davecttr

3 hours ago, delgirl said:

I ordered a top for collection for my daughters birthday from mands. Had a text to say it was delayed by up to 48hrs. Left it the 2 days hadn't heard anything so phoned my local store they said it was showing up either lost or damaged, so they ordered me another one. Had an e-mail to say I wouldn't be charged. Few days later I had another e-mail saying thank you for your return we will process a refund.🤣

The joys of new technology 🤬

I can not believe it. I bought a pair of jeans online from M&S for collection from my local store. The jeans were late because of some online IT problems. This morning I received an email thanking me for returning the jeans and saying they would refund my credit card. Arrgh! I have immediately re-ordered. This could be interesting 🙄

20 minutes ago, Ilovemygarden said:

Only free if you are in receipt of Pension Credit.  😥

Grrr 🤬

5 hours ago, davecttr said:

IRRITATED and it is raining. I ordered some M&S clothes online, they never seem to have my size in stock in the store. I selected yesterday for collection at the store because they don't send the confirmatory email until the late afternoon. NO EMAIL so far and this has never happened before. Meanwhile Amazon are reminding me to collect a parcel from their lockers in Hemstead valley.

Fair enough, they are having IT problems with delays of up to 48 hours. meanwhile i noticed my spam folder had something in it. TV licence renewal, another one hundred and sixty nine squid. I notice that if i make it to 74 next year I get a free licence, unless they put the age up to 80 to save money.

IRRITATED and it is raining. I ordered some M&S clothes online, they never seem to have my size in stock in the store. I selected yesterday for collection at the store because they don't send the confirmatory email until the late afternoon. NO EMAIL so far and this has never happened before. Meanwhile Amazon are reminding me to collect a parcel from their lockers in Hemstead valley.

We have given what advice we can and the OP has stated, twice, that they have solved the problem. May I suggest that the OP closes the topic.

Visited the opticians today for a thorough eye examination. My right eye vision has deteriorated slightly and my left 'good' eye has a prescription change. Four new pairs of specs, distance with transition, that's reactolite to me, required for glaucoma, distance clear lens for binocular use, computer and finally reading. That's £399.

My filling yesterday cost £155 and the wisdom tooth the week after next will cost an eye, or is it tooth watering £465. I also paid my Arcadia cruise final balance of £1844.

I need to lie down in a darkened room.

Black trainers for me as well. mine had some small coloured areas so Used a black permanent marker on them.. Basically anything that does not look like a trainer. My 'trainers' are actually casual shoes and you could not train in them anyway.

Above the trainers we have chinos or smart dark jeans for casual nights. My dark jeans are very dark blue or actually black. You cant tell they are denim and nobody has checked the cut on entering the main dining room 😃 On my Fred cruise in June I will see what they make of my brand new 'light stone' jeans. 

3 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

Yes but do P&O lay on a shuttle?

I can't remember. They did in the past but last time it was raining and the cable car was not running so I went to the botanical garden across the road, passing 2 bus stops and using the underpass to cross. I imagine the buses are frequent as the university is nearby. If you have a select fare the P&O shuttle is best, otherwise the local buses are a reasonable price.

My disintigrated filling was fixed this morning. Cost £155 including a x-ray. There is a small infection at one of the wisdom tooth roots so best to have it extracted. The appointment is in a couple of weeks so i will practice blending my meals, not chops though.

9 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

I think there is a shuttle from Brevik terminal in Tromso, but WhatsinPort says this is £19.95.  Anybody know if P&O lay on a shuttle here?

There is also a local service bus from Brevik

Red dot - Gamla Stan

Blue dot - Berth 167

Orange dot - HoHo harbour boats

On Arcadia people were queing in the rain for the shuttle so I strolled the 250 yards to HoHo boat dock. The wrong company boat was docked but they let me shelter aboard and have a coffee until the correct boat arrived.

How the crow flies berth to Gamla stan is about 1.5 miles

I suggest you also post your problem on the Princess and Cunard boards in the USA and here. Princess have a ship based in the UK for the summer season and Cunard have  considerable numbers of USA passengers.

I visited the dentists today. At breakfast yesterday an upper left molar next to the wisdom tooth disintigrated, bits of tooth and filling everywhere. 😨 No pain though. I have an appointment for Wednesday and I think that tooth will have to come out. No fancy crowns for me, especially if you can't see it. Hopefully the wisdom tooth can stay as when the upper right one was extracted many years ago it was hell and bled for several days. I ended up in hospital getting stitches.

Has anyone used these? Any suggestions about which ones to buy?

31 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

That is great news that you do not need to inject insulin Dave.

Watching your sugar has paid dividends for you.

Good luck in the future.

Your annual Europe and cruise quote from All clear is very similar to ours from All clear.

Not insulin Liraglutide. This group of drugs were licenced for treating obesity last year which led to a worldwide shortage and no availability for diabetics. Apparently it only works if the blood sugar level is too high and reduces the appetite as well. As my levels are not high I am trying  a trial period without it. 🤞

Fun day today. I allowed 2 hours to get to the surgery for my diabetes review and made it with 5 minutes to spare. Then the computer check in did not work, typical. Anyway the review went well. I don't have to inject daily any more because my blood sugar levels are well controlled. No new tablets needed either just keep taking the Metformin and avoid eating cakes and drinking pints. They will check again in 4 months time.

I bought an AllClear annual multi trip policy covering all europe including Spain etc. It cost £458.26 which is 19% more than last year. I did ring their helpline to check which region Svalbard was and the answer was, 'can you spell that please and where is it? Part of Norway I replied, this could get interesting so has anyone cruised to Svalbard?

3 hours ago, davecttr said:

I checked Fred cruises to Norway etc for Jun/July/August 2025 and there are no arctic offers. The most interesting is a 12 nighter from Dover in July costing £3199 for an inside single cabin on a lower deck. Dover is attractive as it is about 40 miles from home so a hotel stay not needed. The price is high though. 

 

P&O hav a 16 night Arcadia cruise from southampton to Iceland at £2499 for a inside single on the whale watching deck. £156 pn v £266 per night, no contest even with the additional cost of getting to Southampton. Fred have no cruises to Svalbard etc next year either.

I looked at Ambassador cruises as well but nothing attractive so I have booked the June Arcadia cruise. I have the single cabin location grade SC, forward on the sun deck. Shower only which I prefer.

I checked Fred cruises to Norway etc for Jun/July/August 2025 and there are no arctic offers. The most interesting is a 12 nighter from Dover in July costing £3199 for an inside single cabin on a lower deck. Dover is attractive as it is about 40 miles from home so a hotel stay not needed. The price is high though. 

P&O hav a 16 night Arcadia cruise from southampton to Iceland at £2499 for a inside single on the whale watching deck. £156 pn v £266 per night, no contest even with the additional cost of getting to Southampton. Fred have no cruises to Svalbard etc next year either.

7 minutes ago, davecttr said:

So on topic. I just noticed that Fred have 3 formal nights on my 14 night Balmoral cruise, times they are a changing. 

..and a captains welcome party😬 You can wear dark jeans on normal evenings though. I have a nice smart black pair.

So on topic. I just noticed that Fred have 3 formal nights on my 14 night Balmoral cruise, times they are a changing. 

I remember Captain Charlie from Ventura when he used to join the solo coffee meetings in Ramblas, Sad news.

I bought when they cost £2100 but have had more of that in shareholder benefit. This year i am only taking 1 P&O cruise and the return on that is still over 7% tax free.

3 minutes ago, zap99 said:

I'm sure your calculations work for you. Did you not lose 3 deposits as well?.

Yes but that was money already spent and I tend not to worry about that.

If you find the Premier Inn near the terminal is fully booked there is a Premier Inn about 4 miles away at Whitley Bay, right on the seafront (lots of grass) right next to the Spanish Village. I stayed there a few years ago and had a pleasant walk along the prom after breakfast before travelling to the ship. Look out for the Vera locations as well. I have booked for 11/12 June before boarding Balmoral for a cruise to Svalbard & Norway, my first Fred cruise.I am looking forward to lots of whale watching.