tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182443912024-03-07T23:36:02.257+00:00The BOGOF BlogBeing the random musings of Marie and John
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.comBlogger592125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-61985022373717199652017-01-19T08:26:00.001+00:002017-01-19T08:26:16.174+00:00A new recipeBecause I don’t really like tomatoes (I find them quite sickly) when it comes to things like spaghetti bolognaise and lasagne I tend to stick with the sauces that I know ‘don’t taste of tomatoes’.<br /><br />When we’re making lasagne I’ll use Dolmio low fat bolognaise sauce and for spaghetti it’s Colman’s spaghetti bolognaise mix.<br />
<br />It was the turn of spaghetti bolognaise for dinner that night so with me as chef de cuisine and John taking the role of sous-chef we prepared dinner.<br /><br />After taking a couple of mouthfuls I turned to John and commented, “it tastes different today”.<br />
<br />John nodded in agreement.<br />
<br />“I’m not sure I like it”, I said, “there’s something not quite right about it”. <br />“Do you think we’ve used sausage casserole mix by mistake”, replied John.<br /><br />I checked the bin bag and staring straight at me was indeed the empty sausage casserole packet. “At least we know they don’t use the same mix in all their packets”, I said.<br /><br />I don’t think this new recipe for spaghetti bolognaise will be making it into my cook book….<br /><br />MarieMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-86283228163184554332017-01-13T15:29:00.000+00:002017-01-13T15:29:35.616+00:00The world’s favourite airline – I don’t think so!A couple of days ago, the BBC news correspondent Frank Gardener was left stranded for half an hour on an EasyJet aeroplane because the wheelchair lift at Gatwick airport had not turned up. Quite rightly he was not amused. <br /><br />I can sympathise as the treatment of disabled passengers in airports around the world is downright shocking !!!!<br /><br />In 2011 I had my first experience as a wheelchair airline passenger, having had to start using Wizzy in 2009, and it was not good. You can read all about it <a href="http://joint-journals.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/our-cruise-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://joint-journals.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/our-cruise-part-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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Two Customer from Hell complaint letters were sent to both British Airways and Heathrow special services department. A <a href="http://marieandjohn.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/grovelling-apology.html" target="_blank">grovelling apology </a>and a bouquet of flowers from special services and a half-hearted telephone apology from BA. <br /> <br />Since then every flight we took we’ve encounter problems and discrimination. Things came to a head in November when the Customer from Hell had had enough.<br /><br />We were flying home from Barcelona airport having been on a short cruise around the Mediterranean. At the departure gate an announcement was made for passengers with infants and those who required extra time boarding to make their way to the aircraft. BA’s policy for boarding disabled passengers is to allow them to board first. This is so they can take their time getting on the aircraft safely. <br /><br />However when we tried to board we were told that because I was in a wheelchair I would have to board last with the rest of the wheelchairs passengers. When I queried this I was told in no uncertain terms that this was a BA policy and I would have to take it up with them. <br /><br />To make matters worse, even though I was right next to John, he was then asked if “I could walk”. John snapped, “instead of asking me, ask my wife”.<br /><br />Imagine the outcry if BA told its black passengers that they have to board last, and then ask the white husband of a black passenger ‘can she read or write’. Yet for some reason, BA thought it was perfectly acceptable to discriminate against wheelchair passengers.<br />
<br />Because of segregating the wheelchair passengers and making us board last we delayed the flight by about 10 minutes. Thankfully our seats were in the second row so it wasn’t too much of an obstacle course trying to avoid tripping over passengers feet sticking out. However I still had to put with the stares from other passengers like I was some kind of freak show. <br /><br />Once we had landed I got chatting to the wife of a fellow wheelchair passenger and she was not happy about how we were boarded. Her husband, who I think had Parkinson’s disease, was extremely upset at passengers gawking at him. <br /><br />When we arrived at Heathrow’s terminal 3 I was told by the cabin crew that a special service assistance would have to take me to terminal 5, as that was where Wizzy was going to be taken.<br />
<br />As BA’s flight connection policy states that a wheelchair can be delivered to the aircraft door I explained that I would like Wizzy brought to the aircraft. It had, after all, been given an orange ‘return to aircraft’ label.<br />
<br />I was told “this isn’t how things are done in terminal 3”. Having had problems in the past with Wizzy going missing and eventually turning up in several pieces on the baggage reclaim belt, I ask again for it to be brought to the aircraft door.<br />
<br />The cabin crew were not happy. I overheard one saying to another, “you can have a go at talking to her as I’ve tried and she just won’t listen to me”. When this particular cabin crew person walked passed me I said, “I heard that”, to which he replied that I was ‘being unreasonable’.<br />
<br />As I was refusing to move from the aircraft until Wizzy was brought to the door, which, consequently meant that the cabin crew couldn’t leave, it finally arrived.<br />
<br />When you have a complaint to make against BA they ask that you send it to customer relations, or something like that. I sent my letter to their CEO which was ignored… Not a good idea when you’re dealing with the Customer from Hell. I found his email address on google and sent the letter again.<br />
<br />Eventually I got a reply from one of his minions saying he apologised for any distress caused bla, bla, bla. What is really worrying though, is he couldn’t guarantee that this kind of behavior or discrimination wouldn’t happen again. I may as well be talking to a brick wall….<br />
<br />A couple of days later John received an email from BA’s customer service, which went something like this:<br />
<br />‘Dear Mr Harper. We understand that you have contacted BA’s CEO regarding a complaint. Could you please complete this short questionnaire in relation to how we dealt with your complaint’.<br />
<br />What was I saying about a brick wall !!!!!!<br />
<br />MarieMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-62731451640156468902017-01-09T13:08:00.000+00:002017-01-09T13:08:53.589+00:00Out of hoursWhile we were preparing dinner on Thursday John mentioned that his elbow was sore. I had a quick look at it but there wasn’t anything to indicate a knock or bruise. As we’d been Tesco shopping that morning we just put it down to him twisting it the wrong way either handling Wizzy or the shopping bags.<br /><br />It had been a little uncomfortable for him during the night so I suggested he have another hour in bed. We hadn’t anything planned that day other than our usual Friday night take-away in the evening so nothing was spoiling.<br /><br />When he finally rose at midday, he looked rough. His elbow was now swollen and slightly red yet there was still no bruise to indicate a knock, which was a little perplexing. <br /><br />John felt a little better in the afternoon so just pottered around in his work room. I was busy working on my laptop and watching some DVD’s in the living room, when he came downstairs at his usual time to head out for the Friday night pizza, or in the case of this particular Friday, Chinese. <br /><br />Looking extremely grey he asked, “can you check to see if I have a temperature as I don’t feel so good. I’m hot, achy and shivery”. <br /><br />I hunted out the thermometer from the medicine box but the reading said his temp was normal. I wasn’t convinced so said I’ll try again later after reading the instructions in case I wasn’t pressing the right buttons on it.<br /><br />“I think you should go to bed”, I said.<br />“What will you have to eat”, he asked, seeing as there would be no Chinese take-away that night. <br />I reassured him I would find something and also a way of getting it from the kitchen to the living room – walking with two crutches does limit your carrying ability somewhat....<br /><br />After getting him settled in bed I went into the kitchen to sort out some dinner. We always keep a couple of frozen pies in the freeze for emergencies so I would have that and some oven chips. While they were cooking I racked my brain as to how I could get them into living room. <br /><br />I eventually came up with the idea of covering the plate with cling-film to stop them sliding off, then put the plate into one of the large recycle grocery shopping bags. It was a tight squeeze as our new dinner plates are larger than the previous ones. I had intended on slipping the carry bag handles over my fingers whilst gripping Stickies, but the bag kept bashing into them and I was worried the plate would break. <br /><br />Time to put plan B into action. Using the bag handles I was able to stretch out my arm, put the bag on the floor, walk the couple of inches to the bag then repeat the process until I got to the sofa in the living room. It was an extremely slow process but I got there in the end. <br /><br />It was about 11.30pm when I retired to bed. John was still feeling pretty lousy so I took his temperature again. This time it did show that he was running a temperature. His elbow was now extremely sore and swollen, bright red and very warm to the touch. <br /><br />Earlier in the day John had googled elbow pain and everything was hinting at tennis elbow. Given his new symptoms I wasn’t convinced so whilst John was sleeping I got my Kindle Fire out and did some searching.<br /><br />Whenever I kept putting in John’s symptoms it came up with the same answer – infection, see your GP immediately. It was the early hours on a Saturday morning. Our GP surgery doesn’t work weekends and the earliest appointment to see any GP was four weeks (on Friday morning I checked the status of the prescription I’d ordered online and out of curiosity looked up available GP appointments).<br /><br />Having suffered at the hands of infection before (eight weeks in hospital and a stay in intensive care) I am a little cautious. Even though it was 1.15am I woke John and explained my concerns. <br /><br />“What about ringing NHS direct”, I suggested, “they might be able to help”.<br />I know they’ve had a lot of bad press but the odd times I’ve used them they have been very good.<br />“It’s worth a try”, replied John.<br /><br />A couple of press one for this, press two for that later I passed the phone to John. The advisor took the various details and advised John to take some paracetamol to bring down his temperature and arranged for an out-of-hours GP to give him a ring within the next six hours. <br /><br />The GP rang at 6am and had a long chat with John. Not wanting to blow my own trumpet, I was right. John had an infection of the elbow joint so the GP would fax over to Lloyds the chemist a prescription for some antibiotics. <br /><br />Having read the blurb what went with the antibiotics I don’t think the GP was taking any chances. There are two strengths of this particular drug. John has the strongest one and has to take two of them four times a day for a week.<br /><br />I’m pleased to report that John’s feeling a little better. His temperature is back to normal and the shivers and aches had gone. His elbow isn’t as swollen, sore or firefly hot as before. The redness though is still there, in fact its spread nearly to his hand. John, however, was warned that would happen. <br /><br />Whilst the symptoms of the infection have subsided, he’s been hit by the side-effects of the strong antibiotics, so is feeling a little spaced out. Bless him...<br /><br />MarieMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-23763721186434469032017-01-02T09:31:00.000+00:002017-01-02T09:31:31.619+00:00I want….At this time of year newspapers and magazines have articles about New Year resolutions. I don’t do resolutions – never have – but what I do have though is a ‘want’ list.<br />
<br />After finishing my list I had a look back at previous ‘want’ entries and every list had pretty much the same things on it. Oh dear!!!<br />
<br />It’s written now so I may as well put it up. Below is my 2017 want list.<br />
<br /> I want to…. <br />
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<ul>
<li><i>….win the Euro lottery. Over £50m would be ideal but I’m not greedy so £10m would do.</i></li>
<li><i>….get through the massive collection of books I’ve accumulated both in hard copy and on my kindle.</i></li>
<li><i>…. lose some weight and do more exercise.</i></li>
<li><i>….. get back to playing the piano and the clarinet.</i></li>
<li><i>…. get back to my writing. Novel two and the second draft of novel one needs finishing. Plus I’m writing a non-fiction book too.</i></li>
<li><i>…. finish off the two tiger cross stitch patterns.</i></li>
<li><i>…. stop neglecting my blogs.</i></li>
<li><i>…. finish off my knitted cable jumper before I start on yet more knitting projects.</i></li>
<li><i>…. finish off building the four foot model of the Queen Mary II cruise ship.</i></li>
</ul>
<br />I do have a couple more ‘wants’ but they are sewing related so I’ll post them on my <a href="http://gertiesmakesandbakes.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">sewing blog</a>.<br />
<br />When I report back in six months time will there be any changes to the list? On past form no, but who knows…<br />
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MarieMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-52737863532450539822017-01-01T08:33:00.000+00:002017-01-01T08:33:04.650+00:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress"<br /><br />We wish you a very happy and peaceful new year.<br /><br />Marie & John xx<br />Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-20323214209912325262016-12-25T08:08:00.000+00:002016-12-25T08:08:40.794+00:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have a wonderful Christmas</div>
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Marie & John </div>
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xxx</div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-61239703128723351242016-12-25T08:01:00.002+00:002016-12-25T08:07:03.799+00:00Bloody Italians UPDATE - for some reason blogger has decided to date this post 25th December - most odd....<br />
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We've all heard tales of how striking French air traffic controllers can bring about chaos. Well yesterday the Italians decided to give it a try.<br />
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Thursday saw us fly from Newcastle to Heathrow with no trouble whatever. On Friday we set off from our Heathrow hotel at the unearthly hour of six am. Travelling with a wheelchair you learn to leave plenty of time.<br />
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The flight to Copenhagen was scheduled for 9:50 but sometime around 7:30 we heard that it was cancelled. Aircraft stranded in Italy. So we were booked on a hastily chartered flight leaving at 12:50 arriving at about 15:30.<br />
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Now it gets interesting. By being early in the queue I got the last available business class seats. However the flight was put back to 14:30, arriving at 17:15 local time. Fifteen minutes AFTER the ship sails. Not good. Fortunately there were twenty of us in the same predicament, and this made up about fifteen percent of the ship, so they delayed sailing to nine pm. Just as well as we finally got in the air five and a half hours late. <br />
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We arrived at the ship around 7pm, exhausted both mentally and physically. We missed the safety lecture and the welcome party, but made dinner so all was not lost.<br />
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And as an added bonus, our butler unpacked our suitcases while we ate. Not a thing we normally do, bur most welcome.<br />
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So where are we now. We're at sea somewhere in the gap between Denmark and Norway, heading into the north sea. Here is todays veranda view. Not very exciting I'm afraid.<br />
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We're about an hour or so away from a storm. the wind is at present about 71 kph though the ship is quite stable. It's the Captains welcome reception tonight. black tie and all that so here's hoping it stays reasonably calm.Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-25023931535638677382016-06-21T14:37:00.000+01:002016-12-25T08:02:08.253+00:00Land at lastSo, no blog yesterday because the ship's internet was down. The good news is that we finally arrived somewhere. The sea was too rough and the wind too strong to get ashore in Flam or Gudvangen. Winds of 60mph and waves over 15 feet high beneath leaden skies and temperatures in single figures celsius (call it 50 in farenheit).<br />
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Remarkably the ship was very very stable, though some joker asked the Captain if they had to go round tightening bolts afterwards.<br />
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And yesterday we were in Alesund and what a difference. Blue skies and the temperature in the mid 70's (I'll use farenheit since Norway isn't in the EU).<br />
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We took a look at our neightbour, the Queen Elizabeth which next to our ship is HUGE.<br />
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Then we took a walk around town, visiting craft shops and the likes. And after that it was time to head back for Pimms and lunch on the pool deck. <br />
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Today is another day at sea, cruising among the islands and fjiords just south of the arctic circle, which we should cross at about 9pm tonight. <br />
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Tomorrow we visit Svolvaer the nmore fjiords.<br />
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<br />Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-80520863830611620962016-06-11T15:55:00.003+01:002016-06-11T15:57:24.464+01:00Almost ThereLess than a week to go now, and we're busy in the BOGOF household getting everything sorted for our cruise. We will, as usual be reporting our progress here, so you can follow our progress to the land of the midnight sun.<br />
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One change this year will be my *NEW* camera. After 45 years I have abandoned using a single lens reflex in place of a compact system camera. I've always felt that modern digital SLR cameras are big and ugly. So I'm delighted that my new Olympus Pen F is about the same size as my old Olympus OM2 that I bought in 1979 (I've still got it, but it's been ten years since I last used it).<br />
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So here it is. Keep watching to see how I get on with it.<br />
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JohnMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-22143270434233588552016-06-09T09:09:00.001+01:002016-06-09T09:12:46.521+01:00In out, in out, shake it all about<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Here in the UK we have an important election taking place at the end of the month. We're been asked if we want to stay in the European Union or leave it. I won't bore you with the various details but what it boils down to is do we still want the EU to run the United Kingdom.<br />
<br />Because the election takes place when we are on our cruise we're not able to vote in person so requested a postal vote from our local council.<br /><br />The various forms were completed and sent off, and a couple of days later we received an acknowledgement telling us that the postal forms would be sent out on Friday 27th May. <br /><br />3rd June and we still hadn’t received our voting forms so I rang the council to find out when they would be arriving as time wasn’t on our side.<br /><br />It seems that there had been a council cock-up and for whatever reason our forms never got processed so consequently missed the first print run and won’t now be sent out until 15th June. That’s too late for us so the only way we could vote would be by proxy. The little council woman said she would send out the various proxy forms for us to complete.<br /><br />I rang my sister to ask if she would be willing to be our proxy - “yes but only on the condition that you vote leave”… For once we agree on something!!!<br /><br />As she doesn’t live in our particular local area she asked if it would be ok for her to vote using her local polling station. The little council woman had said that would be possible, but just to be on the safe side I’d get it confirmed in writing (you can tell I trust our council) in case there was a problem come voting day.<br /><br />I sent an email to the council elections department and the manager replied that as long as my sister was registered on the electoral roll then it would be fine. She kindly emailed over the various proxy forms and said that if we scanned and emailed them back to her she would deal with it personally. <br /><br />The forms were duly emailed back to her and on my request she acknowledged receipt of them.<br /><br />The very next day and guess what we received – our postal voting cards!!!! I emailed the little manager woman to ask ‘what do we do now’… <br /><br />As things were now getting a little complicated she rang and apologised for this rather tangled mess. Our postal votes were still valid so we decided just to go with our original plan. <br /><br />Come election day I hope all this effort will be worth it!!!<br /><br />MarieMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-63545369213474398432016-05-07T20:35:00.003+01:002016-05-07T20:35:39.908+01:00SIX WEEKS !!!
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Six weeks from today the BOGOF
household will be on a cruise ship somewhere between Copenhagen and
Flam. From there we'll be heading north until we reach the North
Cape, the very top of Norway. Given the time of year we'll probably
spend an entire week without seeing darkness.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This cruise really has been a long time
coming. It's been booked for well over twelve months, and sometimes
we wondered if it would ever come. But here we are. Just six weeks to
go. And are we excited ...</div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-82039576331585421462015-12-31T08:44:00.001+00:002015-12-31T08:44:52.451+00:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLymswjKIOSi2VMAFtyEr4tpC0Hwua91A0O-4k5kUzcJVN1RH1VbVT6emr_eHvbL58dIaoyi6MlvMOEzziuUnoSMkr98UJZ3Is9YYCrF923GP5taIN6jCfDvaCZifkN691F1LaRA/s1600/HNY+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLymswjKIOSi2VMAFtyEr4tpC0Hwua91A0O-4k5kUzcJVN1RH1VbVT6emr_eHvbL58dIaoyi6MlvMOEzziuUnoSMkr98UJZ3Is9YYCrF923GP5taIN6jCfDvaCZifkN691F1LaRA/s400/HNY+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day".<br />
<br />
We wish you a very happy and peaceful new year.<br />
<br />
Marie & John xx<br />
<br />
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-4999978208139609042015-12-25T08:07:00.000+00:002015-12-25T08:07:17.599+00:00Seasons greetings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc62unXZZfINAP1fKmtPEhseq1sojmDRNHGSh7-pW3Y3QiJ9ibMSoO63pE4EQvL82lE4T3FSZ8HYyQsYfTRU_JEVdyg0VJJp-awCEEXZQC9JDIYe4ry7FSZKZGyhkosfxVzzpIA/s1600/Teddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc62unXZZfINAP1fKmtPEhseq1sojmDRNHGSh7-pW3Y3QiJ9ibMSoO63pE4EQvL82lE4T3FSZ8HYyQsYfTRU_JEVdyg0VJJp-awCEEXZQC9JDIYe4ry7FSZKZGyhkosfxVzzpIA/s400/Teddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's wishing you a very merry Christmas.<br />
<br />
Marie & John xxMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-46875360300069940712015-11-11T14:23:00.000+00:002015-11-11T14:23:42.573+00:00Thankful Villages and Thankful Years<i>Starin' over the sandbags,</i><br />
<i>Sick of the 'ole damn thing;</i><br />
<i>Firin' to keep meself awake,</i><br />
<i>'Earing the bullets sing.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Dreamin' 'ere by the sandbags</i><br />
<i>Of a day then war will cease,</i><br />
<i>When 'Ans and Fritz and Bill and me</i><br />
<i>Will clink our mugs in fraternity,</i><br />
<i>And the Brotherhood of Labour will be</i><br />
<i>The Brotherhood of Peace.</i><br />
<br />
from <i>A Song Of The Sandbags</i> by Robert Service<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In the
1930's Arthur Mee wrote his series of guides, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>The
Kings England</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. The
introductory volume, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Enchanted
Land </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">introduced
the term </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Thankful
Village</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Arthur identified 32 villages that had no war memorial to the First
World War (or The Great War as it was then known) because every man
sent to war returned home.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">More
recent research has led to the villages being reclassified as civil
parishes, and the number increased to 53. In my part of the world
only Hunstanworth in County Durham and Meldon in Northumbria are
listed. Some argue that Meldon is slightly doubtful as one resident
emigrated, and fought and died with the Australian army.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Of
the 53, 14 are doubly thankful, having no dead from the Second World
War. To put this in perspective, in France, Thierville is the only
such place, having lost no-one in either world war, and no-one in the
Franco Prussian war either.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
now we've considered thankful villages, can we have thankful years.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Obviously
not during wars, but what of the years since. The latest figures
available from from November 2014, and at that time there had been
7,145 deaths on operational service in what are termed </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">medal
earning theatres since the end of the Second World War.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sadly
there has been just one year with no loss of life, 1968. There were
just two in 1961, and six in 2014. </span>
</div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-62521793567496096282015-07-07T08:07:00.000+01:002015-07-07T08:07:04.065+01:00Everything stops.......for Wimbledon.<br />
<br />
Back next week.<br />
<br />
Marie Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-57922916759695165572015-06-18T08:30:00.001+01:002015-06-18T08:30:10.931+01:00Six o’clock seagullOne of the disadvantages of living in a terrace house, especially one with no garden, is you don’t see much wildlife. Ok, that’s not strictly true. A few years ago on the way back from the pub we did rescue a hedgehog and a frog from becoming road kill, but that’s about it.<br /><br />The only birds we get are pigeons, whose ancestors stayed instead of moving house with the guy who kept them, and seagulls. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKyuszXPV1V_We2X5cSyfRd2chrtLx3nc-dalc64P3_U8KLIQk0f4hcBpSykarxyWqO0O551ncys41VJsFbtDXGyI-shmakF5Ag_WijiAnMglSf6O5alywGhJxCjbYfqXCbR4Hw/s1600/Mr+Seagull+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKyuszXPV1V_We2X5cSyfRd2chrtLx3nc-dalc64P3_U8KLIQk0f4hcBpSykarxyWqO0O551ncys41VJsFbtDXGyI-shmakF5Ag_WijiAnMglSf6O5alywGhJxCjbYfqXCbR4Hw/s320/Mr+Seagull+01.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<br />A few weeks ago we were in the kitchen preparing dinner when I noticed out of the window a seagull sitting on the shed roof. It had a good peer through the window to see what we were doing then flew off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN64TL_BIphcyLNxLvXEKD77NUm3r9s3kRNLlFPnNoy3PguTwOnssl415MI4Cx3xaWRpUnwhoiTI-68z3lwhlZ0diKLKt3WizJKjYAUSM7RdAObiZJiXkUVbC-03GOBdxxHak6AQ/s1600/Mr+Seagull+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN64TL_BIphcyLNxLvXEKD77NUm3r9s3kRNLlFPnNoy3PguTwOnssl415MI4Cx3xaWRpUnwhoiTI-68z3lwhlZ0diKLKt3WizJKjYAUSM7RdAObiZJiXkUVbC-03GOBdxxHak6AQ/s320/Mr+Seagull+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The next day again whilst we were in the kitchen preparing dinner, Mr Seagull (we have no idea if it’s a male or female so we just called it a he) returned, had another good stare through the window then flew off.<br /><br />Guess what happened the next day, and the one after that, and the one after that too. For about two weeks the same thing happened and at the same time of day too. <br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWnL8_Neko6qVG6liL9D0A2sHokiVTBc4QqSibXUvH6yu3VwUuXWiP1s5t2IbHJaiRlmMGTn388kKVz1sCKdepvLtWIS5FsfgdPO-HbbySs4V4LITl6xh4kzW-ISl4R2LgjmE-A/s1600/Mr+Seagull+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWnL8_Neko6qVG6liL9D0A2sHokiVTBc4QqSibXUvH6yu3VwUuXWiP1s5t2IbHJaiRlmMGTn388kKVz1sCKdepvLtWIS5FsfgdPO-HbbySs4V4LITl6xh4kzW-ISl4R2LgjmE-A/s320/Mr+Seagull+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Come six o’clock Mr Seagull would arrive, have a good look though the kitchen window, then 15 minutes later fly off. <br /><br />As it was around nest making time we think he might have wanted to get away from Mrs Seagull as sometimes he would settle down for a quick nap before flying off.<br />
<br />
Marie<br />
<br />Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-1976124381281103072015-06-12T08:48:00.002+01:002015-06-12T08:48:53.197+01:00The wander returnsI am SO sorry for not blogging these past – coughs – months. <br /><br />Regular readers – if we have any left !! – will be sick of us sounding like a broken record (for those too young to know what a ‘record’ was, it was something we geriatrics – well not strictly me as I used to listen to cassettes instead – used to listen to music. It was large, round, had groves and made of plastic) by keeping saying ‘we’re going to blog more often’ etc, etc.<br /><br />In our defence, we’ve never really led exciting lives, and it would seem that since John took early retirement from work, we’re like little hermits. <br />
<br />
Back in January (or two postings ago.....) I blogged my wish/want list (I don’t do new year resolutions) and as we’re nearly half way through the year I thought I’d give an update on how things have progressed.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Win the Euro lottery. £10m would be nice but anything over £50m would be preferable....</i></span><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: red;">Still waiting.</span></span></span></li>
<li><i>Make a start on reading through the massive collection of books I’ve accumulated both in hard copy and on my kindle. </i><span style="color: red;">My kindle library is a couple of books lighter</span></li>
<li><i>Loose some more weight. 10lb lost since July but probably put that back on over Christmas!!! </i><span style="color: red;">Whilst I don’t know the exact figure in lbs & oz’s, I’ve lost a good couple of inches from my waist and gone down nearly two jeans sizes.</span></li>
<li><i>Get back to playing the piano and the clarinet.<span style="color: red;"> </span></i><span style="color: red;">Sadly not yet.</span></li>
<li><i>Spend less time on my computer. I can easily loose an hour just flitting through blogs and pinterest. </i><span style="color: red;">That mission accomplished.</span></li>
<li><i>Get back to my writing. Novel two and the second draft of novel one needs finishing.</i> <span style="color: red;">Whilst I haven’t done any actual writing I’ve been familiarising myself with the plot and characters again in readiness to start writing again.</span></li>
<li><i>Finish off the two cross stitch patterns as there’s another nine still to do.</i> <span style="color: red;">Still not finished but I have been doing some work on them. In my defence they are both large projects and one of them is on black fabric so I can only sew it in good day light....</span></li>
<li><i>Stop neglecting my blogs.</i> <span style="color: red;">I think you can guess this one !!!!</span></li>
<li><i>Finish off my knitted cable jumper before I start on yet more knitting projects</i>. <span style="color: red;">Although I haven’t finished it, I have nearly completed the back.</span></li>
<li><i>Finish reading the gigantic stack of magazines that’s been piling up for months.</i> <span style="color: red;">Only two magazines to go !!!!! </span></li>
<li><i>Spend less time in my sewing room – other rooms in the house are available...</i> <span style="color: red;">Done.</span></li>
<li><i>Finish off building the four foot model of the Queen Mary II cruise ship.</i> <span style="color: red;">Sadly the ship is still in dry dock...</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
Four out of 12 isn’t too bad. Plus one of those, the Euro lottery, is really out of my hands.<br />
<br />
I have as well been quite busy this year with something else which I will tell you later. Watch this space....<br />
<br />Marie<br />Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-27629375590889188342015-01-16T08:36:00.003+00:002015-01-16T08:36:19.936+00:00Good customer serviceNow that John’s retired there's no need for us to do our weekly grocery shop at Morrisons on an evening.<br />
<br />So we've changed it to during the day. There is though one small problem. Morrisons is a no-go area during the day. It’s full of pensioners taking advantage of the store being on the sea front so they use it as a day out; parking is a nightmare and you’re forever having to fight your way around the little old dears slumped over their trolleys as they stop and look at every single item on the shelves.<br />
<br />Thankfully two new large Sainsburys and Tesco’s opened recently so we gave them both a try. Tesco had the edge on Sainsburys so we decided to start shop there.<br />
<br />Just before Christmas we had an encounter with a member of staff from the fruit and veg department who has the honour of being one of the rudest people I have ever met. <br />
<br />I take no prisoners when it comes to bad customer service so it was time to unleash the customer from hell.<br />
<br />A ‘its way out of the envelope’ letter was duly sent to Tesco's CEO – why go to the bottom when you can go to the top....<br />
<br />Early last week I received a reply. They were extremely apologetic; the member of staff in question had been reprimanded for their behaviour and enclosed was £30 gift card. <br />
<br />Yesterday when we were at the checkout the member of staff, along with the fruit and veg manager, came over and they both apologised in person. <br />
<br />Well done Tesco. I have nothing but praise for the way in which they handled my complaint. It’s a pity more business couldn’t follow their example.<br />
<br />Marie<br />
<br />PS they've got Easter eggs in all ready!!!! Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-63982905867548551642015-01-04T14:46:00.001+00:002015-01-04T14:49:29.191+00:00New Year resolutions – sort ofAt this time of year it’s customary to produce a ‘New Year’s resolutions list’. I don’t ‘do’ resolutions so instead here is my wish/want list.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Win the Euro lottery. £10m would be nice but anything over £50m would be preferable....</li>
<li>Make a start on reading through the massive collection of books I’ve accumulated both in hard copy and on my kindle.</li>
<li>Loose some more weight. 10lb lost since July but probably put that back on over Christmas!!!</li>
<li>Get back to playing the piano and the clarinet.</li>
<li>Spend less time on my computer. I can easily loose an hour just flitting through blogs and pinterest.</li>
<li>Get back to my writing. Novel two and the second draft of novel one needs finishing.</li>
<li>Finish off the two cross stitch patterns as there’s another nine still to do.</li>
<li>Stop neglecting my blogs.</li>
<li>Finish off my knitted cable jumper before I start on yet more knitting projects.</li>
<li>Finish reading the gigantic stack of magazines that’s been piling up for months. </li>
<li>Spend less time in my sewing room – other rooms in the house are available... </li>
<li>Finish off building the four foot model of the Queen Mary II cruise ship.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Looks like I’m in for a busy year !!!!<br />
<br />
MarieMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-25763650926732142562014-12-31T08:45:00.000+00:002014-12-31T08:45:16.175+00:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio27Jym3hayE9uYl26sBMlDmGHvDH0-fu2uetjSH7GBK3Mtltd3LcB7qph2egZ6xlxm8zXhg8iW3-TvDS7KOJVQ-0h-pDsUC0gXEENCHV5Kd6-t_hgvOpa4xDJlrbw1I_Ps8IZQ/s1600/New+year+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio27Jym3hayE9uYl26sBMlDmGHvDH0-fu2uetjSH7GBK3Mtltd3LcB7qph2egZ6xlxm8zXhg8iW3-TvDS7KOJVQ-0h-pDsUC0gXEENCHV5Kd6-t_hgvOpa4xDJlrbw1I_Ps8IZQ/s1600/New+year+01.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />"Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believe in yourself. And believe that there is a loving Source - a Sower of Dreams - just waiting to be asked to help you make your dreams come true." -- Sarah Ban Breathnach, author <br />
<br />We wish you a very happy and peaceful new year.<br />
<br />
Marie & John xx <br />
<br />Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-68802125575925628872014-12-24T12:05:00.000+00:002014-12-24T12:05:22.918+00:00Seasons greetings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgmJTkt95hKW0385YYS8m5iJ4mwz0Xi9LhfitNHomUT2twbngA7cPUSzEvPC6B_TtqIp9TK0FRDo10HVqII97E41NSDUv5fyd8CD_YReha_-qmMWgex_oqRZqn2ZjtzPcry7hYQ/s1600/Teddy-bears-Christmas-Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgmJTkt95hKW0385YYS8m5iJ4mwz0Xi9LhfitNHomUT2twbngA7cPUSzEvPC6B_TtqIp9TK0FRDo10HVqII97E41NSDUv5fyd8CD_YReha_-qmMWgex_oqRZqn2ZjtzPcry7hYQ/s1600/Teddy-bears-Christmas-Wallpaper.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's wishing you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year.<br />
<br />
Marie & John xxMarie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-26395487883635518872014-11-11T11:24:00.001+00:002014-11-11T11:25:29.433+00:00Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMNa1aNd3krDg5ayK_oAsQkqBb6GDVxcXeaxm9C7h2eVH1Yf0xmDc8s_9z_PS91hMZ_KcmrGqLuFN9h-PPNUwVLyEh_5VzD3Sev1-Ii3NWGCCygY0jVM_T67SvfRB6KyV5n3oKw/s1600/blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMNa1aNd3krDg5ayK_oAsQkqBb6GDVxcXeaxm9C7h2eVH1Yf0xmDc8s_9z_PS91hMZ_KcmrGqLuFN9h-PPNUwVLyEh_5VzD3Sev1-Ii3NWGCCygY0jVM_T67SvfRB6KyV5n3oKw/s1600/blog.JPG" height="320" width="188" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And did
you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind<br />In some faithful heart is
your memory enshrined?<br />And, though you died back in 1916,<br />To
that loyal heart are you forever nineteen?<br />Or are you a stranger,
without even a name,<br />Forever enshrined behind some glass pane,<br />In
an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained,<br />And fading to
yellow in a brown leather frame?</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>From No Man's Land by Eric Bogle</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As the centenary of the great war gets
under way you are going to see a lot of statistics thrown around. Not
all will come from reputable sources. Far too many figures are of the
“everybody knows” category.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But before I talk about that, I want to
make one thing clear. I'm neither denigrating nor belittling the losses
and the sacrifice. Harold Wilson once said that it doesn't matter how
low unemployment is, if you don't have a job then unemployment is
100% to you. And likewise, if you lost a son, or husband or father,
then the death toll was 100%
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So what sort of figures are we talking
about. Let's start with the “entire generation lost” types.
According to <i>Statistics of the military effort of the British
Empire during the great war,</i> published by the War Office in 1922,
In truth the number of British soldiers killed was 702,410. It's a
lot, but how many times have you heard far greater figures alluded
to. Over eight million men were mobilised, and the death rate was
8.4% (for officers the figure was nearer 12%, and for junior officers
who went to public schools, 20%).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Perhaps what made the figures seem
worse was the idea of people joining up and serving together. We had
the “Barnsley Pals” battalion, and the “Newcastle Railway
Workers” and even the “Post Office Rifles”. A bad day would
bring death to a very small community. Incidentally, the United
States had suffered the same thing during their civil war and were
determined never to have “local” regiments. American regiments
are numbered and anonymous.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then there is the saying that after the
first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, every street in Britain
received a telegram telling of a death. On that day there were just
under 20,000 deaths and another 40,000 injuries. Think about if, how
many streets are there in Britain.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And then we have a well known musician
and author who writes about raw recruits heading off to France in
1914. In 1914 Britain had to fight with the pitiably small regular
army (248,000 strong and most of them serving overseas). The new men
had only just signed up by the end of the year and didn't see action
for nearly two years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What I'm saying is don't let emotion
and the writings personifying the anti-war sentiment of the late 20's
and early 30's cloud your judgement. The facts are terrible, but the
truth is worth looking for.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-27447920084732588042014-06-19T14:33:00.002+01:002014-06-30T15:18:45.144+01:00Journey's End<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I've said before that the bigger the
city, the worse the view. Today we're in Istanbul and the veranda
view is of a part demolished building. Wonderful.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K5P6bTu5HueV2_52mJYp4LxBWyw5xWIqZboVaRSIK3I7U30W_O-UJRr3MMB8SXuuqrod4Q0K-vXvsrRDie70Hojgn_VHKLndW48qJ5YdbpePCrKcEeJ2yiZygMi3nAhan1x7Lg/s1600/blog80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K5P6bTu5HueV2_52mJYp4LxBWyw5xWIqZboVaRSIK3I7U30W_O-UJRr3MMB8SXuuqrod4Q0K-vXvsrRDie70Hojgn_VHKLndW48qJ5YdbpePCrKcEeJ2yiZygMi3nAhan1x7Lg/s1600/blog80.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The view on the other side is of a very
very busy waterway, and a nice park area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbL7X1DAo3yCvwW0PD15Z1nH4LJ0jAo_Uws31oewha2rWiGt8t27tZhvhd67R4LEpkzLFuQSUuJaGRnSzut1GtHzJrxQNswDbADsV1qxtSWXg1lJSQWgt-MxSp6VeNZduCrtvKA/s1600/blog81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbL7X1DAo3yCvwW0PD15Z1nH4LJ0jAo_Uws31oewha2rWiGt8t27tZhvhd67R4LEpkzLFuQSUuJaGRnSzut1GtHzJrxQNswDbADsV1qxtSWXg1lJSQWgt-MxSp6VeNZduCrtvKA/s1600/blog81.jpg" height="150" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And out neighbour, one of the Costa
ships.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpFZn8Jv9uzXQWUjRtUtWtsVct83ab4BgYQk2Nr5VasSaXMucaNbxXO-f30BfAa1jQ3dXR4ddlM6bdRgKvFOljR7fc00yqmYUrRiVoBX1CJK_qDm9cHdPRX0IphJ_kCLNhcScpg/s1600/blog83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpFZn8Jv9uzXQWUjRtUtWtsVct83ab4BgYQk2Nr5VasSaXMucaNbxXO-f30BfAa1jQ3dXR4ddlM6bdRgKvFOljR7fc00yqmYUrRiVoBX1CJK_qDm9cHdPRX0IphJ_kCLNhcScpg/s1600/blog83.jpg" height="193" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After blogging last night we went to
dinner, which was eaten as we passed through the Dardanelles and
Galipoli..Then on to the Abba show, where Marie sang ALL the words.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just a short blog as today is our last
full day and we're busy packing. No blog tomorrow as we'll be flying
home. Sob sob sob.</div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-72051702927191766852014-06-18T14:34:00.002+01:002014-06-30T15:18:17.679+01:00Fifteen Course Dinner !!<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So we're back to Greece today. We're in
Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. Today’s veranda view shows the
harbour entrance, with the morning ferry just arriving.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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More about Mytilene in a moment, first
we have to tell you about last night. We ate in a different
restaurant. It was a smaller, more intimate place, and they served
fifteen courses. Perhaps I should explain. There were really only
five courses, but each contained three sub-courses, a bite or two
big. It was an excellent meal, with great service, but the
“entertainment” left a lot to be desired, Particularly the sound
quality. After dinner we headed down to the show lounge (aka theatre)
where we saw the “Crew Show”. Really, the crew put on a show one
night per cruise, And some of them were really good.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now back to today. It was hot, up in
the high eighties, but we decided to be brave and venture out. The
ship was at anchor, so we took the tender ashore,</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The town was rather manic with lots of
traffic, and hundreds of mopeds and scooters. Also, they have high
kerbs and they don't do ramps or dropped kerbs so we stayed on the
waterfront.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tonight is a formal night, the farewell
reception. It's held a day before the final night,because it's formal
dress, and by tomorrow night everyone will have packed. After the
reception will be dinner, then back to the show lounge for the Abba
night. Really.</div>
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<br /></div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18244391.post-76602246276488861942014-06-17T15:36:00.001+01:002014-06-30T15:18:09.083+01:00Turkey, but you wouldn't know it<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Today we're in Kusadasi and the veranda
view shows the causeway to the castle.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Kusadasi is in Turkey, though it's not
obvious. The older part of the town is a sort of reasonably good
quality coastal resort with boutique hotels and rental apartments.
Get outside the old town and it's English Bars & Fish 'n' Chips.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The there is the cruise terminal. Today
there were four ships in. Ours with 390 passengers, one from Louis
with about 1000, then two from Carnival Lines with 3,500 and 4,000
respectively.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now, this is the nearest port to the
ruins of Ephesus, which is where just about everyone wanted to go. We
decided to give it a miss, and instead took a walk along the front
and along the causeway to the castle, which is now a night club. It's
a very nice place, but there's nothing Turkish about it. It could be
the front in Palma, or Mahon or a dozen other places. Not that we're
complaining. Just being here is more than enough for us. There's more
than enough on the ship to keep us happy. And speaking of the ship,
here's a better view.</div>
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Another new port tomorrow. Wait and
see.</div>
Marie and Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587695960861511106noreply@blogger.com0