Back to earth with a bump!

Well, after months of planning, the cruise has come and gone!  But - we did have a ball!  It started with a mountain of UK roadworks (made worse in the darkness of 2am!), and early fight and, surprisingly, a decent in-flight breakfast.  But, as we landed in Malta, we were greeted with ..... rain and dull clouds - really?  Still, after getting through the embarkation procedures, we made it onto the ship, had some lunch and then found our cabins and started to unpack.  We were here - and could relax!  Well - after the compulsory lesson in putting a life jacket on of course!





The first full day was spent sailing - and we found a quite place for three sunbeds to relax on.  We read, slept and sewed!  The food on board was a real delight - from the informality of the Plaza restaurant which was a self service restaurant, to a sit down formal meal - heck, there was even a "Marco Pierre White" cafe on board - we certainly didn't starve!

Day two was spent in split, Croatia.  I really didn't know what to expect in Split and was bowled over by the beauty of the area.  However I was taken by these pottery houses - I am sure that there's a quilt idea here!










Day 3 saw a beautiful sail in and out of Venice - we had a guided tour around the Doges palace, walked across the Bridge of Sighs and then had  a gondola ride.





Day 4 saw us venture to another country - San Merino - and we had our passports stamped before enjoying some sightseeing and shopping.  I even enjoyed a piece of authentic pizza!













Day 5 was in Dubrovnik - I ventured further afield down the Adriatic Coast and visited a Croatian Olive grower to explore how he makes his Olive Oil - and to taste the produce of course!  I also treated myself to a "Singapore Sling" cocktail - wow it was strong!!






Day 6 was sailing again (and packing) - we watched Jumanji (and laughed) and finished the evening with The Greatest Showman film.  The entertainment on board was of a mixed variety from a 50's "love story"directed by Strictly's Natalie Lowe to songs from the musicals.  However the mix of people on board was a good one and we generally had a good laugh with them.

Only one negative - I have come back with a chesty cough and banging head cold - I am dosed up with Mum's lemsip tablets as I write this!  I cannot seem to download the pictures from my camera so you are spared more photos!  However, I have had a lovely time with good friends - and that. in the end, is the main thing now isn't it?

By the way - remember The Necessary Clutch Wallet - it was invaluable!!

And we're off! (well , nearly!)

• Suitcase paced and under the 22kg allowance -just!
• Dogs delivered to Mum and Dad for safekeeping
• Housesitter briefed
• Flower lei's packed for the tropical night - well Trisha has packed them.
• Friend coming round to clean the house whilst I am away - lovely return!
• House tidied before I leave
• Hand luggage packed and passport checked at least 20 times!
• Suitcase in car
• Snooze attempted so that I won't be as tired driving
• Pack up made for the journey

So - that's all folks - I will see you on the other side.  Well, that is when 10pm comes and I can leave of course!  If you want to track the cruise ship then you can via this website.  There is also a webcam which is disappointingly grey today!  Let's hope that the promised sunshine soon arrives!

Where a day of "chillin" and relaxing does not end so well!

Today was all planned -a quick visit to Tesco's (think petrol fill up and AAA batteries for my travel fan) and then a really relaxing morning at the hairdressers where I was pampered from head to toe - literally.  A hairdo and colour, a manicure and a pedicure - the three hours parking ticket was only JUST enough - with 3 minutes to spare!

Back home and, after a quick lunch, thoughts turned to really getting going with the packing - at last!  As I was going from one room to another, Millie started to follow me and I noticed a bald patch on her hind leg.  She had been licking herself a lot yesterday and I might have left it - but didn't want the housesitter to have any problems so made a quick call to the vets who had an appointment at 4pm.  So off we went.  Well - you really have to know and love Millie to appreciate how much of a pain she is at the vets.  Seriously - we had to corner her to let the vet have a look, hold her down to shave her and then two nurses took over whilst the vet checked her anal glands.  After all of that I have come home with flea treatment (just in case - they couldn't find any), antibiotics, steroids and a collar if she doesn't stop licking herself - the housesitter is going to have fun!  Thankfully they don't think that its anything serious - but, as I speak, Millie is flat out asleep after all of that exertion and stress!

Meanwhile, of course, the packing still hasn't been started - and I leave in just over 24 hours - yikes!

The downside of losing weight!

So, it's Monday and - Guess What - it's Textile Group!  Today we were doing a  multitude of tasks.  Me?  I was finishing my 7th and final toiletry bag








Starting to lay out and fix in place my first Christmas block

and heading towards the finishing straight with the final Scamblesby block.







Back home and it was the last bits of ironing for the cruise - look at all these labels that have had to be cut off from my new clothes!!  It's a very pleasant downside to weight loss!




I always knew that I wasn't likely to lose any weight this week - what with my pre-holiday celebrations - and so wasn't surprised to maintain.  I won't even begin to predict how much weight will go back on once I am on the cruise - someone tried to tell me that they lost weight on a cruise - REALLY?????  What is more important is that I have a good time and then get back on that bike!

Tomorrow it's glamour time - hairdressers / manicure / pedicure!  Then, finally, I can begin to pack!! I also need to speak to the house sitter and sort out the minor details like the bins going out etc!

They're not all mine - honest!

So, yesterday Wendy, Jean and I went to see "Hairspray" in Hull.  I have seen it twice before - in London and Manchester with Michael Ball playing the starring role.  I have to say that the Hull production didn't let me down - it was fantastic!!  In particular, Brenda Edwards - of X-factor fame and who played the role of Motormouth Maybelle - was simply amazing!!  When she sang "I know where I've been" - it brought tears to your eyes and shivers down your spine!  We had decided to take a pack up with us - and ate it in the car.  My plan had been to make a ham and egg salad - until, that is, I left the eggs boiling for half an hour - totally forgetting about them.  When I rushed through and took the now dry pan off the heat - the eggs exploded all over my jumper - oops!!

Today I had set aside to get down to serious cruise sorting.  First up was the paperwork.  If we don't have the right documents then its not for the sake of trying!  Heck I even phoned the bank to see if I have to notify them that I am going abroad - apparently I don't!  Then it was onto the start of the ironing - my home is beginning to look like a laundry with clothes hanging up everywhere!


Next on the agenda was to finish my clutch bags off by adding a wristlet and tab to hold it.  It was one of those jobs that I have been putting off and yet took minutes to complete and will make my life much easier!








Likewise the kitchen cupboards.  With just one day to go in April, and one cupboard left, I had bought an over the door basket to help with the storage of the baking tins - only to find that there's a shelf in the way which would need moving.  Still - getting everything out meant that I could give it a good sort out!  So, with that sorted and some church paperwork dealt with , it seemed only fitting to have a break -so Wendy, Cathy and I went round to a new friends and perused her book shelves.  YES we have been before and NO we haven't read them all yet - but good friends need to help each other out - now don't we?  This was Cathy's first visit and she was rather blown away by the amount of books - and came away with 4 bags of her own!!

With the pretence of taking some trousers up for the holiday, it was then time for a nap and a catch up of missed tv programmes - by which time, I will confess, the afternoon had flown!  Still - I have achieved all that I set out to do so that's not a bad achievement - now is it?

A right royal knees up!

So - let's start with the WI event last night.  We had nearly 60 ladies enjoying a presentation (and tasting) from a local Gin making firm.  As I said yesterday, I taught the owner Maths for five years and, whilst the hugs and kisses were nice (I won't deny) it was really heartening to hear that he had gone on to do A Level maths, trained as an engineer and even been designing roller coasters - until he came home and declared that he wanted to give it all up and make Gin and grow Christmas trees.  What started as a business making one litre a time in his kitchen has grown, in just over a year, to planning permission to build a distillery in Louth.  His partner is clearly very patient - she was expecting their daughter when  he declared this so couldn't even taste the product she was selling.




Everyone was served three large glasses of gin and tonic - to different recipes.  As I was driving, and don't drink much - guess which glass was Jean's and which one was mine?






This morning started well - the weather wasn't bad and I was out in the garden at 8:30am - rescuing a pot!  I am a somewhat accidental gardener nad noticed this weed filled pot of daffodils with some sweet peas struggling to come through.  So I spent time clearing and trimming to give the sweet peas a chance.  Once they grow a little longer I will tie them all up.







After a WI meeting (where I swapped roles and am now responsible for the competitions so don't have work to do before each meeting - phew)  it was home to continue with the tracing and lining of the embroideries I started with yesterday - along with rather a long afternoon nap!  Well, it's book club tonight and we won't get home until late!  Tomorrow I am off to watch Hairspray so there may not be a post - just warning you!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Well - apparently the Christmas edition of Pointless is being filmed today so I thought that I would get into the spirit!!




Today I was up and early and at the car wash by 9am - that usually means that you get seen to much quicker - as, indeed, I did today!    Why the need for a car wash and internal valet?  Well, I can't go on holiday with a messy car now can I?  Heck, I even checked the tyre pressures!  Go me!  I also popped into Tesco's where this crochet magazine caught my eye - but only because of the sock blockers! Now - would crochet socks be easier I wonder?





On the way home I detoured via Mum and Dad's and we tried out a new tea room that has opened in their village.  I will admit to having my doubts as it looked bad from the front.  However I hadn't reckoned on it being at the rear of the building and everything was spotless.  I resisted temptation - easier than usual - they didn't have many homemade cakes in yet - and we spent a very enjoyable hour catching up.  I was also impressed that my American came as an expresso with boiling water in a jug so that I could adjust the strength of my coffee.  It was an appreciated gesture.

Back home, and with the dogs walked and a healthy Caesar salad for lunch, it was off out to mow the lawn before settling down to a mountain of tracing which all now needs to be lined before sewing.  Well - you know how I like my hand sewing!

After rustling up a steak casserole for tea - there are some lovely smells coming from the kitchen right now - it was back out into the garden to put soil on my emerging potatoes, plant a cherry tree and to plant up some summer bulbs, before coming back in to fix the afore mentioned linings.


Tonight it's our WI group's meeting where a local Gin company are coming to talk to us and give ou samples.  I can't quite take it seriously - I used to teach the owner!!  However we will find out how my wine bag goes down in the competition.  Just to complete the circle - I am keeping the bag and the bottle for some lucky recipient at Christmas (ssh -now who do I know that would appreciate a fabric gift bag and a bottle of red wine!!)