Silversea Water Cooler: Part 3, Welcome!

[mysty]

This week's Sunday Clarkson shared for those that enjoy him .....

 

"School’s out of touch — kids must learn to wire a plug and embrace nepotism "

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeremy-clarkson-school-s-out-of-touch-kids-must-learn-to-wire-a-plug-and-embrace-nepotism-sz85tr575?shareToken=56835eec1884146dd4853e053aeb8b31

 

Interesting! I have thought for a while that schools need to introduce a life skills course into the curriculum. Basic budgeting, banking, bill payment, minor household repairs, basic cooking. Maybe even a civics segment to explain how the voting process works and how to be an informed voter. Parents may be too busy to think about training the kids and kids may not be interested in listening to parents.

[UKCruiseJeff]

The joys of travel Camels. We are told that travel broadens the mind. The trouble is more it broadens my mnd the more close minded I get about travel.

 

M, we have a generation who have never learned basic survival and self-sufficiency skills. The benefit of being in a society where everyone is told they are extremely clever, and talented and where, no one ever "fails" and the welfare state picks up the tab.

 

With respect to your comment and the link to the other article I posted, I saved these charts from a couple of weeks ago which analysed the votes as it broke down voters choice by age group, ethnicity, and employement and although you would expect that the older you get the more likely you might want the reassurance of the generous welfare state promised by the socialists, it shows that the older and wiser you get the more likely you realise the realities of the financial realities of such promises and how they therefore vote Conservative.

 

 

 

These charts also broke the vote down by ethnicity and employment sector.

 

 

This one perhaps is the most concerning (depending on your hopes) as it shows how the turnout has increased largely by increasing the younger voters, therefore the combination of how youngsters vote and the higher number of them voting produces a trend that is almost guaranteeing a Corbyn PM next time round unless there is change.

 

Edited July 2, 2017 by UKCruiseJeff

[mysty]

There is no legend for what the colours represent in the graph. Assuming they are comparable to the colours of Canadian political parties I will work with the blue being Conservative, the red being Liberal and the orange being our NDP (New Democratic Party) and maybe the UK Labour Party. If I have it right then I am not surprised by the numbers voting Conservative at the upper age ranges. Our daughter is in the 35-44 age range, we are in the 65+ range and our political arguments are very much about what the government should be doing to "help" millennials and how the selfish baby boomers are thinking only of themselves. Where the funding is supposed to come from for this "help" is not at all considered. I despair!

[mysty]

Sorry Jeff! I guess I posted before your post was finished! So the red for you is Labour and the orange is Liberal Democrat. I think teaching the younger crowd how to think critically would help us all! To research and understand the issues and the consequences of a choice are key! Younger voters need to learn to do that or we are all in the soup!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Correct M.

 

The frightening thing from the UK viewpoint is that in the 70's we ended up with thw winter of discontent, inflation at 27% and having to be bailed out by the IMF, which Keynes invented largely for others.

 

The combination of a Corbyn led Labour government during the period of Brexit is the most horrifying convergences one can imagine. Raising taxes on companies that already have an incentive to defect to the EU for better trading conditions and over-taxing our talent will cause another "brain drain" to the EU. We will have unfavourable trading conditions, a and a rush of defections by our best UK based corporations and talent. And where will they then get their taxes from? Borrowing and worst ....;;

 

I don't mean to sound like a pessimist, but we owe all this to Cameron giving us a referendum we didn't need and May giving us an election we didn't need and both not doing the slightest to get the result they were relying on.

[mysty]

What a depressing situation that is J! And I suppose the media is not doing a whole lot to explore and explain the implications of any choice of leader/party. Another bone of contention for me. Sound bites are not adequate to explain complex situations. And yet reporters are not taking the time or do not have the print space/air time to make any credible inroads in terms of a comprehensible synopsis of the situation. Here's hoping saner minds/more critical thinking minds, will prevail!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Armagnac :)

[Camillus112]

Jeff, for me Armagnac is a perfect ending...or beginning of something perfect....

[Camillus112]

BTW, forgot to mention I'm finally home! Exhausted, and ready for Armagnac. Will catch up with you all tomorrow. ZZZZZZZ

[mysty]

I'm into Rusty Nails! :)

Glad you made it home Cam!

[UKCruiseJeff]

 

 

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[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Tomorrow is a big day for the US. Coolers may be too busy with family, friends and celebrations to check in here at the Cooler. So Happy Independence Day to our neighbours! Best wishes for a safe and joyful celebration!

 

The Balcony Breezer is so very enticing! Enjoy the libation and the beautiful view J and Mrs. J!

 

Have a great day all!

[MissSophia]

Lovely view again Jeff as you sup those Breezers 😉

 

Busy morning with the world and his wife dropping by unannounced....!! My plans to continue clearing out went down hill fast, most frustrating...😉

 

Good you got home safe Cam despite the nightmare journey......whilst on the subject of air travel would be interested to hear views of American Airlines business experiences.....the BA codeshare enables me to use my local airport when travelling to the US....as does Aer Lingus.....that being a favourite as we can clear immigration in Dublin en route....just comparing routes and pricing for next year....as one does!

 

Fresh salmon fillets today for luncheon with new potatoes, peas and parsley sauce....

 

Happy Monday 😊

[spinnaker2]

Looks like that plant is a swizzle stick.

It's 8 am but those drinks look delightful

 

 

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[jpalbny]

Welcome home Cam...glad the trip was a success even though the flight home was certainly no fun. We were about an hour north of Philly on Saturday/Sunday. Traffic coming home on Sunday morning was bizarrely quite heavy! I never would have expected that in the middle of a long weekend. But no long weekend for us - back at work already!

 

Jeff, that drink is making me thirsty!

 

Sophia, we flew AA Biz class back in 2009 as a last minute (unexpected) thing. We were headed to Buenos Aires to meet up for the Antarctica cruise and our original routine was Albany-Atlanta-BA on DL. After we got to the airport and checked in, the Atlanta flight was canceled. So we got rerouted Albany-Kennedy-BA, with the first leg on DL and the second leg on AA. It was pretty standard Biz class from what I remember, but that was a long time ago. Hopefully someone else can update. We have flown exclusively on Delta/AF/KLM for the past 10 years.

 

Chris is on call this week so she'll be working tomorrow. I will have to keep myself busy. Maybe trip planning? :D

 

Have a great day all.

[TLCOhio]

The frightening thing from the UK viewpoint is that in the 70's we ended up with thw winter of discontent, inflation at 27% and having to be bailed out by the IMF, which Keynes invented largely for others.

I don't mean to sound like a pessimist, but we owe all this to Cameron giving us a referendum we didn't need and May giving us an election we didn't need and both not doing the slightest to get the result they were relying on.

 

And I suppose the media is not doing a whole lot to explore and explain the implications of any choice of leader/party. Another bone of contention for me. Sound bites are not adequate to explain complex situations. And yet reporters are not taking the time or do not have the print space/air time to make any credible inroads in terms of a comprehensible synopsis of the situation.

 

Credit to both Jeff and Mysty for very important and insightful above comments, questions and clarifications. Yes, things are fairly complex and just covering these issues like TMZ or gossip publications is not adequate. Much of "it" is about economics and how to pay for ALL of the political promises and to fund what sounds so good and important. People and politicians want "MORE", but paying for these promised goodies is not cheap or easy.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Lots of interesting and dramatic pictures can be seen from this live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

Now at 32,538 views for this visual sharing including Cape Town, along South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta area.

[TLCOhio]

Maybe trip planning? :D

 

YES! Trip planning sounds like fun. Share with us what is current definite and planned in the next year or so for you and Chris. AND, then tell what types of locations, adventures, experiences, etc., you are seeking or desiring in the future.

 

Happy to make suggestions to help you spend your money.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 182,507 views for this posting.

[UKCruiseJeff]

Good afternoon all .....

 

A lot quieter on the balcony since one of our neighbours has upped sticks and gone.

 

Wimbledon starts today and it makes a good background for an afternoon doze.

 

I think it will he a curry tonight .

[jpalbny]

YES! Trip planning sounds like fun. Share with us what is current definite and planned in the next year or so for you and Chris. AND, then tell what types of locations, adventures, experiences, etc., you are seeking or desiring in the future.

 

Happy to make suggestions to help you spend your money.

 

 

Oh, thanks for the offer! We are doing a fine job of spending on our own already, but why not get some extra help?

 

Definite so far:

 

October-November 2017, cruise on Silver Explorer (7724), Guayaquil to Santiago. This is a pretty cool South America cruise. Several highlights - first off, it's a food and wine cruise where they will be bringing on local chefs to explore the different cuisines of each country we're passing through (Ecuador, Peru, and Chile). Secondly, the cruise itself is a neat mix of stops including some wildlife and park locations, combined with some interesting city and historical locations (such as Huaca Pucllana in Lima). Lastly, one of the included tours is a flight over the Nasca Lines! If they manage to pull off half of what is promised, it will be an amazing trip.

 

Here is a link to the details of the itinerary: http://www.silversea.com/destinations/south-america-cruise/guayaquil-to-valparaiso-7724/?fycref=row1#highlights

 

And after we disembark, we're going to Easter Island for 3 nights independently. We are so excited for this one. I can't wait to put a big gold star on our travel map for that destination!! :D

 

March 2018 - I have a big birthday coming up with one of those annoying zeroes after it. Chris is planning a 2+ week Australia trip. Given the time of year, we're concentrating on the South.

 

Preliminary itinerary is to fly into Sydney and spend a day recuperating. Since we've already been there for a few days we'll lay low and do whatever we have the time and energy for. Then we'll fly out to Adelaide for a few days in Barossa. From there, we'll go to Kangaroo Island for 2 nights at Southern Ocean Lodge, then come back to Adelaide for a few days drive along the Great Ocean Road, ending in Melbourne for a few days. From there, we'll head to Tasmania to meet up with one of our cruise buddies for a few nights at her beach house in the North of the island. Then back to Melbourne for the long flight home.

 

Looking forward to a little more in-depth visit to Oz, as we've only been there for a few days back in 2008 before our AU/NZ cruise. There were only 3 days to spend in AU, and the rest were in NZ. So much more to see there.

 

That's all that's firmly planned right now.

 

We have a long weekend to use later this summer (in recompense for Chris working July 4th). Either August or September. We're talking about going to Montreal and Quebec City during that time, which might be nice. We've only visited QC during the dead of winter so it would be nice to see what it's like when there is no snow, and the temperature is above freezing.

 

Still thinking about what to do for the Holidays this winter. We may end up working Christmas and going away for New Years' but that won't be clear until later.

 

Later in 2018 we would like to get back to Germany, if we can arrange a factory delivery with Audi. I want to spend more time along the Rhine and Alsatian wine routes. But I also want to visit the region of the Elbe in detail. Sazon Switzerland, Dresden, etc all look so beautiful. But there are so many other places to see!

 

We need to get back to Denmark to see my brother and family again, after they move to Aarhus later this year.

 

We have talked about visiting Belgium for some time. The Great War sites would be interesting if they don't horrify us, but history isn't always pretty. Brussels is an easy flight for us from Kennedy. And they speak French... Maybe a short trip there.

 

Longer trips - we keep looking at China but the 2-week trips seem like such a whirlwind. Yet we both want to go while we're relatively young and can handle the long trip and some strenuous touring. Not sure what to do about that. It is hard to take 3 weeks off in a row, plus that knocks out a big chunk of vacation time so it limits the rest of our options. I guess China will have to wait a little longer until we figure this out.

 

Oh, and lest I forget, we still have the entire southern half of Madagascar to explore. That will take another 10-14 days for sure.

 

We'd also like to try the Kimberly cruise some day but that will probably have to wait a few years.

 

Any other suggestions? ;p Keep adding to my list?

[UKCruiseJeff]

You could always join our punch and wurst safari in Vienna this December!

 

I think you like more activity though. :D

[Tothesunset]

JP,

 

Without any great expectations we did an APT river cruise in April starting in Saigon and ending in Siem Reap in Cambodia. Well, it was excellent: not only was the river boat very comfortable with excellent food but the included excursions were very interesting (even if the temps were in the low 40s celsius). Ignore this recommendation if you've been to Vietnam and Cambodia already.

[Fletcher]

I'm on a Regent ship next month sailing Montreal, PEI, St Pierre & Miquelon, Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland. A month later we fly to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Always fancied the 'stans, one of the very few remaining areas we have never visited.

 

For the winter trip we are eyeing up several possibilities - another safari and Zanzibar; Turks & Caicos with a side trip to see the great Citadelle in Haiti; the Aranui and The Brando in French Polynesia (my favourite place in the whole wide world) and a tricky combo of Tasmania/Lord Howe Island and the Chatham Islands off NZ. So many choices, so little time left.

[jpalbny]

JP,

 

Without any great expectations we did an APT river cruise in April starting in Saigon and ending in Siem Reap in Cambodia. Well, it was excellent: not only was the river boat very comfortable with excellent food but the included excursions were very interesting (even if the temps were in the low 40s celsius). Ignore this recommendation if you've been to Vietnam and Cambodia already.

 

This area is definitely moving up on our list. Everyone we speak to about it has positive things to say about the trip. I think it may have to wait, even though it looks amazing. I'd want to add extra time for Ha Long Bay, of course. Ankor Wat (and the other Wats) need to be visited as well.

 

On second thought, this still may be more doable in 2 weeks than China would be, so you never know. Our Australian travel friend really wants to do this trip so it could happen sooner than we might think!

[jpalbny]

I'm on a Regent ship next month sailing Montreal, PEI, St Pierre & Miquelon, Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland. A month later we fly to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Always fancied the 'stans, one of the very few remaining areas we have never visited.

 

For the winter trip we are eyeing up several possibilities - another safari and Zanzibar; Turks & Caicos with a side trip to see the great Citadelle in Haiti; the Aranui and The Brando in French Polynesia (my favourite place in the whole wide world) and a tricky combo of Tasmania/Lord Howe Island and the Chatham Islands off NZ. So many choices, so little time left.

 

Cool itinerary! We love those unusual North Atlantic stops. And an easy way to visit France without flying Transatlantic!

 

I could go on safari yearly and I think I'd never get bored. It's amazing. Zanzibar was OK but I wasn't as thrilled about it as I hoped I'd be. Our resort was great but the island itself seemed run-down. Have you been?

[Fletcher]

Cool itinerary! We love those unusual North Atlantic stops. And an easy way to visit France without flying Transatlantic!

 

I could go on safari yearly and I think I'd never get bored. It's amazing. Zanzibar was OK but I wasn't as thrilled about it as I hoped I'd be. Our resort was great but the island itself seemed run-down. Have you been?

 

Going to St P and M leaves only one of France's overseas territories left to visit - Reunion.

 

Yes, been to Zanzibar before, about ten years ago, and loved it. Maybe it's changed a bit since then but the hotel scene has certainly been improved, with even a Park Hyatt in Stone Town. There was an incident a few years back when angry locals threw acid at a western woman tourist but as long as you behave considerately I doubt if there's any problem. It was a bigger version of Lamu, up the coast in Kenya, and now possibility off-limits due to security issues. Yes, it's run down . . . so is Detroit and much of London and most of the world in fact.

 

JP - Have you any recommendations for safaris? Where was the best in your experience. I think we are still looking for that 'up close and personal' thing with big cats and wild dogs.