The Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday June 15th, 2023

[rafinmd]

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Ann, Debbie, and Dixie, and to Graham for the explanation of the Magna Carta.  I'll celebrate the days and love the Emerson quote.  Been to Lerwick just once, Prinsendam in 2011. I'll pass on the salmon.  My alternative is Chilled Sour Cherry Soup, Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus, and Strawberry Sundae as served on MS Prinsendam June 15, 2015.

 

Roy

[travelingbums]

Thank you everyone for sharing.

 

Have a great day.

[travelnap]

I have to do a lot of running around today, so maybe I better partake of National Prune Day to keep me on the go.  Jacqui, I was a little surprised to see your dog eating peanut butter with his Doritos instead of a bowl of salsa.

[ger_77]

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily.  I love seeing photos of nature - there are so many wonderful things out there if we just take the time to look.  Prunes are good for you, but we rarely have them in the house.  A smile costs nothing and can change someone's whole outlook..

 

I just had a great early morning conversation with our DS who is celebrating his birthday today.  It's always nice to talk with him, hearing what he's been up to, as he's finally in a job that he really enjoys.  In the early evening we'll face time with him and get a chance to visit with our DDIL and 2 grandsons as well.

 

It was hot yesterday and although we were under a severe thunderstorm warning for a good portion of the day, it didn't materialize here.  I noted online that areas to the east of us were subjected to pea sized hail and heavy rain, but we were fortunate with only some winds.  The storm certainly brought down the temperatures, as it's only supposed to get as high as 18C (65F) today, so we certainly won't be needing the A/C to keep us cool.

 

@Quartzsite Cruiserthanks for letting me steal your bacon meme; it's been picked up and spread far and wide by many of my friends who also thought it was so funny.

 

Nothing on the agenda today, so it's clean up and do some house maintenance and that's about it.  I'm going to pass on the drink (rye), would like to try the wine, but like the price of @kochleffel's suggestion better, and I know we'll enjoy the menu suggestion.  I'm going to make it next week and will be able to use some of our rosemary plant that's growing in the pergola.  Tonight though, we've still got leftovers to go through, so I think we'll be enjoying the last of our pulled pork on the deck for dinner.  And wine.

 

Prayers for everyone who is in need, cheers to all with celebrations.

 

Smooth Sailing!  ☺️☺️☺️

Gerry

[rafinmd]

My final sunset from the 2015 Prinsendam cruise.  On June 15 we visited LeHavre.

 

 

Roy

[St Pete Cruiser]

2 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

Good morning.  Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Report.

 

We've got a cloudy morning, and it should warm up to 20°C (68°F) this afternoon with a chance of showers.  I'll head out for my morning walk soon.

 

I love nature photography.  Prunes are okay.  I believe in the power of smiles. 🙂

Love the quote.

Not sure about the meal, I'm not a big fan of rosemary, so I'll leave that out.

I hope the drink and wine are tasty.

We were in Lerwick many years ago on a cruise on the Ryndam, I'll see if I can find pictures.

 

Prayers for everyone.  Cheers for all the celebrations.

Have a wonderful day.

Welcome back from your cruise.  Maybe I missed it, but did you post your thoughts about your adventures?  You picked a good time to be away from southern Ontario with the smoke issues.  We lost a friend who was from near London, Ontario, recently who had severely reduced lung capacity, when he had traveled from Florida back to see family and friends.  Even though he traveled by car with back up oxygen, the poor air conditions caused by the wildfires were too much for him.  He seemed rather well the end of May when he was here at our monthly potluck.

 

[St Pete Cruiser]

2 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Good morning friends!  Things are calm here right now and 66F, but we have at least a 50% chance of rain all day long and a high of 78.  I hope the weather is nice wherever you are.😎  Thank you Rich @richwmn for the Daily and Fleet Report this morning. I always appreciate nature photographs, like prunes, and love to see a smile!  I like the quote, and I believe the meal suggestion will be popular.  No idea what a journeyman cocktail is.  I'll appreciate an explanation of the wine so thanks to Ann @cat shepard for that.  Many thanks also to Debbie @dfish and Dixie @summer slope for the recipes and drink mixing instructions.

 

Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the Care and Celebration lists today.  I'm going to be contacting my friend about her brother Mark's bile numbers.  Hopefully they are down and he can start that new chemo treatment.  Thank you for including him.  Also, my DB says he is feeling better lately with his new meds (provided by a grant) except for the predicted side effects.  Thank you for including him too.  Prayers for everyone here in need of them.🙏  Congratulations to everyone on our Celebration list or experiencing happy events this week!🥂  And hurray for the cruisers!🚢  Congrats also to the winners of the Congressional baseball game last night.  ⚾

 

Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland was our port of the day on Sept. 20, 2021 and Nov. 1, 2022.  Links to those dates are below.  I have been there twice - in 2015 on Caribbean Princess and in 2022 on Island Princess.  My photos from 2015 are included after the links.

 

 

 

We arrived in Lerwick on Sept. 8, 2015 on Caribbean Princess and tendered over to Victoria Pier

 

 

The first thing that caught our eye was a zebra-striped accommodation barge used to house workers building the Shetland Gas Plant.  It's no longer there since the project was completed several years back.

 

We had scheduled a tour of the Jarlshof Ruins and the Hoswick Visitor Center.  Excuse the photos taken from the bus window of the countryside.

 

 

Our driver told us Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick own property here.  I have no way of verifying that information, but it would be a perfect place to get away from it all.

 

The Hoswick Visitor Center had a lot of very old radios and other communication equipment, along with textiles and other odds and ends.  Seemed an odd collection to me.

 

 

Most of us thought the scenery outside more interesting so went out to take some photos before time to move on to the Jarlshof Ruins.  Scenery like this

 

and this

 

Back in the bus for the drive to the Ruins we saw lovely beaches which were dotted with seals, surprisingly.

 

The guide passed around photos and other information while en route.

 

In order to reach the Ruins we had to cross a runway at Sumburgh Airport!

 

Arriving at Jarlshof Ruins

 

 

This photo shows outlines of some of their huts and other buildings.

 

This would have been where the fire was in their rocky home.

 

And some of the walls

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving the site, we stopped to enjoy a few of the Shetland ponies next to the walkway.

 

We were back in Lerwick on June 9, 2022 on Island Princess.  We walked around the town a bit then got instructions on how to get to Tesco to do a little shopping.  

 

 

 

I was surprised to see this hospital with the funeral director in the same building!  😳

 

We had quite a little walk to get to the Tesco but on a cruise you can always use the exercise.

 

After we picked up some goodies for our waiters and bar staff favorites, we stopped to see the Lerwick Town Hall.

 

Then passed by this monument.  

 

And then we found the very conveniently located Fort Charlotte

 

 

Island Princess is in the back of this photo.   DH always has his photo taken with a cannon.

 

Back to the dock area to get on a tender.

 

 

Hoping everyone here has a wonderful Thursday.  Stay safe and well!

I think most of us here always appreciate your pics from the location/port of the day.

On our Noordam cruise from Auckland back to Vancouver, or Hawaii for me, we begged the cruise director to reinstate the port location talks, which she did.

With your treasure trove of pics, you could probably do a great job of presenting such talks.  Barbara Haney had that position for many years on Holland America and did such a great job with it.  

[durangoscots]

Good morning. I am happy to report that Bandit seems recovered from the "whatever it was". Both dogs enjoyed an early morning walk - early thanks to the dawn chorus in the tree just outside my window. It was a brisk 37F, but it will warm up later although I see some clouds rolling in so maybe not as much as they forecast. Next week it is supposed to climb into the mid-80's for a high which is much more seasonable. We are getting light showers on and off this week which is good. I do need to do some more weeding on the Iris bed in front.

 

Salmon sounds good and Lerwick and the Shetlands is a favorite location for me. Although it can be mightily cold as I found out when I was there in October one year. Still have the sweater I acquired when I got off the ferry from Aberdeen. That damp cold goes right through you.

 

I have some boxes out to be packed for shipping to one of the scottie rescue groups with items for auction. I am trying to find someone driving to Denver area who will take some breakables up for me. I am very slowly making a dent in the stuff in the condo. And another bag of paperback books is ready to go the thrift store along with some clothes that no longer fit.  The process would go fast if I did not stop to reread some of the books. And I am researching some tours for the Grand Australia/New Zealand. Keeps me busy/

 

Best wishes to all.... take care.

 

Susan

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from what can be best described as a yuck day in central Texas.  It is very overcast with a 6mph wind.  The Weather Channel app says it's 81F and feels like 82F.  It was foggy earlier this morning with 100% humidity and a dew point of 78F. Now, the humidity is down to 98% but the dew point is up to 80F.  Our high is supposed to be 95F.  I got my walk in, but it got uncomfortable about 3/4s of the way through.

 

I'll gladly celebrate nature photography and smile power.  BUT, someone else can have my prunes.  

 

The Emerson quote is true, but sometimes hard to follow even though I try to be myself.

 

The meal sounds looks good, and we have salmon and veggies.  I'll probably try it in the air fryer, but maybe substitute dill for the rosemary.  We'll pass on the drink and might try the wine next time we're in NZ.

 

@grapau27 Graham, thank you for the information on the Magna Carta.  We saw it in the British Library in 2009.

 

We have been to Lerwick at least three times, and I'll repost my pictures in a few minutes.

 

@ottahand7 Nancy, thank you for the lovely nature pictures.

@marshhawk  Annie, I hope your DH gets a good report from his physical.

@Oceans Away Welcome, home.

@ger_77Gerry, no problem about "stealing" the bacon meme.  I stole it from someone on FB.  😁

@St Pete CruiserI'm sorry about the loss of your friend from all the smoke.  Condolences to you and his family and friends.  Barbara Haney was a wonderful port lecturer, and that was because she had been to the ports.

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

[puppycanducruise]

15 minutes ago, St Pete Cruiser said:

Welcome back from your cruise.  Maybe I missed it, but did you post your thoughts about your adventures?  You picked a good time to be away from southern Ontario with the smoke issues.  We lost a friend who was from near London, Ontario, recently who had severely reduced lung capacity, when he had traveled from Florida back to see family and friends.  Even though he traveled by car with back up oxygen, the poor air conditions caused by the wildfires were too much for him.  He seemed rather well the end of May when he was here at our monthly potluck.

 

 

Thanks for the welcome back.

I haven't posted too much about the cruise - but here are a few thoughts.

The cruise was 14 day British Isles cruise on the Zuiderdam, roundtrip from Rotterdam.

We missed tendering into St Peter Port, Guernsey because of rough seas which was disappointing but we understand.  Other stops were Portland, Falmouth, Cork (Ringaskiddy), Dublin, Liverpool, Portree, Kirkwall, Invergordon and South Queensferry (Edinbugh).

Overall, we had a wonderful time.  We thought the food and service were very good, although sometimes waiting for wine in the MDR was slow.  We ate in Canaletto twice, once with the old menu, once with the new menu.  Portions were substantial and tasty.  We ate in Pinnacle for dinner once and for lunch once - both times very enjoyable.

We had a couple of shore excursions through HAL (because of Have it All package) and a private shore excursion in Liverpool.  We also did a bridge tour arranged through our travel agent's network.

The weather was pretty good, windy at times but no rain.  Temperatures in the afternoons ran to mid teens C (low 60s F).

We have been to England a few times and this little taste of Scotland makes us want to go back for a week or so.

 

The air quality in Southern Ontario improved by the time we returned home.  My mother lives in Cambridge, Ontario (not too far from London) and she had difficulty breathing so stayed indoors with the house closed up to keep the smokey air out.

[Cruzin Terri]

Good morning to all.  Happy Thursday.

Thank you to Rich, Debbie, Ann and Dixie for your contributions and to Graham for making me smarter about the Magna Carta.

Today is a busy day when we get to do al the last minute stuff to make sure we are good to go tomorrow.

Can’t believe we are finally going on this cruise.

Prayers for everyone who needs them and cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

God Bless,

Terri

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We have been to Lerwick three times, and in 2003, we had to miss it.  The Rotterdam was caught in a bad storm between Greenland and Canada for two days, so we had to cut one port.  Our first visit was in 2009 on the Tahitian Princess, and we took the tour to Scalloway Castle. 

 

In 2017, we were in Lerwick twice on the Prinsendam.  The first time we walked around town, which being there on a Sunday, meant most stores were closed.  The second time, we rented a car and drove around the island.

 

I'll post pictures of our walk around town in another post.  These are from our drive around the island.

 

Sumbergh Head and the lighthouse

 

Jarlshof, the site of the remains of a Viking village

 

To get to the southern tip of the island and Sumbergh Head, you had to drive across the airport runway, so the road was closed when a plane was landing or taking off.

 

Scenery along the road heading back to Lerwick and the part of the island north of town.

 

A couple of interior pictures of Scalloway Castle

 

 

Scenes from the northern part of the island

 

Lenda

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

These are just a few of our pictures walking arund town.  Both times we walked around town were on Sunday, and the weather was less than ideal.

 

View from Prinsendam across the bay

 

Town

 

Another view from the ship

 

The lighthouse and headland as we sailed toward the next port

 

Lenda

[Heartgrove]

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here!

 

The house painter that we contracted with in February finally started yesterday on the repairs needed before painting. He had told us originally that we would on his schedule for early May. It was the usual excuse of rain delaying him - but we have been in a drought according to the Weatherman?.

 

It was an excellent builder that built the house (built in 2008) but there are a few spots where water has coused some damage. Currently the painter is addressing the few spots where the Hardie Plank pulled away slightly, and then caulking all of the joints. 

 

We are changing the color so that took quite a bit of back and forth yesterday. The base will be darker and then changing the trim to white. Currently the base is a pale green with the trim about two shades lighter. Should look different in about two weeks or so.

 

 

 

We are also still contesting a claim with the insurance company over hail damage that occurred on April 26, 2022. About 75% of the homes here in our sub-division have had new roofs including all of our directly adjacent neighbors. It seems the "Stag" prefers to deny claims. First it was nothing but a portion of a downspout, the claims agent left and our claim fell into a void, then two slopes less depreciation, now a readjustment by the "Back Group (?)." We are re-submitting the damage estimate by a roofer we will hire.

 

Stay Safe!

 

- Jack

[cruising sister]

Good morning all,

it is a red ozone day so no walk this morning. I have not been to the Shetland Islands but have had two Shetland sheep dogs if that counts. I love the quote and I think I am experiencing it now. I feel people are trying to define who I am when I don’t even know that now. Widowhood is a new and challenging journey. 
 

Thanks for all the kind words. I was ready to crawl back into my home and not see my friends. I hate conflict and tend to avoid it and blame myself even if I have not done anything. 
 

Prayers for all in need and have a great day!

[dfish]

51 minutes ago, Heartgrove said:

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here!

 

The house painter that we contracted with in February finally started yesterday on the repairs needed before painting. He had told us originally that we would on his schedule for early May. It was the usual excuse of rain delaying him - but we have been in a drought according to the Weatherman?.

 

It was an excellent builder that built the house (built in 2008) but there are a few spots where water has coused some damage. Currently the painter is addressing the few spots where the Hardie Plank pulled away slightly, and then caulking all of the joints. 

 

We are changing the color so that took quite a bit of back and forth yesterday. The base will be darker and then changing the trim to white. Currently the base is a pale green with the trim about two shades lighter. Should look different in about two weeks or so.

 

 

 

We are also still contesting a claim with the insurance company over hail damage that occurred on April 26, 2022. About 75% of the homes here in our sub-division have had new roofs including all of our directly adjacent neighbors. It seems the "Stag" prefers to deny claims. First it was nothing but a portion of a downspout, the claims agent left and our claim fell into a void, then two slopes less depreciation, now a readjustment by the "Back Group (?)." We are re-submitting the damage estimate by a roofer we will hire.

 

Stay Safe!

 

- Jack

 

Have fun with the house painting.  It is amazing what a transformation a change in paint color can make.  I hope the insurance issues work out.

 

40 minutes ago, cruising sister said:

Good morning all,

it is a red ozone day so no walk this morning. I have not been to the Shetland Islands but have had two Shetland sheep dogs if that counts. I love the quote and I think I am experiencing it now. I feel people are trying to define who I am when I don’t even know that now. Widowhood is a new and challenging journey. 
 

Thanks for all the kind words. I was ready to crawl back into my home and not see my friends. I hate conflict and tend to avoid it and blame myself even if I have not done anything. 
 

Prayers for all in need and have a great day!

 

I'm glad you aren't going to stay away from your friends and the activities you enjoy.  Now is when you need them the most.  Head held high!

[JazzyV]

Good morning. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

I enjoy nature photography. Prunes get a bad rap; I like them. Smiles have great power. Great quote. Pass on the meal (fish), drink and wine (only due to cost).

I haven't been to Lerwick.

 

It's sunny here and going into the 70's. Later we may get rain. We are getting smoke again from the wildfires, but it's high aloft, causing haziness but the air quality is ok so far. I have already made a quick trip to the grocery store and to the PO to get estimated taxes mailed. I will mow the lawn when I'm finished here. That will be a bit of a chore, as my knee is hurting and my hands (mainly the right thumb). I missed one of my RA med shots in April and one in May, due to being on antibiotics. So my hand joints are protesting. At least I'm starting to feel that whatever this respiratory thing is, it's finally resolving after 4 weeks (working outdoors during the bad air from smoke didn't help).

 

@aliaschief Enjoy Bilbao and thanks for the photos.

@StLouisCruisers Great to hear that your DB is feeling better with the medication. Lovely photos from Lerwick.

@0106 Great photo from Assateague.

@smitty34877 I'm sure DH will enjoy the treats. So nice that their was laughter around your table!

@ger_77 Happy Birthday to your DS!

@St Pete Cruiser Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.

@Quartzsite Cruiser Ugh on that humidity! Thanks for the Lerwick pictures.

@Cruzin Terri Safe travels tomorrow.

@Heartgrove Your house is lovely; it'll be interesting to see it after the color changes.

@cruising sister I understand hating conflict, but please don't isolate yourself because of that one person.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for those with something to Celebrate.

Be well everyone.

[Cruising-along]

Good morning all!

We have a couple days of sunshine before the drizzle is back.  Maybe heading to 70 F today.

 

I love nature photography and follow several photographers online.  Prunes are ok, and believe smiles hold a lot of power.  I like the quote, and the meal sounds very yummy.  I've printed off the 2nd recipe (you had me at balsamic glaze) but will make it another night.  We've had a lot of fish the past week.  Rosemary isn't usually an herb I would choose, but in this recipe it sounds great.  My neighbor and I are each growing some herbs in our front yards and are sharing.  She's growing Rosemary, so I'll pop over and snip some when I do make this.

 

Will pass on the drink and red wine.  We've been to Scotland but not to Lerwick.  Thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisers and Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser for the great photos.

 

All the talk about painting houses and now I'm thinking maybe we'll do that next summer.  I do still love the color we have (similar to Jack's @Heartgrove) so will try to have it matched as closely as possible.  We also have Hardie Plank, I didn't know it can pull away!

 

Getting my hair cut is tops on the agenda today, and then probably gardening.  Not sure what we'll have for dinner, I'm thinking maybe pork chops.

 

Gerry @ger_77 Happy Birthday to your DS!

Susan @durangoscots great news that Bandit is doing well!

 

 

[ssawjo]

I believe that it is also National Bourbon Day!  Please drink responsibility. 

[rafinmd]

4 minutes ago, ssawjo said:

I believe that it is also National Bourbon Day!  Please drink responsibility. 

Actually, it was yesterday.  Still, please drink responsibly.

 

Rpy

[ssawjo]

3 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

Actually, it was yesterday.  Still, please drink responsibly.

 

Rpy

I guess I didn't drink responsibly LOL.

[kochleffel]

I've booked a Panama Canal cruise for 2024! It's just Miami to Fuerte Amador--I wasn't excited enough about the ports on the Pacific coast of Mexico to pay more. Oddly, the ports of call were different, and less interesting to me, for the other direction. My only acquaintance with the Panama Canal is that I acted, a long time ago, in a production of Arsenic and Old Lace.

[Horizon chaser 1957]

Good morning, all! Yesterday was a travel day, and we’re back on the island now. A friend from here was flying back from visiting her grandbabies in Calgary. We picked her up at the airport on the mainland and brought her back home to Salt Spring. This was why we went over to the mainland in the first place. She’s the one who looked after our house while we were away. Her husband is recovering from having a detached retina treated, and couldn’t go over to pick her up. 
The tent caterpillars are definitely decreasing, which is a relief. The wildflowers are in full bloom, and it’s beautiful here right now! 
In honour of National Nature Photography Day, here are a few shots from our travels in Africa on this past trip, mainly in Kruger National Park:

It’s a little disconcerting when they look right at you!

 

… and is an open Jeep really a shelter?

 

This leopard, however, did not find us interesting.

 

Cape Buffalo just chillin’

 

Enjoying the swim.

 

A group of giraffes standing is a tower. A group of giraffes passing by is a journey.

 

A young female elephant.

 

Mother, child, and baby. The baby clearly adored her older sister.

 

A family at Addy Elephant National Park. Notice the reddish colour. This is from dust and mud from the red earth.

 

A hyena wanting to pass by to his pack on the other side of the bridge. 
 

A hippo below our room on the Shelati Train on the Bridge in Sabi Sands

 

Male Kudu.

 

The End.

 

Happy Thursday, and cheers to our favorite BHB’s, wherever they may be!

 

 

[RedneckBob]

4 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Thanks for the Fleet Update and General Info from all the contributors.

 

National Prune Day. Isn’t this celebrated every day on a HAL ship! 😀

When you play the slot machines on a HAL ship you hit the jackpot when three prunes show on the pay line.

 

Also National Nature Photography Day. Just took a nature photo in my house. I have heard of pheasant under glass but…..

 

Something tells me some of y’all did not understand the photo that I took this AM in our breakfast area. It’s a wicker table with glass top and something extra under the glass. Let me blow it up. It is a snake!

 

Edited June 15, 2023 by RedneckBob

[Horizon chaser 1957]

7 minutes ago, RedneckBob said:

Something tells me some of y’all did not understand the photo that I tool this AM in our breakfast area. It’s a wicker table with glass top and something extra under the glass. Let me blow it up. It is a snake!

 

I think I would skip breakfast at your house. Have you considered marketing the table design to Weight Watchers?