Monday 30th March 2015

Much improved but very weak. Managed to stay up today so hopefully now on the mend.
Another mild and sunny day. 
Spawk arrived to see how I was....

Saturday 28th / Sunday 29th March 2015

Very unwell, days in bed. Not been like this in years.

Friday 27th March 2015

Mild, overcast with sun at times.
Day spent unpacking and coming to terms with life back on land.
Garden looks a picture with all the spring flowers now out in force.

Thursday 26th March 2015

Mild, overcast day as we arrived at Avonmouth Docks after one amazing holiday. Will never forget. Experienced, extreme weather, extreme landscapes, met some interesting people both on board ship and in places we visited.
What a holiday.
Docked at 11am and left ship at 2pm arriving home at 4pm after stopping at the Cunning Man for a pint and a pie. Guess what, while there a couple arrived who also were on the cruise and lived in Southcote. What about that.
Picture 1 - Tug pushing us into the Dock.
     "     2 - Bye bye Azores, miss you already.

Wednesday 25th March 2015.

Windy, cold but pretty sunny.
Full day at sea, due in Bristol at 11am tomorrow. Plenty of activities on board ship today. Enjoyed further talks by Richard and David. Another fruit and vegetable carving display and and of course showtime.
The room maid has been brilliant, a real star working such long hours during the holiday bringing a huge smile to my face with a present she left on my bed tonight, see below
Pictures 1 - 3 - Fruit and Vegetable carving, a few samples of chefs work.
      "            4 - Showtime, stepping through the decades of music.
      "            5 - A present from the room maid. Just brilliant.

Tuesday 24th March 2015

Mixed weather today, showers at times but mostly dry with long sunny periods.
Docked at Stornaway 8am as enjoying breakfast. Had pre-booked another days coach trip to visit Harris and Lewis.
What a day, not seen a planet like it! What some scenery to take in. How did villagers survive? Most of the income of course from fishing and the women crofters producing Harris Tweed. Will never forget today, so pleased to have experienced this part of Scotland. Out of the hundreds of photographs taken I found it again difficult to choose which few to show.
With the holiday almost at an end the crew meant us to go out with a stormer of an evening. At the end of the evening dinner the crew appeared with pudding surrounded by candles and highlighted by music from the Azores band. Talk about another emotional moment.
Showtime was also a stomper of a performance from Russia with Love. Full of Russian Dancing and Songs. What a night.
Day at sea now before arriving in Bristol and homeward bound.
Picture 1 - Tender from ship to shore.
   "  2 - 4 - Stornaway Island.
  " 5 & 6 - Harris Tweed.
  "        7 - Leaving Stornaway.
  "        8 - Showtime.
  "9 & 10 - and it's goodbye from us the crew.

Monday 23rd March 2015

A stunning day, very windy with plenty of sun. Arrived at Kirkwall early this morning, had pre-booked a days coach trip which was to drive us more inland to see the Churchill Barriers etc.
First stop was at the Ring of Brodgar. Here we saw a ring of stones erected with such mathematical precision some 5,000 years ago. Next was a visit to the Old Man of Hoy area, what a scene of utter astonishment. blowholes, geos, sea stacks, boiling sea....could not believe what I was experiencing.
From here drove on to the Churchill Barriers and the Italian  Chapel. The Chapel was built from two disused nissen huts to create this rather unique Chapel. 
The Churchill Barriers leaves you pondering on how on earth this was possible. Hundreds upon hundred of concrete blocks set at angles to stop the enemy entering the mainland.
What another amazing day out.
Showtime tonight was Rock n Roll Dreams. Taking us back in time to the Rock and Roll era.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Ring of Brodgar.
      "      3 & 4 - Old Man of Hoy area of the Orkney Islands.
      "      5 & 6 - Churchill Barriers.
      "             7 - Italian Chapel.
      "             8 - Leaving at sunset.
      "             9 - Showtime.

Sunday 22nd March 2015

Oh dear, what a night. Talk about rocking yourself to sleep. High winds and rough sea stopped us docking in Lerwick. Coastguards were unable to guarantee us a safe entry into Shetland Waters. 
Meant a day at sea as now making our way to the Orkney Islands.
With the day on board being somewhat rocky it was a day for holding on to handrails. Dinner time was an experience with food and china crashing all around us. A day to remember this one.
Look forward now to visiting the Orkney Islands in calmer conditions hopefully.

Saturday 21st March 2015

Cold and windy with long sunny periods.
Arrived here on the Faroe Islands at 8am as we were enjoying breakfast. What a contrast in scenery to Iceland.
Had pre-booked a day coach trip taking us away from the coast to discover how the Islanders live and work. An amazing experience, loved the villages with grass roofs. Village life still much the same as centuries ago with the main income coming from fishing. Plenty of sheep on the Islands but these are kept as pets, not for making money. Difficult to decide which picts' to show as captured so many. 
An Island I would love to return someday.
Showtime tonight was a tribute to the music of Queen, what a stomper of a show.
Looking forward now to reaching the Shetland Isles tomorrow after leaving Kollafjordur tonight at 5pm.
Picture 1 - Arriving at Kollafjordur as seen through the porthole.
    " 2 - 6 - Faroe Islands.
    "      7 - Tribute to the music of Queen.

Friday 20th March 2015

A very cold, windy and sunny day. Overcast however at the time of the Eclipse. ,ore on that later.
Another day at sea before we reach Kollafjordur so took advantage of further interesting talks by David Roper and Richard Pickard. The talk by Richard today was mostly an apology  for the dismal display this morning of the Eclipse.
The captain had manoeuvred the ship so we were directly in line to see the eclipse at its best but oh dear. Saw a two second glimpse before there was cloud cover. If on the photographers allowed on the bridge stood a good chance of some good images, confirmed by the footage on the DVD of the holiday. It was still an emotional, electrifying experience and one I will never forget as in 1999 when we experienced the last one in Reims.
Looking forward now to arriving in Kollafjordur.
Pictures 1 - 5 - My attempt at capturing the Eclipse.
      "           6 - The poor Captain apologising for the disappointment at not seeing the eclipse in all its glory. Not his fault of course and he received a standing ovation for addressing us. This moment was as emotional as the moment of the Eclipse.
Picture 7 - Showtime  - a musical journey tonight around the world.

Thursday 19th March 2015

Cold, bright and windy day. 
It was a day at sea today, looking forward to the eclipse tomorrow so a fair amount of excitement spreading through the ship today. 
Enjoyed another talk by Roger on what is in the night sky. 
Plenty of activities on board apart from the talks so day passed by very quickly. 
Showtime tonight was Magic of the Musicals, a superb production dedicated to the greatest hits from Broadway and the West End.
Just about to jump into bed when the captain made this announcement - get on deck now if you wish to see a display of the Northern Lights. What a showing. Please note not all the photographs are mine but were all taken by guests on board tonight.
Pictures 1 - 3 - Day at sea.
       "          4 - Showtime.
       "     5 - 9 - Northern Lights.