Dansway

2006-12-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

Southampton to Madeira

Well here we are a week into our journey, and what a journey.

We packed 4 cases and two holdalls. A forty day cruise, though less formal than in days past, still contains a dozen or so formal evenings, therefore evening clothes alone fill a case. A couple of dozen books fill a holdall, so accruing luggage is not a problem.

We sail from Southampton, but return by air from Singapore into Heathrow, for collection and transportation home. So a friend Mick is travelling to Southampton with us and will bring the car home for me.

8.30AM. 2nd Dec. With the cases, Mick, Anne and I set out on a Saturday morning ride to Southampton a doddle of a journey, I had made many times in the past. Perhaps as a warning of things to come my 4x4 started to play up, missing and juddering on every incline, we ignored this and headed for the M40 only to find it blocked and closed. I had left the satellite navigator and maps at home, didn’t need them. “Wrong” Luckily my son was at home when Anne phoned, knew the area and sorted us out. Best part of 5 hours for a normal 3 hour journey, how poor Mick got home, if indeed he did, we still don’t know.

Getting aboard was easy, cases delivered to our cabin and packed away, then off to meet old friends from previous voyages, over a coffee in the restaurant. Last year we had completed a 110 day trip on the same ship so not only were many of the crew familiar to us, but also about 150 of last years passengers like us were at it again

Artemis sailed to the sound of a military band and clinking Champaign glasses as passengers toasted to good luck, little did they know, how we would need it

Our sitting for Dinner is at 6.30 PM, so by the time we sat down, the ship had cleared harbour and was punching her way in the dark, down Southampton water through the Solent, and out into the English Channel. Many passengers had already succumbed to the motion of the ship. Empty chairs in the dinning room reflected this. Shame really the steaks were very good

. Unbeknown to us, we were to be the last vessel out of Southampton, the authorities closing the port behind us and cancelling all the ferries. Storm force winds, that’s about 50 Knots, were lashing the ship and building the seas, with according to our captain, the occasional gust reaching hurricane force
.
Artemis weighing in at 45,000 tons and 230 metres long is capable of 21 knots and a steady average of 18 knots, today however this is reduced by the conditions to a crawl. Steaming into the teeth of the storm, she manages just 350 miles in the first 36 hours.
Clawing her way down the channel, riding the huge 9 Metre swell, that provokes an incessant end to end pitching motion, turning stomachs and liberating dinners, assigning the sufferers to there cabins and beds.

Occasionally she falls off the crest, crashing violently down, and burying her nose deep in the following wave. Her foredeck now drowned in a seething mass of water, sends great plumes of spray down the length of the ship. Then Artimas holds and hesitates for a moment, before lifting herself high and clear to ride the next swell, everything shuddering as the noise reverberates loudly throughout the ship.

Doors are locked with decks off limits to those passengers like us, who are still able to function, many are not. Although Anne with her crutches, is grateful for the hand rails around the ships corridors. Sleep becomes interesting as we slide up and down our beds in concert with the rhythm of the swells, so steep is the pitching. Finally we clear the channel and enter the Bay of Biscay here the water deepens and widens as the bottom falls away, but the seas have travelled thousands of miles to get here and do like to leave there mark, as many an unfortunate sailor has discovered..

Sitting and watching another ship braving these enormous seas, from the safety of a comfortable lounge. I was mindful of a friend, who had once commented, that sailing a small 10 metre yacht, was like caravanning on water, and couldn’t help wondering if his caravans, had ever behaved, as the ship I could see through the window was doing. My admiration for the Helen McCarthy’s of this world grows the more I observe first hand the dangers they face.

Artemis altered course to the west, now the seas were on her beam, she stopped pitching as her stabilisers endeavoured to hold her upright,. The captain who had kept us informed throughout, advised the passengers to go to bed or at least be very careful as the seas were very confused, the swell coming from more than one direction.

That evening we were hit by a big wave that rolled the ship, damaging her stabilisers, crockery, people, the grand piano in the theatre all falling or moving, unassisted and involuntarily across the ship, bars were cleared of optics, booze and glasses. Televisions bounced across cabins, doors slammed and as the motion continued crockery in the kitchen and countless bottles in the wine cellar continued to fall and smash. No one could enter the wine cellar because of the danger and it was left to its own devises while others tasks were undertaken. In those few moments £10,000 pounds worth of booze and crockery was lost.

We returned from the theatre to our cabin to find all shelves and surfaces cleared, broken glasses in the bathroom and our belongings strewn across the beds and floor. Luckily I had left my cameras and the computer on the floor, so no damage. The cabin staff were roused from there beds and within hours all was cleared. The motion continued unabated as the engineers worked to repair the stabilisers, with sudden big lurches catching everyone out and increasing the danger, we decided discretion was the better part of valour and went to bed.

The medical staff however were up working on the casualties until 4 in the morning, on finishing they retired to the mess room, to find the hot buffet laid out for them spread all over the floor, the stewards worked miracles and twenty minutes later had cleared up and provided a new buffet, only to see this too consigned to the floor as the ship lurched again. The Doctors to gave up and went to bed.

We were now into our fourth day and the weather showed no signs of improving, Anne and I were in the restaurant having breakfast sitting at a table for four. Anne on the inside next to the window with another lady sat beside her. I had just returned to the table with two cups of boiling water for coffees, which I placed on the table, immediately they begun to slide as the table tilted, I grabbed them again trying to prevent an accident. We had however been hit by another big sea and as I leaned into the lurch trying to stay upright, still holding the cups on the table, I saw Anne and the woman next to her catapulted, complete with seats across the restaurant, the woman on the outside was nimble enough to get to her feet and hold onto a supporting pillar. Anne however with her arthritis and limited mobility had no chance, and landed on her back across the vacated ladies chair which now lay on its side, whilst at the same time hitting her shoulder on the stone tiled floor, she was in great pain and could not move. Luckily there was an officer present who took charge, organised a doctor and stretcher party and had Anne carried off to the hospital.

The hospital was like a scene from Mash, with injured and bleeding people in every available space, stretchers and walking wounded arriving at regular intervals. Anne was examined given morphine, x-rayed and diagnosed, whist at the same time people were being stitched up alongside her. Luckily she was just severely bruised and her arthritic spine shaken up, they kept her for four hours and then put her to bed in our cabin, now three days later she is almost back to her old self and looking for the sunshine as the seas drop.

Needless to say something had to suffer for all these delays and we arrived 12 hours late at Madeira stayed over night and all the next day whilst they fixed the stabilisers and are now on our way to St Vincent having missed out on a day in Tenerife.

So all in all quite a start to our trip, Artemis is now cruising at 17 knots, we have travelled 700 miles in the last two days and are 70 miles off the most southerly point of the canary islands, the wind is now force 6 and sea have calmed down but are still classified as rough, the sun is attempting to find its way through broken cloud, we have a formal dinner tonight and maybe we can return to normal.

Due to Anne’s injuries we were unable to do much ashore in Madeira apart from purchase some liquid supplies for the cabin but hopefully future postings will be more of the travel kind I had envisaged

Our Compass

2006-12-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

Click on images
Originally uploaded by 6dandan3.

what a week we have had, cases packed, Christmas presents distributed, cards posted, eyes and glasses tested and approved, hair cut, house sorted. Problems with Blogger that were only rectified with the the generous help of Sheila who drove over at the 11th hour . Car checked and loaded and ready for the 170 mile journey to Southampton tomorrow morning.

Kids spoken to, Christmas greetings exchanged, phone calls made, Fridge emptied, had an Indian meal for supper and now at last settled at the keyboard, to post and email as required, before watching an hour or two of the second ashes test from Australia, don't know if we will catch any more on the ship, lets hope so.

The price of the Dollar just about two for one today, makes me wonder how that will affect the African and asian currencies as we travel, could be some bargains to be had when we get to Singapore in the new year.

So thats us, ready for a holiday we hadnt planned or expected, lets just hope it goes well,

Harvest Home

2006-11-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

Harvest Home
Originally uploaded by 6dandan3.

The End of a long day on the farm, the tractor rests alongside a spray unit.

The Fens

2006-11-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

The Fens
Originally uploaded by 6dandan3.

Typical Fenland Scene, late September, the harvest is home, big fields wait for the plough, under huge skies.

Fenland Sunset

2006-11-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

Fenland Sunset
Originally uploaded by cliffdb.

Night comes to the fens just outside the village

2006-11-24T23:32:00.000-08:00

Another week gone, and autumn is fast receding, allowing winter with its short grey days and early darkness to announce itself. Winds have stripped virtually all the leaves from the gardens trees. Whilst the lawns have been treated with moss killer and are due a final cut, weather permitting, before hibernating until the spring.

The Garden Late Summer

Autumn is my favourite time, cool crisp days, blue skies and sunshine, trees clothed in warm colours, illuminated and emphasised by the clear light, a photogenic time, except perhaps in the virtually treeless land that is the fens.

The Fens are at there most bland now, an ocean of muddy brown earth devoid of hedgerows, criss crossed and divided by deep dyke's, that collect surplus water and channel it through the river system and pumping stations to reservoirs, or out to sea, preventing the land itself from flooding and returning to the seabed from whence it came.

Only the occasional ploughing tractor , breaks the monotony, as it prepares this fertile land, still rich in nutrients from its time at the bottom of the sea, to receive the new crops which will feed and yield abundantly.

So abundantly that the European union pay farmers, to let the land lie fallow and unused or become golf courses, rather than reduce the crop prices or stockpile the resultant foods, an aberration in a world that could, but does not feed itself.

The tractors are pursued by clouds of seagulls, looking for easy pickings, they like the Cormorants that ravish every river and lake around here, have been driven inland by the overfishing of the seas that supported them and repay the compliment by emptying our waterways, rivers and lakes of fish, rough justice, but annoying to the many anglers that once roamed this area, and a death knell to commercial fisheries and trout farms if the birds are left unchecked. Protected as they are by European law culling is a risky business but a necessity to protect our way of life.

So as winter arrives , we pack our bags and a week from now will embark a cruise liner, our home for the next six weeks and our ticket to hopefully blue skies and warm days. Anne's excitement grows with each passing day as she scurries around finalising her arrangements.
Christmas has to be done early before we leave, so a week of gift wrapping and card writing has kept her focused and enabled the shopping she loves to continue unabated.

This week a final trip to to the opticians will enable the correct lenses to be fitted to my glasses as the four weeks settling down period ends, Anne's hair and nails have to be fine tuned all necessities for the social life on board ship.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving day in America, today our eldest will be taking our little treasure to her first ever thanksgiving meal, to meet other couples and adopted American kids, a fulfillment of a promise and an obligation to the kids, to keep them in contact with there roots and an acknowledgement of debt we owe to that country for allowing us to complete our family.

So our final week, much to do and look forward to, how we get on will appear either next Friday night from here, or from our cabin on the high seas some time next week,

2006-11-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Been a while since I last posted,how time flies. The eyes are doing ok., been to see the specialist again and he is happy, told me to wear dark glasses in the bright light and buy some cheap, off the shelf reading glasses, so looking good. Wish the same could be said for me.

Rain and grey conditions seem to have settled in. Now I am able to get out, all those lovely cold and sunny days have gone, typical. Cant remember another year, when the trees still wore a full head of green leaves this late into November. Although the berry bearing varieties are absolutely loaded with fruit, does that signal a cold winter?. Knowing our luck it will be snowing when we arrive back in January.

Anne's grand daughter is deep in rehearsals, having been chosen to play the wicked stepmother in sleeping beauty, the local Amateur Dramatic Societies Pantomime production, due to premier in late Jan. I wonder is a star about to be born?
We have booked for the family to go en-mass to the Saturday matinee and then on to our favourite Chinese restaurant for a banquet.

Once again we will be missing Christmas, so this is our treat to the kids and there families, should be fun. Strange they always remain your kids no matter how big or old there own children grow, daft really.

Now only two and a half weeks before the cruise begins. The honeymooners came home today, and hopefully he will be up in the loft tomorrow getting down our cases, so Anne can embark on the frenzy of packing, that marks the beginning of a holiday for her, think I will go fishing, safer that way.

Thank god we are able to leave some cases on board for us collect, when the ship returns to Southampton. We are disembarking in Singapore, and fly home from there, had we to cart all the cases ourselves, the excess baggage would cost more than the damn plane is worth, given the amount of luggage Anne takes.

2006-11-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Things much better today, all the discomfort has gone and the eye only feels a little bruised if touched, the eye drops no longer hurt. My glasses are all to cock though and will need replacing, my long sight is much improved and everywhere is so bright.
Went out to lunch today and was able to drive the car. Although night driving is out of the question, cannot handle the bright lights. Will return and see the surgeon on Thursday and take it from there.

So a just 4 weeks from yesterday, we will be starting out on our cruise, Anne has got some new evening dresses for the formal nights, and I am looking for a wide angle lens for the camera.

Heard from the honeymoon couple today, the weather in Cyprus is grey and raining so no sun bathing by the pool thus far, But they sound as though they are enjoying themselves.

Guy Fawkes day to day and there are many fireworks going off all around, the air is full of stars, bright lights, flashes, whistles, screams and bangs. You feel for the animals and pets, many are terrified. People must have money to burn because these things are very expensive and there are plenty of organised displays to be seen for little or no money, doesn't make sense really.

My grandsons birthday tomorrow so have to go and deliver his card and present, life goes on.

2006-11-03T11:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the big day, we arrived at the hospital before eight, the waiting nurse showed us to a private room gave us a coffee, and took our detail's. The surgeon then came in and and briefed us on what lay ahead
An hour before the operation was due, the nurse returned, put some drops in my eye to dilate it, 30 Min's later she did the same again.

A little later I was collected, walked to the operating theatre and climbed onto the table.

As I had elected to stay awake during the procedure, anaesthetics were dribbled into my eye and the area around it was also painted and anaesthetised, my face was covered with a special sticky cloth, which held my eye open, classical music begun to play and the surgeon cut my eye open. A special ultra sonic machine was used to break up the lens which was then sucked out, through the cut.

The test made on my previous visit had enabled an equivalent lens to be manufactured, this was folded like an umbrella and on being placed in the eye through the cut, it opened and became the permanent replacement for my own lens. The surgeon then tidied up and had me returned by wheelchair to my room.

Here I was shocked to find, that I now had two wives, consternation, one cost enough two would be unsustainable. Luckily I was suffering from double vision, which soon settled down and returned to normal.

After an hours rest a coffee and a sandwich, I was able to return to the car and was driven home. The rest of the day was a little uncomfortable, especially as Anne had to drip steroids drops into the eye on an hourly basis.

I had to wear a special shield to bed, but a pain killer and a mild sedative saw me sleep like a baby.

Today has been interesting, colours are so much brighter, even though my glasses are useless and will need attention when the eye settles down, in all probability I will only need them for reading and the computer, as my long sight should be fine, we shall see.

So a busy and it would seem productive 24 hours, but will not really know the final outcome for a couple of weeks.

But it would appear to have been money well spent.

2006-11-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

Anne's daughter went to the hospital today. and was told she can throw the stick away and walk unaided. Well done young lady. She posted her CV online and has already been lined up for a number of interviews, she will soon be working and 4 years of hell will become a memory.

2006-10-31T10:52:00.000-08:00

Its been Five days since my last post and a hectic five days at that. Friday found us at the tailors collecting the wedding suit, the wife having had her nails manicured etc. Getting the car cleaned, vacuumed and polished, then returning home for haircuts and finally playing host to the groom for his last visit home as a single man, before venturing off into the married world, new wife, new house, new baby. My word life is changing apace.
Saturday 11 o'clock, and I stand resplendent, like an overstuffed peacock in a dark suit and tie, feeling fat, round and ridiculous, a modern day Mr Pickwick. straight from the pages of the Dickens novel. the things you do for kids.
The wedding service went well, words spoken loudly and proudly by both participants, register signed and then out into the gardens for photo's as Mr and Mrs.
Finally on to the reception at the Marriott hotel, champagne and loads more photos. Before moving in for the the wedding breakfast, quickly consumed by hungry guests, followed by emotive and moving speeches by the brides father, who despite having had a heart and lung transplant, had walked his daughter down the aisle, and now stood to wish the the couple well, recount some anecdotes and toast the bride, a brave and impressive performance
The Groom polished and confident, moving a number of his guest's to tears. His bride too looked radiant and happy long may it continue. The best man, the grooms elder brother, great friends these two, then proceeded to skillfully take the mickey, recounting tales of boyhood years and producing numerous objects of an embarrassing nature before proposing the final toast to the happy couple,

A disco provided the music for us to party till late, with a delicious barbecued buffet being served, to refuel the guests through the evening, finally the day ended at midnight.

Sunday and the immediate families gathered at the brides parents house, to reminisce, browse photos and tuck into another delicious buffet, provided by her mum a superb cook, a splendid end to a lovely weekend.

Monday a day to regroup tidy up and prepare for Thursdays operation of which more at a later date

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2006.

Been to the hospital today, saw the specialist, had numerous tests, My Cataracts do indeed need attention, so will be back next Thursday for an operation on my right eye, the lens will be removed it is clouded over and useless, and replaced with lens manufactured to the specification dictated by today's test, hopefully my eye will be returned to pre-cataract condition. We shall see.
Interesting how paying for this treatment has suddenly opened doors.

2006-10-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

Total chaos here, living in the fens with its damp environment means that roofs get covered with large clumps of moss. Even as I type I can hear a man clomping all over my roof with a pressure cleaner removing the debris of some thirty years from the tiles, a mist of dirty water and fungi has now rendered the windows unusable, so the next job is to clean all the woodwork, glass, gutters downpipes and doors, from the muck newly plastered all over them.. Having done that there is only the same muck to be removed from the patio and drive. good fun this maintenance

Surprise, surprise the appointment that couldn't be done until after Christmas through the NHS. has been booked for next Thursday now I am paying for it, well I never< I am gobsmacked.

2006-10-19T02:08:00.000-07:00

Today is a landmark day, Anne's daughter is packing ready to return to her own home and start her new life, pain and drug free, resplendent with her new leg, eating again and ready for the fresh challenges that life will present. Tonight she meets her husband and will explore the possibilities on that front, whatever, with or without him, her determination to succeed I am sure will prevail.

Tomorrow that means a trip to Blackpool with a girlfriend and kids for a weekend seeing the lights and generally chilling out. Physio has been reduced to one day a week, so good is the progress she has made.

We too are looking forward to having our lives back ,content that another family crises has been resolved, and we can also press on.

The wedding is only 10 days away and excitement mounts among the females of the tribe, the bride, close relatives and friends are having a pamper day on Saturday with all kinds of treatments on offer, god knows what Anne will look like when she returns, must remember to keep out of the way..

In the midst of all this the groom seems remarkably cool and unfazed, coming round last evening to watch with me his team Liverpool, play football, live on TV , whilst fielding a constant barrage of texts as he did so. Whether this cool will survive his stag night tomorrow remains to be seen. Though no doubt his big brother will look after him, having been all through it himself.

Went to the Doctors today re the Cataracts, as expected nothing could be done on the NHS before the new year, so the Doctor has written to the consultant, requesting an urgent private meeting, it seems paying for it is the only way it will get done in a sensible time scale, we await developments

2006-10-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Not had a good day been to the opticians, my cataracts have worsened, am now struggling to read unless the light is perfect, it is also frustrating that I cannot see my photographs as well as I would like. Colour recognition has also been impaired.
So to the Dr's next week to get a letter to arrange an appointment with the specialist, expect NHS will have a huge waiting list, no doubt going private will be the only sensible option, we will see.

2006-10-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Changing times 12/10/06
Today marks the beginning of another stage in an eventful year. It started easy and relaxed on a cruise ship in the Pacific as we toasted in another new year,
Aged 63 I am retired from the commercial world and determined to enjoy whatever the remaining years have in store, So spoiling ourselves with a world cruise seemed to fit sensibly into this philosophy.
We are a second marriage and as such have an extended grown up family, three of mine and two of my wife Anne's, all married except my youngest, so where to spend Christmas can be a constant problem, as they would all be pleased to have us, the answer go abroad, problem solved.
Returning home to the Lincolnshire Fens in mid Feb. Anne hated the cold, they say there isn't a hill between our house and Siberia and the wind does blow cold and damp, not good news for an arthritic lady.
So onto the Internet to book a Villa for three months. First of March found us on another ship, the ferry bound for Spain and then on by car to Polaris World and its golf courses. Three months of sun, visits from the kids, markets for Delicious fruit and salad, and plenty of cheap restaurants if you didn't feel like feeding yourself,
My brother has relocated to Murcia full time and loves it, as did Anne, so visiting with them. looking in on the insular world of the expat, a life though enjoyable to many, would not be for me.
We returned home early June, relaxed, happy and contented, ready for an English summer of Cricket, Fishing and family, we have five grandchildren and intended some quality time with them, so much for plans.

My youngest
Our state of calm was due to be short lived.
W e had enjoyed the company of my youngest son and his fiance in Spain when they visited, and smiled at the thought of him down on one knee, at the top of the Eiffel tower, whipping out a ring and proposing marriage, where did this romantic spring from.
The marriage was arranged for October 07, now here he was calmly and proudly announcing that they were going to be parents in the new year, plans were changing, the wedding would still be in October but 06 not 07 and was that OK.
So we have two weeks to the happy day, they meantime have sold the house and will move to a bigger home around the same time as the wedding and somehow still fit a honeymoon in, oh to be young, that energy is priceless.
Meanwhile I, who have worn a suit and tie, just once, (at my mothers funeral), since I retired six years ago, after a working lifetime of daily suit wearing, ( they are my equivalent of the boiler suit) will now hire a lounge suit, to help launch them on there way and then gladly hand it back, after the wedding, content that my job is now done.

Anne's youngest

Anne' daughter had also visited us in Spain, she came for a break knowing she was going into hospital at the end of June.
Four years ago she had passed her motorbike test unbeknown to us, and with the encouragement of her biker husband and despite the plea's and tears of her mother, had purchased a 600 cc motorbike, Six weeks later we got the call we dreaded, she had hit a lorry head on overtaking on a bend, was lucky to survive but had smashed her leg horribly.
So despite almost 50 operations and the daily intake of 600mg of morphine, prescribed by her surgeons. She still had to endure, constant and debilitating pain. this pain and the zombie like state the drugs had reduced her to0, finally decided her, to ask for the leg to be removed .
The surgeons agreed and at the end of June, amputated her leg, two days later her husband informed her by text that he could not deal with a one legged wife and was leaving her, he left that day.
So with no support at home she and her 16 year old daughter moved in with us, and now three months later, helped by constant physiotherapy, she is walking on her new high tech leg, has beaten cold turkey and is now completely drug free.
In two weeks time, when physio ends, she will go home and hopefully after Christmas return to work and get on with her life, husband or not.
Her courage and bloody mindedness has earned the the respect of professionals and friends alike. Indeed she has since been asked to be a mentor and role model to prospective amputees.

My little girl

My two eldest despite the mayhem, go quietly on there way
My daughter and her husband are in the nicest possible way workaholics, in there thirties and with two super boys, both at senior school.
There house normally pristine, is a tip, as workmen knock down build and extend, but again come Christmas, all will be done and peace return.
Despite the hard work she somehow finds the time, to go to the gym, run, walk the dog and keeps herself lithe and trim, chauffeurs the boys as and when, and has even been known to give me some verbal

My Eldest

My eldest and his wife are enjoying the best times of there lives, after years of trauma they have at last adopted a little daughter from America.
Both in there late thirties they too look after themselves with lots of exercise, walking the baby, running, golf and badminton.
There daughter is brought up knowing she is American, in fact she has dual passports and regular progress reports are sent to the brave lady, who let two desperate people in a strange land have her two day old baby. Part of the deal is that American holidays are celebrated and this they also do

Changing Times

I started this Blog at sea, toasting in the New Year, strange then that whilst I am doing this an offer should come in for a new cruise. Such was the offer and given the hectic six months I have outlined on here, we decided to accept.
Therefor the blog will map the run up to departure on 2nd December and our journey to Singapore via South Africa and numerous other ports of call, over Christmas and the New Year.
Hopefully you will find this of interest and maybe, who knows catch a little of the flavour of the cruise