17th January 2014 The sea was a touch frisky this morning, though nothing to trouble a seasoned sailor such as myself (or so I keep telling Sue). Breakfast was in the waiter-service Britannia restaurant, where we shared a table for six with some well-travelled fellow Brits. Their tales of nautical escapades and “lessons learned” at… Continue Reading
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16th January 2014 We woke at 7:30 am to clear skies and a calm sea. Breakfast was served in the Lido, and mindful of the effort it took to tighten my belt, I made an effort to reduce the portion size on my plate, though I spoiled it later by returning to the buffet for… Continue Reading
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15th January 2014 After what was my most restful night of the voyage, interrupted only briefly when we seemingly ran over a very large whale that momentarily roused me from sleep, I was surprised to learn that Sue had been tossing and turning most of the night. Stepping onto the balcony, I soon understood why.… Continue Reading
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14th January 2014 After another night of rock and roll, somehow, we both managed to get a decent amount of sleep, and I woke early. Not by choice, mind you, but because, unlike Sue, who meticulously tracks all shipboard announcements, I hadn’t set my watch back yet another hour. To top it off, I ventured… Continue Reading
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13th January 2014 Well, what a night! I’m grateful we’re on such a massive ship, and for the Captain’s decision to steer us some 250 miles south of our intended course to avoid a Force 10 storm. Even so, the constant rocking of the ship, with the odd thud here and there, made for a… Continue Reading
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12th January 2014 After a snug, warm, and comfortable night’s sleep (seriously, I’m tempted to take this bed home with me), we woke quite early, having gained an hour thanks to the ship’s clocks being set back. Just before 8 am, we found ourselves among the first in line for breakfast in the restaurant. While… Continue Reading
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11th January 2014 The following morning (Friday), we woke early and, after showering, walked a few hundred yards to McDonald’s for a strong cup of coffee and tea. We then paid a brief visit to a very large and impressive IKEA store before returning to the hotel to check out. We’d booked a taxi for… Continue Reading
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11th January 2014 With Christmas and New Year celebrations now all done and dusted, the normal routine at Willow Bank has settled back in. Following a twist on Family Curry Night, where Jamie and Charlotte treated us to a couple of impressive Mexican dishes, Sue and I visited the Cinnamon Lounge the next evening with… Continue Reading
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4th January 2014 Late afternoon on Christmas Eve, all the Palmers gathered around the dining table at Willow Bank, enjoying what would be the first of many meals before the festivities concluded. The decorations were up, the tree sparkled with lights, and the logs crackled in the wood burner. Despite relishing the freshly made chestnut… Continue Reading
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22nd December 2013 Sue and I joined a council walk on 23rd November. As it turned out, it was the last one of 2013, as Colin, the organiser’s father, died that morning. We suspected something was amiss, as his mobile repeatedly rang during our amble. He said nothing about his unfortunate circumstances, even during lunch.… Continue Reading
Palmer Family 