Harry Peterson

Sorry to hear that. I hope she soon makes a full recovery.

Absolutely with you on that one! The seedless raspberry jam isn’t quite the same, so strawberry for me too.

Cornish or Devonian? There have been wars fought over this! They do more or less agree on the grockles/emmets thing though! As this might be construed as political, though, I shall take no sides. Even though I spent my formative school years in Falmouth. 😉

Mebyon Kernow?

We watched ‘Rye Lane’. 2023, set in Peckham. Delightful film. No violence whatsoever.

It’s now a reasonably likely outcome of a cruise, because of all the mingling inside, and perhaps immediately afterwards on disembarkation. No big deal for most people perhaps, apart from the possibility of longer term issues, but certain groups of people are best advised to stay well clear.

A long time ago, back in the 80s. Our daughter was cross because (at 3) she wasn’t allowed to go with us. We took her back some cake, but she didn’t get that the Queen didn’t provide goody bags anything like the ones at parties she went to! She met the Queen some 14 years later when she visited her school, and had a strict warning from us not to mention the goody bags!

Thanks - that’s an interesting menu. They really have been economising on those food costs! Most of that represents pretty cheap ingredients which just wouldn’t have made up the major part of a menu even five years back. The excellent Dover Sole, for example, has been replaced by the distinctly inferior Witch sole/flounder, which really isn’t in the same league, and you can’t get much cheaper than chicken and lasagne! Palatable enough, maybe, but a bit of a let down?

A lot of flags and bunting in our village. We have just the one flag, but it's an EU flag and somehow I'm guessing it's best that it stays on display where it is - in the greenhouse. We do have a new District Councillor this morning though, so I might save it for him!

Just hoping they don’t reform with Roger, Steve and Elsa.

But perhaps not with Saga, or with an additional premium?

Both well respected posters, whose opinions carry some weight here. Neither given to hyperbole. It’s puzzling, isn’t it.

That’s a very interesting question. I’ve always taken that free insurance claim as likely to exclude a lot of existing conditions, but admittedly without any direct evidence. Those examples do sound extreme though, unless perhaps in the latter case they have in mind potential claims in respect of reapplied dressings onboard?

Which reminds me of the time we were awake most of the night looking after our two poorly children in a certain Blackpool hotel once noted for accommodating a certain Mrs Thatcher at party conference time. In the morning, after a really awful night, we were presented with our account, which included several pounds for access to their ‘adult’ movie channel. It wasn’t so much the error that hacked us off - but actually arguing about it! Chance would have been a fine thing! 🙂

That was a VERY long time ago!

That’s very disappointing for both of you, Avril, and we’re both sorry to hear it. Better safe than sorry though, which says it all, and hope Frank gets the appointment he needs soon. Harry

Nemesis at Alton Towers, perhaps?

Ugh! There are few things better than a properly, freshly cooked omelette. I have never managed to find one better than my wife’s though. [Other wives and partners are available of course…….]

Dai, I appreciate your observations, but when I said I'd really struggle to ask for a larger portion in the course of a meal I took the meal as starting when I sat down at the table. You’re absolutely right of course to request an appropriate portion size - larger or smaller, and the server won’t bat an eyelid - but obviously some of us have sensitivities about doing an Oliver. 😉

Paul Ludlow has categorically confirmed that more than 99% of P&O customers rate it as a 4* cruise line.

Surely it hasn’t come to this? 😉

Definitely. It’s in another league altogether, for food, service and ambience.

I'm not easily embarrassed - in the right situation, perhaps discussing an issue with a customer service team. But I'd really struggle to ask for a larger portion in the course of a meal, or ask for an extra serving - and I almost certainly wouldn't. It wouldn't remotely bother me if another diner did, but there are some things that just aren't normally done. Certainly wouldn't happen in a restaurant - though particularly small portion sizes might mean you wouldn't return.

I respect your judgment, Ardennais. But I’m horrified at what you’ve said about the food, which for us used to be one of the high spots of P&O.

Airplane?