(31st March 2025) We had packed days ago for the trip to attend Jamie and Ruth’s wedding in Bali, but the morning was spent double-checking that we had everything we needed. It was then that I made an annoying mistake, one that would only come to light later. After a final watering of the pot… Continue Reading

30th March 2025 A few days before Sue and I set off for a bit of rest and relaxation in Lowestoft, I had an appointment with my doctor to review my annual blood test results. No concerns, thankfully, but in the spirit of thoroughness, we agreed I should have a liver scan and track my… Continue Reading

(20th March 2025) Sue’s Christmas present from me was a couple of away days on the Suffolk coast, and it took until today for us to find the time to fit it in. Fortunately, we chose a run of forecasted warm, sunny days and set off from Willow Bank under blue skies at 10 am.… Continue Reading

(10th March 2025) The tour party (Roy, Jim H, Sean, Jim C, and Suraj) joined me at 4:30 am in the Garden Room for coffee before driving to Birmingham Airport to catch a 9:20 am flight to Malta. Surprisingly, the roads were bustling with heavy traffic for such an early journey, but both cars made… Continue Reading

14th March 2025 After its electrics were damaged by a rat, Sue’s Mini was eventually fixed on 24 February; the rat’s damage had cost us £570. There is now a rat bait trap permanently installed inside the garage to prevent this from happening again. Over the past few weeks, whenever I had the time, I… Continue Reading

16th February 2025 (25th January 2025) The night the MSC Preziosa crossed the English Channel on its return to Southampton, Storm Eowyn swept through the UK and northern Europe. Thankfully, the 100mph winds affected Ireland and Scotland rather than the Channel, and in our cabin, we felt just the occasional shudder. However, I had little… Continue Reading

(23rd January 2025) We were pleasantly surprised to wake up to the sun peeking over the horizon, promising a clear day and perhaps even a touch of warmth. The ship was staying until 10 pm, so there was no rush to disembark and explore Le Havre. We left the ship at 10 am. Although it… Continue Reading

(22nd January 2025) Our morning port wake-up vibrations were delayed today; instead of the usual 7 am rattling, the ship’s berthing wasn’t felt until 8 am. By 10 am, we had left the MSC Preziosa, but not before a quick Google search for places in Rotterdam that we hadn’t visited before. From our cabin balcony,… Continue Reading

(21ST January 2025) When arriving in port, as soon as the ship’s thrusters engaged to ease the MSC Preziosa into its berth, the vibrations invariably woke us up. Today, that was at 6:30 a.m. Looking through our cabin windows, we could see very little; the fog was so thick it was a wonder we had… Continue Reading

19th January 2025 We slept soundly until around 7 am when the ship’s thrusters rattled our cabin as the MSC Preziosa manoeuvred into her berth in Hamburg. Emerging onto the balcony, the world was still shrouded in darkness. Frost coated the railings, and a thin layer of ice made the deck underfoot treacherous. The surrounding… Continue Reading