Blwyddwyn Newydd Dda

Happy New Year to all my readers!!!
I had a couple of people ask why I had not done a blog for Christmas, but I was just so busy cooking and then driving the food to my parents place that I really didn't feel Christmasy. Just a big relief that it was over...

So now it is the New Year, almost, a time to take stock, and sort of make plans to move forward, even if its just in little steps. I don't usually make resolutions, but this year, I am making one...
I am planning to make some progress with this obscure and difficult Welsh language. (you may think its a dead language, Trina, but it isn't on Anglesey)

I took this photo from my spare bedroom window at 10:30am, it looks like sunset, and it shows the most white stuff we got here. There might be snow in that, but most was just frost.
Oh well...
Happy New year everyone..!!!

Dandan gets his albatross

Another email from Dandan, on his world cruise...

"Artemis is two days out from Australia, Crossing the Tasmanian Sea.

We are trying to recover from the excesses of Christmas and the clocks being advanced by an hour on a daily basis, Time now GMT plus 13 hrs.

Weather cool 16.5 C degrees, winds northerly force three, skies overcast. Sea calm, with a 6ft swell, the sea bed is 3.2 miles beneath our keel, not the best place to fall in.

Anne was up and about, early this morning but is back in bed and asleep sensible girl.

So Australia, great country,

We arrived in Brisbane on Sunday 18th Dec, spent the day in town Christmas shopping. This modern city has quality shops, friendly and helpful people, and a Good Christmassy feel. Carols, buskers and even a street circus laid on by the council, on what looked like a specially erected stage, the kids loved it.

Walked ourselves to a stand still, had a wrap for lunch and caught the shuttle back to the ship knackered.

Sydney, a gem of a city, you only ever hear Australians moan about her, and that is generally about the transport system, the very things that tourists find so good, boats, water taxis. Trains, mono rail, buses they are all there and unbelievably cheap if you take advantage of the day tickets etc. A clean, sparkling, exhilarating fun place.

We entered the huge harbour through the heads (cliffs) that guard it, just as the sun was rising, its rays picking out first the tops of the tall buildings. Then gradually and increasingly quickly, chasing away the shadows and revealing, the bridge, opera house and the beautiful panorama that is this most gorgeous of cities set down around these sparkling waterways, I am a fan.

Like Hong Kong, Sydney deserves to be seen first up from a ship, and sunrise was a magic and memorable time to do it, I count myself lucky that this is the second time I have arrived like this and is surely a memory I will forever carry with me.

We moored in darling harbour itself and set out to mooch as Anne would have it, around the shops. I have discovered en-route, that I should have purchased a bigger zoom lens for my camera, unfortunately although readily available in the U.K. I have had no luck elsewhere, so valuable time has been wasted visiting camera shops to no avail. I suppose as one who made his living from a selling company I should not complain, if salesmen tell you less than the truth, but it was only on reaching Melbourne, that I was informed; these lenses would not be released into Australia until March. Never mind Hawaii still to come and that must be hopeful.

In the evening Anne and I, took a party of friends to a restaurant on the harbour side, we remembered from our last visit. We consumed ribs and steaks of a size and quality, fit to grace Fred Flintstones table, backed up with starters, beers and calorie rich sweets, my kids would kill for. All this and the bill including the hefty tip, we happily added came out at £25.00 each.

The following day was spent touring and clicking away with the camera and then sadly off on our way again.

The temperature in Sydney was 37 degrees and we had for the first time been troubled a bit by flies. Anne in particular walking with her sticks found it irksome, not to be able to swot them away as she didn’t have a free hand, my helpful suggestion to buy her a hat complete with corks, received a less than charitable reply. But we hadn’t seen anything yet.

When we awoke the next morning the ship was gliding into a beautiful, large horse shoe bay, cliffs and sandy beaches marked its edges, this was Eden. We had to land by tender here as there was no dock of any substance. But as only the second cruise ship to have visited there, we were made most welcome, with many of the locals turning out to set up stalls and chat with us.

Here the flies came into there own, squadrons of them attacking from all sides, again Anne seems to find my assurance that they didn’t contain many calories after she had swallowed one less the reassuring. But we persevered, visited the stalls and then boarded the bus for town

.Boy and what a town, after Sydney this was a return to the old Australia, only the cars parked solidly down the single main street, told you roughly what year it was. We all walked down the street, purchased a souvenir, turned round and walked back, a hillbilly singer sung the latest hits, save the last dance for me and hang out the washing on the Siegfried line (this is true I am not making this up), were two examples. And then he went and spoilt it all by announcing that he still had some of his cds left it we wanted to buy them. See you couldn’t make this up.

Mind you fish and chips at the harbour were superb and a change from the cordon blue cooking on the ship.

We sailed that evening for Phillip Island, and then the captain came on the P A system to announce that a big storm was building in front of us with force nine winds and 16ft seas. Consequently he was making a direct run for Melbourne, which we would reach next day missing out Philip Island. A rough night was had by many but I slept blithely through it.

Melbourne another big, bright modern city, great transport with the best tram system in the world they claim and I wouldn’t argue, superb.

The market was a sight to see huge and crammed full of stalls laden with all manner of goodies from seafood’s to Christmas cakes, this was Christmas eve and yet still there wasn’t the rush and panic off the U.K. at this time of the year.

We left the market and off to the famous MCG. Melbourne Cricket Ground newly refurbished and proudly shown to us by an elder statesman of the club, total cost 6 dollars Australian or £2.50 for the pair of us. Couldn’t some of our English institutions learn from these people?. .Lords charges £15 each minimum.

And if you want to know why a small nation, like Australia, excels at sport, to the embarrassment of many others, then come here to Melbourne and see the facilities grouped around this fabulous ground, it is mind blowing.

All the tickets for the test starting on Boxing Day were sold out. Not surprisingly, as the tickets are priced at £13.75, with those for children and concessions even cheaper.

An added bonus was that Brett Lee the Aussie fast bowler and all the South Africans were practising in the nets in public view and not behind closed doors as is the custom elsewhere.

We left Melbourne that evening and spent Christmas day at sea, Father Christmas found us and delivered our presents, the officers sang carols, the food was superb and a great time was had by one and all.

Boxing Day found us in Hobart, Tasmania. Here we found a taxi driver who had been in Aussie for 38 years, but still spoke English like the scouse he was, wore his Liverpool F.C watch and had a picture of Anfield on his mobile. We of course negotiated a deal and off we went.

An interesting day visiting an old British prison preserved in its awful entirety, then off to a wildlife park, and finally a harbour tour.

So goodbye Australia. Hopefully we will see more of you next time, and on to New Zealand, a new land for us and a new year for us all.

But first a cruise through the fiords of the Milford Sound a world heritage site virtually only viewable by boat.

Just had a phone call, grabbed the camera and ran to the stern of the ship, at last a wandering albatross, huge, white, gliding effortlessly, never flapping its wings, soaring over and all round the ship. Majestic, really in control of its element, these birds fly right round the world without landing. Breed very rarely, only real enemy man and he is killing them in there hundreds by baiting miles (many miles) of hooks and towing them behind there boats.. And I have a photo, not a good one but a photo none the less. Wonderful!

But that is for another day, for now a happy and prosperous new year to you all."

What a way to spend Christmas!!
Thanks Dandan

tagging/5 Weird Habits Meme

Thanks Boris!!
I hate chain letters, I hate being put on a spot, I hate being forced into doing anything, maybe even this shows up as a weird habit.
so, when I got this email, I screamed, I dug my heels in, I said something sounding like 'shan't!' and then thought about the moral blackmail I was now under.
The email....
"Sheila,
You are my candidate for "5 Weird Habits Meme" It's silly internet chain game.
To find more about this go to: http://challenge.visualessence.nl/C514241107/E20051214211418/index.html
Regards,
Boris"

So, I spent a few days thinking..
The weird habits were actually quite easy, in fact I was wondering which ones to not admit to, as 5 seems such an easy number to own up to. I can sort of clean them up and only admit to nice non-guilt feeling oddities. I actually like to be thought of as eccentric. Odd, no.. weird.. no.. not really, but eccentric seems to be fine. "think different, think Mac", I suppose fits a lot of chatters and online people I know.
The biggest problem has been finding 5 people who have blogs that are willing to have them advertised on my blog. Now, I apologise here, I conned em all. Evil bitch that I am, I asked them if I could sort of put their blog on mine, and omitted to tell them about the tagging. Oh well, its all in good fun. At the time of writing this, I only have 4 people caught, but I have an idea for number 5.

WEIRD HABITS
1. My most famous weird habit are my snails. I keep giant African land snails as pets. I can't keep a dog or a cat, as I like to be able to travel. Its not easy in UK as we have such odd and much needed anti-rabies laws so we can't visit other countries with a dog. My snails on the other hand can be made to hibernate for several days, or just fed a few handfuls of lettuce and left, without fear of cruelty.

2. I have a lot of elephants around my house. It started off as a joke with a now deceased uncle of mine, we used to swap elephant junk, but since he died I have sort of increased some of this.

3. I am drawn to blue glass, the rich cobalt blue stuff. It began with a case of TyNant bottles and has sort of grown. And I refuse to spend a fortune on this junk, so its secondhand markets and empty wine bottles for me, even sherry had to be consumed to allow me to have a few more blue glass bottles. (such a strain ;) )


4. My real life friends can't understand this one, but some of you lot might. I wake up in the mornings, often as grumpy as hell and have to have a cup of tea, but now also a chat. For someone who can't speak 2 words on an average morning, I am able to type and chat to a room full of drunks and almost seem coherent. I even now find it difficult to start the day without a chat.

5. I chew pens. Need I say more?

Now.. my victims...
First has to be Chance aka Glasgow aka frootkake. Her blog is Same old chance

Second is De_boney aka Roy, now he tells me that he has been galvanised into starting his blog again since I asked him about this.. ok.. since I conned him. De_boney. Let me know if you do get a new link/URL and I will put it up here. Thnx Roy, the new link... De_boney's new blog.. Well Done!!

Third is Girl_Friday, I like this one, its just so natural and diaryish and yet fun too. ~enfant_eternel

Fourth is KP, I am not sure he will forgive me for this, but here goes.. he also has some interesting stuff... and funny.. imac_insomniac, eh

Sorry everyone, but I am sure you now understand the moral blackmail I was in..

I am still looking for number 5... a few ideas, but nothing certain as yet, but watch this space...
Tuesday Rainstorms was my first choice, but her blog is offline right now, damn it!!

Dandan again - reflections

I get green with envy at these emails... but I have to share them too.

From Dandan :-

"Reflections! 17th December

Another hot day in Polynesia, 87 degrees and a cloudless sky today. Its lunch time and a fish barbecue is being served on deck in addition to all the normal options available, to much of a good thing for us.

Amazingly there are passengers on here who insist on silver service for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with each meal consisting of several courses. These are not youngsters, many of them are seventy plus it has to be seen to be believed.

Artemis is midway between New Caledonia and Brisbane, which marks the half way point in our journey. Hard to believe that it was almost eight weeks ago, that we, plus 17 suitcases and holdalls set out for Southampton.

Now as we travel towards Australia and New Zealand, looking forward to our antipodean experience, and Christmas down under, it is perhaps time to reflect further on the journey, so far.

The journey across the Atlantic was classed as rough, with stormy weather most of the way, in truth I was disappointed, Rough on this ship, does in no way compare with chomping down the Solent, in a mild force 3 blow, under sail in a thirty foot yacht, Stabilizers 8 metres long either side, coupled with front and rear trimming tanks, take most of the motion out of the ship. Although surprisingly some do succumb to sea sickness, But then one suspects they probably would on Hyde Park Lake (or maybe all that food gets its own back)

Good weather caught up with us as we passed St Vincent and Anne happily claimed her bed on deck, next to the pool and began to change colour. Good fun was had by one and all as we paid our respects to Neptune on the equator and proceeded to travel down and around South America.

South America is marred by the obvious inequality, with poverty, crowded in amongst ostentatious wealth; guarded apartments and communities in town, ranches and haciendas in the country side.

You are struck by the absence of older people in places like Rio, as the young have all the work, even the road sweepers are youthful. They don’t do growing old here. There elders are either rich and therefore not on the streets or abject poor and living god knows, how and where.

The townships built with the throwaway products of our modern consumer society, cardboard, plywood, polythene, etc. cling grotesquely to the hillsides, with no visible streets or means of access. I cannot guarantee the actual figures, but was told by our guide that well in excess of 70% of the population consist of young people under the age of 35.

There countryside’s however are a scenic and impressive mix, varying between the Andes Mountains, steaming rain forest, coffee and banana plantations and the pampas or grasslands. The latter support the vast herds of livestock that provide the meat that is the main revenue earner for Argentina and Uruguay. Cowboys called Gauchos, still work these herds, hard lonely men who live on horseback and carry huge knives in scabbards slung across there own backs, and there is as Mr Sinatra said an awful lot of coffee in Brazil.

On our South American journey we rounded the horn and I was astounded to find that the horn itself is an island, rather than the end of a peninsular joined to the mainland, that I had always imagined it to be. We were therefore, after picking up a Chilean pilot, able to circumnavigate it, for me undoubtedly the highlight so far as I stood for three hours on the bow of the boat, struggling to hold myself and my camera still, as the wind gusted across the open deck. This was a calm day and it was almost impossible to stand still.

Pity that Chile, with such a scenic coastline, absolutely ideal for the traveller who wants more than just sunshine and sundowners. Should be so badly let down by, politics and lack of organisation ashore, a country desperate for the revenue, cruise ships and tourist can bring, needs to get its act together in all ways, if its is going to attract more than the back packer ashore. The scenery and experience will live long in the memory. As for the shambles ashore, it’s probably more charitable to forget it.

The journey across the Pacific has been a delight, happy smiling faces, as sunny as the paradise islands they live on. Laid back people with flowers in there hair, likely to sing and dance at the slightest opportunity, none of the squalor and poverty on view as is the norm in most of the beautiful places we have visited, No doubt it exist, but is not apparent or visible, no beggars or individuals trying to sell to you at every turn. They do sell the things they produce, but in well laid out village markets

Fiji was our penultimate stop this leg, (there are 333 Fijian islands) the principle island is called Viti Levu, its second largest city is Lautoka and it was here we visited.

The run in to reach Lautoka, through numerous uninhabited Robinson Crusoe islands took a couple of hours and then there was the coral reef to clear, before we could come alongside and tie up..

Most of these islands were visited in the first instance by Captain Cook and one can only marvel at his skill as a sailor and navigator as he chartered these, then unknown waters.

Captain Bligh must also have been some sailor to have got his ships boat, full of starving and dieing men, through this huge ocean, with its sudden squalls, uncharted reefs and islands, not to mention in those days cannibals.

Fiji is another nation with large cheerful indigenous people, augmented by third and fourth generation Asian Indians. On the surface it seems a happy relationship. But signs were that this is not so and tensions exist. There was a coup a few years ago, the Indians all voted there people in; and took control, because the Fijians hadn’t bothered. This led to riots and the constitution being changed so that the Fijians will always have 51% of the members of parliament.

We hired a taxi to see the island its mountains and beaches, under our own steam, Anne spotted a traditional wedding and the bride happily allowed me to take a photo. We then went shopping in a typical village, stalls were set up for home produced goods and Anne had some retail therapy, buying a necklace and bits for the New Years Eve fancy dress masked party. This together with a traditional dress she has bought and her now black skin should make an interesting sight
.
Our last visit was Noumea the capital of New Caledonia a French controlled island. Again politics crept in; the French customs came aboard and cleared the passports and documentation. Having done this they went on the public address, announcing that only Australian and not American dollars would be accepted ashore, (how they hate the Americans). Obviously Queues formed at the cashier’s desk as passengers going ashore tried to get Australian money. Later on going ashore we all found the locals dead keen to take American money, the announcement being French Policy, for which the locals had no time at all.

It was here I got well stitched up, having purchased two tickets for the little Champaign train at £24 pounds each. We found on going ashore it was a kids train that ran on the roads, not on rails and having dragged us a couple miles up the road , we pulled into a car park with some views to photograph, and were handed half a plastic cup of Champaign and some minute pastries. Before turning round and going back to the terminal. Here the normal non P and O price was displayed £7.50 each, Lol said I was stitched.

So that’s it Sunday in Brisbane and half way round, hope the second half is as good.

Thanks to all of you who have emailed me, re. These chats, you are very kind, I would however be pleased to know, if in fact anyone found the Artemis video on the Pitcairn site I gave you last time.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas, Wherever in the world you are spending it, may Santa be good to you and the New Year be a Happy and Prosperous one.

. We will be at sea on Christmas day but you can rest assured our thoughts will be with you and a glass or two will be raised

Regards Anne and Cliff."

Birmingham 16th Dec 2005

I have put a few pix up on my Flickr site for those who can find the way. I will put some here when I have time.

The meet was fun, I met Steve and the others at New Street station and we went for a coffee and to await a phonecall from Terry.

We then wandered about the shops and a market and did what we are all good at.. we chatted.

The shops were busy, but we did manage to find our way to the Apple Store and meet up with Terry. Then we went to the pub and had a drink and some food. (do you notice the lack of details in this blog? its deliberate)

We managed to spend quite a while in the Pub, and it was dark when we left and we went round the Frankfurt market. There was music, nice smells, lights, fairground things and market stalls. The others got a German drink. If I had known how long it was going to be before I was able to get to my car and drive, I would have joined them too.

We were joined by Terry's brother (Darren) and his gf (Emma). I used to teach Darren many years ago, a rather odd coincidence.
We then went to a very crowded but superb pub, but managed to get seats and the chat continued.
I left at about 8pm to catch my train and intending to meet Aros.. but no.

Let the Train cause the Strain

I will put up photos and details of the Traveler's room meet in the next posting, but first I have to get this off my chest...

The journey from Bangor to Birmingham was great. It took 2hrs and 37mins, trains were clean, on time, and the sky was blue...
I needed just 2 trains, one from Virgin, the other a Central train, I changed at Crewe. Nothing to write about...


I got to Birmingham New Street and had a.... NO!!!... that is for the next blog...

When it was time to go, I had decided to get the 20:33 train, so that I could see Aros as we passed each other in the station. But, we missed each other and had to just put up with a brief chat on Steve's mobile phone.
I had coped with reduced alcohol knowing I had to drive from Bangor, to home, about a 30 or 40min drive..
The train sort of swapped platforms before I could find it, and I was acutely aware of all the late train announcements, but none, as yet for mine. I waited on platform 2b .. or not 2b.
20:33 became 20:40 and no train, no announcement either. We all waited, people started to move around the platform, one guy collared a train official and I barged in too. I explained how my change was at Shrewsbury, but that I only had 5 mins to find and get on my next train. He said he didn't know if I would make it...
The train appeared, we charged it... and it finally departed at 14mins later than it should have done..
I told the ticket guy on the train, who looked worried too, but went to see what he could do.
He returned and said that I wouldn't make it, but if I waited an hour at Shrewsbury, the next one would be fine. I didn't have a timetable for that line, so, like a fool, I believed him.

I got to Shrewsbury, only to find that I was not alone, that the same thing had also happened the previous Friday too. And possibly some of the weekdays in between. And that the new timetables done by this train company were sadly lacking. The company is called Arriva Wales. The seasoned regulars at the station showed me where to complain, where to find a complaint form and we all set to, to fill them in. Most of them found they needed extra sheets for this job, at that point, I found this difficult, as I had only missed a connection and still expected one shortly...
Arriva's trains were a bit shabbier than any I had seen from Virgin or Central and a lot more shabby than the GNER ones that I knew at Peterborough. But very similar to the WAGN trains I knew on the Cambridge/Kings Lynn line.
As I know a lot of global travel people read this blog, I would like you to realise that not all UK trains are similar.

We somehow got directed to a train that went from a different platfom to Chester, this seemed most odd as I wasn't aware how telepathy had worked amongst the regulars, so I asked the officials who said that if I got to Chester "some other transport would be arranged". I had 4 mins to get to platform 3 and find a seat, I ran... and it wasn't obvious either even where the platform was...

I was wondering whether to put a few words in about "Welsh time" as this seems to have been a popular blog, but all the places I have been in are all in England. So this is bloody English time!!!

I left Shrewsbury at 22:29 and got to Chester at 23:25 and I asked about the alternative transport. None. NONE?
I had to wait till 00:35 they said.
I could get a hot drink from those vending machines, they said.
I fumed.. I almost felt like tears at this point, I was cold, tired and had missed a good booze up with friends to wait on Chester station. (No one knew that I had spent another decisive and life changing night on a bench on Chester station about 6yrs earlier, but on a warm August night)

The staff must have felt sorry for me when I tried to ask how to get a hot drink from an empty machine, and they even offered me a coffee for 15p, which I accepted and they let me go and sit in their warm office too. Sometimes it pays to be female, especially in a station full of drunks straight from the office Christmas booze up.
I calmed down and even managed to allow myself to be chatted up by a drunk 32yr old called Paul. It passed the time..

At 00:35 a cold train was opened up and we all rushed in, the train did warm up enough for me to doze and I made one trip to the blocked up and waterless toilet.
But I got to my car in Bangor and drove home. I eventually got home at 02:10am.

Although all the staff at the stations were keen to tell me that it was not their fault, somebody wrote this disgusting and thoughtless timetable and I will be sending in my complaint form. I also think that I can see why the staff are so concerned about violence and have to show this notice...

I will be sending off my complaints form and will let you know if this makes any difference. At the moment, I hope never to travel with Arriva Wales, but we will see...(watch this space for more info)

Dandan's adventures

I have a very good friend who is now lucky enough to be on a cruise with his wife. He has sent some amazingly good emails and I have at last got his permission to publish his emails on my blog. So, as his life is more interesting than mine, here goes...

24th October...
"Hi everyone.
Well this is it, my last day at home before leaving on our trip, With aprox 50 stops in 30 countries over a four month period ahead of us, it truly is a voyage of discovery. I will of course visit a cyber cafe or two and hopefully catch up with many of you enroute whilst learning more of your many and diverse countries.
In particular the southern oceans have always had a fascination for me and I look forward to seeing my first albatross and who knows maybe even a whale or two. Rounding the horn, evokes memories of my boyhood and the many seafaring books(Hornblower ect) I readily devoured and the more recent adventures of the round the world sailors, ( a couple of meetings with Robin Knox Johnson in particular springs to mind) though I hope my journey will be somewhat more comfortable than theirs, I do harbor thoughts of a storm or two.

May i take this opportunity to wish you and all your families, a merry Christmas and a happy, successful and prosperous new year. Ours will be spent in Australia and New Zealand.

Will see or talk to you on our return in February.

Regards"
~~~~~~~~

3rd November
"Just a quickie to say allis well here and we are having fun, we crossthe equater today on our way to brazil tomorrow, will attempt to find a cyber cafe there and talk to all to all.
cheers "

~~~~~~~~
6th November

"Hi Sheila,

Sorry I haven’t been in touch, we have struggled to find internet access ashore and it is 16p a minute on here.

Anne is so black, have started calling her Abbo what with her frizzy hair and all, Lol. The food on here is monstrous, so hard to be sensible; they were offering steak for breakfast today. We don’t do lunch normally, but it is Tapas today, Anne fancies that, and i am pissed off with dressing for dinner, so we are going up on the top deck for an Italian tonight. Good job you are not here I don’t think the hunky staff captain would be safe, Lol.

Got some great shots of sea birds, boobies, frigate birds ect, they joined us in mid-Atlantic and just glide along with the ship without flapping there wings, diving occasionally to grab a flying fish. Not found my Albatross yet. The naturalist on board is Tony Soper, bet you remember him from BBC with Peter Scott, oh my how time flies

We are due in Rio on Tuesday and are booked to go up Sugarloaf, should be good, they are warning us against taking expensive gear with you, will check with the tour guides but may use the g2 not the new one.

Give my regards to all and will catch you soon.

Love Dan and Abbo."

~~~~~~~~
14th November
"Hi Sheila,
Thanks for the email, things do seem to be moving at last, stick to your guns love and you will win through, truly our thoughts are with you and a big hug from both of us is there if it helps.

Have not been able to see your blog yet, but will as soon as I can, was in messenger yesterday and so sorry you were not available, Anne and I had a great chat to all and sundry, but no Sheila, will catch you soon as I can, have devious plans to find a cyber café late one night in Sydney. Until then I can’t see me being on line at any time that is likely to catch you because of the time difference. We have to be on board by five most evenings and as you are only about three hours ahead it means you are not home from mums, darn it. 16p a minute on board ship, given the speed I type at, is just too expensive to do anything other than just cut and paste, pre typed emails, as this one is.

Our journey thus far has been good. Though Anne has been less than thrilled with some of the rough seas, but since that was part of the reason for me wanting to come this way, I have loved it.

South America is certainly different. We were unlucky in Rio with low cloud obscuring the famous Christ statue; it was still possible to ascend Sugar Loaf Mountain, even though the views were a bit limited. Copacabana beach was empty so no spicy photos for you I am afraid.

On the other hand Buenos Aires is a must see city, in my view far nicer than Paris, in fact perhaps the nicest I have seen. with big wide avenues, luscious parks and the most superb cathedral, and so cheap as to be ridiculous. On top of that to be there over the weekend that Argentina played England at football and lost was a hoot,

The food is laughable and the portions huge, Anne asked for a fillet steak and got three, my mixed grill was, full size steak steak, pork cutlet, chicken, tripe, kidney, black pudding, sausage, both with all the trimmings, plus a pint each, beer for me and fresh squeezed orange juice for Anne. Ten Pounds the lot and this in a restaurant in the heart of the tourist district.

Anne true to form has just broken a filling on a tooth and we will be at the dentists in our next stop in Chile, god bless her she is so consistent, lol a true accident waiting to happen

. We are sailing back up the river plate at the moment, if you can call a water way 150 miles wide a river. Whilst the Falklands with there wildlife and then rounding the horn, comes ever closer. I have not met my albatross yet; he waits out there for me somewhere, maybe along with a whale or two.

Life on board is laid back, with food to die for as you would expect, we have not bothered with any of the shows or entertainment yet, preferring our computer, books, dvds, cds and photos, early nights and mornings. The stars in mid ocean have to be seen to be believed and I am able to be totally alone on deck watching them while the other passengers are at dinner or a show, wonderful

The change from dressing for dinner and polite society to the empty deck, force five and six winds pushing large waves capped with flying spume and white horses is dramatic and exhilarating, I know which I prefer. I think perhaps in a former life I must have been a sailor, although it is fair to say mountains have much the same effect on me

Not many of the tours are deemed suitable for people with walking difficulties, so we have taken to doing deals with taxis in most places and are getting a good look at the cities if not the surrounding countryside.

So three weeks in and still happy, looking forward to a rush of places to visit over the next fortnight, will attempt to brief you on them as we go. If my inane wittering is boring let me know and I will cease and stick to the price of fish ect lol

Lots of love and hugs from Darby and Joan on the high seas"

~~~~~~~~

5th December
"Dec 4th. mid Pacific. 12 hrs past Pitcairn Island. Two days sailing from Tahiti. 26 degrees, gentle breeze, hot and sticky. Anne up on deck cooking, me in a nice air conditioned cabin.

South America has been interesting scenically, mountainous and rugged, cold and wet, but worth the journey.

Missing the Christ figure in Rio due to low cloud was a disappointment, Santiago was smog ridden, so all in all the cities excluding Buenos Ares, which was superb, were less than impressive.

Sailing the Beagle channel and the Fiords of the straights of Magellan was awesome. As they are also overlooked by the Andes Mountains, right the way down to the most southerly point of the Americas, which is marked by a cross high on mountain as a memorial to all the sailors who have perished in these waters. Beautiful and sobering

Rounding the Horn, a never to be forgotten experience, the fulfilment of a personal dream, every bit as awesome as I thought it would be. My admiration for the Sailors who travel these waters under sail, already high, has soared. There are not words for the courage and fortitude of these incredible people.

The photos I have taken will be a constant reminder of a very special journey, both inspiring and humbling through a part of the world where nature is king and man very much a bit player and aware of his own mortality..

Falkland Islands. Windswept and rocky, covered in peat bogs, course grasslands and minefields , home to penguins and a proud and hardy people, who guard there British heritage fiercely. Mega expensive as most staple foods have to be shipped in Examples. 5 kilo of spuds £9.00. 2lb of cherry jam already past its sell by date £16.00. Difficult to understand why politicians, decided people had to die over this strange bit of Empire, down on the doorstep of Antarctica, unless of course, it really does give them access to oil.

Home also to strange vehicles, I rode in a land rover? With a Mazda engine, Rover gearbox and Dumper truck wheels. Different but it worked. Would not like to take my shogun where he took me in that thing. Interestingly the young man who worked the small boat I rode in came from Middlesbrough. Had been in Stanley for two years and would not go back to the uk for a fortune. Though he did admit to missing going to football, which he was able to watch every Saturday evening, so didn’t miss it to much. The Falkland islanders themselves can fly to the uk for £1200.00 on an air force plane, this is about half the actual fare.

As always it was the people that made it special. To travel with, listen to and share the reminiscences of the surgeon who commanded the British army medical team on the island, during the war. Along with a lady officer on our ship, who volunteered at twenty one to stay on Canberra, the P and O liner that became a troopship for the duration of the conflict, was also a privilege.

Quite rightly they were invited to tea by the governor, and then had dinner with the British commander of the garrison, whose troops made a right fuss of them. It was the first time she had been back, a day of mixed emotions for her. But having seen the commander’s photos and heard her story, she deserved her medal, and the reception the troops gave her, left her in no doubt of there opinion.

Incidentally the surgeon was honoured by both the UK and Argentina governments because he refused to differentiate between wounded men, cared for them all regardless of nationality and has royal dispensation to wear both medals on his uniform. Quite a guy

Then on to the part of the journey that Anne has been waiting for. Nine days sailing across the pacific. Sunshine, Dolphins, Whales and for me, an Albatross. Alas no camera, but there is still time and on to Tahiti. Via….

Easter Island, fun here, politics again, Chile wanted 25k from the ship as we had entered there territorial waters, then they had to put people aboard to check out all our passports, they threatened to hold the ship if we refused. So they gaily checked all, as we cruised round the island. Again a photogenic place, the stone carved statues clearly visible, difficult to capture without a big lens, but we did our best. Then on to..

Pitcairn Island a high, green, pinprick of an island, unbelievable small, with just one place where a small boat can land. The islanders came out to wave and photograph us as we photographed them in the fading light. There are surprisingly large wooden houses on the steep slopes, home to these descendants of Fletcher Christian and the men of the bounty, who finished up here. Forty people live here, I hope they like each other it’s that small. We have since been told that the uk is going to build a docking facility so cruise ships can land there.

We saw a whale right next to the boat yesterday, jumping out of the water just like a dolphin, of course no camera, so no pictures, but it made Anne’s day

Anne is of course blacker than the Ace of spades, she is incredible, will lie in the sun, cooking from seven in the morning, until she has to come down and change for dinner or go to the hairdressers, doesn’t bother about lunch, just eats some fruit she pinches each morning at breakfast, which tends to be, you guessed it fruit Lol. She has the occasional dip, when she gets too hot and has guys looking after her fetching her drinks and ice creams, helping her in the pool ect, when I am not there, which is a lot of the time, far too hot for me. (There wives tell em to, unbelievable) and then they tell me not to worry, they will see she is all right. Lol she is something else.

So six weeks in to the journey, missing kids, grandkids, radio, football, chatting. Enjoying new places and friends, food ( tooooooo much Lol ) Sunshine for Anne and vast skies full of stars for me. Mars was too bright to look at through binoculars last night incredible.

That’s it for now folks.
Trust you are all fit and well, not to cold and looking forward to Christmas.
Will speak to you all again before then I hope.

Regards Anne and Dandan"

~~~~~~~~

Sunday 11th Dec.
"Now between Pago Pago and Fiji, Temperatures in the eighties, very humid with frequent squalls and rain storms. Towering cloud formations, black at the base rising into huge white anvils, dwarf the ship. Water a deep inky blue, flying fish leave the water at the bow of the ship and glide far further than seems logical, cannot decide if there different wing colours, mark different species or are a result of reflection from sun, cloud and water.

We have just passed Tin Can Island. Part of the kingdom of Tonga. So named as passing ships do not berth here, but put all the mail they carry for the islands into tins and throw them into the water, for the waiting islanders in there outrigger canoes to collect. You are able to include letters you want posted and they are stamped by the islanders and handed into the catch nets of the next ship along, thus providing one of the most sort over postmarks in the world.

Unfortunately we were unlucky as this being Sunday, the very religious South Sea Islanders,( mainly Catholic, but all denominations seem to be represented) refuse to put to sea on a Sunday, consequently we were carrying no mail

The island is low, highest point 800 feet, formed by volcanic eruption, indeed the central cone of the volcano is home to a lagoon, where volcanic activity in the form of geysers and mud spouts still continues.

Has been an interesting experience travelling through these isolated waters. Easter Island is reputedly the most remote inhabited spot on the earth,

Incidentally for any of you who are interested go to www.onlinepitcairn.com and you should see a video of us on Artemis cruising round the island according to a radio message we received from the islanders.

Since leaving Pitcairn we have visited, Papeete, Tahiti. Bora Bora in The Society Islands. Pago Pago.(Pronounced Pango Pango) In American Samoa.

All these islands have your typical castaway, white sandy beaches with coconuts, as portrayed in the holiday brochures, but are in fact far more memorable for there rocky and mountainous structure, which is in turn covered by typical rain forest growth, plus breadfruits banana ect.

The smiling and friendly people make visitors feel very welcome and the dancing and singing they provide is infectious and melodic. They also have the added advantage of making me feel slim. No mean feat, given the eating regime on the ship.

Bora Bora, holds the record so far for the most expensive fridge magnet, we have ever found $13. Would you believe?. It also has hotels. With Palm thatched stilted huts as your bedroom and a shower toilet under the stars, stretching out into the unbelievably, blue lagoon. Take a wrong step n the night and a wet surprise wait’s you. All this for a mere $2000.00 a night..

Anne was especially pleased when we stumbled onto traditional Samoa wedding, as we drove through the countryside in Pago Pago, the friendly bride gladly gave me permission to photograph them, a pleasant memory from a delightful day.

The family unit is very strong in these islands, consequently when you die you are invariably buried in the garden of the house you occupied, usually just outside the front or back door along with your forbears, very nice.

Tomorrow is interesting as there isn’t one, we are at present 12 hrs behind the uk (0k) on Sun the 11th, some time tonight we cross the international date line and leap 12 hrs ahead of the uk (got that) and therefore when we wake up in the morning. It will be Tues the 13th of Dec. Where did the 12th go.(Lol) Better check the invoices I am sure P and O charged me for that day.

Been to see the captain, he says we get an extra day in Jan when we cross the date line on the way back from New Zealand to America and P and O didn’t charge us for that one. I hope you are all following this.

Think that will do for now, Fiji and New Caledonia to visit this week and then on to Brisbane for next Sunday.

Best wishes to all, Anne and Dandan.

Ps Josh and Adam, Mikey and Sophie, hope you are all being good. Thought you might like to know, even on these lovely Sunny Islands, father Christmas comes in his Red suite, there are decorations every where, and all the carols have the same words as ours bur are sung to a reggae beat.

Love to you all."

~~~~~~~~

I will add to this if Dandan allows it... but this is the story so far...
I wonder if Dandan will actually be bothered to chat to us all again after this cruise, but on the other hand, I will be knocking on his door until I see all his photographs too

Thanks Dandan... and Anne
And have the holiday that you have dreamed of...

iBook returns

I got my iBook back yesterday and I am starting to feel a bit more 'complete' again now. Although organising my front room to house a very old but oh-so-useful iMac, a manky PC and my superb and loveable iBook is proving exceptionally difficult. But all these logistics will sort themselves out if ever I get more than a couple of hours awake in my own house.
I have taken a few photos recently, but not as many as I would like. The mountains of the Snowdonia National Park are now snow-capped, but it is not easy to stop and find a good position to take a snap during daylight while dashing from one parent to the other in hospital. The UK seems very bad at putting convenient parking spots at the side of roads overlooking the best views. Also 90% of the days have the mountains in clouds or its raining too hard to consider sticking a camera lens outside, and there is also the prevailing wind. I need a walk into the hills... but, no time for that just now, and I lack clothes warm enough for that job.

I have stopped inviting friends to stay just now. I just can't cope with having guests as I am unable to spend anytime with you. A couple of people have been saying that they will come over and how I need to get away from all this, but I am sorry, I have to assist to get mum into bed every night and to be there for meals, washing and wiping all sorts of things. Please don't give me advice, its just not needed, and it becomes nagging if it continues. I chat online to escape from this, not be nagged.

Anyway, things are looking up now. The iBook seems fine and my phone-line is working again. The net works again...
We are also hoping to get Dad into a residential care home closer to us, so that I can avoid nearly 2 hours of driving each day.

A few pix....