Category: General

While HP try their hardest to fix my laptop, and DPD try their hardest to lose it, there will a short interlude in posts to my blog. Which is a shame because I’ve already started my Germany tour video.  Watch this space.

Yes, that’s part three of our Independence of the Seas Mediterranean Tour 2017 video diary.

It’s a bit of a ‘chimichanga’ of all of the clips which aren’t in the other two parts, and I’m hoping it gives a bit of a taste of life on board a cruise ship.  It’s fair to say it only scratches the surface – it is missing lots of deck and onboard activities, parties on the promenade, boozing in the bars, live music and a lot more.   That’s what happens when you go to bed at nine in the evening I suppose.  But then again it’s impossible to be everywhere at once.

Unfortunately I couldn’t persuade my partner in crime to join me on the video. Maybe next time.  Or maybe I will have to change the name of our blog!  Anyway, I hope you enjoy it enough to click “like” !

Honestly!   This “vlogging” will be the death of me!

No matter how much I think I’m on top of it all, the job just gets bigger and bigger as I become more picky and adventurous with my editing.   In fact, it’s a bit like my painting – if I wanted to I could tweak and fiddle with it forever, but I know that at some point I have to say “enough is enough” and declare the project finished. And if I don’t finish it soon, people will lose interest.

And after my third run through, that’s where I am at;  Part 2 of our epic journey around the Med is complete, and uploading as I can speak (which might take a while as it’s HUGE!) So apologies if you are as picky as me and spot something that really should have been fixed.

I’ve put a lot of hours in and I really hope it was worth it.   I’ve learned loads doing this first project – probably much too ambitious for a first attempt, but hey ho – I’ve never been one for taking the easy path.

I hope you enjoy it.  Any day now 🙂

 

A quick reminder to check-in later this month when I will be posting our visit to the inaugural Scampton Air Show, and later documenting my eagerly awaited adventure with my friend Joe in the Czech Republic, as we cram in a week’s worth of visits into a long weekend, including the Brahms museum and Colditz Castle just for starters.

Stay tuned!

Just when I thought I was doing so well on my new youtube channel, and someone goes and leaves me this!

I mean, what does it mean?  They don’t know me.  They don’t know what was coming next.  Don’t they realise they are crushing an already fragile emerging talent?   Don’t they know people need room to grow?

And the cowardly critic even used youtube’s anonymity to deal the cruel blow without leaving any identifying features, or any means of redress, nor can I ask politely how I could improve.

I have known people throw themselves under a number seven double decker for less.

Fortunately I am not one of those people.  It matters not to me;  what matters is that I enjoyed doing it.

So feel free to orientate your thumb in any direction you like, because at least you have taken the time to have a look and cast your vote, and I’m very thankful of your input.

I’ve been looking for a simple chart where I can keep track of our travels and while I’ve not found the ideal tool yet, this is my latest find at http://www.amcharts.com

Continue reading “Captain’s Log” →

I’ve always fancied the idea of a world cruise but its not the sort of thing you can do when you’re working, unless you work for the kind of company who allow sabaticals, to do the stuff now that you will probably be too old to properly enjoy in later life.  For us then this remains a retirement dream.  Well, actually, my dream – I wonder if Sue fancies it?  I suppose I should ask her.

So when we first set up our website, As a bit of fun I set up a counter to the day we would eventually set sail, and it read 9.2 years!  Plenty of time to save up.  But look how fast it’s ticking down!   I had better start packing…

It’s been months in the making but I can now reveal that we are only days away from releasing our first ever video (or is that “Vlog”?) on our Youtube channel .  It has taken a while to figure out the best way to present the hours and hours of footage, and it’s construction is worthy of a post in it’s own right!  So dust off your tux, slip in to your ballgowns and grab your champagne by the flute because opening night is rapidly approaching!

Subscribe here!

Tonight, I’m writing something slightly off topic, but I feel it warranted as I feel a little frustrated at some posts I’ve read on other social media.  Not aimed at me personally,  but collectively (in my opinion) taking a swipe generally at people writing travel blogs for, basically it seems, being ‘affluent’ enough to be able to undertake their travels with a seemingly limitless budget.

So I feel compelled, for my part at least, to set the record straight.
Continue reading “Being a world traveller…” →

When I was a lad I would never miss the Colditz series on TV, and for a long time I have been toying with the idea of visiting this historic place.

A couple of years ago I mentioned this to my mate Joe who lives in the Czech Republic and he was up for it too.  I never thought it would happen after a few abortive attempts, but surprisingly we have finally managed to arrange a date when we are both free! Jet2 flying out, wooden glider on the way home!