Vict0riann

@Heartgrove and @Quartzsite Cruiser, do you think a tour is a requirement in Grundarfjordur? From some of your photos it would seem that the waterfall and mountain can be seen from the village, or should we get out into the countryside? This is the last of 5 port days for us, I think we will be tired, and although there are tours available, I am wondering if we should just have a wander in town and take it easy. @smitty34877 when we lived in Virginia, we had a gas lantern where our front path met the sidewalk. That was fine, but well back from the lamppost there was a dead spot in the lawn. Every Spring I would plant petunias or other flowers in the brown circle, and they would all die very quickly. One year I decided that I would excavate down and replace the earth, as I figured there was something wrong with it. As I dug, it got smellier and smellier and finally almost erupted in stink - we had to call the gas company, and evidently the problem was an underground leak in the junction between the main gas line and the side line to the lantern that had been going on for years - fortunately it was outdoors. They had to seal it all up and remove the lantern. There is a little bird sitting on my hummingbird feeder, I think it's a baby hummer, it still has bits of fluff on it. It has been there for hours slowly making its way around the perch. I wish its Mum would come and show it how to drink from the feeder. Oh, so exciting, it has found one of the "flowers" and I can see it drinking. Yay! Now it has gone to another flower. It must be saying to itself "I'm so smart!"

Pat reminded me that I have to take him to his ophthalmologist appointment tomorrow for laser surgery for a problem under one of his new cataract lenses, and he wanted to be sure I don’t have COVID, so I tested and I’m negative. Strange, though, with his cold he had a runny nose, and I don’t have that, just a cough and tickle in my throat. Haven’t had a cold for more than two years!

Good morning, Dailyites. @Heartgrove, I am so sorry for your loss. Jacqui, welcome back! You have been missed. Terry, how great that you had an alarm for the gas leak. We had a gas leak once when we lived in Virginia, but no alarm - it was my sensitive nose that found it. Talking about sensitive noses, I will be checking the peanut butter after I post. I was coughing all night, and don't feel so great today. Pat seems to be over his cold, maybe he gave it to me, but if I keep on coughing, I think I will test myself this afternoon. For the time being, the peanut butter test should suffice. It's my day - I am a kitchen klutz, I admit it. Once I dropped a huge pot of raspberry jam in the sink and it landed so hard the hot jam leapt out and flew over the ledge to land on the sofa in the sun room. And when we redid our kitchen here, we put in vinyl tiles rather than real tiles, as I drop things all the time. I used to sew, even made my own suits, and the children's clothes, but haven't done any for years. I don't remember if I posted this before, DD has her Deer Cop up and running, she has startled the gardeners and our new neighbours - and we haven't seen any deer, so perhaps she has startled them, too. IMG_0267.MOV I hope that someone here has been to Grundarfjorder, it is on our Viking Passage itinerary next month, and I would love to see some pictures! Can't decide what to do there.

Right - I cut and pasted from other comments on this thread. I should have noticed the 27 was missing!

Good afternoon, and thanks, everyone, for the Sunday Daily News! A big day today! I emailed DD to tell her that it was Father's Day, and she raced out and bought him two bottles of wine, and then I read the Daily, and it didn't say Father's Day, so I googled it and it isn't until next week... oh, well. The wine won't go bad if he waits a week. I have been doing some experimenting - I find the "multi-quotes" rather confusing, and my memory isn't good enough to be able to write down all the comments I want to make after the fact, so I tried clipping some remarks to cut and paste into my post. So here goes: HURRAY, all the HAL ships are now in service! That's something to celebrate! @Heartgrovethoughts for you, and prayers for your sister's peaceful passing, and for your brother's comfort. @grapau Thanks for the sermon from Father David. @marshhawk Ann, I hope you and DH enjoy his birthday lunch with friends and the play tonight. So two of the three names did show up in blue! I wonder why Graham was left out? We went to church today, and our pastor said he had been exposed to Covid last week at the diocesan retreat, so he kept his distance and did not distribute Communion. He is pastor/administrator of two parishes now, and said he has just been appointed vicar general of the diocese. What a lot of work for one man. I had to ask Mr. Google about vicar general, too, I thought the position had something to do with a religious order, but no! A vicar general is appointed by the bishop as the highest administrative officer of the diocese, with most of the powers of the bishop. Thanks for the pictures of the frozen North! I guess the polar bears keep the populations of birds and wildlife down. Not like the Southern polar area! Can you imagine what a polar bear would make of this smorgasbord?

@erewhon, I haven’t tried that. Thanks. Every few days I try to take a Tylenol gelcap, and eventually get it down, standing up, with gulps of water. But something a little more solid might help.

Maybe our PCC just didn't like the bother. We usually do a few stopovers... Now we have a new PCC. I have never discussed it with her, just took it for granted we were on our own...

@terrydtx, that's really interesting. We had been told, a few years ago, that we couldn't use FE if we had too much time before the cruise, and as we usually spend some time somewhere in Europe, before a cruise back to the US, or vice versa, we have always only booked one end of the journey with FE. But you're been "allowed" to book 18 days before your cruise. I guess one reason not to do that is the problem you're having now.

Good morning, we also have the newest "atmospheric river" flowing over us (and last year, this time, we were heading into the "heat dome". Happy the barium swallow went well, @JazzyV. Strawberry flavour would have been nice... But you had no marshmallows? I have a phone appointment with the doctor, to "discuss the results" - next Thursday, so I don't think there's any panic. Pat has a cold, and is testing himself as we speak, as DD has a dentist appointment; he just showed me the result - negative. He can test himself again tomorrow before she leaves for the appointment. Roy, @rafinmd, sorry about the hip. I haven't been able to swallow my usual bedtime tylenol (although I did find some liquid tylenol in Bellingham, saving it for emergencies), so I wake up sore, too. I really need to move around a lot during the night, so if I sleep too well, it's not good! That is amazing about @SusieKIslandGirl's surgery! And @dfish! Nowadays they do things so much more speedily, and recovery time is reduced exponentially. Good wishes for all who are having procedures done.

Bon voyage, @VMax1700 and your DW! I'm looking forward to hearing all about it. We are booked on Oosterdam next Fall (2023) quite a similar itinerary, and then a TA, so I'm interested in your comments on the ship. I know we, too, will miss Tamarind, it is our favourite! Strange that arrival in Trieste is 1 p.m. Friday for debarkation Saturday. I wonder if it is all about the distance to Venice and all the transfers.

Good morning, Dailyites! Best wishes to all celebrating special events, and prayers for those needing them. When we lived in the States, and the children were studying the American Revolution, I read a book called "To Spit Against the Wind", about Thomas Paine. I've always remembered the title! An Englishman, he was an instigator of the revolution with his pamphlets. He once wrote: "These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." I think that could also refer to the war in Ukraine right now. My DMIL lived in the Isle of Man for 23 years, until her death in 2005, so I have visited there many times. Pictures are all pre-digital. I will have a hunt for a few. We always stayed at the Sefton, too, from the days when it was a decrepit old hotel with terrible food, until they renovated and turned it into a modern, quiet, place. (When the TT races were on the engine nose reverberated everywhere!) We love TAs! It is always nice to have a relaxing few days crossing the ocean after a busy, port-intensive cruise in the Med or Northern Europe. Or to start one off! We have two booked for next year, and one for next month...There are some good prices now, with the Celebration Sale. I vote for a continuation of The Daily, too, maybe a change to "The Daily Fleet Report"? Others, who don't join in might be interested to at least see where the ships are. I had intended to go down to Ogden Point to see Westie when she was here, but missed her. Does anyone know if there's a webcam in Seattle?

I had a difficult time with the barium. I was told "No burping." I said "Can I throw up?" He said no....

Good afternoon, all. I have spent some time today going over the cruises we have booked to see if the prices are better on the Celebration sale. Just a bit confusing! We have been to Taipei airport. We had been in Hong Kong and wanted a stopover there, and DH said we didn't need visas, but in reality, we did. We were relegated to a little room in the airport, watched through a window, and sat there until there was a flight we could be ejected on... @JazzyV, I had my barium swallow yesterday. Not pleasant. They gave me a medicine cup of some sort of crystals that I had to hold in my mouth and then drink maybe 4 ounces of barium to "wash" them down. Yuck! Then I had to roll all around on the narrow bed to coat the esophagus, get pictures taken in a bunch of positions, and then lie on my right side with my left arm over my head. In that position they gave me 2 mini-marshmallows to swallow. Just try swallowing mini-marshmallows flat on your side with your arm over your head. It was really difficult - and no chewing the marshmallows! When I finally got that done, I had to drink a large glass of some other liquid, it seemed like some sort of flavoured creamy drink, through a straw, still lying on my right side. I was very happy when it was all over. It only took about 20 minutes.

We got that same email today - fortunately, only our return flights from Boston were done by Flight Ease (early August) and I'm not going to worry about it. I imagine we will also be hearing from our TA who organized our outgoing flights and hotels in July!

Bon voyage! 😄

Carolyn, "Morning Glory" needs a sign like this:

And the Fleet Report changed to The Daily on March 16, 2020 -

Good morning, Dailyites, and many thanks to all who post. Cheers to those celebrating and prayers for those who are not! We made it home safely yesterday afternoon, no problems with ArriveCAN, the border officer didn't even want to see our QR codes, Just hope we don't suddenly start getting emails from the government to quarantine! There is a lot of anti-ArriveCAN going around and I wouldn't be surprised if they just quit the whole thing! I had a look through the Dailies I missed and have to say "Hope you have a speedy recovery!" to Debbie @dfish after surgery, and the same to those with Covid. Love all the doggie news! Miserable weather here, today. Drizzly and dark. I hear the forecast is that we won't have any summer until at least July. Ohm well, I guess that's better than the "heat dome" we had last year.

Good morning, and thanks all for the birthday wishes for Pat. He was quite overcome with emotion!! Heading off to the ferry soon, but I just have to comment on macaroons. I make plain ones, just sugar and egg whites, baked in a low oven, for Christmas. We have them with whipped cream or sometimes , if they are broken up, with jam and whipped cream (Eton Mess). Then there are the French macarons, which are perfectly shaped, definitely not like mine, which are usually lopsided, two layered with a filling. Also coconut macaroons, which I make for gluten-free friends, although the ones in the grocery store sometimes are not. The best ones in the whole world are almond macaroons, which used to be made in a little bakery up the island, and I would stock up on them if we were in Duncan. We haven't been there for ages, so I don't know if the bakery is still there. They were melt-in the-mouth delicious. Today was a big day for me, too. I got the confirmation from HAL for our M&G on the Nieuw Statendam in July, and an appointment for my barium swallow in June. Now I can go off and enjoy shopping in Bellingham, just look out Macy's!

Good morning, Dailyites, and thank you to Rich, Roy and all who post and happy Memorial Day to the Americans on board!. That meal really sounds like a blend of nationalities. The best of all possible worlds? Pat and I both have high blood pressure and are researching the DASH diet. I think it probably would be a good thing if we go vegetarian a couple of days a week. I have/had 5 cousins I know of who have MS, all in varying degrees; one has refused all medications and is now in a wheelchair, others are all on different meds. Autoimmune diseases are the pits, and each one seems to respond differently to the available drugs. Happy birthday, Gary, @GTVCRUISER! Pat got an emailed coupon for $20 at our favourite restaurant in Bellingham, Anthony's, and we will definitely be celebrating his birthday there tomorrow. Kona was a stop on our French Polynesia cruise on Westie in 2016. Jacqui, @kazu, organized a terrific tour in a van for about 8 of us. The scenery was amazing. I hope to return! The little yellow birds enjoying a leaky hose! A sacred rock, ne touche pas!

Good afternoon , and happy Memorial Day weekend to our American neighbours. The Swiftsure sailing race took place yesterday and today there is an Ironman race here, both the first since 2019. Things are trying to get back to normal. (But not altogether - in the past all the American cousins would be up here for the weekend and we would be doing lots of entertaining!) Wonderful sermon today from Father David, Graham, as a very amateur seamstress, it hit home for me. I always needed a pattern! DD has occasionally made us an enchilada pie, but I think I prefer my own enchilada, as then I can have mine without jalapeños! @Dismomx5, so sorry your cruise didn't work out - hope the family members who did go enjoyed themselves. We always composted in our garden in Oak Bay, three bins and Pat was forever turning and aerating them. One winter a rat decided to make his/her home in one and unfortunately the pile fell in on him and we found his little body the next Spring. Other than the rat, we never added any cooked or animal matter! In this townhouse complex we have a bi-weekly private compost pickup, so we can put cooked and animal matter in it, and it is composted at an indoor facility. We also have pickups for hard plastics and paper. At a nearby school, once a month there is a recycling drop-off place for styrofoam and soft plastics. And there is a place to take electronics and small appliances to be recycled. So we have minuscule bins to be picked up for the landfill. I think I posted my pictures from Raiatea the last time it was the port of the day, my pictures are much like the others. I remember it was hot and rainy. And there were a lot of mynah birds, I had a pet mynah as a child, so I love them. We must be in a countdown, watching Westie slowly making her way up the coast, heading for Seattle to go back into service. How exciting it must be for HAL to finally have all the ships back in action! - I guess that's why there is a Celebration Sale on now... I have been having problems with CC lately, actually I don't know if it is my computer or CC, but also we are going down to Bellingham for a few days to celebrate Pat's birthday (Tuesday) so I may not be around for a bit. But you will all be in my thoughts!

You have done a stalwart job keeping us going over this terrible time, Rich. When Westerdam comes back into service next month and all the dam ships are sailing again perhaps it will be time to go back to the Fleet Report, and give you a well-deserved break!

We went to the Pinnacle Gala dinner on Eurodam last October - it must have been one of the earlier experiences, and we were not terribly impressed. US$284 for 2 people for dinner is pretty steep. Your experience had certainly progressed. It seems to be still the same menu now (May) and I think we will not do it again, until they change the menu. (And we didn't get a photo...) I did a few posts about it on my "live from" here -

And Roy, @rafinmd, as a follow-up, I now have your trick bookmarked. Ta!😄

Roy, if I have something bookmarked on my computer, it shows up as a bookmark on my iPad. My new iPhone 11 doesn't do that, there is a little symbol down at the bottom showing an open book and I can physically put a bookmark there - not so easy though. Every time there is some sort of update, though, things change! Every day I learn something new, - and then promptly forget it...