Canal archive

I think it’s one of those - ohh this is something special so we will integrate it into our lives - I was first introduced to it in I suppose one of the most unlikely of places of worship, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Chapel one of the most special places of worship I’ve been privileged to use. To see the Cadets helping the youngsters and them looking at these large uniformed Cadets in awe (especially the Senior GuidesR) added to the whole experience. We rotated our places of worship around the area in various denominations and all used the Christingle. Sadly no Jewish, Sikh, or other places of worship available locally but my Guides were invited to a Mosque to visit, which we did. I really loved this interaction youngsters do ask the most penetrating questions!

Many years ago friends introduced me to a village in Somerset which specialised in very, very nice shops for supposedly cruise wear. Not that I then cruised but needed to dress up for DHs business dinners etc. It’s where I learnt the difference - smart casual - business casual - evening relaxed - evening dressed you name it there was a type of dress for it. Luckily we have left behind the La Boutons those heels ruined more ladies feet, so now we actually have smart trainers, I don’t mean trendy. Trousers go anywhere and always have even Ascot now. One piece that could be essential for any lady is an elegant scarf/shawl/wrap they cover a multitude of sins and aid against that sometimes over the top air con. Gentlemen a smart pair of trousers even new black jeans a crisp shirt worn with panache gets you everywhere go for it. Please leave your active wear in your cabin at meal times as I have on river cruises seen some strange outfits in the restaurant.

If you’ve had anything like our recent weather I’m definitely not surprised!

Is it true that you gets a better deal if you book through a TA?

Quick question from a hopefully soon to be Saga sea cruiser - can you really claim for a missed Port? And why?

Jumps out at you does it? Happens to my DH wherever he is - tall man ongoing, I’d say challenge. I’ve got used to holding his hand whilst he hops, ouching around a room, occupational hazard.

I think the Box ‘problem’ has been felt all across Europe it’s either ‘Box Blight’ a fugal infection or Box beetle, believe it or not there’s a Mite as well. We’ve lost our two attempts with Box at topiary as have many of our neighbours, the weather conditions have been blamed. It’s fairly easy to decided which version has got to your own plants. Mind you having something however nasty in common with Versailles is a bit ‘posh’ isn’t it?

DH decided to cast his eye over your ‘to me’ wonderful photographs and his remark was - wait for it - oh we’ve done that cruise haven’t we! Dahhh yes similar but definitely not the same one. I first went to Basel on a school trip aged 13/14 so many firsts, duvets, stand and squat toilets, an amazing time for myself and friends but after river cruising now I realise how privileged we were and how far thinking our parents were to push themselves to one afford it for us and two to let us go, I’m at the far end of 70 now. Great report and photographs thank you.

Well done you!

Absolutely agree!

Thank you Tigger luver!

Yes it started getting colder on Tuesday evening definitely not pleasant.🥶

Quick check - MDR? am I being a bit dense? Ive got the brochure and I think he’s coming round, fingers crossed.

TRLD of all the places we’ve visited in the US I absolutely loved Key West but we were there at least 30/40 years ago so nearly no cruise ships. Does everyone still applaud when the sun goes down? DH said when they did what happens if it pops up again? He got drinks free for the rest of the evening and for some reason his white full moustache was a great hit people didn’t believe he was English. Great part of the world.

Ohh do be careful! On the Douro with Scenic, plenty of staff keeping an eye on all and a most interesting experience the Bridge is totally retracted.

I’m really not surprised my daughter is (shhhh) still involved with the hotel business and the stories she has about the selling of ‘up market’ rooms in top of the heap hotels would keep you entertained all evening especially with how cut throat it is becoming. You really just have to be on your toes. Where are you off to with AMA.

I’m not surprised mainland Europe is most probably getting what we’ve had on and off for the past two weeks just an amazing amount of water, deluges. It’s not just continuous it’s continuously heavy, inches whoops centimetres in hours not days. The ground water levels are really high as it cannot drain away. Don’t get caught out in it, it hurts.

Only a short comment about that and it’s not meant nastily just means we have to get going sooner - since you Americans got into river cruising getting hold of some of the larger cabins has become somewhat problematic, boy are you guys off the mark quickly!

So basically you’ve nibbled along the edges and now want to taste the filling. So if your looking for a longer river cruise ask your TA to sort a back to back as the longest individual I think you’ll find is about 16 days. Good luck 🤞

Scenic has maps available of the port your in so your company may. They are freely available. If you’re going off piste make sure you know when to return to your vessel and have its contact details to hand. Your cruise director could be useful for advice where to go. Enjoy!

Breakfast is usually from fairly early especially if you’re going on an early organised tour. Lunch will usually be buffet as is breakfast, I’m not sure about Grand Circle unless there is another pre-arranged tour from approx 12.30. Dinner usually starts at 7.00pm the Port Talk will most probably be from 6.00pm try not to miss it. You can actually watch this on your in cabin TV on some river cruise lines but it’s much friendlier to join your fellow cruisers, you’ll learn whats happening that evening through the next day. There are usually decisions to be made so an alert brain is needed. Go with flow and enjoy.

I’m glad I won’t be your archivist I have thousands still to go through in our canal archive and most need a location just don’t mention the slides they have to be digitised as well. So please give a location to your photographs for future reference.

It’s supposed to have been started in the Moravian Church in Germany.

Notamermaid is the Christingle still celebrated in Germany it was started there in the 1740s not old I know but always enjoyed by my Girl Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.

My DH has been in the photographic sales business for the majority of his working life (now retired) at one time he actually won a presentation challenge at the very, very start of digital photography on board a weekend cruise of photographic companies - Southampton round the Channel Islands and back - benefit of film versus digital he won due to the inadequacy of the batteries at the time. Now I note ddaley822 that the SD card was invented for you, I know I take a lot of photographs but boy do you take the biscuit wow not knocking you just sheer admiration keep up the good work.