.......idle jottings

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

So long! And thanks for all the fish..... tales.

[Jim Avery]

Too bad Ho-Hum is absent without leave. I have been assigned to continuing education in Milwaukee. Pleasant surprise, all the food and beverage in MKE has been very good. Sundance would approve of the local beers and my Germanic derived DW loves the sausages. :eek: Maders German Restaurant should be on the list of any CCers heading through MKE. My continuing ed is making me smart.....very, very smart:eek::D

[Jim Avery]

We will miss you while you are gone. Don't be gone long or else the SeaDream board will revert to one or two posts per week. Used to be Death Valley around here. Ta-ta.

 

Yes, it has happened. Back to Death Valley on the SeaDream board. Mr. Ho-Hum, a lot like a drug dealer, gave us unlimited amounts of (mostly) cruise related drivel then withdrew all. Now, unless someone actually sails on SD and bothers to wade through the slow internet to tell others about there experience, I guess regular emails to Sundance will have to suffice. happy weekend to all and to anyone sailing today, how's it goin':eek::D

[knotheadusc]

I'm not sailing, but I am looking forward to March when I am finally aboard Hebridean Princess again. At the same time, I keep looking for something on SeaDream. I still haven't tried SeaDream II yet.

[Jim Avery]

I'm not sailing, but I am looking forward to March when I am finally aboard Hebridean Princess again. At the same time, I keep looking for something on SeaDream. I still haven't tried SeaDream II yet.

 

Be advised, if you dare book SD II, you have a real chance of encountering Ho-Hum.......In the flesh........What a Halloween that would be.:eek::D

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Now you tell me ;)

[ho-hum]

Now you tell me ;)

 

Haha

HH

[ho-hum]

Yes, it has happened. Back to Death Valley on the SeaDream board. Mr. Ho-Hum, a lot like a drug dealer, gave us unlimited amounts of (mostly) cruise related drivel then withdrew all. Now, unless someone actually sails on SD and bothers to wade through the slow internet to tell others about there experience, I guess regular emails to Sundance will have to suffice. happy weekend to all and to anyone sailing today, how's it goin':eek::D

 

Gawd forbis it ends up with the former greats Butch & Sundance "rabbitin on" about de-salinisation, engines, tanks !!!!

Ye Gods !

Haha

HH

[Jim Avery]

Yew gets wot yew pays for Guvnor. Wait till we get to tellin tales about Dude Ranches.

[zqvol]

It is kinda quiet and since FT and I have not been on board in a couple of years we do not have one of her 1000 post threads going:mad:

[ho-hum]

Yew gets wot yew pays for Guvnor. Wait till we get to tellin tales about Dude Ranches.

 

Haha

[ho-hum]

Well Hum was released from the Institution about a week ago and the effects of all the revolutionary treatments have left Hum a tad "delicate".

 

By the way Jim.

Thanks for the recommendation !

The staff there remembered you with great affection.

One of their most difficult cases they say......keep taking the tequila, at least twice a day.

And they remember Sundance too.

They asked Hum to request Sundance to return their straight jacket.

How Sundance managed to escape the Institution from the heavily secure, padded cell and dosed up as he was on enough sedatives to knock out a raging bull, they will never know !

But return it and all will be forgiven and they will post on your official release papers to your probation officer.

 

Hum is in Lisboa.

A damp Lisboa but it is a welcome break from the array of British workmen that Hum has had to endure every day at his "gaff".

Oh and Hum has been assisting another dear CC and SD chum with the construction of his "pad" in the Americas.

 

Well we met up with dearest of dear chums yesterday after a 2.5 hour flight from London which began at 7.0am (woke up at 3.30am !!).

The wonderful steward was fun and as he came around for drinks orders said "well we do have champagne but it's a tad early is'nt it ?"

Blondie soon corrected him and two bottles were requested !

Hum chipped and said "Hum hates to see his beloved drinking alone; make that two for Hum also"

And so on each 20 minute mark, the replacements continued.

Yes there were a few "rolling eyes" in Business Class with the expression "and that's how we lost the Empire ! With people just like that !"

But 40 minutes in, the whole of ruddy Business Class were "downing" the stuff as noise levels raised and camaraderie between passengers abounded.

People in "coach" (as our American cousins say) were complaining about the noise levels and the fact they had to "drum in" extra stewards just to keep the champagne demand in check and they were missing their "gruel" (or whatever disgusting food is slopped out to them in the central communal trough) !

Our steward then enquired "you wont want breakfast then ?".

What ! What outrage ! Yes Hum will have a "Full English" !

This despite the fact that Hum already had 3 bacon rolls and a melted Ementhal roll in Business Class Lounge at London Heathrow !

The World Health Organisation had recently announced that any processed and smoked meats were carcinogenic. Hum thinks "carcinogenic" must mean "delicious"; hence Hum gobbled down three !

BA tea is delicious by the way. A refined "builders" tea in style. Hum's guessing quite a bit of Ceylonese Orange Pekoe and some Indian Assam for body. It has a malty and caramel flavour and looks delicious: an orange tinted mid-brown appearance.

BA coffee is made from the recycled plane, engine oil ...and that's a fact !

Hum thinks this is taking re-cycling too far.

 

Yes the flight was a riot.

Saying goodbye to every one in BClass took a time.

Now we were in the airport.

The assumption was that the Portuguese were a hopeless bunch.

Well Hum's assumption of most "Johnny" foreigner countries that are not in the Northern Hemisphere. Yes France is technically in the Northern Hemisphere but there is always an exception to the rule.

They are in political turmoil. Portugal that is.

The right wing party won most votes of a single party (in an election about two weeks ago) but the combined left parties (including all manner of "loonies" and "damn Commy barrrrstards") have suddenly decided to join forces to defeat the conservative Party of "Darth Vadar".

Now left wing loonies being left wing loonies who could'nt organise a "piss up in a boteca" have hitherto not agreed on each others particular brand of "looney" policy.

BUT now they have made an alliance......for how long, is another question.

Hum gives 'em 8 months.

Essentially the alliance of "looney lefties" do not want to pay their (130% of GDP) debt back to the "mugs" that leant it to them, mostly made up of Germany, who still delude themselves in "One Europe" and who are currently wondering who "snitched" on them for manipulating exhaust readings from all German vehicles from 1926 !

But what is the even worse.....and even crazier than the nutty Greeks, is that they want to leave the EU too !!!

The "cash cow", the goose that laid the golden egg, the end of the rainbow....well you get the point.

That' like saying "We want to return to the Middle Ages".

Which come to think about it, Portugal was a world power then.

OK all they got was Mozambique and another central African country. Both dirt poor with no thing to loot but that is how hopeless Portugal was even then.

Portugal means "clueless"; that's a fact.

They are a dull modest people with a lot to be modest about if you ask Hum.

They are now a sad bunch with very little to shout about except for their excellent wines and ports. So not all bad.

 

Well Hum was expecting a right "cock up" at the airport.

First we were bussed to the terminal.

Bussed !

Ye Gods !

Then you are taken through the equivalent of an airport "underworld" where behind every concrete column there are "squat" Portuguese airport people in "high viz" jackets SMOKING.

 

We are then dropped off and go up escalators, along electric walkways, clamber ropes, wade across torrential rivers and finally arrive at a plaza the size of St.Marks Square finished in highly smooth tiling which three mechanically driven machines have just washed !

Hum nearly goes "anus over bulbous matter (come in pairs)" !

But finally we make it to a long row of automatic passport screening devices which err......work...and we are through.

Enter a huge baggage haul. Pick up a free trolley with no wheel intent of taking you to Mecca while the rest (of the wheels) have a more relaxed attitude.

And there are our bags !

Not like Heathrow.

Through Customs, out of gates and there is a sign displayed with Hum's name by an intelligent, English speaking young man who takes the trolley and phones for the Merc to pull up out of which, a genial driver loads the bags in the car.

He needs some assistance in the geometric arrangement of ALL the bags.

A principal requirement you would have thought of a chauffeur.

But we are in Portugal.

And we are on our way to a posh hotel ..... best in Lisbon "they say" via one long traffic jam during which the driver is playing anodyne music. He is immediately told to turn that 'crepe off" and does so explaining he thought that was we would like.

How rude but we let it go.

Furtive looks are noticed by the driver checking on Hum in the rear seat as he mutters "Santa Maria".....that's nice Hum thinks, praying we have a safe journey.

 

After 30 minutes passing depressing buildings and depressing people things began to brighten up as we turned into a beautiful main "drag".

We alight the Merc and a "smartish" young man offers to take our bags "No Hum can do it himself" was the reply. Now the ever vigilant Hum assumed this guy was a confidence trickster...you know the type, nice to your face while going through your valuables.

You're not having Hum's underpant collection, not even if Hum has to use the secret, Yorkshire martial art of "Eggy-thump".

Blondie rolls her eyes and points out that he works for the hotel !

Still suspicious but worried that Blondie would be annoyed with Hum, he releases his bag (and said under garment collection: some dating back to 1972. They were lucky then and they're lucky now ! Secrets of Hum's formula of life to be released soon. "Everyday I live by his example" Richard Branson).

 

Finally we are into reception where another array of enthusiastic, young men greet us.

Blah blah....and if there is anything we can do ?

Yes we need a great (but basic) fish restaurant and somewhere to taste wines of Portugal.

Places recommended.

Hum likes these guys. Smart, bright as a button but not obsequious (yeah, look it up..no Hum feels no remorse..maybe if you finished school, you would'nt be having these problems now).

And who is waiting in the lobby but two dear SD chums who do not wish to be named.

Yes it's Commander Courageous and Abenaki !

We are noisy, so Hum decides to go to the courtyard where Hum orders a Vinho Verde.

Catching up takes an hour then it is off to lunch via a roof terrace (more wine) overlooking the city and river and then a long lunch with more Vinho Verde.

 

Hum's day was unfortunately marred by ........... no Hum may tell you later.

 

Bestest regards to Butch and Sundance especially and the rest of you "ne'er do wells".

But please may Hum respectfully remind you that the rehabilitation guidance councillors did say Hum should refrain from too much contact with questionable characters and former patients (B&S) so please be kind.........and patient, oh so patient.

[piratelooksat45]

Ho hum (may I call you Ho?) -- you were missed.

[Jim Avery]

Well Hum was released from the Institution about a week ago and the effects of all the revolutionary treatments have left Hum a tad "delicate".

 

By the way Jim.

Thanks for the recommendation !

The staff there remembered you with great affection.

One of their most difficult cases they say......keep taking the tequila, at least twice a day.

And they remember Sundance too.

They asked Hum to request Sundance to return their straight jacket.

How Sundance managed to escape the Institution from the heavily secure, padded cell and dosed up as he was on enough sedatives to knock out a raging bull, they will never know !

But return it and all will be forgiven and they will post on your official release papers to your probation officer.

 

Hum is in Lisboa.

A damp Lisboa but it is a welcome break from the array of British workmen that Hum has had to endure every day at his "gaff".

Oh and Hum has been assisting another dear CC and SD chum with the construction of his "pad" in the Americas.

 

Well we met up with dearest of dear chums yesterday after a 2.5 hour flight from London which began at 7.0am (woke up at 3.30am !!).

The wonderful steward was fun and as he came around for drinks orders said "well we do have champagne but it's a tad early is'nt it ?"

Blondie soon corrected him and two bottles were requested !

Hum chipped and said "Hum hates to see his beloved drinking alone; make that two for Hum also"

And so on each 20 minute mark, the replacements continued.

Yes there were a few "rolling eyes" in Business Class with the expression "and that's how we lost the Empire ! With people just like that !"

But 40 minutes in, the whole of ruddy Business Class were "downing" the stuff as noise levels raised and camaraderie between passengers abounded.

People in "coach" (as our American cousins say) were complaining about the noise levels and the fact they had to "drum in" extra stewards just to keep the champagne demand in check and they were missing their "gruel" (or whatever disgusting food is slopped out to them in the central communal trough) !

Our steward then enquired "you wont want breakfast then ?".

What ! What outrage ! Yes Hum will have a "Full English" !

This despite the fact that Hum already had 3 bacon rolls and a melted Ementhal roll in Business Class Lounge at London Heathrow !

The World Health Organisation had recently announced that any processed and smoked meats were carcinogenic. Hum thinks "carcinogenic" must mean "delicious"; hence Hum gobbled down three !

BA tea is delicious by the way. A refined "builders" tea in style. Hum's guessing quite a bit of Ceylonese Orange Pekoe and some Indian Assam for body. It has a malty and caramel flavour and looks delicious: an orange tinted mid-brown appearance.

BA coffee is made from the recycled plane, engine oil ...and that's a fact !

Hum thinks this is taking re-cycling too far.

 

Yes the flight was a riot.

Saying goodbye to every one in BClass took a time.

Now we were in the airport.

The assumption was that the Portuguese were a hopeless bunch.

Well Hum's assumption of most "Johnny" foreigner countries that are not in the Northern Hemisphere. Yes France is technically in the Northern Hemisphere but there is always an exception to the rule.

They are in political turmoil. Portugal that is.

The right wing party won most votes of a single party (in an election about two weeks ago) but the combined left parties (including all manner of "loonies" and "damn Commy barrrrstards") have suddenly decided to join forces to defeat the conservative Party of "Darth Vadar".

Now left wing loonies being left wing loonies who could'nt organise a "piss up in a boteca" have hitherto not agreed on each others particular brand of "looney" policy.

BUT now they have made an alliance......for how long, is another question.

Hum gives 'em 8 months.

Essentially the alliance of "looney lefties" do not want to pay their (130% of GDP) debt back to the "mugs" that leant it to them, mostly made up of Germany, who still delude themselves in "One Europe" and who are currently wondering who "snitched" on them for manipulating exhaust readings from all German vehicles from 1926 !

But what is the even worse.....and even crazier than the nutty Greeks, is that they want to leave the EU too !!!

The "cash cow", the goose that laid the golden egg, the end of the rainbow....well you get the point.

That' like saying "We want to return to the Middle Ages".

Which come to think about it, Portugal was a world power then.

OK all they got was Mozambique and another central African country. Both dirt poor with no thing to loot but that is how hopeless Portugal was even then.

Portugal means "clueless"; that's a fact.

They are a dull modest people with a lot to be modest about if you ask Hum.

They are now a sad bunch with very little to shout about except for their excellent wines and ports. So not all bad.

 

Well Hum was expecting a right "cock up" at the airport.

First we were bussed to the terminal.

Bussed !

Ye Gods !

Then you are taken through the equivalent of an airport "underworld" where behind every concrete column there are "squat" Portuguese airport people in "high viz" jackets SMOKING.

 

We are then dropped off and go up escalators, along electric walkways, clamber ropes, wade across torrential rivers and finally arrive at a plaza the size of St.Marks Square finished in highly smooth tiling which three mechanically driven machines have just washed !

Hum nearly goes "anus over bulbous matter (come in pairs)" !

But finally we make it to a long row of automatic passport screening devices which err......work...and we are through.

Enter a huge baggage haul. Pick up a free trolley with no wheel intent of taking you to Mecca while the rest (of the wheels) have a more relaxed attitude.

And there are our bags !

Not like Heathrow.

Through Customs, out of gates and there is a sign displayed with Hum's name by an intelligent, English speaking young man who takes the trolley and phones for the Merc to pull up out of which, a genial driver loads the bags in the car.

He needs some assistance in the geometric arrangement of ALL the bags.

A principal requirement you would have thought of a chauffeur.

But we are in Portugal.

And we are on our way to a posh hotel ..... best in Lisbon "they say" via one long traffic jam during which the driver is playing anodyne music. He is immediately told to turn that 'crepe off" and does so explaining he thought that was we would like.

How rude but we let it go.

Furtive looks are noticed by the driver checking on Hum in the rear seat as he mutters "Santa Maria".....that's nice Hum thinks, praying we have a safe journey.

 

After 30 minutes passing depressing buildings and depressing people things began to brighten up as we turned into a beautiful main "drag".

We alight the Merc and a "smartish" young man offers to take our bags "No Hum can do it himself" was the reply. Now the ever vigilant Hum assumed this guy was a confidence trickster...you know the type, nice to your face while going through your valuables.

You're not having Hum's underpant collection, not even if Hum has to use the secret, Yorkshire martial art of "Eggy-thump".

Blondie rolls her eyes and points out that he works for the hotel !

Still suspicious but worried that Blondie would be annoyed with Hum, he releases his bag (and said under garment collection: some dating back to 1972. They were lucky then and they're lucky now ! Secrets of Hum's formula of life to be released soon. "Everyday I live by his example" Richard Branson).

 

Finally we are into reception where another array of enthusiastic, young men greet us.

Blah blah....and if there is anything we can do ?

Yes we need a great (but basic) fish restaurant and somewhere to taste wines of Portugal.

Places recommended.

Hum likes these guys. Smart, bright as a button but not obsequious (yeah, look it up..no Hum feels no remorse..maybe if you finished school, you would'nt be having these problems now).

And who is waiting in the lobby but two dear SD chums who do not wish to be named.

Yes it's Commander Courageous and Abenaki !

We are noisy, so Hum decides to go to the courtyard where Hum orders a Vinho Verde.

Catching up takes an hour then it is off to lunch via a roof terrace (more wine) overlooking the city and river and then a long lunch with more Vinho Verde.

 

Hum's day was unfortunately marred by ........... no Hum may tell you later.

 

Bestest regards to Butch and Sundance especially and the rest of you "ne'er do wells".

But please may Hum respectfully remind you that the rehabilitation guidance councillors did say Hum should refrain from too much contact with questionable characters and former patients (B&S) so please be kind.........and patient, oh so patient.

 

Good to hear from you Mr. Hum. Yes, it is a rather pleasant facility. Give my regards to Nurse Ratchett. Here's hoping for fair winds and following seas and the best advice I have for you crossers is: " Go West Young Man, Go West".

[ho-hum]

SDII left Lisbon at 16.00 on Tuesday, 3 November, 2015.

Repair works over-ran a tad but the Captain kept us updated as and when he had fresh information: so no complaints there then.

The passengers have been great and were re-assured that they would make San Juan, PR on time.

So they are happy.

And the crew have been marvellous, as always.

At least we missed the "motion in the ocean" that affected our older sister.

But it is calm there to now.

And so we are off.

And a final thankyou to this amazing crew.

Humbled (again) Hum.

[ctbjr1309]

SDII left Lisbon at 16.00 on Tuesday, 3 November, 2015.

Repair works over-ran a tad but the Captain kept us updated as and when he had fresh information: so no complaints there then.

The passengers have been great and were re-assured that they would make San Juan, PR on time.

So they are happy.

And the crew have been marvellous, as always.

At least we missed the "motion in the ocean" that affected our older sister.

But it is calm there to now.

And so we are off.

And a final thankyou to this amazing crew.

Humbled (again) Hum.

 

Safe travels. And behave yourself.......

[DisneyJen]

Wishing you fair winds and following seas!

[ho-hum]

Safe travels. And behave yourself.......

 

Thankyou and never !!!

[ho-hum]

Wishing you fair winds and following seas!

 

We will need it darling if we are to make San Juan !!!

Thanks though.

[ho-hum]

And we are off !

Steaming away across the Atlantic.

We will miss out Funchal, Madeira to make up precious time.

SDI arrived there a short time ago dropping off one passenger with a minor medical condition.

And it was his birthday too.

Such rotten luck.

And we are encountering some spells of nice weather.

The crew are reparing for USPH too !

On top of everything else they have to do.

They are earning their wages this month, that's for sure.

[DisneyJen]

Glad to hear you're under way!

 

Hope the weather continues to improve.

[COCOYOTE]

A little bit rocky rolly this morning. Views from the yacht.

[DisneyJen]

Looks like the sun is trying to come out!!

 

Thanks for sharing Cocoyote!

[Jim Avery]

And we are off !

Steaming away across the Atlantic.

We will miss out Funchal, Madeira to make up precious time.

SDI arrived there a short time ago dropping off one passenger with a minor medical condition.

And it was his birthday too.

Such rotten luck.

And we are encountering some spells of nice weather.

The crew are reparing for USPH too !

On top of everything else they have to do.

They are earning their wages this month, that's for sure.

 

Ho-Hum, as part of his therapy, has been placed on something similar to Twitter.....All his missives are character limited. If Mr. Hum exceeds his allowed number of characters, his nurse takes his wine away.:eek: I believe the therapy program he has to adhere to is called "Bitter", not Twitter.

[Jim Avery]

Mr. Hum, our old friends from SD Mexico Dick & Jenny posted a video on Facebook showing SD II making a good turn of speed into the waves. Guess the old girl has a bit of get up and go left in her.:D