The Fleet Report and Daily for Friday July 29th, 2022

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

Good days. I like tigers and it's good their numbers are growing. I am a wing fan, making them in the oven or air fryer, rather than frying in oil. I like good lasagna, but don't eat it often due to the carbs. Excellent quote. I'll pass on the drink and meal (fish), and take the wine(s).

I haven't been to Hong Kong. Thanks for the photos.

 

It's overcast here and not too hot, but still somewhat humid. We got about 1" of rain yesterday. I went to see the Orthopedic doctor this AM. Got new knee x-rays, since my last ones were in 2018. Left knee is bone on bone, with some spurs, and he recommends knee replacement. Right knee only had mild disease. He did say we could try a steroid injection again, since it worked well in the past. If that didn't help, then the viscous injection (hyaluronic acid). So I got the steroid injection today. I told him I'd think about surgery, although if I agree, probably not until next year. He said I was in a "sweet spot" time-wise, with no heart or lung issues (knock wood). In the meantime I also need to do some strengthening exercises; I'll look on Silver Sneakers or YouTube. Oy!

 

@kazu I could only see the last video of Shadow, but it was fun to see her prancing around in the yard. Pretty flowers and garden.

@grapau27 Hugs to Pauline and you on the sad remembrance day. You've done a great job of making the day special for Pauline.

@lcand1923 Great story about lasagna. Can you share your recipe?

@marshhawk Positive thoughts for Chuck with no further severe pain and getting weaned off the pain meds. 

@ktbraun I'd like to go to a German Fest! BFF is of German descent, and I've made trips to Germany with him to visit his relatives and have learned to cook quite a few German dishes. Good news that your DH has recovered and you've remained negative.

@lindaler I'm glad you're healing and congrats on the tricycle! Take it easy when you first start to ride.

@ger_77 Good news on DH's leg! 

@smitty34877 Fingers crossed that everyone else stays negative.

@dfish Thanks for checking in. That guide needs to learn to stay until everyone is off the bus and can follow, or hear what they have to say.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for the Celebration List.

Stay safe everyone. Our county was just moved up from low incidence to medium, by the number of new Covid cases.

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

I finally made it through all our pictures from our three visits to Hong Kong.  We enjoyed each visit, and tried to see something different each time.  There are so many pictures, I'm going to break them into three posts, one for each visit.

 

In 2000 while we were on the P&O Oriana world cruise, we were in Hong Kong on February 28.  It was a cool and cloudy day, but we still enjoyed the day.  We docked in Kowloon near the Star Ferry Terminal.  That day, we took the ferry across to Hong Kong and a city bus to Victoria Peak, with the intention of taking the tram back down, but it was closed for repairs.  In 2000, DH had the digital camera, and these are a few of his pictures.

 

The view from the ship as we sailed to our dock.

 

 

Two Star Ferries

 

Once across the harbor, we walked around for a while before boarding a bus to Victoria Peak.  Not knowing which coins were which, I just held out a handful of coins and the driver picked out the ones for the fare.  @StLouisCruisers  Sandi, the scaffolding in your picture is made of bamboo which is common in Hong Kong.  It is stronger than it looks.

 

The area behind the tall buildings near the waterfront.

 

 

 

 

Victoria Peak and the view from the peak.  The Oriana is the ship with the yellow funnel.

 

 

Nathan Street in Kowloon

 

There was no laser light show in 2000, but the buildings were well lighted, and this is the view as we sailed about midnight, just before the lights were turned off.

 

 

Lenda

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Our next visit to Hong Kong was October 18-18. 2002 on the Volendam 64-day APEC cruise. That time,  we were there for two days, and the first day we took the bus to Aberdeen to see the floating restaurant and the area.  Later we walked down Nathan Street and that night we visited the Temple Street night market.

 

The view from the upper deck of the bus on the way to Aberdeen.  The weather that day was not the best.

 

The area near the Aberdeen harbor

 

 

The last floating restaurant in Aberdeen.  Sadly, it closed in 2020, and last month while being towed to a new location it sank.

 

We took one of the small boats in the harbor for a tour, and this is the "captain".

 

 

The fish market with its bins of live fish.  It doesn't get much fresher than this.

 

The Temple Street night market

 

 

The lights that night from our balcony

 

The next morning, we decided to take a train out to the New Frontier and the border station.  The ship had our passports, and we almost got in trouble because of the checkpoint to get out of the station.  Evidently, we were not the first in this situation, as the guards pointed us in the right direction to reboard the train back to Kowloon.

 

The train station

 

The New Frontier area from the train station

 

Later we took a bus ride around Hong Kong

 

Looking across the harbor to the Volendam

 

A dragon dance performance before we sailed.

 

 

The dock and shopping center as we sailed.

 

Lenda

 

[XBGuy]

@cat shepard -- Do you have a Costco card?  I buy a lot of "everyday drinkers" at Costco.

'

To be honest, Pinot Noir is not my favorite wine grape, but a lot of wine geeks keep insisting to me that it actually makes good wine.  So, I make sure I keep my hand in and try it fairly regularly.  Unfortunately, most of the PNs that I like are fairly spendy.

 

Anyway, back to Costco.  For the last few months my local Costco has been carrying the Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir for, get this, $9.97.  (Many Acacia wines are single-vineyard designated, which makes them more expensive, but this one is Carneros region designated.  Presumably, the grapes are sourced from multiple vineyards.)  I tried it on a whim, and, let me tell you, for $10, it is a darned good wine.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Our last visit in 2018 was on the Coral Princess Circle the North Pacific 60-day cruise.  We were in Hong Kong on October 23 that year.  We missed the chance to have the ship get us a visa to visit Macaw, so we visited the other play land in Hong Kong, Disneyland. 

 

Between our 2002 visit and our 2018 visit, the new cruise terminal at the old air port was opened, and we docked there.  It is not as convenient a location as the old dock, and we had to take a shuttle to a shopping mall and back.

 

We were greeted by another version of the dragon dance upon arrival.  

 

 

Unfortunately, in clearing immigration in Japan and China was a very long an involved process which took up much of the morning.   To prevent people from crowding the terminals, we were issued "tender" tickets.

 

The train station where we transferred to the special train to Disneyland.

 

Inside the Disneyland train, and take a look at the windows.

 

Various pictures from Disneyland, parts of which were still under construction, including Cinderella's Castle.

 

 

 

They were ready for Halloween, which we discovered in 2002 was a big deal in Hong Kong.

 

The daily parade

 

 

Cinderella's Castle

 

Mickey and Minnie

 

The Disneyland train station

 

We took a train back to Hong Kong and walked to the Star Ferry terminal.  The inside of the Star Ferry, a Hong Kong fixture.

 

We also went to the Temple Street night market where we go fried vegetables and cokes.

 

 

 

We enjoyed our day at Disneyland and riding all the rides, well all but one.  The Star Wars ride was Space Mountain on steroids, and not the type of ride I like.  I made it through the ride without screaming, but I had my eyes closed from the beginning of the first drop until the end and was leaning on DH.  After we got off the ride, we needed to find a bench to sit until our legs stopped shaking.

 

Lenda

 

[aliaschief]

Good afternoon. We had a beautiful day for touring the beautiful countryside and Glengoyne distillery. We have just arrived at our quaint and beautiful hotel outside Oban with beautiful views and grounds. The fireplace aglow was a warm welcome. Enjoying some pre dinner wines before dinner in the dining room.

 

Thanks for the report and post.

 

 

[USN59-79]

I appreciate all the pictures of Hong Kong.  I have been there more than ten times starting in 1959.  Our Navy ship anchored there and we would go ashore on water taxis called walla wallas.  One of the attractions for us sailors was the China Fleet Club in Victoria which was a British Navy club.  I learned to drink Bulmer's Woodpecker Cider there.  In the 1970s when stationed in the Philippines our Navy plane, similar to a DC-3 (a USN C-117) would fly into the old KaiTak airport, let off passengers and fly on to Taipei.  Probably looked strange seeing it taxi to the terminal amidst the 747s and other huge jets.  Our last stop there was in 2020 where we boarded the Westerdam for its last cruise that year.

Here is a picture taken in Thailand with Sara and a tiger.  It is a picture of a picture, so the quality isn't that great.

[Seasick Sailor]

Good morning Dailyites. Our last full day on Maui. Tomorrow night we will be homeward bound to hot hot Texas. I won't be homesick until we are on the plane.

 

I'm choosing Roy's alternative for dinner. 

 

Sandi I hope your leg is healing and less painful.

 

Graham the memory garden looks beautiful. What was Pauline reading? Is there a different memory reading daily?

 

Jacqui I bet you are already in love with Shadow. I see she's already walking through your beautiful foliage. Lol. More pictures please!

 

Thank you for the beautiful pictures! 

 

Prayers, Blessings and Cheers to all. Xx

 

 

[Vict0riann]

Good morning, afternoon, day (?), Dailyites.  All at sea here.  But lots going on on the Daily.  Jacqui, @kazu, I couldn’t see your videos yesterday on my iPhone, but will look at them when I get home.  Happy to hear Shadow had her tail high!  I did answer your question about the Cellar Master dinner, but forgot to use the @ to add your contact…. But it is there on yesterday’s Daily - added today….  
 
Almost back in 🇨🇦-  DD will meet us in St. John’s tomorrow.   Then another sea day, Halifax, one last sea day and finally disembarkation in Boston and back home.  It will be over much too quickly.  
 

 

[grapau27]

4 hours ago, ger_77 said:

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily!  Tigers are so majestic, I love seeing them.  I'm a huge fan of chicken wings, but prefer simple flavours like salt & pepper or Greek to the super hot ones.   We haven't had lasagna in a long time; for me it seems like a fall/winter meal rather than one to have in the heat of summer.

 

It's another beautiful morning out there today, clear skies, just a tickle of a breeze in the trees, and bright sunshine.  We've got all the windows open for now, but will be closing them in about an hour because our temp is supposed to reach 35C (95F), and I know we'll be running the a/c for a good portion of the day.  

 

We saw the doctor yesterday about DH's leg and all is well - woo hoo!  There wasn't any indication of a DVT, but it seems the swelling could have been the result of heat and a certain blood pressure medication.  For the last week or so, DH has been having nightly leg cramps and I finally thought - maybe his electrolytes were out of whack, so he's been drinking Gatorade and voila!  No more cramps.  I mentioned it to the doctor who said that's what he would have prescribed instead of a medication.   

 

@StLouisCruisersre: the hot air balloon - we've seen them in our area a number of times, but unfortunately I didn't get a photo yesterday.

@Dr.Dobrowe were on the Maasdam Feb 15 - March 6, 2019 enjoying the light show at Hong Kong as well - perhaps we sailed together?  I recall being on the back deck watching the lights when we discovered the ship was being followed by a drone.  At one point an officer came out to view it as well and told us "it's not one of ours" and went back inside.  

 

Not a lot going on for us today, but I've got a couple more shopping bags to put together and found some brightly coloured material that I'm going to turn into padded luggage handles for our suitcases that will hopefully be used in October/November.  Although I think salmon and dill are a natural pairing, we won't be having fish soup/stew any time soon.  It's Friday night so - yes, it's pizza night at our house.  We'll have to check the online menus to see what appeals to us and I'm pretty sure it will be too hot to enjoy it on the deck, so it will be pizza in the pergola tonight.  And wine.

 

Prayers for everyone who needs them and even for those who don't think they do.  Extra for the people of Ukraine and for everyone providing aid.  We'll clink the glasses to cheer on those who make up the celebration list.  Stay safe, get your boosters, wear masks when needed, be well, and hydrate!

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Gerry

I'm very happy to hear your husbands great news Gerry.

I hope you enjoy your pizza's tonight.

Graham.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, JazzyV said:

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

Good days. I like tigers and it's good their numbers are growing. I am a wing fan, making them in the oven or air fryer, rather than frying in oil. I like good lasagna, but don't eat it often due to the carbs. Excellent quote. I'll pass on the drink and meal (fish), and take the wine(s).

I haven't been to Hong Kong. Thanks for the photos.

 

It's overcast here and not too hot, but still somewhat humid. We got about 1" of rain yesterday. I went to see the Orthopedic doctor this AM. Got new knee x-rays, since my last ones were in 2018. Left knee is bone on bone, with some spurs, and he recommends knee replacement. Right knee only had mild disease. He did say we could try a steroid injection again, since it worked well in the past. If that didn't help, then the viscous injection (hyaluronic acid). So I got the steroid injection today. I told him I'd think about surgery, although if I agree, probably not until next year. He said I was in a "sweet spot" time-wise, with no heart or lung issues (knock wood). In the meantime I also need to do some strengthening exercises; I'll look on Silver Sneakers or YouTube. Oy!

 

@kazu I could only see the last video of Shadow, but it was fun to see her prancing around in the yard. Pretty flowers and garden.

@grapau27 Hugs to Pauline and you on the sad remembrance day. You've done a great job of making the day special for Pauline.

@lcand1923 Great story about lasagna. Can you share your recipe?

@marshhawk Positive thoughts for Chuck with no further severe pain and getting weaned off the pain meds. 

@ktbraun I'd like to go to a German Fest! BFF is of German descent, and I've made trips to Germany with him to visit his relatives and have learned to cook quite a few German dishes. Good news that your DH has recovered and you've remained negative.

@lindaler I'm glad you're healing and congrats on the tricycle! Take it easy when you first start to ride.

@ger_77 Good news on DH's leg! 

@smitty34877 Fingers crossed that everyone else stays negative.

@dfish Thanks for checking in. That guide needs to learn to stay until everyone is off the bus and can follow, or hear what they have to say.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for the Celebration List.

Stay safe everyone. Our county was just moved up from low incidence to medium, by the number of new Covid cases.

 

Thank you so much Vanessa.

Her dad Roy was the nicest person I have ever met and never said a bad word about anyone.

I was proud to have him as my father in law.

I'm sorry to hear your knee diagnosis and hope another steroid injection will give you great pain relief.

I'm happy to hear you currently have no heart or lung issues and pray that you don't have any in the future.

Take care.

Graham 

Edited July 29, 2022 by grapau27

[kazu]

16 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Jacqui, @kazu, I couldn’t see your videos yesterday on my iPhone, but will look at them when I get home.  Happy to hear Shadow had her tail high!  

 

Only 1 video will work Ann - they are the same - I was having a problem uploading and then I couldn’t delete the ones that didn’t work.  Really weird.

 

16 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

I did answer your question about the Cellar Master dinner, but forgot to use the @ to add your contact…. But it is there on yesterday’s Daily - added today….  

 

Thanks so much.  I really appreciate and glad to hear it is good.  I am slow these days on CC trying to keep an eye on the bundle of trouble.

 

16 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Almost back in 🇨🇦-  DD will meet us in St. John’s tomorrow.   Then another sea day, Halifax, one last sea day and finally disembarkation in Boston and back home.  It will be over much too quickly.  

 

So sorry it is nearly over 😔. Safe travels home.

 

22 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Jacqui I bet you are already in love with Shadow. I see she's already walking through your beautiful foliage. Lol. More pictures please!

 

LOL the gate got closed and the wheelbarrow put up to block her way.  She’s too frightened to train on pet safe invisible fencing yet.  I was wrong - she can be a digger so only when I can watch her 24/7.  And I don’t want her eating mulch.

 

1 hour ago, JazzyV said:

 

Left knee is bone on bone, with some spurs, and he recommends knee replacement. Right knee only had mild disease. He did say we could try a steroid injection again, since it worked well in the past. If that didn't help, then the viscous injection (hyaluronic acid). So I got the steroid injection today. I told him I'd think about surgery, although if I agree, probably not until next year.

 

 

Oh no on your knee.  Good idea on the strengthening exercises & I hope the injection helps 🤞 

 

1 hour ago, JazzyV said:

 

@kazu I could only see the last video of Shadow, but it was fun to see her prancing around in the yard. Pretty flowers and garden.

 

Sorry about that - my fault - only one video probably works.  I still don’t know what I did wrong.

 

4 hours ago, lindaler said:

My knee is healing and since as I lay crying on the pavement, I said I never want to ride a bike again, my children have decided that I needed to ride a tricycle instead.

 

I am glad your knee is healing.  Be careful with that trike please.  Looks like fun, though.

 

4 hours ago, ger_77 said:

We saw the doctor yesterday about DH's leg and all is well - woo hoo!  There wasn't any indication of a DVT, but it seems the swelling could have been the result of heat and a certain blood pressure medication. 

 

Woo hoo!

 

3 hours ago, dfish said:

Good afternoon everyone from the ms. Rotterdam sailing away from Oslo.  It is so sad as this is our last sail away of the cruise.  We have really enjoyed our aft wrap balcony for sail aways.

 

OH my heavens - the last sail away? 😔. Your pics are gorgeous and have enjoyed your updates.

 

Safe travels

 

2 hours ago, durangoscots said:

 

He is having a hard time - I know @kazuwill have an even more challenging time with Shadow. But rescues are so rewarding and so grateful once they realize what their new lives will be.

 

You are right - they are.  If only I could get her to accept a leash. ‘Sigh’

 

[Seasick Sailor]

 

 

[57redbird]

31 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

 

Hula Grill!!!  

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good afternoon.  Right now, we are both a little beyond frustrated.  It turns out the hospital in Dallas called Wednesday afternoon while we were in the dermatologist's office, when DH had the volume turned down on his phone.  On the way home, when I turned the volume back up, I checked and there were no messages or any indication that there was a missed call.  We only learned about the call this morning, when DH called the hospital to check on the progress of getting an appointment.  So we are now waiting for another call to set up the appointment with the neurology department.  

 

What we're wondering is why when they did not get an answer and could not leave a message, they did not try to call again or call yesterday.  It's a good thing DH called this morning, otherwise, be probably would have really fallen through the cracks.  He did find a problem with the phone that it would not roll to voicemail.  Hopefully, that is now fixed permanently.  🤞

 

@ktbraun  That's good news that your DH is now testing negative and is over his Covid.

@grapau27  Graham, it looks like you gave Pauline a nice day for her remembrance day.

@superoma  I'm glad you had a nice birthday, and that you and your sister took your father for a nice birthday dinner yesterday.

@JazzyV  Vanessa, I'm glad you can have more steroid shots in your right knee, but I'm sorry the doctor thinks you need the left one replace.  Would the gel and shaving the bone spurs off be a possible next step before a total replacement?

@Seasick Sailor  Joy, that a nice picture of the two of you.  Safe travels back to Texas tomorrow night.

 

Lenda

 

[lazey1]

7 hours ago, 0106 said:

@lazey1 Did you receive my email about how to post your photos?

Yes, I read it today and will try your suggestions tomorrow when I have more time.  Thank you very much.

Jane

[dfish]

I just have to post this picture of sunset over the North Sea.  It compliments @rafinmdRoy’s sunrise pictures.

 

Also, @0106Tina, I sent you an email but from a different address.  My normal email can receive but not send on the ship.  Works everywhere else.

 

 

Sorry I can’t get it right side up.  

 

 

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Our last visit in 2018 was on the Coral Princess Circle the North Pacific 60-day cruise.  We were in Hong Kong on October 23 that year.  We missed the chance to have the ship get us a visa to visit Macaw, so we visited the other play land in Hong Kong, Disneyland. 

 

Between our 2002 visit and our 2018 visit, the new cruise terminal at the old air port was opened, and we docked there.  It is not as convenient a location as the old dock, and we had to take a shuttle to a shopping mall and back.

 

We were greeted by another version of the dragon dance upon arrival.  

 

 

Unfortunately, in clearing immigration in Japan and China was a very long an involved process which took up much of the morning.   To prevent people from crowding the terminals, we were issued "tender" tickets.

 

The train station where we transferred to the special train to Disneyland.

 

Inside the Disneyland train, and take a look at the windows.

 

Various pictures from Disneyland, parts of which were still under construction, including Cinderella's Castle.

 

 

 

They were ready for Halloween, which we discovered in 2002 was a big deal in Hong Kong.

 

The daily parade

 

 

Cinderella's Castle

 

Mickey and Minnie

 

The Disneyland train station

 

We took a train back to Hong Kong and walked to the Star Ferry terminal.  The inside of the Star Ferry, a Hong Kong fixture.

 

We also went to the Temple Street night market where we go fried vegetables and cokes.

 

 

 

We enjoyed our day at Disneyland and riding all the rides, well all but one.  The Star Wars ride was Space Mountain on steroids, and not the type of ride I like.  I made it through the ride without screaming, but I had my eyes closed from the beginning of the first drop until the end and was leaning on DH.  After we got off the ride, we needed to find a bench to sit until our legs stopped shaking.

 

Lenda

 

Thank you for an excellent selection of Hong Kong photos Lenda.

Extremely interesting.

Graham.

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Good morning Dailyites. Our last full day on Maui. Tomorrow night we will be homeward bound to hot hot Texas. I won't be homesick until we are on the plane.

 

I'm choosing Roy's alternative for dinner. 

 

Sandi I hope your leg is healing and less painful.

 

Graham the memory garden looks beautiful. What was Pauline reading? Is there a different memory reading daily?

 

Jacqui I bet you are already in love with Shadow. I see she's already walking through your beautiful foliage. Lol. More pictures please!

 

Thank you for the beautiful pictures! 

 

Prayers, Blessings and Cheers to all. Xx

 

 

Pauline was reading the large books of remembrance for July 29th and her dad's message.

Paulines mam,dad  and my mam and dad were all cremated at the crematorium and we visit to read all their names in the books of remembrance on the day they died.

Every day the pages are turned to the next day and they are in locked cases.

Graham.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

 

Fantastic photos.

You look so happy Joy and your husband looks well.

I'm really pleased to hear you had a fantastic holiday.

Graham.

[cat shepard]

3 hours ago, XBGuy said:

@cat shepard -- Do you have a Costco card?  I buy a lot of "everyday drinkers" at Costco.

'

To be honest, Pinot Noir is not my favorite wine grape, but a lot of wine geeks keep insisting to me that it actually makes good wine.  So, I make sure I keep my hand in and try it fairly regularly.  Unfortunately, most of the PNs that I like are fairly spendy.

 

Anyway, back to Costco.  For the last few months my local Costco has been carrying the Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir for, get this, $9.97.  (Many Acacia wines are single-vineyard designated, which makes them more expensive, but this one is Carneros region designated.  Presumably, the grapes are sourced from multiple vineyards.)  I tried it on a whim, and, let me tell you, for $10, it is a darned good wine.

 

Thank you! I have a Costco card & in about two years will have a Costco near me to use it in. Right now the closest one is 90 minutes away.  
 

But I will tuck that wine’s name away because oddly enough, my Aldi has expanded its wine offerings recently & they share some products with the Costco chain. 👀 I will be looking!

[grapau27]

When leaving the farm shop we saw cattle and llama's.

Graham.

[JazzyV]

@dfish Lovely picture.

[JazzyV]

@Seasick Sailor Great picture of you two.  Safe travels.

[Tbay]

@JazzyVHaven't read the daily today. so I don't know if you got any replies.

Try     www.parksleephotels.com    

There are several hotels listed where you can leave a car.