Bits & Pieces...

I took a day off from my self-imposed regime today, slept in a bit, had a later breakfast, I am also skipping keep-fit, skipping Tai Chi and going to bible study instead with Fellette. I want the mental freedom from restraints that I put on my time here.

We went to the Magician last night. Corny but funny and some mysterious tricks. While waiting for the show to start I chatted with the man next to me, and asked him how his day in Tonga went. He said that he was in Tonga during the war when his ship was torpedoed and they pulled in for temporary repairs before heading back to the States for major repairs. It was the aircraft carrier Independence. He remembers high cliffs some 60 years ago. There are no cliffs on Tonga, it is flat. So, he was on an island that had Tonga in the name, but it not the island that we visited. Interesting.

Meanwhile, friends George and Ruth thought that they had never been to Tonga before, but yesterday while ashore they realized, "Yikes, we have been here before". Interesting.

We were informed this morning that the ship will NOT be stopping at Libya as scheduled. The Libyan government still makes it awkward for Americans to go ashore for a day trip in that country so it has been officially cancelled. It is a pity because we actually enjoy going to the places that are a bit off the regular beaten track. Plus, there are some of the best Roman Ruins in the world there.

We were informed that our good friend Luci from Canada Ticket, who is an avid traveller with us via the blog, had a kidney stone removed in a bit of a hurry recently. That is a pity, because we often save up some of the chocolates that we are given on the cruise, or we get otherwise for her. There is about a 50-50 chance that that little but terribly painful stone was caused by Luci's self-confessed need for a piece of chocolate DAlLY. I have enclosed a shot of the stash we have to date for her and other eager chocoholics! Hope you can enjoy them Luci!


lt is amazing how different people think of different things. An example: My sister Moe unlocks her cabin safe at night. Why you ask! So that if we have to take to the life boats in the middle of the night she can reach in and grab a few choice things pronto. She also puts her slippers UNDER the bed at night, [this is a habit from home]. Why you ask! So that in case of an earthquake any shattered glass will NOT be in her slippers when she jumps into them! Now at first I thought this odd, but it is not. It just never occurred to me.

Meanwhile... I have learned of another lady who sleeps in the nude but keeps a nighty in the bedside dresser, 'just in case'. All interesting stuff eh? [I told you this was bits & pieces.]

Fellette and I are changing our dinner seating tables in Sydney.

While doing that I also requested a table for six from Istanbul onward. That table being Moe, my niece Barbara (Moe’s daughter) who joins us there, Gail and Jim and Fellette and I. We may not get a table for six but hopefully we will all be at the same table.

The Pacific Islands are behind us and I believe most on board are a bit anxious to see New Zealand coming up in a couple of days. New Zealand is a very neat and tidy, well run, comfortable and scenic place to visit.

Up until now sister Moe has not ventured too far afield while on shore. Moe has two tours booked through the ship for the first two ports, Auckland and Wellington. The Cutlers and Robins are scouting out possible adventures in the two last ports in NZ in Auckland and each have separate complimentary tours in Wellington.

I have heard from long-time [1960 Europe] friend Keith Stafford of Melbourne. Keith and wife Jenny are going to meet us there and squire us, [Moe D & F] around for the day. I first met Keith while hosteling in Europe for 5/6 months in 1960. We have been pen-pals ever since and we have seen each other only four times in 48 years. [Or is it five Keith?] We stayed with Keith and Jenny for a few days past November while in Australia. Keith has a better memory than I do so I will give some more details on this relationship after we se them February 12th.