.......idle jottings

[ho-hum]

Well guess what.

 

Here is the latest, longest and most expensive yacht yet.

 

Boasting seven decks, two pools, multiple hot tubs and a 275sqm master suite, a new record-breaking superyacht is set to redefine the limits of luxury boat building.

Costing £788million to build and measuring 222metres in length, when completed 'Triple Deuce' will be the most expensive and largest superyacht ever constructed.

The luxury boat will surpass the remarkable standards set by Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich's 163m 'Eclipse', and the current record-holding 182m-long yacht owned by the President of the United Arab Emirates.

 

And chums...who does it remind you of ?

 

Why the SD sisters of course !

 

And still that conversion from Sea Goddess to Sea Dream must still have been the most inspired upgrades ever in cruising nautical history.

 

Sea Dream still "turns heads" and is even the envy of the super rich !

 

But they will never experience what we experience.....the bloomin' marvellous CREW !

Edited February 12, 2015 by ho-hum
Meant to say SINCERITY

[ho-hum]

OK well we're waiting for our flight in London Heathrow after our chauffeur trip from home and who do you think we meet ?

 

The debonair, Anthony Andrews ! He of The UK tv seris "Brideshead revisited".

 

Kind of like a Downton Manor sophisticated romp by Evelyn Waugh.....soooo uber posh.

 

A great book.

 

Check it out:

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brideshead_Revisited_(TV_serial)

[ho-hum]

Ho hum is surrounded by anorexic wimmin in this airport Lounge.

Ho hum guesses they are between 15-35 and they ALL have jeans torn at the knees !

Whats that all about ?

Has a consignment of jeans from Bangladesh been defective ?

Why do t they return them to the shops ?

Ho hum politely points out, to these otherwise well dressed "hot totty" of their unfortunate predicament and they look at ho hum as if he is mad !

 

No dahlings, you are mad !

 

"Stuff o' nonsense" as ho hum's dear mama would say.

 

Ripped jeans "indeed" (as ol Cabbie would say..,,,,, hope he got home safely..work at the pawn broker starts tomorrow...,, he needs to be sharp minded......oh he and his facts...no time for humour...no not ol Cabbie. Life can be hard. "What will you give ho hum for these ladies ripped at the knees jeans ?"

 

Nuttin' candyass, now stop wasting my precious time.

 

Plagiarised from a Bob Dylan song which reminds me hi Zimmy.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Ho-hum, where are you off to?

 

As to addressing the pier evening description to Jim, he is a local (give or take a thousand kilometers...) and has been to San Clemente. Figured talk of such a backwater would not be of general interest to the jet setters on this board.

 

 

PS - I will wear steel-toed shoes to Bovington.

 

PPS - it was warm, in the high 70's (~25C).

 

PPPS - Forget the torn jeans, have you noticed the latest crop of womens footwear :eek:

[Zimmy]

[quote=ho-hum;45589001.

 

 

 

Plagiarised from a Bob Dylan song which reminds me hi Zimmy.

 

Hi Ho Hum - yes, Bob Dylan and I were both born with the same last name. That's where the Zimmy comes from. It was my father's nickname all his life and few people knew what his actual given name was.

 

I hope your hand heals quickly and that you are not in too much pain. DH says hello.

[Jim Avery]

Well guess what.

 

Here is the latest, longest and most expensive yacht yet.

 

Boasting seven decks, two pools, multiple hot tubs and a 275sqm master suite, a new record-breaking superyacht is set to redefine the limits of luxury boat building.

Costing £788million to build and measuring 222metres in length, when completed 'Triple Deuce' will be the most expensive and largest superyacht ever constructed.

The luxury boat will surpass the remarkable standards set by Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich's 163m 'Eclipse', and the current record-holding 182m-long yacht owned by the President of the United Arab Emirates.

 

And chums...who does it remind you of ?

 

Why the SD sisters of course !

 

And still that conversion from Sea Goddess to Sea Dream must still have been the most inspired upgrades ever in cruising nautical history.

 

Sea Dream still "turns heads" and is even the envy of the super rich !

 

But they will never experience what we experience.....the bloomin' marvellous CREW !

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2Fid%2F102412150&ei=z8TcVJKZE4q1ggSfxIOYCw&usg=AFQjCNG7MbIoLHsaObrxEfiBJEKPd2Kw8Q&sig2=YbtRIvBl6sWXgEmhBfKTIg&bvm=bv.85761416,d.eXY

 

Just what Blondie needs. And room for your chums as well!

[Jim Avery]

Oh so its:

- we had a Valentines dinner Jim

- we had oysters Jim

- we had albacore Jim

- we had a chardonnay Jim

- we had a sunset Jim

- we walked the pier Jim

- we went to a brewery Jim

- we had an IPA and a night cap Jim

- let me send you a photo of the sunset Jim

 

Well really ! What about ho hum and the rest of us ?

 

Find some other shmuck to stand with an empty beer can on his head whilst you take pot shots ! HH quits.

 

Hope the Hotel du Vin serves you crap beer and wine and food.

 

Mates indeed ! Now where is HH's good friend Cabbie with facts about his voyage ? No humorous anecdotes or wit. Just give us the damn FACTS.

 

And ho hum with his bad hand and all. Still having to drink from the left hand you know....most ends up down his front.

No but you guys swop notes to one another, dont mind HH or the rest of us.

 

Did you two meet at San Clemente or something ? Huh !

 

Just go right ahead and make ho hum and the rest of us feel excluded.

There are other threads you know.

Why not start one up yourself "Jim Avery is the best" thread. Bet it gets only you viewing it. Haha

 

And before you ask.....not in the damn slightest, matey boy.

 

Hope a tank runs over your toes. Haha

 

We are, after all Butch & Sundance. Have you not seen the movie? That ending was purely made up. We regularly make pilgrimage to the Left Coast and have our August "Beat the Heat" planned this year for a cottage in Carmel by the Sea. Possibly visit a brew or two with Sundance on the way over. Have a stop booked at The Hotel California in Santa Monica. They don't even have air conditioning. Sort of like being in the Posh Part but with palm trees and weird folks.:D

[vandrefalk]

Interestingly enough, my DH (retired military) was once nominated for a year-long class at Bovington! He didn't go because of other family obligations (previous life) and I think has always regretted it. Now, of course, he wants to go to the tank museum the next time we are in England!

Vandrefalk

[ho-hum]

Ho-hum, where are you off to?

 

As to addressing the pier evening description to Jim, he is a local (give or take a thousand kilometers...) and has been to San Clemente. Figured talk of such a backwater would not be of general interest to the jet setters on this board.

 

 

PS - I will wear steel-toed shoes to Bovington.

 

PPS - it was warm, in the high 70's (~25C).

 

PPPS - Forget the torn jeans, have you noticed the latest crop of womens footwear :eek:

 

 

Raggy, we are on our way to St.Thomas (for SDII embarkation) via the ***hole Atlanta Airport !

The customs queue snaked for miles !

The custom officials wandered aimlessly around ocassionally barking out incomprehensible orders and looked like a mix of bit actors from a combination of a ladies fat club who waddled around in heavy dark blue suits and the rest comprised of various un-savoury characters that you would cross the street to avoid. All of whom made guards out of "Schindlers List" look personable.

Fascism is alive in Atlanta Airport.

It took ages to get through.

Passengers sprawled out on the floor.

We were pretty worse for wear having consumed at leadt three bottles of Laurent-Perrier, Grand Dame vintage champagne (3 each !).

 

Finally arrived at the Marriott exhausted....they had no record of a reservation !

1 hour later finally get to room with a toilet directly above our head as we lay in bed !

The occupants, who ho hum is guessing is a dormitory of 10 ladies in their 80's continually use the damn toilet !

Oh and the bed resembles a water bed !

And they charge $4 for a bottle of wTer !

Did the Pope personally bless it..

 

Charlie told us to use Orlando for US flights but will there be kids and their brainless parents ...... even in First ?

 

Atlanta airport is the "pits" In the world !

India airports much better.

Yes Heathrow is rubbish.

 

 

 

Seriously Raggy thanks for sharing the San Clemente day and photos.....it looks a great life you have out there.

 

What are wimmin wearing on their feet then ?

Just saying Health & Safety are not high priorities.

How come they dont all suffer from sprained, broken and dislocated ankles !

Its a frigging miracle !

Even if the shoes dont fit....they still buy em, cos their sooo pretty.

Shoes indeed eh Cabbie ?

 

Flip flops....where's the support in them boys....oh and something called "slip ons", "sling backs".. Tiny pieces of stretched fabric that on first take looks like they have trod barefeet onto an oily beach with some daft flower on the toe area.

 

Life eh ....... it'll make SD even more enjoyable, wont it ?

 

One more flight and we have separate seats .........as blondie punches the air in delight she doesnt have to sit next to Mr.Grumbles....oh to be in Michigan with my ol friend .....

[ho-hum]

Hi Ho Hum - yes, Bob Dylan and I were both born with the same last name. That's where the Zimmy comes from. It was my father's nickname all his life and few people knew what his actual given name was.

 

I hope your hand heals quickly and that you are not in too much pain. DH says hello.

 

Ho hum loves the Zimmermans !

Yep every Zimmerman, ho hum has met (and oh yes ho hum has met the great man) he adores and you are no exception dearest lady.

 

Thankyou darling the hand is so much better.

Getting used to drinking from the left hand certainly cut the old wine intake down but the laundry visits increased proportionally !

[ho-hum]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2Fid%2F102412150&ei=z8TcVJKZE4q1ggSfxIOYCw&usg=AFQjCNG7MbIoLHsaObrxEfiBJEKPd2Kw8Q&sig2=YbtRIvBl6sWXgEmhBfKTIg&bvm=bv.85761416,d.eXY

 

Just what Blondie needs. And room for your chums as well!

 

Its a tad too "Liberace" for us Butch but dont let that stop you and Sundance.

Haha

[ho-hum]

We are, after all Butch & Sundance. Have you not seen the movie? That ending was purely made up. We regularly make pilgrimage to the Left Coast and have our August "Beat the Heat" planned this year for a cottage in Carmel by the Sea. Possibly visit a brew or two with Sundance on the way over. Have a stop booked at The Hotel California in Santa Monica. They don't even have air conditioning. Sort of like being in the Posh Part but with palm trees and weird folks.:D

 

Ho hum's kind of place too !

One day Butch, one day....provided you and Sundance are'nt cruising on the new Liberace line that is.

Haha

[ho-hum]

Interestingly enough, my DH (retired military) was once nominated for a year-long class at Bovington! He didn't go because of other family obligations (previous life) and I think has always regretted it. Now, of course, he wants to go to the tank museum the next time we are in England!

Vandrefalk

 

Well Lady V all ho hum can say are that the reviews of the place seem out-standing.

We will just have to keep note of what Raggy gets up to and tells us when he is not sending "My private time in San Clemente" to you know whooooo...

San Clemente indeed !

Edited February 13, 2015 by ho-hum

[abenaki]

Good morning Ho

 

Give us a wave as you walk along the pier tomorrow. We will be watching the Crown Bay webcam at precisely 2pm. Bon voyage mes amis.

[ho-hum]

Good morning Ho

 

Give us a wave as you walk along the pier tomorrow. We will be watching the Crown Bay webcam at precisely 2pm. Bon voyage mes amis.

 

We are being very familiar this morning, Abe.

Ho likes it !

 

"Lights, camera, action ! alright Mr.DeMill, blondie will be ready for her close up !"

 

PS the weather here is awful ! So keep a "sharp eye out" as more than likely we will be running up the gangway and the camera will be smeared in rain !

 

Hope we finally get a good nights sleep !

A young Canadian couple in the next room are making a hell of a racket, Bob Marley songs blaring out, cocktails being delivered from the bar !

[ho-hum]

Well whilst arriving in Atlanta was hell.....leaving Atlanta was another story.

The hotel staff, the bus driver, the airport personnel and the Delta flight attendants were utterly charming, so friendly and helpful.

 

Left with a completely different opinion....

 

HH wishes to be fair in his comments and applaud great service.....

[ho-hum]

So this is our first Velentines together, ho hum and your goodself.

 

May you have a wonderful day and your beloved treats you right (and vica versa).

If this is not the case, then sorry.

But you have your friends here and if ho hum may be bold to speak for them too, may we ALL wish you a HAPPY VALENTINE (even you Cabbie, Disney Jen & Lincslady, yes we have had our differences but it was all banter, really. How could ho hum ever stay mad at you, come on cuchy-cuchy, thats better).

Feel the love.

 

Oh and while we are about it love to the crews of both vessels and yes....Shoreside management (offer applies only for the day of the 14 February: shoreside management that is but you know, there has been progress even here...tell you later).

[Jim Avery]

Well whilst arriving in Atlanta was hell.....leaving Atlanta was another story.

The hotel staff, the bus driver, the airport personnel and the Delta flight attendants were utterly charming, so friendly and helpful.

 

Left with a completely different opinion....

 

HH wishes to be fair in his comments and applaud great service.....

 

I lived a lot of years in the South of the US and it was always said: "When you die and go to H*ll, you have to change in Atlanta".:eek::D Yes, a miserable place to enter from overseas. And I have never gotten the point of a giant sign in the International Terminal stating ZIMBABWE.

[ho-hum]

I lived a lot of years in the South of the US and it was always said: "When you die and go to H*ll, you have to change in Atlanta".:eek::D Yes, a miserable place to enter from overseas. And I have never gotten the point of a giant sign in the International Terminal stating ZIMBABWE.

 

Well look ho hum feels bad now 'bout rubbishing Atlanta Airport but it was bad. London Heathrow is not eactly great either but at least the custom cubicles are manned and there are not officious officials.

Taking fingerprints and photos ?

Really.

Why not just fly in to Mexico and walk across the border ?

Met about ten immigrants doing precisely that whilst going out for a horse ride when staying on a ranch about ten years back.....felt really sorry for them.

 

Oh and we cant fly into Orlando ...... only Business Class flights available (and that other one) !

So says blondie.

 

Not New York, it may be in shut down due to weather.

 

So it looks like its back to Mi -o - mi

[ho-hum]

Well after boarding dead on 2.00pm, ho hum gets "processed", un-packed and heads straight up to the TOYB by 2.20pm and lo and behold who is sitting around the bar but four merry Canadians amongst whom is the wonderful Kathy & Danny !

 

And what a delightful, open hearted, smiley and funny group of friends they are too.

We have a wonderful time with them BUT where is everybody else ?

 

A lovely couple from Finland saunter up with their two charming young boys and we bring them in to the conversation. And a guy from Michigan !!! No not You know who. Well surprise, surprise, the Finnish man and the guy from Michigan both work in the beer brewing industry !

 

Well we are having a great time. The ferocious rain of yesterday and the dark skies has given way to partial sunshine with a few, light showers.

 

But we are not "sailing away".

We are simply sitting in the dock.......it makes for a really "flat" experience.

There is a good reason for that but all the same, ho hum wants to start his jolly adventure.

 

Drank way too much champagne at the bar and just made it through safety drill.

A woman chatted throughout despite being implored to listen by nearly everyone.

She was totally oblivious.

New demonstration procedures adopted....interesting.

We return to cabin wondering where it all went "tits up" and try to freshen ourselves up for dinner.

We go straight to dinner.

No blah-blah for us.

Soup, main course NO wine which has all the crew in SHOCK !

Is this a new ho hum ? Has he found God or something ? Is he trying to live a virtuous life from now on ? We explain the real reason. All is well.

First to finish, we retire discreetly.

Goran delivers our desert to our cabin. Bless him. Oh it's delicious. And then zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

 

Oh did ho hum mention that Bulgari has been "kicked to the kerb" and been replaced with a more up-market and attractive "Occitaine" range.

 

Oh and the ladies processing us at check in were all wearing "I love SD" t-shirts and had really made themselves up and were all wearing a range of deep red lippy......they looked so gorgeous. Well it was Valentines Day and red roses and red heart motifs were displayed around. A wonderful celebration on boarding and a "bit of fun".

Its amazing that they bring something new to this procedure and create a fun environment.

Ho hum approves very much.

 

So three things that were great:

- meeting Kathy & Danny and their wonderful compadres

- Occitaine products

- gorgeous ladies at check in, in their deep red "lippy"

 

Plus meeting up with wonderful crew !

 

But "flat" non-event with no "sail away" .......

 

We left at 5.45am. Captain released the handbrake and we are rolling down the hill to Cruz Bay, St.John.....yes about 20 minutes away.

A fuel saving exercise if ever HH saw one !

A right swizz !

 

Looking forward to a dinner with Kathy, Danny and their wonderful chums.

 

Up for breakfast, quick hellos to the waiters.....they are setting up.

 

Lovely chat with Captain this morning who suggested a bike ride with him.

No frigging way !

Ho hum's fitness levels are 5% of our illustrious Captain and he is competitive !

 

Then Kathy & Danny swung by, talking about going for a hike !!

Ye Gods !

 

Goran ambles up with tea and a juice....a little chat, then another waiter Fernando and again we chat before the Master himself arrives: the Executive Hotel Manger himself !

 

.......and all before breakfast.

 

Things looking up though, weather is perfect for ho hum and just look at this view (no you cant, the internet is not powerful enough, might have to do it later.....so sorry).

[ho-hum]

lets try it again

[ho-hum]

Look who just turned up ?

[ctbjr1309]

Oh and we cant fly into Orlando ...... only Business Class flights available (and that other one) !

So says blondie.

So it looks like its back to Mi -o - mi

 

'tis true. Drat!

[ho-hum]

'tis true. Drat!

 

.....well maybe Business Class would'nt be that bad and there customs could'nt be any worse, could it ?

if only we knew somebody there (Orlando) and could stop off for a day or so with real fun guys and with hearts of gold whom we totally adore and respect.......mmmmmm.....not so easy is it.

 

But wait ! HH knows just the couple !

 

Can you get straight flights to St.Thomas & Puerto Rico from Orlando Bloom Airport ?

[Jim Avery]

Oh did ho hum mention that Bulgari has been "kicked to the kerb" and been replaced with a more up-market and attractive "Occitaine" range.

 

No Bulgari???? The horrors!!! We had Occitaine recently on Paul Gauguin but DW and I both prefer Bulgari. How do you find your way about without the scent of Bulgari??? What's next? Shorty pajamas??

Edited February 15, 2015 by Jim Avery