30 September at Sea

Yesterday's post had a slight error - that helicopter manouvre should have read 45 minutes.  Apparently the passenger became seriously ill and it was decided she/he should be airlifted to a hospital in Spain. But in order to do that we had to turn the ship around and head towards land and then after the operation get back into the right channel which at that time was quite busy.  All good, we made up time and are right on track for our arrival in Naples in 2 days.  I presume the accompanying person/family are still on board as only one person airlifted.  

The past two days have been very relaxing - we do our own thing then meet for happy hour at the Wheelhouse Bar at 3ish!  From there head to the Fusion Lounge for drinks & canapés buffet for the Elite passengers. Nothing elite about us except that we qualify due to number of days travelled on Princess.  Thankfully we get plenty of walking in as is about 2 miles from one end of the ship to the other!!!!!  Have met some terrific people, and there are definitely some you would prefer to ignore.  Some particularly obnoxious Australians, loud and ignorant.  

My mahjong group is great, Stella from Daylesford and a couple from Perth. Cathy, (Perth) is an old Ansett girl, ran the travel department in Pt Hedland. Stella's husband worked with the Emirates Royal Family's Airline as an engineer in Dubai.  

Last night was the first formal night and we did dress up but low key compared to some.  Wish I could have taken a pic of the lady I was sitting next to at the Captain's Cocktail party - she was from Darbyshire, a bit crusty, and she was done up to the nines!  She wore a very fancy fascinator, jewellery like you couldn't imagine (I suspect fake) but diamond/glittery, she had a wide bracelet that continued down to her middle finger, etc etc. The gown was long and low cut,  shoes amazing.  A shame she was wrinkled and old like me.   But she was fun and we enjoyed people watching and commented on a few interesting people and poor fashion choices and she said 'don't these people look in the mirror before they leave home?'  

Dinner again in the Michaelangeo Dining room and we were seated with a couple from Hanging Rock and two from Perth.  I asked if the Vics knew the Philbricks and they said yes, of course.  She is Marilyn and his name is Chinka (obviously a nickname) and he is a solicitor in Woodend.  I didn't catch the surname but Chris, you will know who I am talking about.  Marilyn spoke very fondly of you. 

The entertainment later was forgettable, a second rate comedian.  

The alarm is set for a 5.30 start for the Grand Final in the morning. 

29 September at Sea

Thursday 29 September

Today is the first of 4 days at sea.  The weather since leaving Southampton at 5pm yesterday has been cool, drizzly and windy and there has been some slight sea motion which apparently a few passengers have noticed. Someone told us there were a few diehards trying to get some sunbaking in on one of the decks - must have been from the UK, certainly no Australian would be so desperate! The passengers are a mixed lot - many Australians and English and quite a few Americans.  

I brought my friend Julie's travel mahjong set with me and was lucky enough to find some Australian ladies to play with today so hope that will be a daily sea day activity. After cocktails (Planters Punch & Mohitas) we shared a table at dinner with a couple from Auckland.  Turns out we were all on the Arcadia together when we cruised from Southampton to Sydney a few years ago!  

The show tonight was really good, a vocalist Phillip Browne.  He is an English guy, a former bus driver who auditioned for The Lion King, got the part, and hasn't looked back since!  

As you can see, this has been a pretty relaxed day - nothing cultural for me yet!!!!  

2am- lots of BANG BANG BANG - was sure we had run over a whale or something larger, rushed out onto the balcony to see a huge helicopter hovering right above us!!!  4 mins later they had lifted a passenger up & set off to the nearest land. More in tomorrows post when we find out what happened. 

27 September Southampton

28 September Southampton

Wednesday

Breakfast at McDonalds this morning - quite delicious too, and nice for a change! We had to return the car so spent half an hour looking for a gas station as had to put another half a cup of petrol in to make it up to the line where it was when we picked the car up!! 😁. (Should have put in 2 extra cups yesterday but, well, .........!

Back to the hotel to pick up our bags and get a large taxi for transfer to the ship.  Southampton still has nothing much to recommend it and I can't imagine anyone would visit except to go on a cruise. 

Embarkation was quite painless in spite of there being 3000 passengers on this ship, The Emerald Princess, of course not everyone arrived at the same time.  We were lucky enough to be given a priority pass so breezed through.  Found two plates of choc-dipped 🍓 strawberries, a coffee card voucher and complimentary dinner at Curtis Stone's restaurant in our suite, sent by our cruise agent Debra.  

Spent the afternoon unpacking, lunching and a bit of socialising then an early dinner in the buffet!  I was in bed asleep by 8.45 pm - exhausted by all that double clutching and bunny hopping in the manual car, no doubt!!!!! 😂 

Nothing like a Pimms or two under the British Flag!!!  

27 September Southampton

We were on the road earlier this morning - just a few minor hiccups before breakfast when some articles could not be found but did turn up in the end! - having enjoyed a nice breakfast in a delightful setting.  Drove through many beautiful little villages and towns, along narrow winding roads, but with limited opportunity to really slow down and admire everything. The traffic is ridiculous, crazy, but drivers very well behaved and seemingly accepting of huge trucks, delays and slow drivers.  

Loved Tetbury, in Gloustershire, where we walked around the town, visited the cathedral and called in to the Highgrove Shop (Prince Charles's shop). 

We then stopped to eat our lunch (remains of last night's pork ribs!) opposite the Cotswolds airport which is also known as the 'the Jumbo's graveyard' - many aged aircraft are stripped and the shells remain for all to see.  

Set the GPS for Salisbury then Amesbury as wanted to re-trace our steps from the 70's when we used to stay with friends at Lake, near Amesbury, Wilts. Diana & Ted Howard lived in a beautiful house with amazing gardens and just down the lane and across the road lived the High Sheriff of Wiltshire. Back in 1972 we were fortunate to be invited to his cocktail party which was very swish!  The Howards moved on, as did the the High Sheriff and a few years ago his house/mansion was sold to Sting!  Great memories, things look slightly different now, but we did manage to get some pics.  

Arrived here in Southampton around 5 pm, figured out where to return the car in the morning, made some purchases at the supermarket ( tonic for the gin!!!) and had a light dinner. 

26 September. Near Newbury

After breakfast George left to pick up our hire car.  Nothing is ever simple - he just missed the bus to the rental place, finally got there to be told he was in the wrong place, should have been back at the airport.  Another long story short, was able, by long negotiation, to get a car from there but would have to wait half an hour or so. That didn't happen, and anyway the car ordered would never have fitted in our very large suitcases so he did an upgrade & finally arrived back at the hotel at 12.30 by which time I had read and re-read all my emails, talked to 2 of my 3 daughters, checked out the Brownlow fashions and some of the counting, completed over a dozen Words with Friends games and played solitaire!  

So we load up the MANUAL Nissan X-Trail and set off on what should have been a quick trip to Newbury via Oxford.  With me driving.  We had GPS but still managed to end up back at the passenger drop-off point at Heathrow Terminal 2.  Not hard to do that.  Just ask us!!!!!

Finally out on the motorway, 15 or so miles towards Oxford when George realises he's left his passport and all the money & documents in the hotel room safe!  I take some responsibility as while I was wasting time doing all that stuff on the computer I could have been collecting these documents but I was honestly not sure why he  was so long and how I could contact him. The GPS lady then had us on every round-a-bout in the UK - getting back to the Novotel was a nightmare. 

Arrived in Oxford around 3pm - George a bit peeved that he didn't get to go into 'the university' - I said 'it is all university, George, where would you start?' Anyway, we stopped for a snack and decided to head for Newbury.  Too late to look at any Cotswolds towns today.  I might come back one day and do a Trafalgar Bus Tour.  LOL.  

We are now settled in at the Mercure Newbury Elcot Park Hotel - rather a grand old mansion in the countryside with very much a horse theme.  Saw a cute pub three miles back and may try that for dinner. 

Well we did go back to 'The Halfway Hotel' for dinner. A beautiful old pub named because it is halfway between London and Bristol and was a stagecoach stopping place years ago.  The pianist played on a piano 110 years old, I guess quite new for England!  We each ordered pork ribs - a big mistake as enough food for 6 people! Have brought some back to our hotel for lunch tomorrow. 

Culturally we have done nothing yet - haven't had time. Maybe tomorrow!

26 September London

Arrived Heathrow on time at 6.45pm, Thai Airways treated us to a magnificent circuit of the City of London on the way in.  But after walking about 6 miles at Heathrow airport we didn't get to the hotel until almost 8.30.  The Novotel is very close but the hotel bus was not there so finally took a cab and by then our friends Kate & David Bowes were already at the hotel to meet us.  So it was a great catchup with them, we looking very scruffy and they looking a million dollars!!!  Enjoyed some drinks and a snack and lots of laughs.  Kate & David have an apartment at The Hallmark and visit Melbourne every summer.  

Feeling great this morning, no jetlag and after breakfast we will collect our rental car and drive to the Cotswolds for a quick visit, staying the night in Newbury.  

Sept 24/25

First leg of journey completed, now in Bangkok for a 5 hour stopover. I managed to sleep for 6 hours which was great - no film, music, almost no food (just a tasting and a glass of bubbles).  George p....d off because for some reason Thai now say sleep machines cannot be used on the aircraft!  Hello! He's had one for over 20 years and it's never been a problem.  With any airline, particularly Thai.  Anyway, long story short, this may be our last flight with Thai after he sues them!!!  That is almost funny as we've never sued anyone, ever!!!!!!

So now, after a lovely shower and everything powdered, I'm ready for the next leg by which time it just might be time for another drink, something stronger than coffee!