queensferry has its risks with the oil terminal and the bridges (ships have to take a tug hanging on to the back of them for the duration).   Viking Neptune anchored in the river for a while, but is now tendering from Newhaven.

 

Soup made and Burghley horse trials on the TV.

Foggy mornings with a lot of haar. It burnt off yesterday to become really sunny by about 2 pm.

Its dull today but really hot.

21 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

Always remember going to the outside toilet in my Aunt's terrace house. Cold, no washbasin, spiders, paper squares on a bit of wire. We knew how to live!! Never complain now.

We were posh. My grandparents were fruit merchants so we had the blue tissue wrapping from the oranges on a spike. Nice and soft but left a blue dye. 

Every time we visited we used to take my granny toilet rolls!

9 hours ago, Jules. said:

I really hope that you enjoy this cruise, the smaller ships have a special place in my heart. 
 

We’re (husband and I) going on Bolette in October too, seeking sun and warmth, hopefully! My first ever cruise back in 2009 was with my mum on Black Watch to Norway, I was in my mid-thirties then and definitely one of the youngest passengers. We cruised to celebrate mum’s 65th birthday, which occurred while we were on board. We loved the cruise and it suited our personalities down to the ground. 
I was back on Black Watch in 2012, this time with mum and with 15yo eldest son, had 13 nights up to the North Cape and had a great time again. 
Since then we’ve cruised with many different lines, dictated purely by dates booked off from work so no particular loyalty. I’ll never sail Royal Caribbean again though, too busy and loud for me. 

I’m looking forward to a relaxing cruise, we’ve had quite a tough few months. We may not even get off at Bilbao as we’ve been there before. Having a 20 minute journey to Liverpool port is just the icing on the cake! 
 

If you don’t fancy the trip to Bilbao have you been to the actual town of  Getxo? It’s a nice walk along the promenade and up the lift in the side of the mountain to the town.

It’s not a big town but does have some nice shops, a few tapas bars etc. A nice way to spend a morning.

8 minutes ago, Rosemary54 said:

Hi, we are considering a Fred cruise after a disappointing P&O one but just wondering about the average age of passengers. I was always under the impression it is mostly an elderly clientele who sails with FO. We are early 60s but are young and fit for our age so like a good mix of ages.

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

Older passengers are definitely in the majority, most folks are minimum 50 plus with a small younger element. For example on our last cruise there were a few groups of 40 something parents with teenagers.

Like you many are young at heart, fairly fit and speed walk around the promenade deck but there are also those with zimmers and wheelchairs.

We were on Aurora in April and to be honest there were no more “old” people on Fred than the adults only P&O.

If you want a mix of children / teens/ 20 / 30 / 40 etc then probably not for you.

Can anyone recommend a decent hotel near Portsmouth please.

Ideally we would like somewhere central (with guaranteed parking) where we could see the local sites on foot.

Any suggestions?

16 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

Our half term school hols is end of October. When I was a kid it was called tattie picking, where the older kids earned a few bob in the fields. 

It was called tattie howking up here and yes children did it from any age.

I started work at age 14, we were consequently thought of as “posh” as it was as a waitress at weekends and not in the fields. I even had the black and white uniform and frilly cap.

People would throw their hands up in horror now at the thought of children being employed as cheap farm labourers (or indeed a waitress). 

22 minutes ago, Angel57 said:

To be honest these days many parents take their children out of school during term time, so there will always be a few on board whatever the date.

A bit different from when I was at school in the 60s and 70s when you practically needed an act of parliament for a day off🤣

I don’t mind a few, it’s a tsunami of them that worries me. We made the mistake once of going in a school holiday. Not fun (for grumpy old me).

Are there English or Welsh school holidays in late November? (I want to avoid any such possibility).

Looking at a cruise and they seem to be offering free child places for the last week in November?

16 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

Tesco had Christmas chocolate on display last weekend, I bought 2 chocolate Santa's as a joke for our teenagers, they both laughed but still ate them.

The boxes of Celebrations, Roses etc seem to pop up earlier every year and for every possible celebration time.

chocolate Santas in August, that must be a record.
 

The boxes get smaller every year as well. They used to be useful for transporting cakes to events so you didn’t need to worry about getting a decent Tupperware cake carrier back.

Winter is definitely coming. My flu jag appointment is in for early September. I hope this one is not painful like last years.
 

The second portent of winter is the fact that ASDA have their Christmas area up on line so one can already purchase the ubiquitous box of celebrations or roses, snow balls, Terrys chocolate oranges etc.

The garden centre has an area boxed off ready for the Christmas display, it’s August!

I think we should have a photo competition on here for the most ostentatious and far too early Christmas displays!

2 hours ago, lohr500 said:

Not going well so far 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8jl3720yw3o

Yes I read that article this morning. I think Fred will be very glad that the ship is not their problem anymore. 

22 minutes ago, mrsgoggins said:

Love those toenails 😁. Joyful photo - well deserved too!

What’s the blue and the big yellow ball in the sky, been too long, can’t remember what it is.

Glad you had a nice day.

9 minutes ago, brian1 said:

One bloke said"blimey I thought that was a coffin lid mate".

That’s what it looked like to me on first glance. I thought you were planning ahead! Practical DIY indeed.

On a recent cruise children had drawings up on the doors so no issue with door decorations.

5 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Anyone know what to do with your suitcases on Aurora if they won't fit under the bed?  I've currently got two on my balcony but I don't think I can leave them there permanently. The steward has shrugged his shoulders and said nothing he can do.

 

The beds are extremely low, even my small hard suitcase has been a struggle.

We ended up putting one of ours under the sofa, OH had to lift it but then they went under. Only works if it’s not a sofa bed (and you can lift it of course).

That said the cabin steward should actually be able to find a home for it. They did it for my sisters massive baggage on Aurora in April this year. 

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en
 

Above is a link to some information, interestingly they say you should not book travel before you have one. Difficult as it’s just being introduced. I suspect that there will be a massive rush of applications in the early days.

“Apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation well in advance – before you buy your ticket or book your accommodation”

Changes of port are a real annoyance, particularly when no reasonable explanation is given. Cruise contracts for all lines are very much one sided in their favour when it comes to things like this.

I know it’s a pain if Guernsey was somewhere you particularly wanted to go but it is a problematic port to get in to. Perhaps the change is due to the number of times this port has been missed?

Hopefully the rest of your trip remains the same. Bon voyage.

11 hours ago, Josy1953 said:

I remember the Monacled Mutineer.  We have lost a lot of theolder contributers but it is nice to get new ones such as Vampiress88 and her family in their place.

Yes I love reading @Vampiress88 reviews. Interesting to get her perspective.

I was so pleased when Avril checked in, great to know that she is well.

I think we need an annual check in for those have simply vanished either by choice or for other reasons.

I miss Harry, its been a long time since he posted and also folks like Andrew (Britboys).

Wowz disappeared, though it’s been reported that he posts elsewhere.

There are many more I have known for years who just fade away.

@jeanlyon  and @daiB you will remember some of the old faithful's  like the monocled mutineer (Derek). 
 

Some day I will simply vanish too.

@grapau27 we received a hand stitched sampler when we got married with the following on it;

marriage clearly understood

give the grateful and the good

a paradise on earth

A good marriage is one of the best blessing we can have. Congratulations on your anniversary. 

3 hours ago, Peanut006 said:

Good afternoon everyone, hope you are all ok today.

 

It’s a breezy day here today but plenty blue sky and sunshine.

 

It’s my birthday today, I have just met the girls for coffee this morning which was lovely and my mum is coming for tea later.

 

I went to the Hot Ice Show in Blackpool last night, it was fabulous, highly recommended.

 

I should go to the gym this afternoon but not sure I am in the mood today

 

Take care everyone 

 

Michelle

Enjoy your day. I’m with Angel, no calories count on your birthday.

Birthdays are funny things. Loved them as a child, hated the ones with zeros in the middle, now I’m proud of my age and thankful for every year of health and enjoyment.

Have a lovely evening with mum.