.......idle jottings

[commodoredave]

Ho-Hum's thread (not really his thread) is similar to a long running thread over at Seabourn called "Around the Seabourn water cooler- off topic and fun posts". It is sometimes fun to see where the threads drift. On a topic touched on here, the Star Pride (ex Seabourn Pride) of Windstar Cruises was involved in a minor collision yesterday. There is a link on Seabourn board to the thread on Windstar board. Windstar has a "Social Media Director" registered with Cruise Critic who has immediately posted details and reassured all that the passengers are ok and that present and future cruises will proceed as planned. Now that is communication. Would that SeaDream had done same with engine repairs/charters/etc. Wishful thinking.

 

Agree. But I'm sure SD management is very good at communicating with the people who charter their ships as that appears to be their main focus.:D

[ho-hum]

Agree. But I'm sure SD management is very good at communicating with the people who charter their ships as that appears to be their main focus.:D

 

Ouch !

Now that's a Dave-slap !

[CDreamer]

How ho hum envied your trip.

But in the summer the Douro can really stink !

Your early spring timing was perfect.

 

Mmmm, yes.... I imagine it could be a lot like Venice during hot & muggy months, & that is NOT very pleasant! We like to travel in the Spring... temps are milder & less crowds... so no smell on this trip, thankfully - and the rows of vineyards planted along the hillsides were just beautiful. With the current rise in rivers in other European areas & the massive flooding in the Balkans we were fortunate not to have any issues with rising/receding waters either, so the transition through the locks went very smoothly.

 

"The other former SD employee who occasionally helps out SD in between resigning Club Activities Directors is Ardienn, a wonderful young lady: sheer class. She works with TAUK."

 

I didn't know that! We booked this river cruise last minute but if there had not been any availability Tauck would have been our next choice - have heard great things about them.

 

Agree there does seem to be a revolving door with the CADs on SD but have never figured out exactly why. Adrienne is good, James Cabello was always popular, and we really loved Michael - intelligent, interesting, and fun - but many others have certainly come/gone over the years!

 

One last thing.... Is Christophe on board now? Haven't heard anyone mention him in awhile. Isn't he usually back on board for the Med cruises?

[ho-hum]

Mmmm, yes.... I imagine it could be a lot like Venice during hot & muggy months, & that is NOT very pleasant! We like to travel in the Spring... temps are milder & less crowds... so no smell on this trip, thankfully - and the rows of vineyards planted along the hillsides were just beautiful. With the current rise in rivers in other European areas & the massive flooding in the Balkans we were fortunate not to have any issues with rising/receding waters either, so the transition through the locks went very smoothly.

 

"The other former SD employee who occasionally helps out SD in between resigning Club Activities Directors is Ardienn, a wonderful young lady: sheer class. She works with TAUK."

 

I didn't know that! We booked this river cruise last minute but if there had not been any availability Tauck would have been our next choice - have heard great things about them.

 

Agree there does seem to be a revolving door with the CADs on SD but have never figured out exactly why. Adrienne is good, James Cabello was always popular, and we really loved Michael - intelligent, interesting, and fun - but many others have certainly come/gone over the years!

 

One last thing.... Is Christophe on board now? Haven't heard anyone mention him in awhile. Isn't he usually back on board for the Med cruises?

 

Recently heard Michael (South Africa) was mugged ! He is fine.

Christophe (the best hotel manager on the ocean and possibly land) est en vacance.

Pierre is on SDI. Jamie on SDIi.

[CDreamer]

Jim, thanks for the heads up.... Some friends of ours were just on a Windstar cruise and were supposed to disembark sometime this week! :eek:

[CDreamer]

Recently heard Michael (South Africa) was mugged ! He is fine.

 

What?! :eek: Knew he was traveling but hadn't heard. Glad he's OK.

 

"Christophe (the best hotel manager on the ocean and possibly land) est en vacance."

 

Good, he deserves it! Truth be told, I heart Christophe! :D

 

"Pierre is on SDI. Jamie on SDIi"

 

Also great. Both of them. Thanks for the update Ho Hum!

[ho-hum]

Recently heard Michael (South Africa) was mugged ! He is fine.

 

What?! :eek: Knew he was traveling but hadn't heard. Glad he's OK.

 

"Christophe (the best hotel manager on the ocean and possibly land) est en vacance."

 

Good, he deserves it! Truth be told, I heart Christophe! :D

 

"Pierre is on SDI. Jamie on SDIi"

 

Also great. Both of them. Thanks for the update Ho Hum!

 

"I heart C" ?

[ho-hum]

Ho-Hum's thread (not really his thread) is similar to a long running thread over at Seabourn called "Around the Seabourn water cooler- off topic and fun posts". It is sometimes fun to see where the threads drift. On a topic touched on here, the Star Pride (ex Seabourn Pride) of Windstar Cruises was involved in a minor collision yesterday. There is a link on Seabourn board to the thread on Windstar board. Windstar has a "Social Media Director" registered with Cruise Critic who has immediately posted details and reassured all that the passengers are ok and that present and future cruises will proceed as planned. Now that is communication. Would that SeaDream had done same with engine repairs/charters/etc. Wishful thinking.

 

 

As times go by, you know ho hum thinks shoreside management may be just as friustrated as we are by not feeling able to communicate frankly. Methinks the paranoia of the owner is the problem.

 

Talking of communication Jim, have you "turned a deaf ear as well as a blind eye" to the post in which ho hum advised:

 

"Jim, ho hum has just Google Mapped it & it is, remarkably just 79.1 miles and takes 1 hour 36 minutes via A3090-M3-M25.

 

And of course, a modest detached annexe awaits you both with all mod cons.

Jim, we truly do live in a very beautiful area, blondie is a great cook and we have a great wine cellar as well as some really quirky pubs.

 

It would be great to meet the legend.

 

Alternatively name a pub (good one, mind) near you and we will pop down to see you (but can only do one pint !)"

 

"Just a friendly offer old chap, no obligation.

[CDreamer]

 

"I heart C" ?

 

Love. Plain and simple. What's not to love about Christophe?

 

(...'heart': to soften the term "love" a bit since I wouldn't want to make Mr. CDreamer jealous - altho' I think he probably "hearts" Christophe every bit as much as I do! ;) )

[ho-hum]

 

Love. Plain and simple. What's not to love about Christophe?

 

(...'heart': to soften the term "love" a bit since I wouldn't want to make Mr. CDreamer jealous - altho' I think he probably "hearts" Christophe every bit as much as I do! ;) )

 

Ho hum hearts Christophe too, as does blondie. He is truly priceless.

[Jim Avery]

As times go by, you know ho hum thinks shoreside management may be just as friustrated as we are by not feeling able to communicate frankly. Methinks the paranoia of the owner is the problem.

 

Talking of communication Jim, have you "turned a deaf ear as well as a blind eye" to the post in which ho hum advised:

 

"Jim, ho hum has just Google Mapped it & it is, remarkably just 79.1 miles and takes 1 hour 36 minutes via A3090-M3-M25.

 

And of course, a modest detached annexe awaits you both with all mod cons.

Jim, we truly do live in a very beautiful area, blondie is a great cook and we have a great wine cellar as well as some really quirky pubs.

 

It would be great to meet the legend.

 

Alternatively name a pub (good one, mind) near you and we will pop down to see you (but can only do one pint !)"

 

"Just a friendly offer old chap, no obligation.

 

And a gracious offer it is! We would love to hoist a pint (or two) with you at your local. At present, we are not due back on the East side of The Pond until April/May next. Too many cruises and other trips out in the Wild West has rapidly used up this year's travel kitty. Would love to check in with you as time gets nearer to make sure you are at home having your socks darned between SeaDream jaunts.:eek:

[ho-hum]

And a gracious offer it is! We would love to hoist a pint (or two) with you at your local. At present, we are not due back on the East side of The Pond until April/May next. Too many cruises and other trips out in the Wild West has rapidly used up this year's travel kitty. Would love to check in with you as time gets nearer to make sure you are at home having your socks darned between SeaDream jaunts.:eek:

 

Lets keep in touch then Jim.

Have a nice weekend.

[ho-hum]

Well blondie's back.

What an amazing voyage; best ever !

A really fun crowd and really nice too.

She brought back three jars of the famous pesto and we smeared it onto some fresh ciabatta.

She drank a Laurent Perrier champagne whilst ho hum had a Chablis 1er cru "Les Vaillons".

Aaaaaa.....heaven. Sorry the 2002 ! (Rated very highly and just given the thumbs up to imbibe).

 

So lets hear it all ?

No ! How is that possible ! They did what ! Well I never ! And so it continued a bottle later. Naturally ho hum can't relay everything (code of honour and everything) but the funniest and most shocking event involved blondie herself !

It was the St.Tropez local food and wine tasting where 12 good passengers had assembled around barrels on top of which were local rose wine, saucisson and cheeses.

Now it also happened to be the local saint day and everyone was dressed in red and white and were milling about along with visiting tourists.

Well to be fair there was not a clear demarcation between this private event and the public event.

Now several "pushy" local people were now thrusting glasses they had picked up and demanding rose !

Blondie incensed that the rose may run out said in her poor French "This is a private party ! So pissoff-ez vous !" Pissoff-ez vous ! Is that even a word ?

Well they scurried off, so blondie guessed it was ! That's ma gal!

Never, never get between her and a drink, caviar, shoes, handbags !

 

Out of interest ho hum believes the rose wines around the St.Tropez area and Corsica (an hour away by ferry) are even better than Provencal rose wines. They have a cleaner taste and a farmyardy mouth feel (it sounds yuk but it most beguiling) and the St.Tropez wines are a fraction of the price of the main Provencal wines ($5 - $10 a bottle: you can pick them up in St.Barts too at good prices too as they pay no import tax).

 

She next spoke about the weirdest event, which had to be the couple that travel with a suitcase full of cat food to feed the local cats ! And when that ran out, they bought more ! What a way to spend your vacation, feeding the local moggies !

 

Oddly enough there is an article about the oddest things people take on a voyage: it is copied below:

 

1. A suitcase full of noodles: One man said he had travelled on a Caribbean cruise with a suitcase full of his favourite instant noodle snack in case he didn't like any of the food available on the ship.

2. A Harry Styles Cardboard Cut-Out: One family revealed how their youngest daughter managed to sneak her foldaway cut-out into her suitcase, without their knowledge. She said she would've missed the pop star too much to leave him at home.

3. A Piers Morgan poster: A lady in her seventies said she wanted her cabin to feel more 'homely', on her trip round the Med, so she brought along her favouite (only?) poster of the TV journalist and interviewer. The cruise company did not reveal however where the poster was hung.

4. An inflatable doll: One passenger taking part in a University friend's pre-wedding cruise to Spain and Italy swapped the grooms suitcase for one packed with at least five different inflatable dolls for what he described as 'the ultimate stag do prank'.

5. A tent: A husband celebrating his silver wedding anniversary packed a one-man tent so he could spend a night or two during his cruise sleeping up on deck.A camping fan indeed.

6. A Batman costume: One cruiser decided his trip would benefit from a full, collector's edition Batman outfit. He told his family he wanted to make sure it was safe, but admitted he tried it on once or twice for fellow passengers.

7. A Zorb Ball: One passenger was aiming for a 'walk on water' experience and brought along their own giant inflatable ball for the extremely fun sport of zorbing on water.

8. Grow Your Own Boyfriend: One single woman grew her own boyfriend on board ship after friends bought her the joke present at Heathrow airport for her 30th birthday.

9. Framed picture of a car: One traveler said he takes a framed picture of his car on every holiday he goes on Taking pride of place next to his bed during his trips, he admitted he misses his car more than his grown-up children.

10. 'How to Swear Around the World' book: One passenger was clearly so intent on offending fellow passengers, he took a 'How to Swear Around the World' book with him on his cruise to the Norwegian Fjords.

 

BIRTHDAY

Bob Dylan (1941): Genius

[landman4455]

It's late Autumn, clear, still and sunny and 25C (77F)'yet next month is midwinter.

 

There is no navy blue India Ocean surrounding us, nor staff in blue and white uniforms surrounded by navy/cane Seadream decore, but Sunday lunch here on the verandah is spinach/broccoli soup and fresh oranges after a morning of collecting firewood and drinking coffee in the mountains. The chainsaw seemed to dull the howling of the dingoes heard from afar.

 

Pictured is Dad, soon to be 96 ...... (Ho hum ... you did ask for this! It is off the cruise critic topic I guess) Regards to all .....

 

JRM

[ho-hum]

It's late Autumn, clear, still and sunny and 25C (77F)'yet next month is midwinter.

 

There is no navy blue India Ocean surrounding us, nor staff in blue and white uniforms surrounded by navy/cane Seadream decore, but Sunday lunch here on the verandah is spinach/broccoli soup and fresh oranges after a morning of collecting firewood and drinking coffee in the mountains. The chainsaw seemed to dull the howling of the dingoes heard from afar.

 

Pictured is Dad, soon to be 96 ...... (Ho hum ... you did ask for this! It is off the cruise critic topic I guess) Regards to all .....

 

JRM

 

Yes ho hum did ask for more info and thank God he did !

The reward was a fantastic photo !

 

Warn your father to be prepared for numerous marriage proposals !

 

One of the most amazing aspects of Sea Dream, is the people you meet.

Now we all love the crew and they set us up to have a great time. They also have some amazing and touching personal stories too which makes ho hum admire and respect them so much also as well as learn a lot from their lives.

 

But then you encounter such wonderful passengers too.

The older passengers tend to have such a rich story to tell ?

Ho hum can recount a dozen encounters from the top of his head that has deeply influenced and touched him.

These encounters are real life treasures.

Not just for the entertainment value but for life lessons also.

 

Now ho hum never met you guys but your "story" went before you and so, as an important reason for travelling on Sea Dream, it does qualify as an important contribution and is hugely relevant to a Sea Dream thread.

The people (crew and passengers alike) are a significant reason for repeating trips on Sea Dream.

Even those that profess never to wish to go on Sea Dream again (who pop up on these and other threads) give ho hum a lot of amusement (as well making very accurate comments).

 

Today life is good.

Thanks again for making the effort to post and send photo.

[ho-hum]

Firstly ho hum needs to gently remind the vociferous posters on the "Kids" thread that he has offered his support and contributed to keep the thread in the forefront of SD management/owner's mind. Is that not true ? Ho hum has truly done his part.

 

But being British he know reflects it is time for a ..... err ... withdrawal !

 

The Brits have made it a way of life to withdraw from most involvements with the rest of the world over the last few hundred years.

The British Empire, The Commonwealth (pre-European Union), now we have elected officials to withdraw from the European Union (we were never fully committed in the first place) and to conclude the Scots are thinking of leaving the Union (taking the oil with them).

 

Of course "withdrawal" by our American neighbours may be considered a defeat and would be slightly more difficult to process.

 

But, is it not time to accept somethings cannot be changed.

 

Now out of respect for the "Kids" thread, ho hum has not posted this offering on the other thread out of respect for those wishing to continue the "fight".

Well they dont want an apparent "quisling" in their forum now, do they ?

 

Jim will no doubt see this as a cunning ploy to boost this thread to the disadvantage of the other thread: all to get out paying for a pint of beer should he ever come to the UK !

Remarkable is'nt it !

Ho hum thinks it's being out in the Arizonian sun too long at the "Crazy rootin, tootin, shootin Range" without his ten gallon hat on !

 

No peoples we need to sit down, take a few deep breaths and begin talking calmly and rationally (as far as it possible for ho hum to do !).

 

Ho hum will continue this thread tomorrow: it is ending up being quite long amd your patience may be a tad stretched.

So please no lynchins' just yet !

[ho-hum]

So to continue, Ho hum has to ask: Has the ("Kids") thread run it's course ? Has it now gone the way of "Engine update ?"

 

Ho hum notes there have been no incidents of a kid problem for quite a while now.

Well none has been reported. No, its not quite the same thing: accepted.

But it could be that the problem is no longer an actual problem anymore.

 

True, we would feel more secure when booking, if there was an actual policy regarding children, so that they did not feel as if they were taking a $10,000 dollar gamble (as Jim coined the phrase). But in retrospect was this ever realistic ? And where else is there children free voyages ? Well Sea Dream had one once but trust ho hum you would'nt want to be on THAT voyage.

 

Ho hum has only encountered one baby in his travels since this thread began but the parents acted "responsibly": though can bringing a baby on a voyage actually be considered responsible ?

Those that bring very young children can be (un-fairly no doubt) categorised as either the very rich from exotic countries who just dump their spoilt progeny on nannies and wander around the ship as a band of itinerant gypsies (to be seen sitting on the floor outside the Casino with babies begging for change: that's a joke) or they are the New Age types thinking that their child is the Messiah or genius because it had just pooped !

No one ever congratulated ho hum for pooping as a child maybe this thread is a kind of attention seeking he never had ?

And all because ho hum's parents never said "well whose a clever boy for pooping".

Ho hum does remember his father saying "OMG that smell is evil ! Here you change him ! No you change him !" Yes it explains a lot, ho hum sees it now.

 

Sorry ho hum disgressed. But before ho hum moves on, he just wants to clarify that in the first example of children on SD! He does not blame the children or the nannies: the parents were truly awful, not just in the way they treated their children and staff but the un-friendly airs they displayed to others outside their self-proclaimed elite group.

 

Sorry, so;

 

In the same time period of this ("Kids") thread ho hum has witnessed a far greater number of appalling behaviour by "Big Kids" though it is still remarkably low compared to the really nice type of people that gravitate towards Sea Dream.

And a bete noir is the stuff of voyages for those that like to gossip.

Yes it's shocking, gossiping, really dont understand it but ...... Well who's kdding who ?

 

So have we (including moi meme) well ....errrr over-reacted ?

 

Naturally the incidents reported in the thread have caused genuine disruption to their voyage and this cannot be disregarded (nor should be) but .....

Has the problem silently gone away (as the Engine update ? thread) ?

Or is the "problem" now, of minuscule proportions ?

Has SD management actually acted on the matter ?

 

And another break. Back tomorrow.

[commodoredave]

So to continue, Ho hum has to ask: Has the ("Kids") thread run it's course ? Has it now gone the way of "Engine update ?"

 

Ho hum notes there have been no incidents of a kid problem for quite a while now.

Well none has been reported. No, its not quite the same thing: accepted.

But it could be that the problem is no longer an actual problem anymore.

 

True, we would feel more secure when booking, if there was an actual policy regarding children, so that they did not feel as if they were taking a $10,000 dollar gamble (as Jim coined the phrase). But in retrospect was this ever realistic ? And where else is there children free voyages ? Well Sea Dream had one once but trust ho hum you would'nt want to be on THAT voyage.

 

Ho hum has only encountered one baby in his travels since this thread began but the parents acted "responsibly": though can bringing a baby on a voyage actually be considered responsible ?

Those that bring very young children can be (un-fairly no doubt) categorised as either the very rich from exotic countries who just dump their spoilt progeny on nannies and wander around the ship as a band of itinerant gypsies (to be seen sitting on the floor outside the Casino with babies begging for change: that's a joke) or they are the New Age types thinking that their child is the Messiah or genius because it had just pooped !

No one ever congratulated ho hum for pooping as a child maybe this thread is a kind of attention seeking he never had ?

And all because ho hum's parents never said "well whose a clever boy for pooping".

Ho hum does remember his father saying "OMG that smell is evil ! Here you change him ! No you change him !" Yes it explains a lot, ho hum sees it now.

 

Sorry ho hum disgressed. But before ho hum moves on, he just wants to clarify that in the first example of children on SD! He does not blame the children or the nannies: the parents were truly awful, not just in the way they treated their children and staff but the un-friendly airs they displayed to others outside their self-proclaimed elite group.

 

Sorry, so;

 

In the same time period of this ("Kids") thread ho hum has witnessed a far greater number of appalling behaviour by "Big Kids" though it is still remarkably low compared to the really nice type of people that gravitate towards Sea Dream.

And a bete noir is the stuff of voyages for those that like to gossip.

Yes it's shocking, gossiping, really dont understand it but ...... Well who's kdding who ?

 

So have we (including moi meme) well ....errrr over-reacted ?

 

Naturally the incidents reported in the thread have caused genuine disruption to their voyage and this cannot be disregarded (nor should be) but .....

Has the problem silently gone away (as the Engine update ? thread) ?

Or is the "problem" now, of minuscule proportions ?

Has SD management actually acted on the matter ?

 

And another break. Back tomorrow.

 

This is very funny. :D Is that why sailors use the term "poop deck"?

[ho-hum]

This is very funny. :D Is that why sailors use the term "poop deck"?

 

Oh please do take this seriously !

 

A self-proclaimed Commodore ehh ! Hmmmmm. Let's just examine the facts, shall we ?

 

Now Dave hails from Canada (ho hum does'nt know quite how he feels about this but Canada was... Er once a British colony albeit a minor one: just joking !!! We now have a Canadian running the Bank of England because we envy the Canadian sensibility (bordering on very dull though).

 

So to return to the subject.

 

In British navy terms, historically, a commodore was an appointment conferred on senior captains and was split into three grades.

Typically a commodore would command a number of ships, for example a destroyer squadron.

 

A commodore second class would command their own ship as well as the formation while a commodore first class would have a fag captain (sorry) a flag captain to run his ship.

 

Another class was introduced: third class for captains in charge of cruise ships, pedallos and banana boats !

 

Commodores first class, while wearing the sleeve stripes of a rear admiral, had gold lace-covered epaulettes with a crown, two stars and an anchor.

 

Commodores second class wore a single 1.75-inch-wide (44 mm) row of lace below a ring measuring 1.75 inches in diameter on both sleeve and shoulder-board. Their uniforms were otherwise the same as for captains.

 

Commodores third class wore a chiffon tutu inscribed with *KMS.

Their uniforms were otherwise the same as for captains (except for the tutu's).

 

Commodoredave is commodore third class.

 

And so to the subject of poop decks.

 

The "Poop Deck" is located at the stern, this short deck takes its name from the Latin word puppis - which means after deck or rear.

It was mainly used as a viewpoint and signalling platform.

 

So Dave, your posting time no doubts follows martini (or is it several martinis) time.

Ho hum trusts you will now refrain from low taste interruptions until at least he has finished his (admittedly tedious) discourse on the subject of "Kids".

 

Notes

* KMS: Kiss me sailor

[Jim Avery]

I do hope all this discussion of pooping and kissing sailors is leading somewhere? And why is the "kids" discussions padding your jottings view count? Would it be better served on the "Kids on SeaDream" thread? And Ho-Hum accuses moi of occasional impropriety.:eek::D

[commodoredave]

Ho hum, being married to a Brit I am reminded daily of my status as a cherished colonist.;) And being married to a Brit, I am served a G&T every afternoon to ensure my continued good health and to ward off malaria.:) Only allowed martinis on special occasions (English wins at the World Cup), I'm afraid.:eek:

 

As for my Commodore status, it is definitely first class (I am in charge of a yacht club) and bordering on becoming Lord of the Admiralty should Mr. Carney need assistance.

 

As for kids, Jim will be pleased to know that I do not allow them on my yacht, and especially never on the poop deck. Atle at SD has a different policy.

 

I look forward to your continued addled jottings. :D

[commodoredave]

As you can see, no kids on my poop deck!

[ho-hum]

I do hope all this discussion of pooping and kissing sailors is leading somewhere? And why is the "kids" discussions padding your jottings view count? Would it be better served on the "Kids on SeaDream" thread? And Ho-Hum accuses moi of occasional impropriety.:eek::D

 

 

Now dear readers, you will have already gathered by now that Mr.James Avery Esquire of Tombstone, Arizona suffers from selective memory loss.

A case in point. You recall the generous offer made by ho hum of meeting up with him if he should be in the UK.

Do you also recall that it was met with complete silence until it was re-posted.

 

Now Mr.Avery has again overlooked a previous post of ho hum's, in which he actually predicted the gun-toting Arizonian would no doubt greet ho hum's post with both customary competitiveness and downright suspicion.

 

So may ho hum answer these spurious allegations and quote word for word AGAIN the reason for ho hum not posting on the "Kids" thread together with ho hum's predictive response by said "gentleman".

 

So here it is AGAIN:

 

"Now out of respect for the "Kids" thread, ho hum has not posted this offering on the other thread out of respect for those wishing to continue the "fight".

 

Jim will no doubt see this as a cunning ploy to boost this thread to the disadvantage of the other thread: all to get out paying for a pint of beer should he ever come to the UK !

Remarkable is'nt it !

Ho hum thinks it's being out in the Arizonian sun too long at the "Crazy rootin, tootin, shootin Range" without his ten gallon hat on !"

 

Jim old chap, your post was answered before you even posted ! You had just to read the actual content.

 

Ho hum accepts ho hum suffers from "long windedness".

It is never intended to be so laboured and ho hum apologises to all other readers but not to Jim, ho hum is only interrupting him watching re-runs of Gunsmoke (or ho hum's favourite) or The High Chaparral between posting on this forum (at the time of preparing this post, Jim has made 8 posts out of the top 13 ! At least ho hum mainly confides himself to this backwater.

 

Finally Jim please exercise a tad more patience with ho hum, outlining his considered view on the "Kids" thread.

Phew !!!

 

Due to this rather long post, ho hum will call it a day on posting further on the subject of "Kids" until tomorrow now but before he does there is just one other nuisance to deal with !

[ho-hum]

Ho hum, being married to a Brit I am reminded daily of my status as a cherished colonist.;) And being married to a Brit, I am served a G&T every afternoon to ensure my continued good health and to ward off malaria.:) Only allowed martinis on special occasions (English wins at the World Cup), I'm afraid.:eek:

 

As for my Commodore status, it is definitely first class (I am in charge of a yacht club) and bordering on becoming Lord of the Admiralty should Mr. Carney need assistance.

 

As for kids, Jim will be pleased to know that I do not allow them on my yacht, and especially never on the poop deck. Atle at SD has a different policy.

 

I look forward to your continued addled jottings. :D

 

 

Here is ho hum trying to complete a considered tome of his thoughts on the subjects of "Kids" on a distant thread so as not to disrupt the serious business over there and the two usual reprobates continue to "heckle" during his delivery on this important subject !

 

These "thoughts" should be placed alongside the works of Karl Marx's "Das Kapital", Mao-tse-tung's "Little Red Book" etc.. but are they respected by these two ? Of course not !

 

First Jim, now Dave (JES next no doubt).

And so this work will have to be postponed yet again !

 

Well Dave, ho hum is damn impressed you know all about yachts and being in charge of a yacht club and stuff but sorry: ho hum out-ranks you !

Ho hum was "Ruler of the Queens Navy" !

And by Queens, he means the Queen of England (no, not Elton John); not any other connotation.

 

Ho hum was an understudy to the part in Gilbert & Sullivan"s, HMS Pinafore, many, many years ago and suitably lubricated he can still sing the entire song and has done so at TOYB to rapturous applause by blondie (only) and just three people threw things at ho hum during the performance (whenever ho hum sings, dogs scurry away and people cover their ears mouthing IN THE NAME OF GOD SOMEONE MAKE HIM STOP).

These types of light operas have been played up and down the country in theatres and church halls in almost every town for years and the video below gives a flavour of this;

 

 

Thankyou for the wonderful photos by the way.

[Jim Avery]

Now dear readers, you will have already gathered by now that Mr.James Avery Esquire of Tombstone, Arizona suffers from selective memory loss.

A case in point. You recall the generous offer made by ho hum of meeting up with him if he should be in the UK.

Do you also recall that it was met with complete silence until it was re-posted.

 

Now Mr.Avery has again overlooked a previous post of ho hum's, in which he actually predicted the gun-toting Arizonian would no doubt greet ho hum's post with both customary competitiveness and downright suspicion.

 

So may ho hum answer these spurious allegations and quote word for word AGAIN the reason for ho hum not posting on the "Kids" thread together with ho hum's predictive response by said "gentleman".

 

So here it is AGAIN:

 

"Now out of respect for the "Kids" thread, ho hum has not posted this offering on the other thread out of respect for those wishing to continue the "fight".

 

Jim will no doubt see this as a cunning ploy to boost this thread to the disadvantage of the other thread: all to get out paying for a pint of beer should he ever come to the UK !

Remarkable is'nt it !

Ho hum thinks it's being out in the Arizonian sun too long at the "Crazy rootin, tootin, shootin Range" without his ten gallon hat on !"

 

Jim old chap, your post was answered before you even posted ! You had just to read the actual content.

 

Ho hum accepts ho hum suffers from "long windedness".

It is never intended to be so laboured and ho hum apologises to all other readers but not to Jim, ho hum is only interrupting him watching re-runs of Gunsmoke (or ho hum's favourite) or The High Chaparral between posting on this forum (at the time of preparing this post, Jim has made 8 posts out of the top 13 ! At least ho hum mainly confides himself to this backwater.

 

Finally Jim please exercise a tad more patience with ho hum, outlining his considered view on the "Kids" thread.

Phew !!!

 

Due to this rather long post, ho hum will call it a day on posting further on the subject of "Kids" until tomorrow now but before he does there is just one other nuisance to deal with !

 

Ho-Hum, I stand corrected. One thing a man of the West can do is take blame when due. It is, after all, triple digit heat out here so a cooling beverage or two can affect memory. I do remember watching Gunsmoke re runs the other day but my all time favorite (favourite) is Have Gun, Will Travel. Richard Boone was a mean Paladin. On a side note, should you and Blondie ever return to the scene of whatever resulted in Ho-Hum Road, I do have the entire John Wayne collection on disc for your edification. Many of his best Shoot Em Ups were filmed locally.:D