Silversea Water Cooler: Part 3, Welcome!

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers! Some of my spring plantings are actually raising their sleepy heads. Made a start on the front garden clean up. Only a start though.

 

J....That article is hilarious! For some unknown reason I tend to trigger the "random" pat down or a go in the super xray machine. Has happened 3 times already. Here I am a short old woman travelling with a tall old man and I get picked for the extra attention from security. Go figure!

 

Have a great day all!

[MissSophia]

Hi All.......

 

Sounds like a great start on the garden Mysty.....mine is currently being re-modelled by the new gardener so I'm having to be patient!

 

Still feeling a tad under par this morning l took myself orf to see nursey practitioner who gave me a thorough mot before announcing l had a viral infection....orders being to drink plenty and rest....not such a hard task! 😉

 

Fun article with JC Jeffers....even though l hate the man with a passion he gave a good review......since travelling solo l seem to be targeted much more these days...even for drugs twice...😳 quite frightening actually.

This last encounter with Nice security was no different......l pinged and got patted.....sadly not by the quite dishy man l had hoped for......!!

 

Happy Day ☺️

[mysty]

Miss S.......Patience is something I am having issues with these days. I was always a tad impatient compared to Myster and I expected that as I aged I would become more laid back and more patient. NOT happening! It's great that you are a patient soul! I really wish I was! Hope you feel better soon!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Good afternoon all,

 

Soapy, so sorry to hear of the virals .... if i were close I'd deliver a vat of the broth of god, but hopefully a full dose of voddy will do it.

 

Pork aphelia today with some charlottes gratin with stir fried cabbage.

 

 

 

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[ShotsnCruises]

Wishing health your way Sophia. Being sick is no fun.

Jeff, you have me curious....what is this miracle broth you speak of???

 

Mysty, we started the gardening about 2 weeks ago and are still working! Mulch, weeding, fresh potted plants, etc. A lot of work, but well worth the effort.

 

Well, dinner tonight is DH's favorite: Chili

Although, not authentic Texas style, as I use beans. I make 2 versions: stew meat and hamburger. Tonight was the more elaborate with diced stew meat. Warning, I make it HOT!

 

Edit..... forgot the pic!!

 

 

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[mysty]

J and Shots....your meals look yummy! Thanks for the drool inducing pics! :)

 

Shots...the biggest issue for me is that I am not interested in maintaining the property anymore. I have lost interest in the gardens and I no longer enjoy our home. I think the "gypsy" bug has bitten me. I would love to sell everything and just travel the world with a suitcase and my camera (and of course, my dear Myster). Possessions now seem like shackles. Might sound a little crazy!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Shots,

 

It's a soup made from a couple of corn-fed chickens, carrots, celery, red onions, parsley stalks, a small amount of ginger, garlic, chilli, white pepper and a very large handful of kafir lime leaves. It is all cleared but left cloudy after simmering all day and it will normally bubble away from Monday until Thursday or Friday ... and we take a mug full each time we pass.

 

It is lovely. I know I'm not suppose to say that.

 

 

 

 

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[UKCruiseJeff]

M,

 

Did you find towards the end of your WC that although you didn't want it to end, that you looked forward to home?

 

 

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[mysty]

J...Unfortunately I was not looking forward to going home! I did not want the adventure to end! I had trouble right from the get go adjusting to life back home. And I am realizing that this is not what I want. The issue becomes...where do I go from here? I don't think Myster has the same feelings about being "settled" as I do. We are in discussions about where we want to live when he reitres at the end of this week. I know he wants to stick fairly close to his brothers here and I can't live with the winters. It is a tough decision! Who makes the sacrifice? Sorry for the maudlin post!

[TLCOhio]

Terry...your excitement is building for your Spirit voyage...it's my favourite ship and you will love her. ☺️

 

Appreciate this super nice "shout-out" from Miss Sophia. Would so much love to hear ALL of the specifics as to what makes the Silver Spirit your "favourite ship" and the details for why you rate her so highly. Tell me more!! Looking for any and all tips, secrets, suggestions, etc.

Great meal picture above from Jeff. Plus nice flower visual. Looks great!!

 

In reading today for the upcoming French election on May 7, I did not realize that on June 11 and 18, elections will be held to decide their 577 national legislative seats. It will be a two-round voting process. While, if the "experts" are correct, Emmanuel Macron, might be the next French President, their National Assembly, however, will mostly be populated by members of the liberal Socialist and the conservative Les Républicains parties. It was warned that France could have a “cohabitation” situation with Emmanuel Macron being in the top titled office, but the legislative body might be driving policies in a totally different political direction. That could make the new French President as more of a figure-head and/or lack much real power. Interesting??!! Had never thought of these unique details for France's government process and structure. We will be in France sailing and stopping along its Atlantic Coast during the June 18-25 period so we will have a little chance to learn more as to how things are settling out there. It looks like May 7 will not be the final decision point for France.

 

Any other reactions as to how this French situation will work for the new President's powers . . . versus . . . those leadership aspects falling to their National Assembly?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Super loved Dubrovnik!!! See more details and lots of great visual samples/examples at this link. Have had over 36,590 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and dropped by.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

[UKCruiseJeff]

M,

 

That is very sad for you. In a way, we did things the opposite way round. Travelled far too much as a youngster in the entertainment industry, followed by a lot of travel for the corporation. Then we used our business as a vehicle for travel because we were fortunate to have international clients. We made a pact during and since that time to travel continually until we were sick of it and it was "out of our blood" and our work and lives facilitated that. A few years ago we reached that point. For most years we were taking several trips each year to Vienna and Nice\Cannes and Paris normally a total of six or eight trips to to those three and many others which were other places with a couple of extended trips to Oz and Singapore.

 

You are clearly going to have to resolve this. Can you not get that injection with several lengthy adventurous trips each year? Perhaps not cruises but well researched land trips?

[jpalbny]

Mysty, you need a second home. Keep the one you have so Myster can be close to his brothers from time to time. And have a retreat in the Southern Hemisphere so you can escape our nasty winters.

 

Jeff, thanks for the shout out on the other thread. I hardly consider myself an expert on Barcelona, but I'll take it...:o

[mysty]

Thanks Jeff! We will figure something out! It's just a little frustrating. Life is short and I want just a wee bit of fun and joy! And I want Myster to be happy too!

[jpalbny]

 

Just in case anyone is enjoying the weekly Clarkson ....

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/far-from-being-beaten-up-by-us-airlines-i-received-a-delightful-intimate-massage-c8m27bcx9?shareToken=261e40e8bdbb30d8de24efb25ca98c80

 

Finally got to read the article (it wouldn't display on my phone). Ah, travel. Sounds like my fun times at the airport in Antananarivo. Or poor Chris, getting singled out for extra security in Zurich. Luckily, it's better than that on most days.

[mysty]

JP..Thank you! I wish that was an option! :) I just feel like I don't want belongings, I don't want maintenance issues, I don't want household responsibilities. My hippieness is emerging years late!

[jpalbny]

JP..Thank you! I wish that was an option! :) I just feel like I don't want belongings, I don't want maintenance issues, I don't want household responsibilities. My hippieness is emerging years late!

 

Hm. What about a series of short-term leases? That does sound tempting...

[UKCruiseJeff]

Having permanent second (and third!) bases can be a double edged sword as they become an obligation and a liability as well as a change of scenery. It can stop you traveling.

 

Anyway M, it seems to me that you need to plan some trips, perhaps become skilled in getting maximum bang of travel for every dollar of cost.

[mysty]

J and JP...Thanks so much for your care and concern! The short term lease thing definitely appeals JP! And Jeff....planning is one of the joys of my life so that would be wonderful. I'm sure we will work something out. It just feels a little constricting for me right now. We will soldier through! Thanks so much for listening to me whine!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Hi JP,

 

So you should! I often ponder about the number of people posting about travel and offering advice whether all that say they love a place all do. As you know familiarity with BCN for us bred a degree of indifference and it's just as important to say so when it is intended as genuine information to add to the pot. So your info on BCN is more use than ours because you do it in style nd enjoy it and we know the place well, but simply don't rate it.

 

M, you derived tremendous joy in those months you had planning your WC ( even if you forgot to take the bleedin' name and map with you ......;) ) so sit down with Myster and decide on a longhaul project ofr anyear or so out and start planning.

 

See you in Singapore in Jan/Feb 2019? We could open it up to all and have some hawker food safaris.

[ShotsnCruises]

Mysty,

I feel for you. I'm still young and working, and DH is quite a bit older and retired. I want to travel and he wants to relax at home. We had a difficult time deciding between keeping the "horsey" lifestyle here at home, and wanting to travel more. Sometimes I feel tied down by the animals, but I love them so much I could never be without.

 

 

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[ShotsnCruises]

Jeff,

OMG!!! That broth looks amazing. I make my own stock, and with a few added ingredients you were kind enough to post, I can probably come close.

I make a ginger broth, but will have to hunt down the lime leaves. What kind of chili do you use? Thai chilies perhaps?

 

 

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[mysty]

Thanks for the commiseration Shots!

 

J....We missed Singapore last year in order to do Bhutan. I think I would enjoy a visit there! :) You are a dear sweet man! Thank You!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Thanks Shots - that's really kind.

 

Kafir lime leaves must be bought in bulk rather than in those little expensive jars. I use them in curries etc and get an enormous bag from Amazon. I use tubed chilli, garlic and ginger and there is no difference from fresh and it's always available.

 

I always remove the breasts from the chickens as they add nothing to the broth. Once the broth is made, I then poach the breasts, in the broth, take some of the broth to make rice and you have a really good Hainnese Chicken Rice. It seems extravagent to make such a good quality broth but it produces a lot and its great to scoop an esspresso cup whenever you are passing and its gloomy and grey outside. I also believe it cures a lot of ailments.

[ShotsnCruises]

I am a fan of soups and stews all year long. I will have to give yours a try. It also sounds like it will make good ramen!

 

 

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[UKCruiseJeff]

Shots,

 

Absolutely perfect for ramen. I do so hope you try it. It's taken me a lifetime to work out that it isn't extravagant to use good quality ingredients in a stock or soup. Also, when trying Asian, we sometimes concern and fret too much about whether it's authentic and try and follow recipes too religiously. Every Asian mother does it different from every other Asian mother, and so much wonderful Asian food is fusion anyway. So make it exactly as you like it and s0d what anyone else says about authenticity!

 

Tonight I am having the cravings for some munchies and once I got it into my head it wouldn't go. So I'm making a roasted peppers, olives and oregano focaccia and it is currently proving. I'm going to sprinkle some really course and crunchy sea salt and seaweed salt on top when done. I've turned the pizza oven on low ..... 300c ... and hopefully in an hour or two and presuming I am awake ...... I will be eating some before the sun comes up. only 2:30am here so the night is young ..

 

And focaccia is flatbread ... right! :)

 

 

 

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