.......idle jottings

[TrulyBlonde]

Yet another reason for Mr. Hum to organize a SeaDream Charter Invitational for all his chums.....

 

Contessa would have loved that 12 years ago. She loves golf so much that she had to quit "cold turkey" because she would play every day that ended in a "Y".

 

It can become an addiction and when I now see a beautiful green fairway, I start to shake. I lead a very balanced life at this time, Pilates, SUP, waterski,

snowski, wine at 5 pm, and best of all Travel (without the clubs).

 

I think it is perfect.

[ho-hum]

We will never forget...how could we ?

God bless America.

[Jim Avery]

Yes, never forget. I am sure we all remember where we were that day.

[Jim Avery]

Thankfully another anniversary passed quietly. Now we can focus on the upcoming festivities in Hum World. Not long before yet another BonVoyage for the Hums. And I even got a Roll Tide! out of him this weekend. Way to go Hum.

[ho-hum]

Hum would like to apologise for referring to half of those on this forum as a "basket of deplorables".

Hum got it wrong ............ (but unlike Hilary: poor lady, get well soon) Hum believes the figure to be higher.........a LOT higher !

"Basket of deplorables" ?

What an odd expression !

Sounds something from an Oscar Wilde play (Lady Windermere's Fan or The Ideal Husband).

"A handbagggg" !

Brilliant stuff !

 

And the most deplorable and despicable one of 'em all, is about to "allez en vacance" on SDII at the end of the week for a back to back (remember you get a 10% discount off the second voyage: worth remembering).

Unlike the wonderful DC2, Hum will be having a break and reports will be very sporadic (if at all) and very brief between wine soaked interludes, so don't go expectin' anything intelligible.

So, same as usual then Hum !

 

Hope it is cooler than earlier in Summer (July around Italy on SDII).

Phew !

Way too hot for Hum.

 

We are not staying in Athens.

Simply because we don't like it though someone somewhere posted an up-market hotel looking up to the Acropolis which looked very nice.

We ain't city people (except if it's Sydney or London, Paris maybe, Venice of course, Amsterdam, Brugges etc......).

And the (financial) woes of the country are more prominent there than anywhere else in the country; certainly not in the islands where tourism is the main economy and seems un-affected.

Oh and you could get caught up in a demo !

They get quite nasty too.

 

Hum doesn't expect anything to have changed, in fact the people seemed resigned to their fate of stagnation and wholesale inability or inclination to change their financially irresponsible ways which simply "caught up with them" (like it caught up with many others and all beginning in the 2008 mess sparked off by........you know who ? But oh yes, we were all responsible in varying degrees.).

The only growing phenomena in the country seems to be depression, mental illness and suicide born of despair.

Desperate times.

They are in a bad way.

Desperately sad.

If the country had any self-respect left it would leave the EU and relinquish the debt owed to Germany (mostly) who are equally culpable for the massive loans to Greece (which was used to buy German goods !).

Hum suggests paying the debt back but on their terms but pay it back they must.

But the Greeks have lost their "mojo" and act as defeated dependants incapable of helping themselves and dependant on "hand outs" which is epitomised by the beggars in the streets and the boarded up shops.

So straight from Athens airport to Piraeus port for one night and then outta there.

And by pre-arranged driver, not to be at the risk of a corrupt taxi driver who suggests a trip around the sights for an additional €50 and wont take no (easily) for an answer !

 

What can anyone do ?

Spend your money there; well in the coastal places we'll be visiting.

It won't be a lot though.

A coffee, pastry........

We're not big on souvenirs (mostly from China anyway) and who buys post cards these days.

Oh yes ...... some lunches out and Greek wine.

Ah well that's better.

Hum loves Greek wines.

Some of the oldest and noblest wines in the world.

But looking at the itinerary, there do not seem to be many restaurants suitable for Hum's refined palate.

Maybe the ladies in Concierge have some suggestions: they always seem to find great food places but can Hum's conditioning and expectations (of a certain standard, doncha know) be overcome when the thought of returning from a morning's stroll back to the boat, showering then popping up to the TOYB for a few chilled liquid bubbly refreshments, perusing the menus and then ambling down to a table tucked away for great rood, great wine and then off for a "nappy poo".

 

Resistance is futile at times like this.

 

 

Here is the trip (well the first week's):

 

[Jim Avery]

Fear not, those of us in the Western part of the Basket are comfy, thank you very much. Wishing you and Lady Hum a wonderful voyage. Stay safe and keep us in the loop.

[CCHelp]

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