Posts Tagged ‘P&O’

Still No Land!

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

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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
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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
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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

Today’s Number shall be 6

Posted: June 27, 2012 in Cruising, Festivals, P&O, Travel
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Tom Mix – Tom’s tricks – Chopsticks – In a fix – Number 6.

In tts form the number 6 is a continuous curve without angle, without line. It is the total love. It is almost spiral, it is on the point of going towards the infinity.

6 is also the number of the indecision and the choice that is required.

6 is also the number of jars in which the water was transformed into wine by Jesus at the wedding of Cana.

But, as you’ll probably have guessed, to His Podgeness, 6 represents:

6 more sleeps to go,
6 more sleeps to cruising,
6 more more sleeps till the fat big feller Gets on that boat,
With his bird, and her boy,
6 more sleeps to cruising

I’m so excited, I could just sing:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is His Podgeness
Welcoming you aboard the A34 Express,
To Southampton Cruise Terminal,
We will be driving at one heck of a rate of knots,
Though at a ground speed not greater than 70 miles per hour,
Refreshments will be served at Hedge End, so;
Kindly tie up your safety belts,
Sit back and settle into the state of great joy & happiness, cos: –

Whooo, I’m going to The Fiord’s;
Whooo, I’m crossing the Great North Sea;
Whooo, I’m going there with me girl friend;
Whooo, a Cruising we’ll all be.

I don’t want to be a Commuter all my life;
I’ve seen too much of Railways, day and night;
So, sail away on P&O Cruise Lines;
I’ll dump the car, so take me far;

I look all around, and I see seven ships sent,
It looks like being one Grand Event
Lets sail away on P&O Cruise Lines;
I’ll dump the car, so take me far;

Whooo, I’m going to The Fiord’s.
Yada Yada

I’m floundering now, the excitements getting to me….. Oooooooooohhhh.

Today’s Number is 7

Posted: June 26, 2012 in Cruising, general, P&O, Travel
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The number for today is 7, and just for today, the number is also 1.

For the Indians in the prairie and the “Pueblo” Indians, the number 7 represents the cosmic coordinate of the man.

The dice symbolises the 7: the dice itself, 1, having 6 faces.

For the Indians in the prairie and the “Pueblo” Indians, the number 7 represents the cosmic coordinate of the man.

The number 7 also means ‘Red 7’ of the Red Arrows

For His Podgeness, the number 7 means:

7 more sleeps to go;

7 more sleeps to cruising;

7 more sleeps till the big fella gets on that boat,

with his bird and her boy;

7 more sleeps to cruising.

As for Number 1!

Well just think, this time in 1 week, I will most likely have been up before even the cows got up (I don’t actually have any cows but you get my meaning), and certainly before the Oceana and the Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Oriana & Ventura arrives in Port: bags and satchels will be lined up ready for dispersal across two cars (yes, we really are taking two cars) and i’ll be starving. The plan is to brunch at M&S Hedge End before the final push to the Cruise Terminal.

Now, serious question: Do I need open toed sandals without socks or close toed sandals with socks for Norway? Will I need a Parka?

Oooooh, I’m sooooo Excited.

Possibly, I’m too excited as for the last 72 hours I’ve been suffering with Pharyngitis and am now floating in a cloud of analgesics (Paracetamol, Codeine and Ibuprofen) 🙂 Hopefully I’ll be back on all cylinders tomorrow.

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