.......idle jottings

For clarity sake, a "nappy poo" means a short sleep in the language of ho hum and blondie, just in case you had mistakenly understood that it could mean anything else......

Thanks for that! I know what a "nappy" is in the UK. I was seriously wondering about your recreational preferences.:eek::D:D

Many of the readers of this "drivel"(as Abenaki calls it) hail from across the pond and ho hum has some, well......good news for you.

In the recent World Cup, the conduct, sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork of the US soccer (it's football by the way, guys) team did more for improving American international relations around the world than some of the other forays on the world platform (in some people's opinion at least).

The US team were wonderful !

People were damn impressed.

In fact all teams played with an increased level of sportsmanship.

(OK gcmv, ajpeter, Werner and all our other German friends......we know, it was solely because of the German manager: biggest diver of all time though !).

(OK gcmv, ajpeter, Werner and all our other German friends......we know, it was solely because of the German manager: biggest diver of all time though !).

ho-hum is indeed an experienced specialist in football, plunge and teambuliding methods,

BTW,

can ho-hum explain this "nappy poo" a bit more detailed to the non-native speakers; because gcmv found some very irritating informations about this in his dictionary ... ;)

ho-hum is indeed an experienced specialist in football, plunge and teambuliding methods,

BTW,

can ho-hum explain this "nappy poo" a bit more detailed to the non-native speakers; because gcmv found some very irritating informations about this in his dictionary ... ;)

Bet you did, bet you did !!!

Das ist Kindergeschwätz, nichts weiter, gcmv, fur

(it’s baby talk, nothing else, vcmv, for

ein Nickerchen machen

(a nap

Bitte vergib mir, das ist absurd.

(forgive me for this stupidity).

What is your football team gcmv ?

....

Dearest football-expert,

you asked about gcmv's favorite football team.

gcmv is not a football fan; more or less an innocent bystander, becoming a football freak only while watching Champions League games, World Cup or European Cup tournaments.

Nevertheless gcmv’s favorite football teams are Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim (it’s nice when they win their matches, but life goes on even when they lose 0:5). :o

But at the bottom of gcmv’s heart, he is a real freak in a different kind of ball game (a form of sport for true heroes). The players are gladiators compared to the cry-babies or showmen in football, rolling on the floor at the slightest touch for minutes while their team is in the lead and less time to play – I hate this! A fancy hairstyle is most important for many of them and in some of their heads, there’s even more air, than in the ball they play with … :p

Did ho-hum ever hear about a form of sport called handball ? That’s just gcmvs cup of tea ! gcmv is a handball freak and his team are the Rhein-Neckar-Loewen (Rhine-Neckar-Lions in English). gcmv supports his team since 2001 and has a season ticket for all the home matches at SAP-ARENA in Mannheim. Last year they were second best team of Germany! :)

BTW,

gcmv has to come back to some posts about this famous idle jottings thread. When Jim Avery spoke about (his?) first time a few posts ago (sorry Jim – my English language skills are quite bad – I only understand, what I like to understand), he mentioned a thread on Holland America forum that has much more clicks than this one on Seadream – (27.000 vs. 600.000). gcmv likes to examine this from a German engineer point of view:

Let’s start with the fleet facts:

SEADREAM: 224 pax – 8520 BRT

SD I: 112 pax – 4260 BRT

SD II: 112 pax – 4260 BRT

HOLLAND AMERICA: 23493 pax – 1011731 BRT

ms Amsterdam: 1380 pax – 62735 BRT

ms Eurodam: 2104 pax – 86273 BRT

ms Maasdam: 1258 pax – 55575 BRT

ms Nieuw Amsterdam: 2106 pax – 86700 BRT

ms Noordam: 1924 pax – 82318 BRT

ms Oosterdam: 1916 pax – 82305 BRT

ms Prinsendam: 835 pax – 37983 BRT

ms Rotterdam: 1404 pax – 61849 BRT

ms Ryndam: 1260 pax – 55819 BRT

ms Statendam: 1260 pax – 55819 BRT

ms Veendam: 1350 pax – 57092 BRT

ms Volendam: 1432 pax – 61214 BRT

ms Westerdam: 1916 pax – 82348 BRT

ms Zaandam: 1432 pax – 61396 BRT

ms Zuiderdam: 1916 pax – 82305 BRT

(Why do all these names remind gcmv on cheese???)

If you compare 224 pax to 23493 pax – it’s about 105 times more

If you compare 8520 BRT to 1011731 BRT – it’s about 119 times more

The average calculating operation of 105 and 119 is 112 (special phone number in Germany for an emergency call – gcmv will surely need an ambulance at the end of his crazy comparison).

Idle jottings clicks until today: 29000 x 112 (HAL/SD-factor) = 3248000 clicks (for HAL to be better!)

Subsistent clicks on HAL (first timers) until today: 601000

Result (scientifically sound):

3248000 / 601000 = 5.4 i.e. (another abbreviation for ho-hum to explain) Seadream’s idle jottings are more than 5 times better/interesting than storys of HAL passengers about their “first-time”.

THE WINNER is HO-HUM in a close relationship with SEADREAM! :D

Comments required … ;)

....

Haha

Hi five

Dearest football-expert,

you asked about gcmv's favorite football team.

gcmv is not a football fan; more or less an innocent bystander, becoming a football freak only while watching Champions League games, World Cup or European Cup tournaments.

Nevertheless gcmv’s favorite football teams are Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim (it’s nice when they win their matches, but life goes on even when they lose 0:5). :o

But at the bottom of gcmv’s heart, he is a real freak in a different kind of ball game (a form of sport for true heroes). The players are gladiators compared to the cry-babies or showmen in football, rolling on the floor at the slightest touch for minutes while their team is in the lead and less time to play – I hate this! A fancy hairstyle is most important for many of them and in some of their heads, there’s even more air, than in the ball they play with … :p

Did ho-hum ever hear about a form of sport called handball ? That’s just gcmvs cup of tea ! gcmv is a handball freak and his team are the Rhein-Neckar-Loewen (Rhine-Neckar-Lions in English). gcmv supports his team since 2001 and has a season ticket for all the home matches at SAP-ARENA in Mannheim. Last year they were second best team of Germany! :)

BTW,

gcmv has to come back to some posts about this famous idle jottings thread. When Jim Avery spoke about (his?) first time a few posts ago (sorry Jim – my English language skills are quite bad – I only understand, what I like to understand), he mentioned a thread on Holland America forum that has much more clicks than this one on Seadream – (27.000 vs. 600.000). gcmv likes to examine this from a German engineer point of view:

Let’s start with the fleet facts:

SEADREAM: 224 pax – 8520 BRT

SD I: 112 pax – 4260 BRT

SD II: 112 pax – 4260 BRT

HOLLAND AMERICA: 23493 pax – 1011731 BRT

ms Amsterdam: 1380 pax – 62735 BRT

ms Eurodam: 2104 pax – 86273 BRT

ms Maasdam: 1258 pax – 55575 BRT

ms Nieuw Amsterdam: 2106 pax – 86700 BRT

ms Noordam: 1924 pax – 82318 BRT

ms Oosterdam: 1916 pax – 82305 BRT

ms Prinsendam: 835 pax – 37983 BRT

ms Rotterdam: 1404 pax – 61849 BRT

ms Ryndam: 1260 pax – 55819 BRT

ms Statendam: 1260 pax – 55819 BRT

ms Veendam: 1350 pax – 57092 BRT

ms Volendam: 1432 pax – 61214 BRT

ms Westerdam: 1916 pax – 82348 BRT

ms Zaandam: 1432 pax – 61396 BRT

ms Zuiderdam: 1916 pax – 82305 BRT

(Why do all these names remind gcmv on cheese???)

If you compare 224 pax to 23493 pax – it’s about 105 times more

If you compare 8520 BRT to 1011731 BRT – it’s about 119 times more

The average calculating operation of 105 and 119 is 112 (special phone number in Germany for an emergency call – gcmv will surely need an ambulance at the end of his crazy comparison).

Idle jottings clicks until today: 29000 x 112 (HAL/SD-factor) = 3248000 clicks (for HAL to be better!)

Subsistent clicks on HAL (first timers) until today: 601000

Result (scientifically sound):

3248000 / 601000 = 5.4 i.e. (another abbreviation for ho-hum to explain) Seadream’s idle jottings are more than 5 times better/interesting than storys of HAL passengers about their “first-time”.

THE WINNER is HO-HUM in a close relationship with SEADREAM! :D

Comments required … ;)

Quite so, quite so !

Obviously you have employed the famous Professor GCMV of Heidelberg formula.

Much admired here in the UK.

Of course this will go "straight over" Jim's head !!!

But if you also factor in the comparative time difference between the threads (1400 days v 140 days) as well as the number of replies (2423 v 633) and pages (122 v 32) you will find this thread still out-performs the other noble thread.

And when you also factor in that this thread attracts those of a much higher intellect, far above the universal average then it is proved there are more "smarty pants" on this thread than in the United Nations, NASA and Nobel Prize winners combined.

Veritably this thread is the Bayern Munich of threads whilst the HAL thread is the equivalent of Fulham FC.

It also has more laughs.

The case for the defence rests m'lud.

We met up with a friend in London recently who we sail with in winter, along with his wonderful mother.

They are prone to bicker in a most amusing way when we breakfast together, when the elderly lady chides her son for the excesses of the previous night at the TOYB and the snoring that ensues as well as managing with the "spinning" cabin (see it's not just ho hum that has come across this fault with the SD cabins).

Well the son calmly said to his mother:

"Well mother if you don't like the arrangement, then I have two words for you..............Nursing Home !"

Ouch ! But it works. She is quietened for well over two minutes.

Love the Aussie banter.

The lady used to own a bar in the "Rocks" in Sydney, Australia.

This was well before gentrification of the area.......she's seen and heard it all and she raised 4 children.

A truly amazing lady.

You see you really do meet some amazing people on SD.

The elderly passengers have such life experiences.

So entertaining and rewarding....each and every time...great fun too.

Quite so, quite so !

 

Obviously you have employed the famous Professor GCMV of Heidelberg formula.

Much admired here in the UK.

 

Of course this will go "straight over" Jim's head !!!

 

But if you also factor in the comparative time difference between the threads (1400 days v 140 days) as well as the number of replies (2423 v 633) and pages (122 v 32) you will find this thread still out-performs the other noble thread.

 

And when you also factor in that this thread attracts those of a much higher intellect, far above the universal average then it is proved there are more "smarty pants" on this thread than in the United Nations, NASA and Nobel Prize winners combined.

Veritably this thread is the Bayern Munich of threads whilst the HAL thread is the equivalent of Fulham FC.

It also has more laughs.

 

The case for the defence rests m'lud.

I stand before you fully chastised. I can only attribute such a glaring simplification of the GCMV Corollary to the heat and its corresponding necessity to hydrate every 5 minutes until someone passes out then every 7 minutes thereafter. (Thank you Rodney for that paraphrase).

Sincerely,

Your Western Smarty Pants :eek:

OK ho hum, I realise you do not wish anything bad to be said about Seadream, unless possibly about the management. However, the truth is that sometimes when it was windy, quite cold and started to rain the only place to eat your breakfast and lunch was in the outdoor eating area. It did have some sort of roofing on, but the wind and drizzle were unavoidable, unless you had your meal in your cabin - and even then only off the small room service menu.

 

Maybe this has changed over the past 3 or 4years, if so apologies.

 

Promise not to darken your doors again on this board.

Lincslady, we agree with your critique of where meals are served. SeaDream has a lovely Dining Room that is very well laid out, near to the galley, etc. However, most meals are served topside. When laying off a beautiful tropical island on a warm, calm day, that is heaven. When sitting through a Force 10 gale in the chilly Med in October, well not so much. Nothing goes cold and unpleasant faster than eggs in a breeze. Well, except soup, vegetables, tea,.... Well you get the point. I think all we want here is choice. If you wish to eat out in the weather, great. If you want a nice meal in great surroundings, also great. For staffing reasons I am sure, SeaDream does not offer choice. The only cruise company anywhere near this price point that does not. So, nothing has changed over the last 3 or 4 years. :D

Haha, we were dining topside with three other couples. It was a great table but ol' Ragnar was wedged in in a middle seat, back to the open sea. Things were going ducky and all were having a great time. Then a squall decided to blow in and pelt the side of the ship with rain. All at our table remained dry and warm.... except the small area behind Ragnar was exposed to the rain. It was blowing in on my back and dripping down to regions best not described. Main courses had just been served and I didn't want to spoil all the fun the others were having, so I just "grinned and beared it". Just hope that as we were leaving the table that no one thought old Ragnar was losing control of his bodily functions :eek:

Haha, we were dining topside with three other couples. It was a great table but ol' Ragnar was wedged in in a middle seat, back to the open sea. Things were going ducky and all were having a great time. Then a squall decided to blow in and pelt the side of the ship with rain. All at our table remained dry and warm.... except the small area behind Ragnar was exposed to the rain. It was blowing in on my back and dripping down to regions best not described. Main courses had just been served and I didn't want to spoil all the fun the others were having, so I just "grinned and beared it". Just hope that as we were leaving the table that no one thought old Ragnar was losing control of his bodily functions :eek:

God works in mysterious ways !

Well old ho hum is inclined to be a little more idle with a little less jotting for a little while........so happy voyaging on SD or simply enjoying life with friends and family or enjoying resting in simple peace and quiet which ho hum is also looking forward to.

This silly old thread may limp over 30K views which will give ho hum a huge laugh but ho hum aint that bothered.

He only began this folly because ho hum is mischievous.

He loves a chuckle, especially if it is sacrilegious and he feels the need to keep SD shoreside management challenged by some of their ridiculous ways of doing things or not doing things.

One thing ho hum would like to say though.

Those shoreside management personnel he has met are all very nice people, no, extremely nice people.

Ho hum thinks they have got better but they need to get a whole lot better: so keep up the (justifiable) criticism otherwise it just seems we are just being narrow minded moaners.

Ho hum is peculiarly passionate about SD.

Why ?

Hell knows.

It's all rather silly really and yet this admission makes not a jot: he cares and will continue to care.

Ho hum has very much enjoyed the friends he has made: he cares about that too and has enjoyed the banter (the craic as the Irish say).

You know who you are: the more robust ho hum was in his replies, the more revered you are and appreciated.

And then there are the friends he has met onboard. Priceless.

And you dear readers. How tolerant you are.

Ho hum was expecting a few brick-bats lobbed back but nothing really !

And finally the crew. Respect, respect, respect !

A fine body of men and women who go to make up one of the very best experiences on sea.

PS

Ho hum is a tad concerned about Jim.

Please check up on him now and again.

The high temperatures in Arizona may be "addling his bonce".

Promise ho hum you will look after the old buzzard.

Ho hum will be checking up on Commander Courageous and Abenaki every now and again.

Yes they are high maintenance, divulge all ho hum's medical conditions, chastise ho hum about his wardrobe and disdain the drivel he writes but they are tremendous fun and blondie loves them (for some odd reason: ok, so does ho hum).

Cheers ho-hum! I have so enjoyed this thread and hope that you will reappear every now and then to share your thoughts:p

Hopefully we sail together again!

Kisses to Blondie and you.

Don't worry about me Mr. Hum. L-Lady? Well that you might want to keep an eye on. Having a Brit Mum, I know just how temperamental they can be.:eek: I know you were just having good fun and love all things SeaDream but it can get unpleasant topsides at time and your pals have much more clout with the Emperor than I in order to have the Dining Room opened just for them. I will miss my morning read as will many others. You fill a niche (no not the one with the urn) that no one else can. At least promise full disclosure of the September trip when Ganttc and ctbjr will be with you.:eek: And don't worry about the heat. It is scheduled to dip slightly under 39C this weekend. Positively balmy.:D

At least promise full disclosure of the September trip when Ganttc and ctbjr will be with you.:eek:

Jim,

I believe that Non-Disclosure Agreements will be in order that particular week. Without those signed in advance, I just might mistakenly board SeaDream 1 in Civitavecchia on Sept. 20 and sail away to Piraeus with them ......

Jim,

 

I believe that Non-Disclosure Agreements will be in order that particular week. Without those signed in advance, I just might mistakenly board SeaDream 1 in Civitavecchia on Sept. 20 and sail away to Piraeus with them ......

But just think of what you might miss.:eek::D

But just think of what you might miss.:eek::D

That, my friend, is the least of my concerns.....

He turns to exit, the spotlight holds a few seconds on his profile, then slowly the stage dims to black....

The applause is truly heard around the globe, his international fan club rises at once to its collective feet in a thunderous crescendo of Encore! and Bravo Maestro!

Come on Doris, get back out on stage and give em what they want........

Seriously Ho, what will be the point of waking up tomorrow morning if there is no HoHummery to read?

If you don't return soon, there will be many boring mornings!

He turns to exit, the spotlight holds a few seconds on his profile, then slowly the stage dims to black....

 

The applause is truly heard around the globe, his international fan club rises at once to its collective feet in a thunderous crescendo of Encore! and Bravo Maestro!

 

Come on Doris, get back out on stage and give em what they want........

 

 

 

Seriously Ho, what will be the point of waking up tomorrow morning if there is no HoHummery to read?

If you don't return soon, there will be many boring mornings!

This threat of my singing "Sweet Caroline" in the piano bar (of course with Zoltan as my "bumbum bum ... so good ... so good :D back-up singer) may keep ho-hum on task:p:D:rolleyes:

Jen, I want to be there when you and Vandrefalk sing "Sweet Caroline" together with Zoltan as the back up! Not to be missed! Need to get that one planned one of these days. Of course, I will just enjoy since I don't sing.

Where is the "like" buttom? Will sing Sweet Caroline anytime with DJ!

HoHum, please don't abandon us! You are the highlight! Just so sorry I won't be in your part of Posh UK next month!

Vandrefalk

Dearest friend,

bye-bye for the moment - gcmv is looking forward to seeing you and blondie on SD II (Piraeus - 13th September).

It might be easy for ho-hum to spot us (as gcmv and his DW might be the only Germans on board) and their stutter and thinking about the correct English vocabulary will attract attention. But after our first bottle of Riesling, the words might come out easier ( but associated with a lack of pronunciation) ... :D

Keep it bowling!