2nd October 2023 The clocks went forward an hour overnight, so we lost an hour’s sleep and didn’t make it down for breakfast until 8 a.m. The view from our cabin TV, via the ship’s bow camera, was promising: blue skies, a calm sea, little wind, and a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius. Definitely a… Continue Reading

1st October 2023 Overnight, the Sky Princess steamed north along the coast to the small town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, nestled in Maine’s Frenchman Bay. The town serves as a gateway to the rugged mountains and cliffs of neighbouring Acadia National Park. On waking, we were greeted by a glorious day: clear… Continue Reading

30th September 2023 Port days are always tinged with uncertainty; there are usually forms to fill in, schedules to keep, and the perennial question of what to wear. I steadfastly refused to wear name badges or identification tags throughout my working life. Yet, aboard ship, I’m more than happy to have a sticker stuck to… Continue Reading

24th September 2023 We awoke to Tropical Storm Nigel, with winds gusting at 55–60 knots and a heavy swell. The stabilisers were doing their job; although we could feel the movement, it neither disturbed our sleep nor hindered our progress around the cabin and ship. We were up and about by 7:30 a.m. and sitting… Continue Reading

21st September 2023 This would ordinarily have been a slow and thoughtful day, set aside for finishing the packing for our trip to New England and Canada, ensuring we hadn’t overlooked any of the details required for a lengthy journey abroad. However, at this time of year, the fruit and vegetable plots are in full… Continue Reading

18th September 2023 “I grow dauntless as I grow old, I believe anyone that plods on in any one way, especially if that one way will bring him bread & cheese, will grow the same.” Thomas Gainsborough The 28th of August was a Bank Holiday and, although it started well, it didn’t end too well… Continue Reading

27th August 2023 Some more photos and a video of Jamie and Ruth’s Dubai engagement:                                                                 [wpvideo 7vblHAAo Over the past couple of weeks,… Continue Reading

6th August 2013 “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Mark Twain On the late afternoon of 2nd August, Jamie and Ruth dropped Rocky, Nala, and Wilma at Willow Bank on their way to an airport hotel. They flew to Dubai early the following morning for a ten-day holiday. That evening,… Continue Reading

1st August 2023 “Sisters make the best friends in the world.” —Marilyn Monroe July was a cool and wet month, with the UK receiving more than double the usual rainfall. Towards the end of the month, we had a visit from Sue’s sister, Philippa. Arriving late afternoon on the 27th, she travelled up from Buckfastleigh… Continue Reading

26th July 2023 “I am not absent-minded. It is the presence of mind that makes me unaware of everything else.” ― G.K. Chesterton Finally, I’ve finished editing the hundreds of photos and videos taken during our April trip to Ethiopia and have arranged them in sequence to create a video. It’s now been uploaded and published… Continue Reading