Still No Land!

Posted: November 17, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Don’t tell her but today I’ve moved along from my balcony to Mrs Me’s Balcony. She won’t mind though as she’s too busy sleeping off her breakfast. A breakfast which was particularly special as we were privileged enough to sit with a young gentleman who will be 100 years old in two days time, on the 19th November. I thought I was doing well having my 60th in four days time: that’s the 21st for those that can’t do sums :-). An ex tank driver, this young gentleman is still independent, living in his own home and only gave up his [clean] driving licence at 96. He is my new hero.

Anyway, back to me. What have I done in the last 24 hours that’s different to the previous 24 hours. Not a lot actually, and that is good: total R & R. We did our 3.2 laps of the Oceana (that’s three miles we’ve walked so far). We have made some more new friends, eaten more fine food ( you’d expect nothing less on the Oceana) and re-discovered the Champagne Bar. Also, it being the first formal night, we met the Captain (from Italy) at the welcome aboard cocktail party. This pleased Mrs Me, as listening to the voice of an italian just makes her go all dreamy (not sure what she’s dreaming though). But wait, we also found the Gymn. Ok, it was an accident but nevertheless we had a look inside and was actually quite impressed. So impressed in fact that yours truly, His Podgeness, went straight to the onboard shops and bought a t-shirt to wear in the Gymn the following day (today). That’s right, you heard correctly, His Podgeness is going to try out the Gymn!

In the meantime however, I continue to sit on [her] balcony watching the sea drift by. It’s a calmer sea now, still a vast sea, but a calmer sea and the temperature is edging ever closer to 20: lovely! And, looking at the map, we seem to be just West of the mouth of the Meditterranean. So from here on in, it’s going to get even warmer. Perfect birthday weather methinks.

Newsflash – His Podgeness is off to the Gymn

!
!

His Podgeness is back

Time once more to sit on the balcony (my balcony this time) and gaze out to sea, seeing nought but the sea and just listening to the sounds made by the Oceana as she makes her way south to the Canaries and hoping, ever hopeful, to see a whale or two. All I’ve sen so far are gulls, lots of gulls. How far do gulls fly? We must be a hundred miles from land. Not sure if the distance is correct but we certainly can’t see any land. All I can see is sea, lots of sea: a sea without whales :-(.

Tomorrow, we reach Madeira, or to be more precise, the Ilha da Madaira (apparently it means Island of Timber), which by all accounts is twice the size of The Isle of Wight, but a lot hillier and a lot warmer, especially in November, the birth month of His Podgeness. By all accounts Madeira also has a long road tunnel, the longest in Portugal in fact. This also confirms that Madeira is a Portugese Island. Before we get there however, there are three more meals to conquer. So, until we meet again:

Bom dia

It’s Getting Warmer; A Bit!

Posted: November 16, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

As I understand it, the temperature back home in Sleepy Hungerford is dropping ever closer to the magical zero (such a nice round number). Well, I’m pleased to say that here on P&O’s Oceana the temperature is on the up: not a lot but definitely on the up. I know that because Mrs Me is sitting on ‘her’ balcony with her sunglasses, cup of tea reading her magazine. Normally, she would be indoors wrapped up in her ‘Noo Noo’ moaning about the cold. As for me, well I’m on my balcony in t-shirt and jeans typing this and feeling warm and chilled. Luverly.

As this is our second day at sea, there isn’t really a lot to say. The same as yesterday, all we can see is sea: sea; sea as far as the eye can see. 🙂 It is indeed a Vast Sea.

Anyway, after a light breakfast 🙂 we did our 3.2 laps (1 mile) of the Oceana before having a mid-morning coffee and a wander round the shops. Now those who know us will be only too aware that Mrs Me has never yet come back from a cruise without acquiring a new piece of jewellery so why was I surprised to find ourselves being drawn to the Diamond & Pearl shop. Pink Pearls and/or Black Diamonds were on the wish list this time. I just know we’ll end up with something; I just know it. But then having to put up with His Podgeness, I suppose Mrs Me (calling her Mrs Podge is probably not a good idea) deserves such nice things.

Back to yesterday; the one big thing we did do was to stick to our rules of not having any lunch. Until we strayed into the restaurant that is, then I weakened. The chicken curry was to die for, and the looks I got from Mrs Me were along the same line. The curry was however, perfectly complimented by rice and chips and a large glass of Merlot :-). Why is it by the way, that a lunch time drink always leaves you wanting to sleep? Because that’s how we spent the rest of the afternoon, sleeping, waking just in time to for our 5 o’clock glass of wine (Merlot, large, times 2). Then, it was time to dress for Dinner.

Not quite sure how P&O work out who sits with who but they’ve never let us down. We’re a table of eight, four couples having never met before yet now as if long standing friends. Yet again, dinner was a wonderful experience: the rump steak melted in the mouth like fillet steak, the vegetables were cooked to perfection and the profiteroles for desert were heaven. Our original plan was to have a bottle of Rioja with our meal, but still with the effects of the Merlot, we plumped for Prosecco which turned out to be an ideal choice, not too heavy and not too fizzy. Our hunger sated, and the time getting on, we all went our separate ways. Some too see the show, some to see the comedienne and us to the Yacht & Compass for the quiz. We were too late to take part so we helped another couple with rest of theirs. Guess what? They won a bottle of wine then they left :-(. Anyway, A couple of late drinks left us ready for bed and a good night sleep.

By morning, I thought we’d turned round and gone back to the Bay of Biscay. We were in amongst some big seas breaking and rolling all around us and yet, the Oceana seems to laugh at such things and just continues to sail onwards ever nearer to the Canaries. Actually, at the time of writing, we’re just off the coast of Spain & Portugal but we’re going in the right direction (south). And so, I continue to sit on my balcony just watching; watching the sea go by: listening; listening to the waves: dreaming; dreaming of being on a world cruise and really sailing the seven seas. One day; one day, we will do just that. In the mean time however, Canaries here we come.

Ooh, it’s lunch time. Yum, yum.

Sea, Sea, Nothing But Sea

Posted: November 15, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
Tags: , , ,
0

Having arrived at the Cruise terminal 1-hour early, we were greeted by a nice man who whisked away our luggage and a very nice lady who took away our car; all we then had to do was check in (when we were informed that our cabin number had changed), clear security and go straight onto the lovely Oceana. it was just like being back home, even though we haven’t been on board since the 175th Anniversary P&O Grand Event, the Oceana still feels like it’s where we belong.

Our only concern, well, my only concern as Mrs Me was just happy to be on the ship, was that our luggage labels had all been marked up with a different cabin number; when would we see our luggage? I kept asking myself. Naturally I need not have worried. We were after all sailing with P&O: trust me, they know what they’re doing. In no time at all, our luggage had been identified, relabelled and delivered to our new cabin. Our New Cabin? Oh yes, we’ll, we had booked an outside cabin with balcony, but when we shown to our ‘quarters’, we found not a balcony cabin, but a mini-suite complete with walk in wardrobe and jacuzzi bath and separate sleeping area with a double balcony. I’m always happy when I’m on a cruise ship, this time I was emotionally happy. What a fab start to my 60th Birthday Cruise. Better still, the fridge had a bottle of champagne waiting for us.

The afternoon was spent re-acquainting ourselves with the ship, enjoying a glass of complimentary champagne (the bottle of champagne still waiting in the fridge) as we sailed away from Southampton and off to the seven seas: we’ll, not all seven obviously! Then, it was time for a pre-dinner drink then off to the restaurant for what we know will always be a fine meal; we weren’t disappointed. The meal was, as always faultless, our table companions were extremely amiable and waiters were just fan, one of them even remembered us from a previous cruise. The Bottle of fizzy pop served by a wine waiter, who also remembered us, made for a most enjoyable dinner.

All that remained was for us to settle into the Yacht & Compass bar for a nice glass of Merlot, which became two, before retiring to our huge bed in our lovely cabin.

That night, the winds got up as did the waves and we were rocked up and down and side to side as we started our 3-day sail to the Canaries: our adventure had truly started.

With the dawn came gentler seas and yes, sunshine. I was even able to sit out on my balcony, Mrs Me had divided it into his and hers, at 08:30 in a tee-shirt enjoying my early morning coffee. No matter which way I looked, all I could see, was sea and sea was all we were going to see for three days. When you sail for day after day and see nothing but sea, you realise just how vast the sea is.

Anyway, we’ve had breakfast, walked 3.2 laps of the ship (1mile) had our 11:00 coffee and now wondering; what’s for lunch? Maybe my next post will answer that question. Pictures will follow. Meanwhile, ZZZzzzzz.

See also: Podge Hits 60

Taxi, or Not Taxi

Posted: October 17, 2013 in Health, Rant, Travel
Tags: , , , ,
0

So, there I am; standing in the main entrance to Guys Hospital just before 8pm wanting to get to Paddington to catch the 20:35 so that I can get Young Nick back home to the care of his Mummy. On the main desk is a box of cards for a trusted taxi service. I phone them, the tell wait there and a taxi will arrive. So, I stand there, young Nick sitting looking as though he’d been through the wars, and in a way, he had. Then, in come a nice jolly caribbean man on the phone trying to get hold of his fare but saying that the number he’d been given was wrong. Quickly, his Podgeness sees the problem and make the nice caribbean man aware of the need to get to Paddington before the train leaves. If we missed the train, the next one was the little baby trains which ‘aint much better than cattle trucks.

Don’t worry says the nice caribbean man, I’ll get you there in plenty of time. So we bundle into his car and off we go.

First clue to something not quire right was when he turned south instead of heading over the river and north towards Paddington.

Second clue was when the trusted taxi company phoned to say that my taxi was outside. No, I said, I’m in your taxi now.

Third clue, long pause at the end of the line.

Fourth clue; what car are you in and what the drivers number. I couldn’t answer either.

Conclusion: the nice little caribbean man wasn’t a taxi driver, nor was his car a taxi.

There then followed 10 minutes of silence as we drifted, eventually, north and past Buckingham Palace and on towards Paddington.

Did we make it? Yes, we did. Did we get ripped off? Well no, actually we didn’t. The fare was less that it would have been. Was the nice caribbean man a nice caribbean man? Well, yes, he was. But he was also a scoundrel.

This time, we got away with it but believe me, there won’t be a next time. I was caught out and I couldn’t believe i’d let it happen.

His Podgeness was a dickhead.

This post has no point, just a replay of something of nothing….

Milk: Good Food? Bad Food?

Posted: October 13, 2013 in COPD, Cycling, Health, training
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
4

I’ve recently been talking with a respiratory friend of mine who says that milk is bad, really bad. In fact all dairy products are bad. [This conversation was brought about by my recent bout of chest infections and my sulky reference to how COPD sucks :-)] She told me that I must give up all dairy products if I wanted to help my lungs and get back out cycling. Now, my problem is that I like my breakfast cereals and they need milk; I like coffee and that ‘needs’ milk; I like tea, custard, chocolate, cream cakes, hot chocolate with whipped cream; I like it all but it was not being able to have my the breakfast cereals that really hurt me. It was suggested that I tried Soya Milk: Well, I’ve tried that stuff before and I’m not trying it again. So, in desperation I asked my friendly respiratory lady if using lactose free milk will be a good alternative. Her response was very sternly thus:

Lactose free is just as bad, sadly – it’s the cows’ milk protein as well as the lactose that causes many problems.

Lactose is a milk sugar that we don’t produce an enzyme for after infancy (lactase). No other mammal drinks the milk of another species – they are not designed to and neither are we.

Cows’ milk protein contains bovine lactalbumin a and b that we also don’t have enzymes for and cannot digest. What happens is that it leaks through, undigested into our bloodstream where it shouldn’t be (because of leaky gut – hence the Saffron* also helps to prevent this) and your bloodstream and immune system treat this protein like an invading bacteria (because it is labelled Cow, not Human) and attacks it, usually having been primed to do so in infancy.

Giving babies (especially our generation, but it is still bad today) cow based formula sensitises us to CMP when our guts are immature. Babies’ gut walls are designed to be leaky, to let all those good white blood cells and antibodies through into the bloodstream, that we should have been getting from our mummies. Giving cow, soya, wheat (rusks), corn based foods younger than 4-6 months sensitises babies to these foods; gives them food and other allergies and makes them ill because their immune systems start fighting them instead of viruses and bacteria.

Hence the reason why I am also a qualified Lactation Consultant in my spare time, helping women who are struggling to bre*st feed.

Most of us (around 70%) covertly react to cows’ milk protein, because we were bottle fed or given formula in hospital at a very early stage, even if human-fed the rest of the time.

It is at the root of most of the chronic diseases of the western world; asthma, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

* I had been previously recommended to drink Saffron Tea

She also told me to breath the fumes of Calvados, and even drink it as well 🙂 as the fumes have been shown to kill off TB Bacteria. I haven’t got TB but I’m more than happy to go with this last one and, given the sternness of the response and my needing to get back on my bike, and breath well of course, I decided to go for it and cut out dairy products. I’ve cut out all milk related products altogether and today is the last day of the first week without milk. How do I feel? Effin Brilliant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ready to run a marathon, nor am I ready for any significant cycling but after the past 6-weeks I am genuinely feeling so much better.

From a dietary perspective it hasn’t been that much of a challenge although splitting up with breakfast cereals was probably the real wrench. For a few days, I replaced these with sausage and egg rolls (yummy) but this can’t continue so it will be toast & jam from now on and maybe fruit but definitely no milk.

Next week, I shall start out on the turbo trainer (indoor cycling) to start to get my legs moving and stretch my lungs and go from there. I’m not going to rush but I’m still targeting next years the 2014 Remembering D-Day Cycle Challenge.

Another bloody good reason for sorting myself out is that I’ll be 60 next year and I’m not ready to start being old, though the ‘Victor Meldrew’ part of being old does have it’s attractions. 😉

As for COPD, well, it still sucks and I still challenge the diagnosis, even though I know they [the doctors] are probably right.

Must keep pedalling: Must keep pedalling.

Older Entries
Newer Entries