Tothesunset

A lot. But £1800? Mmmm...

As something totally unrelated to anything that has gone before: OH and I treated ourselves to a new watch each in 1986 - the year our 1st-born came along. At the time mine cost £750 and hers £550. Both are Rolex Datejust with the simple steel cases and jubilee bracelets. So? So, we have recently had them serviced after maybe 10 years since the last time they were done. Apparently, once 35-years-old or more they are classed as vintage. This means that they have to be fettled at a central Rolex service dept, or even have to be sent back to Switzerland if they need substantial restoration. Gulp! Luckily we are 50 miles from a service dept that could do ours (including new hands, new bracelets, sapphire glass, crown, O-rings and stuff) because they carry the parts for "vintage" Rolexes (Rolices?). The cost? £1800. EACH! OK, so they look like new and will see us out but, really, one thousand eight hundred of our British pounds? And new ones start around 8 grand! So what is the moral of this tale? Well, there isn't one really. I just needed to get it off my chest.

Did you visit Donegal City? The main square is triangular and called The Diamond. Only in Ireland...

Why "Irish Bar"? In Galway shouldn't it just say "Bar"?

Do have a walk round Galway town centre. It's small and easily navigable with some good little shops. And in that typically Irish way, if you get chatting in the shops the time will fly by! God, we do love the craic, so we do.

To echo Alithecat - if you have good leather shoes DO NOT let them "polish" them. (But I'm one of those dwindling band of wearers that polish their own shoes properly.)

I thought I was being kindly giving up my seat on the bus for a woman. Now I've lost my job as the driver.

An allergy is a specific immunological reaction, or set of reactions, to an allergen manifesting from the mild (rhinitis, urticarial rash) through to the life-threatening - the justly dreaded anaphylaxis. There is no difference in terminology related to the physiological events - I'm sure American, Indian, Australian etc drs wouldn't dream of belittling allergy by using the term except where it specifically applies - although I agree that the term allergy is widely misused in social rather than medical discussion. Using the term "real allergies" pejoritively (and note my first para in the quoted post) neither diminishes nor affects the simple fact that ambushing the term to include intolerances, delicacies and mere dislikes is medically wrong. It is an important distinction because the clinical management and treatment of allergic reactions is based on preventing the immunological overreaction characterised at its most severe in anaphylaxis. Whether someone likes this approach or not is totally irrelevant to the immutable and scientifically demonstrable process that occurs in response to an allergen. Intolerances and other physiological conditions separate from allergy need a different approach.

Those of us who have had the dubious duty of treating anaphylaxis probably get a bit terse with those who use the term "allergy" when what they really mean is intolerance. People even use the term allergy simply to describe something they don't like. I would strongly suggest that anyone who suspects they have an allergy should be allergy tested - most particularly if their putative allergen is ingested or injected. My OH is anaphylactically allergic to wasp stings and carries 2x epipens at all times. She shows no other allergies. My best friend died in my arms from an anaphylactic reaction to a hornet sting. Middle of nowhere, no drugs, 45 mins for ambulance to arrive by which time he had been dead for half an hour. The term "allergy" should be reserved for allergies yet it has become increasingly fashionable to claim an allergy or series of allergies. Apologies if anyone's sensitivities are ruffled but this matters.

There are exclusions to the regs such that info can be shared where doing so prevents or reduces a threat to the public. I'm not sure that would apply to disruptive cruise passengers!

What a little charmer. I know 2 labradors in Lincolnshire who would look after him for a while...

Sadly, such information-sharing, without the consent of the individual, would breach the General Data Protection Regulations.

I hope they found whoever did this. And threw the book at them.

Wander round Southampton? Voluntarily?

But apart from that...

The lack of hierarchy amongst the guests is clear. We are in the least expensive OWV (which is a relative term, of course) yet those at all levels receive the same high levels of service. SS could learn a lot from the effortless efficiency of the staff here. Our butler is unreal - he appears as if from nowhere when we even think we might want something.

You know, I'm really not great at "resort holidays" but I have to say that Six Senses Laamu is exceptional. Apparently it's at 70% occupancy but it often feels like we are the only ones here. The food, service and accommodation are truly outstanding. I now have my list of my 3 favourite places in the world: 1. Wildflower Lodge Hotel, Shimla, India 2. Six Senses, Laamu, Maldives 3. Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal, Ireland Oh, and, of course, home with Kim and our dogs!

And some photos of the fantastic food:

One of the busier beaches on Laamu today:

You can. We have never done it but others have. SS guest services should be able to advise.

They include a dessert wine, which is not very good, and port, about which I know nothing. For a good dessert wine I'd recommend their Tokaji from the connoisseurs list - around $90 for 375ml bottle and they will store partial bottles for subsequent dinners. Just ask the sommelier.

Excellent. And the waters are so clear and calm that even a reluctant swimmer like me feels at ease. OH is part woman, part fish and has had a great time.

OK, so I'm just boasting now, but what the heck? Arrived on Laamu Atoll in the Maldives yesterday for a week at the Six Senses. I've got to say: this place is awesome. Overwater villa, half-board. Brilliant service, beautiful buildings, snow-white sand and azure water. Granddaughter trying to look cool after bouncing around behind the speedboat. Then 2 random photos. (Or vice versa)

It's really mean that dyslexia is such a hard word to spell.

J S Bach had 23 children because his wife was deaf. At night he'd say "Do you want to go to sleep or what?" She'd reply "What?"