lincslady

Who knows, Markham. It is certainly a few years since my last one - probably 2019, but I am pretty au fait with the present staffing problems on most lines, and have indeed posted about it, and what I see as the various reasons. Which others have agreed with, and is why I put the bit in brackets in my post. It is a shame that so many posts nowadays do not make you feel as if you want to cruise again, sadly. Not just on Seabourn. But given the chance I would try again, of course, either on Seabourn or Saga with the incentive of not having to fly.

Seabourn did - if no longer? - have a policy of employing staff, particularly for the restaurants, bar staff and suite attendants, of finding young people who already had experience in top class hotels, bars and restaurants. Certainly I have met quite a few over the years, and they were usually excellent after just a short amount of training.

Yes, it needs to break planning rules to be refused without argument. It sounds as if it well might, with all the things associated with a care home. You will need sound legal advice by lawyers who know the planning rules, and if there are a group of you it may not cost too much between you. And it is more than possible that there has been - to put it politely - some favouritism going on. That was almost certainly the case with the one I won on, though it never got to formal accusations. Sadly, there are dodgy people in lots of councils and planning departments.

Sorry to hear that, Josy. I can really sympathise, as I had a really nasty scheme planned by my neighbours which would have made my life a misery. Luckily with a lot of hard work it got turned down. It was not even going to go to the Planning Committee, but just been pushed through. Yours will certainly have to go before the Committee, and no doubt there will be quite a few objectors. If you all get together with really good reasons why it should not be allowed you may succeed - it is not a very large house at present, so would need a very big extension to make it worth doing.

Dover is, as most people know, so much better than Portsmouth for embarking and disembarking. It is a pity that Saga have to use Portsmouth, and not Southampton for the Med. and Canaries cruises. The obligatory shuttle bus at Portsmouth is horrible for anyone with walking problems, and not likely to improve I fear.

It is still lovely up here in the East Mids. this morning, but my son and DIL have just gone to Devon for most of the week, from the sunny north west, and it appears to be raining there, and set to be poor all week! A shame for all those who love holidaying in the Southwest. (And those who live there at present).

I'm salivating, Jeff. Just my sort of food. Lola

Surely the things changing applies to most lines, judging by reading posts from others. My own theory - possibly simplistic - is that all lines took a huge financial loss during covid, obviously had to get rid of staff/put them on furlough; costs on fuel and most other things have gone up considerably, and with the return they have had difficulty in getting enough old/new staff back. In addition to which there are a lot of new ships to soak up the staff needed, including some massive ones on other lines, not all of whom are going to be experienced or even very suitable. Things do seem to be improving, though I fear that the new emphasis on expedition type ships causes extra new problems for Silversea and Seabourn, for instance.

Has anyone else got roses which are already out and even getting over? Most peculiar - the beech tree is only just coming out, but a few roses are in flower. I guess something to with weather/climate.

I got cross with myself when staying in Sydney, for four weeks and it did not get any better. We were on the north side of the harbour (right opposite the Opera House) but I never managed to get it right. It is disconcerting, I too normally know where north etc, is wherever I am.

Cadiz is indeed a lovely port, and well worth at least one day to go around - but, if you had two days, Seville is really special, and IMO worth a 2 hour journey (though I have been lucky enough to go there on a cruise in a small ship which went all the way to the city, up the Guadalquivir river).

Don't want to be a harbinger of doom - or whatever it is - but let's hope the drivers etc. are not on strike.

I thought green beans were the curse of P and O cruises, did not realise it was infectious.

Good morning everyone - yes, let's make the most of the next few days of lovely weather. My big beautiful beech tree is the garden looked as though it was never going to come into leaf; I was afraid it might have died, and suddenly over the past three days from virtually nothing it is covered in those lovely pale green leaves, already about half full size. I love the assortment of trees in my garden, even with not many flowers the different sizes and shapes and shades of green make a pleasing sight.

Funnily enough, when I got in the kitchen I thought what the heck and just had whisky and boiling water with a little demerara sugar (it was only the cooking whisky, not my Highland Park) and went back to sleep fairly quickly, surprisingly.