Harry Peterson

@Eglesbrech: You and I have in the distant past discussed buying cheese, fish etc online. We’re after some decent haddock, Dover sole and other fish at the moment for the freezer, and our local fish van has lost his way a bit on quality. Do you happen to have any recommendations please? I can offer you in return a recommendation for an excellent frozen fruit supplier, direct from the farm, if you’re interested!

I can certainly agree with the Lidl recommendation for Christmassy foodstuffs. Wide range, excellent quality, low prices. Every bit as good as anywhere else’s and almost certainly from the same suppliers to the same or better specifications. Aldi likewise. Well worth a visit.

Good one, Avril. Suggestion duly passed to chef. Her tip comes from the WI, and it works for us. It’s to put the home made mincemeat into the pastry frozen. Keeps the flavour and moistness of the mincemeat, while still allowing a properly cooked pastry.

I'm hopeless on new fiction - never seem to get the time - but as you like Trollope, how about some of the other classics like these: https://www.goodreads.com/author/similar/20524.Anthony_Trollope I'd add Hugh Walpole and George Orwell for a bit of extra variety. Added bonus if you use the KIndle - most of the authors have been dead for more than 70 years, the books are out of copyright, and they're free!

One more vote here for that one. As used by the excellent cook who lives in this house. As eaten and enjoyed by the foodie who benefits from her passion for home cooking. 😉

I can only compare the P&O of 2012 with the P&O of 2019 - and it proved to be quite a different product, which is why we're looking at other options for when we can return. Those other options (Saga and Cunard) are likely to be considerably more expensive, so 'value for money' is going to be down to individual decisions. We do have very good friends though (they put us on to P&O in the first place with glowing praise) who gave up on P&O fairly recently for Saga, and they now say they wouldn't consider going back to P&O.

Interesting question, and as someone considering Saga and Cunard as an alternative to P&O I’d be interested in the responses too. Just out of curiosity, when did you last cruise with P&O?

Horses for courses, I suppose. We've used all four aft suites on Ventura/Azura and prefer the larger A752/A753 simply because they're more spacious at 742 square feet. A750/A751 are 561 square feet, but all of these measurements do of course include the very spacious balconies. Having said that, A750/751 are usually much cheaper, and much better value - though the dining table was a nice addition. Admittedly, we've only booked the larger ones when there was a particularly good price! The balconies on A752/3 were so large that the stanchion was barely noticeable, though there were only the two of us. I'd happily take any of the four - at the right price!

I’m sure that wasn’t the case, either with officers or councillors, in your situation. One of the Lincolnshire District Councils, however, cleared out its entire planning department almost overnight about 15 years ago after discovering inappropriate activity.

Funnily enough, that’s what I got a few years back, and it sounds very plausible. Until you realise that Azura is the only ship that continues to get these regular sewage reports. My own view is that they know perfectly well what the problem is but don’t consider it worth the high cost of fixing.

Some of the smaller Lincolnshire District Councils have a certain partiality to brown envelopes, particularly in the planning authorities. Yours does seem to have done you proud, though, and I’m delighted for you. Good to have that worry out of the way. I know how much my wife was upset by a hideous unauthorised air conditioning unit half way up next door’s wall and the planning department was utterly useless. It’ll soon be invisible though after some quite extensive and careful planting!

Might be worth considering. The two aft penthouse suites on Azura and Ventura are extremely spacious and equally well located. Without a doubt, the best on the ship.

It’s been there for at least 41/2 years and probably longer. Complaints about it to P&O are brushed aside with vague assurances about fixing it, but that never happens. It’s largely restricted to certain areas of the ship, but it doesn’t encourage a belief in P&O’s commitment to public hygiene. Were it a land based restaurant or hotel, I suspect it would have been served a closure notice.

This might be of some use, perhaps: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/why-you-need-a-boiler-service-and-what-to-ask-about-aYdk73x6Co0m

To be fair to local authorities, though, they’ve had around 30% of their income removed by central government over the last few years and they’ve got no alternative if they’re not to go the way of Birmingham and the various other councils in serious financial difficulties. They have statutory responsibilities they have to fulfil, and that takes up most of the remaining income. Charges for green bins, car parks and everything else they have control over are unfortunately inevitable if councils aren’t to go bust.

Sounds a thoroughly decent bloke - stick with him!

And Ken Dodd was very fortunate indeed to have had a Liverpool jury. Anywhere else in the country and he’d have ended up in prison like Piggott.

The internet has a lot to answer for! 😇

But, much more importantly, what about @zap99’s toe? I know he doesn’t like to talk about it, but there’s possibly a court action pending and it’s making eating out at Pizza Express in Woking a bit tricky for him.

I was sorting out our rubbish for collection this morning and found a small black disc around seven inches in diameter. It had a hole in the middle. Is this a record?

Thanks - the 'inspirational speaker' looks intriguing, so I looked him up. I'd be interested to learn what sort of 'inspiration' he goes for in a non-business environment.

Looks good - have fun!

Thanks. I didn’t spot the one on the Brighton bombings, and didn’t include the port talks in what I was looking for. I see there was also a talk by the retired policeman yesterday though. They’re often quite interesting.

Thanks for all the information. A question, please, if you don’t mind? I’ve not noticed much so far in the way of external lecturers/speakers - is there a separate schedule, or have I just not noticed? I’d be looking for some kind of talk a couple of times a day or so, which is what P&O used to provide until the cut-backs.

Thanks. Glad to see they’re back. A very rushed and crowded affair, sadly, but nevertheless a useful way to pass half an hour or so on a sea day, or maybe after having skipped lunch.