Testing...

New Year's Eve, 2016. Snowing.

I am doing this blog on my i-Pad because one never knows how the internet will work on the ship.

Today was uneventful as we did the final bits and pieces of packing. The electronics is my worry while Fellette takes care of everything else it seems.

Tomorrow afternoon Wally will kindly drive us to the Airport Hotel where we will spend the time awaiting an early morning rise and hopefully off to Miami via Phoenix early.

I do not really have anything interesting to report and never took a picture today. The snow started later and is interesting, but not photographable. We are expecting a power outage due to trees and limbs falling on the lines as it is a very wet snow.

This i-Pad is acting up so I am going to end it here and hope that my computer will do the job for me on the ship. Tomorrow there should be a picture or two and something decent to report.

Temperature in Rio De Janeiro today...   33C.  91C.

However, in the Falklands it is... 9C .  48F.

Are we excited yet?...

Friday, December 30. Some thawing but ice at night.

We accomplished a great deal today: We got Fellette's car started after leaving some lights on overnight [?@#*!]. We then took down the Nativity Scene in freezing weather this morning. Next we chipped and shovelled some ice off the driveway so our son and daughter-in-law don't have a bad fall. It was nice in the shop, warm with the fire, drying and taking apart the nativity stable and drying and storing all the characters for another year.

Speaking of falling, Robert took a tumble due to the icy conditions. They ended up calling an ambulance somewhat later because of the pain. His first ride in an ambulance had a good outcome as after the X-Rays he was told there was nothing broken. Pain pills and get up and move was the doctor's order. He is doing that and appears to be coming around just fine.

In the afternoon Fellette took auntie Myra to the Farm to have a quiet catchup and see all the handiwork that Jeanette has done the last few months. Angela is quite excited as she has a job starting the coming Tuesday.

This morning, sister Moe asked if I was getting excited about the trip yet. I said, yes, and no. I was not quite sure why that is, but upon reflection I believe it is because of the following: Two weeks ago I was basically flat on my back unable to perform normal bodily functions regarding urinating and had been that way for three weeks. [Sorry] Yet now, here we are about to go on another trip-of-a lifetime.

How did that happen? It was almost a miracle to me. It seems as if I am in a time-warp and my mind cannot make that leap, even though I consciously know we are going. Today, as I finished some odds and ends it is beginning to sink in and some level of excitement is building within my strange mind.

Wally and Katrina are with us now, but I forgot how busy young people can be and we hardly see or even hear them. Tomorrow I hope to get some time to go over a few things with Wally regarding this house.

**  **  **

Temperature in the Panama Canal today, 31C, [88F]

**  **  **

It is coming down early, and it was cold out but we had no choice. Colder yet weather is apparently on the way. Time to go south methinks!

White Tux, Black Tux...

Thursday, December 29. Rain and warmer.

A meeting with Wally and Scott for me this AM, Fellette took down the Christmas decorations and tree in the house: how barren it looks!

In the afternoon we were determined to get the last of the packing done, just in case we have forgotten something. Sure enough, the medicine department is lacking and an important prescription was missing so I ordered that and that was the end of the packing! We hope.

We heard from the Luggage Forward company, [DHL] who took three large cases December 23, the bags are in Fort Lauderdale in the hands of the Port Agent and will be on board when we get there. [?]

In the course of this cruise we will have many dress-up nights that require us gents to get spiffied up somewhat. To Jim and I that means a Tuxedo, or Dinner Jacket as they are sometimes called. In my own world, I understood that while 'In the tropics', between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, while at sea, the preferred dress was a White Tux or Dinner Jacket. All that seems to have gone out the window and almost anything goes.

To see somebody wearing a white tux in February in the North Atlantic, is, to me, wrong. So, on this trip I will have both a white and black tux. I hope to be able to stick to that, just for the sake of old-fashioned tradition.

Taking the outdoor lights down.

Snowmagedon at CTI.

Notice the Santa Hat.

The pill suitcase. Sad isn't it?

The Jag in storage at Wally's new place.

This auto carrier that a friend of Wally's transported two cars for Wally today.

Two cars and the furniture in storage for a few months.

Four more sleeps here...

Wednesday, December 28. Still snow hanging around.

It was a bit of a wasted day actually. Fellette spend the morning and a bit of the afternoon at the choir meeting place sorting out the sheet music from the Fall session. I did an errand run, accomplishing a lot of nothing, but nevertheless some essential business re the upcoming trip.

Having Wally and Katrina here sure takes a load off of my mind regarding house and home. They are sleeping at our place for the first time tonight, Fellette cooked a dinner for four for the first time in years.

Yesterday I listed some things that we were looking forward to on the cruise, today I will list what I/we will miss while away...

1. My phone calls to my friend Don Gray at 7.00 am very day and my daily chats with Wally and Craig regarding CTI and other matter and chats with my brother Graham and sister  Moe. The catchup calls with Jeanette take a little longer.

2. Going out to the workshop, lighting the fire, making a tea and building something.

3. Making special coffee for Fellette in the morning. Although I can still go and get one and bring it to the room, or have it delivered. Hmmm.

4. Reading Canadian news. [Guess what we will be hearing about, it begins with a T and ends in a P.]

5. Church Sundays with the Grays, and coffee after.

6. Seeing the crocuses and first daffodils bloom.

No doubt there will be some mini-misadventures such as this when our tour car would not start on a remote side of some tropical paradise.

Not much travel stuff today...

Tuesday, December 27. Thawing, finally.

We had a bit of a social day, saying goodbye to a couple of close friends, Don and CJ & Don and Lynn, of 100 Mile fame, came for tea this afternoon.

Throughout the day Wally, Katrina and and Nathan brought a few carloads of household items and put them in the suite as this is their last night in their own home. Tomorrow we have house guests here, for a few months. It works out well, we will have five nights together and then we leave them in charge of our house and property until early spring.

Today I managed to get the necessary paper work done, [with the help of the travel  agent], that will enable us to enter Argentina. The Brazilian visa was secured about six or seven weeks ago.

**  **  **

I do not have much to report on the cruise except that I will list a few things that we are looking forward to:

    1. Fellette will not have to cook a meal, make a bed nor do any housework for 10 weeks.

    2. Feeling the soothing pulse of the engines while in bed.

    3. Rest and recuperation after a hectic few months.

    4. Enjoying the uplifting spirits of good friends Jim and Gail, also on board.

   5. The excitement of seeing new places and mini-adventures, as yet unknown and meeting new people.

   6. Feeling confident that our house and home is in the good hands of Wally and Katrina.

   7. Planning what to put in the blog as the day progresses, and taking pictures to suit.

   8. Kippers for breakfast once in a while!

   9. Getting all dressed up and having a drink before dinner in the Crow's Nest Lounge with the   Cutlers'.

   10. Getting mail from home and friends.

   11. Just being alive! 

Four younger people, 2014.

Bits and pieces...

Monday, December 26. Boxing Day for us. Snowmageddon here!

The weather outside is frightful, but fire is so delightful is very true today. 

Over the past few days I have managed to finally, get all the various cables for cameras, computer, iPads and other gadgety things labelled and put in clear poly bags and in the appropriate suitcase or backpack and ready to go. The lack of one cable or charger or some little thing can make for a bit of a disaster when you have to do without it for two months. The mess in the bedroom regarding half packed suitcases is looking a bit better as it gets some attention from Fellette and I as well.

I was looking over the tickets that arrived by some miracle on Friday and was looking at the suggested clothing. I see that the dress levels continue to sink. I quote: "On Gala Nights for gentlemen, jacket and tie are appropriate, collared shirt and slacks are required." Gone are the days of dinner jacket/tuxedo it seems, although many will do so, as will we. Oh well.

I also see that there is a total of  27 'Themed Dinners' if you include the ones in a specialty dining room, otherwise we have 17, not all are formal. For instance they have one after our day in Devil's Island and one called 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Usually the serving staff goes over the top on fancy dress and uniform for such dinners.

The Prinsendam is considered and old and tiny ship, the oldest and smallest in the Holland America fleet. We like it, there is one heck of a lot less walking to get around. It is 38,000 tonnes, holds about 800 passengers with a crew of  470, built in 1988 and refurbished in 2005 and 2010 it is a friendly ship to be on. We are looking forward to walking up that gangplank a week from tomorrow!

This is the Prinsendam from a stock photo.

**  **  **

Our day today... 

Fellette and Auntie Myra have had a bit of a get-together on Boxing Day for about the past 35 plus years back to when Myra baby-sat the girls as infants, then kids and the bond still holds.

A Winter Wonderland!

Keeping the walkways open.

Marion and Auntie Myra.

Joe and Annette

Jeanette and Adrienne.

Alicia and Fellette on the left with Joe and Annette.

We can now use the conservatory on winter days now that the ceiling has been covered and insulated.

It is very cozy, like being outside, but inside.

A Break from Travel Talk...

Sunday, Christmas day. Cold as heck...

This is the day that everybody, either looks forward to or is glad to see it come and go! Crazy, but that is the truth.

We took off for our first church in a couple of months only to find it shut! Yep, all dressed up and no place to go. So we went home. Fellette had a dinner to prepare and I had some meaningless little jobs to do, but rested mostly. I have found out that I am not as far advanced as I think I am. I tire very quickly and have the need to sit, or lie and am quickly sound asleep. I think my body is telling me to rest. I did pop out to the shop for a bit but that was just a boost for my morale.

Dinner tonight was a smaller affair: Fellette and I, Craig, Jeanette and Robert and Angela, Alicia and Adrienne. Eight total. A neat gift exchange in the now-heated conservatory and amongst the best turkey dinner in years.

A bit of after dinner conversation and soon  to bed. We are all anxious to see if the predicted snowfall materialises tonight, along with high winds. Hmmm.

The host and hostess, all dandied up.

Alicia, Robert and Craig.

Jeanette, Alicia and Robert.

Angela and Adrienne.

From Jeanette to Craig, a bit of a gag gift, decorated by Jeanette., 

Craig is a great gift giver, and wrapper. In this container is a 'Rake' for combing the fringe on rugs. Yup.

What could be in here?

Best bird in years, least expensive as well!

Adrienne doing the spuds.

Craig carved the bird this year.

A Whitish Christmas...

Saturday, December 24. Cool, foggy, clammy.

Looking outside my den window all I see is snow and ice. No wonder so many people travel to the tropics during our winters here. Snow, in modest amounts beats rain and dreary sunless days, but not by much.

Our day was an easy day really. My only main objective of the day was to get a haircut. Sounds simple enough, it has been about two months since I had one and am looking pretty darn shabby. The underlying fear was of course, the toilet.  The wait at the local shop can sometimes be quite long. Too long under my current circumstances. So, off I went and low and behold, two barbers, short wait and no issues. I call that "The Mark Twain Experience" Mark Twain is reputed to have said, "Some of my biggest problems never happened!" I find that is very often the case, things work out.

We are still packing, or I should say, laying out, goods that we may need on this trip. Packing is quite a challenge this time. Usually a long winter cruise gets to between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and spends all the time in warm weather. 

Not so this trip. We start in Florida, go through the Panama, now 31C, down past Ecuador where it is 28 C,  and down to Antarctica where it is currently -4C, the Falklands are at 6C and pelting rain, and Rio is 32C. Quite a challenge. However we do not get off the ship in the Antarctic, we just cruise about, look at icebergs the size of battleships, seals, penguins and then wish we would get to warmer climes. Good fun and reason to stay inside and watch it all from the comfort of a cozy ship.

***********************

By the way... If you want the blog emailed to you, there is a place for you to do that on the blog. Just below the map there is a box  'Follow by email' Fill that out and it will be in your in-box.

These are some of the 'Just in case" cold remedies we take. We have yet to pack the 'real' pills and stuff for my recovery.

This was the original 'Recovery' suitcase that Fellette packed last week. We will lighten it up as my condition improves and slip only the essentials into another case. You would not believe some of the medicines that people take along. They are very happy to offer you stuff from their on board medicine cabinet. Anything to avoid a doctors visit and the subsequent bill. They have a very well equipped sick bay on board, a doctor and  maybe two nurses.

Christmas Eve, Eve...

Friday, December 23. Some snow and drizzle, cool and clammy.

A busy day for us it seems. Barb, Garth and Garth's mom, Vi Roden,came for a morning cup of Joe at 9.30. We had a very nice visit and catchup before they headed up the Valley to get a fresh turkey. [Garth is a very good chef].

Then we were off to the Canada Ticket Luncheon, our 36th, which is a casual and corny affair but it is our tradition and it sets the scene for the Christmas shut down which this year is just about perfect regarding the weekend, Christmas Eve, and Boxing Day. 

Back home soon enough where I had some business to attend to so we missed the after lunch quiet time. Mid afternoon Jeanette dropped over with Adrienne and we had a very relaxed couple of hours of quality time. Then Fellette prepared a meal of left over Chinese, which is often better than the original meal!

After dinner we dropped over to a neighbour's house for a cup of Christmas Cheer before hitting the sack and calling it a day. Long day for me, and Fellette. Good day though.

**  **  **

Oh yes, somewhere in the afternoon, DHL, the courier people came by and took some of our luggage away, never to be seen again! [Joking]

The 120 year old restored printing press in the reception area at CTI, 

decorated for Christmas by Katrina.

The tree.

A 'Very American' Christmas Decoration from one of the staff at Globe in Chicago. Apparently we have been sending toques and all things Canadian down to them! 

Earlier in the week, going through the closet picking clothes for the cruise.

Some of Doug's stuff.

More of mine?

I photographed the 'sent luggage' for identification purposes if it gets lost.

Ditto.

Ditto.

On the front porch, awaiting pickup.

Goodbye luggage.

Ladies first at the luncheon.

The staff that was in today.

A Heads up...

Thursday, December 22. Drizzle and freezing in the AM.

Well, I am almost ready to say it, "I am Back!" however I am afraid to say it because lately I seem to have taken two steps forward and then one back, so many times that I am gun-shy.

The last two months have been a bit of a terror for both of us. The sooner I can put that behind us, the better. Enough said about that!

The last week has been spectacular for Fellette and I, health wise. So much so that we have re-booked our Ocean Voyage that we booked last January and cancelled in October because of my prostate issue.

The last few days have been a whirlwind, for Fellette in particular, as she hastily packed some large cases for pickup tomorrow. The next time we see them, hopefully, will be in our stateroom when we walk aboard the Holland America Line ship ms Prinsendam on Tuesday, January 3 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Good friends Jim and Gail Cutler from California are aboard as well, so that makes the voyage all the better. I may be somewhat restricted in adventuring too far afield for a while due to my treatment but hopefully that will improve as the voyage progresses.

Below is the Itinerary, or it was some time ago, it can and probably has changed a bit. Basically we leave from Fort Lauderdale on January 3 and go through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean, down the west coast of South America, into the Antarctic and then head north, to warmer weather and back to Fort Lauderdale on March 11. Still time to get the garden in if we want to try some early planting.

That is enough for today. Talk tomorrow, Lord Willing.

Our travelling companions, Jim and Gail in January, 2014 in some Tropical Paradise whose name escapes me at the moment.

*******************

Itinerary, subject to change...

Tue, Jan 3	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Wed, Jan 4	At Sea
Thu, Jan 5	At Sea
Fri, Jan 6	Isla de Providencia, Colombia
Sat, Jan 7	Puerto Limon (San Jose), Costa Rica
Sun, Jan 8	Enter Panama Canal Cristobal
Sun, Jan 8	Cruising Panama Canal
Sun, Jan 8	Exit Panama Canal Balboa
Mon, Jan 9	At Sea
Tue, Jan 10	Manta, Ecuador
Wed, Jan 11	At Sea
Thu, Jan 12	At Sea
Fri, Jan 13	Callao (Lima), Peru
Sat, Jan 14	Callao (Lima), Peru
Sun, Jan 15	Callao (Lima), Peru
Mon, Jan 16	At Sea
Tue, Jan 17	Arica, Chile
Wed, Jan 18	At Sea
Thu, Jan 19	Coquimbo (La Serena), Chile
Fri, Jan 20	Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile
Sat, Jan 21	At Sea
Sun, Jan 22	Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile
Mon, Jan 23	At Sea
Tue, Jan 24	Castro, Isla Chiloe, Chile
Wed, Jan 25	Darwin Channel Chilean Fjords
Thu, Jan 26	Scenic cruising Amalia or Brujo Glacier
Fri, Jan 27	Strait of Magellan
Fri, Jan 27	Punta Arenas, Chile
Sat, Jan 28	Scenic Cruising Cape Horn
Sun, Jan 29	Ushuaia, Argentina
Mon, Jan 30	At Sea
Tue, Jan 31	The Palmer Archipelago
Wed, Feb 1	The Danco Coast
Thu, Feb 2	The Antarctic Sound
Fri, Feb 3	At Sea
Sat, Feb 4	Stanley/Falkland Is/Islas Malvinas
Sun, Feb 5	At Sea
Mon, Feb 6	Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Tue, Feb 7	At Sea
Wed, Feb 8	Montevideo, Uruguay
Thu, Feb 9	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fri, Feb 10	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sat, Feb 11	Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sun, Feb 12	At Sea
Mon, Feb 13	At Sea
Tue, Feb 14	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Wed, Feb 15	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Thu, Feb 16	At Sea
Fri, Feb 17	Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
Sat, Feb 18	At Sea
Sun, Feb 19	Recife, Brazil
Mon, Feb 20	At Sea
Tue, Feb 21	Fortaleza, Brazil
Wed, Feb 22	At Sea
Thu, Feb 23	Icoaraci (Belem), Brazil
Fri, Feb 24	Cruising the Amazon River
Fri, Feb 24	Crossing the Equator
Sat, Feb 25	Santarem, Brazil
Sun, Feb 26	Boca da Valeria, Brazil
Mon, Feb 27	Manaus, Brazil
Tue, Feb 28	Manaus, Brazil
Wed, Mar 1	Parintins, Brazil
Thu, Mar 2	Cruising the Amazon River
Thu, Mar 2	Crossing the Equator
Fri, Mar 3	At Sea
Sat, Mar 4	Devils Island, French Guiana
Sun, Mar 5	At Sea
Mon, Mar 6	Bridgetown, Barbados
Tue, Mar 7	Point-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Wed, Mar 8	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Thu, Mar 9	At Sea
Fri, Mar 10	At Sea
Sat, Mar 11	Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Almost normal again...

Thursday, September 29. Sunny again.

We are almost caught up regarding time, so we went outside and tackled some minor make-work projects just to get the fresh air into our lungs. This weather is like the calm before the storm. We all know that the rains are coming and all too soon it will be six or seven months before we can count on some good weather and outdoor living again. 

Fellette managed to take in half of the choir practise last night. I was concerned that she may fall asleep behind the wheel if she stayed for the whole practise.

I am sorry to say that life can be a bit boring for me at least. There is lots going on at CTI and the prospect of heavy involvements in building in the near future, but at present, it is pretty darn dull here.

This is something that I am not complaint about but just mentioning it. I know that things can change in a heartbeat regarding health matters and then it would be far from boring and become downright discouraging. I wonder how long Fellette and I can drift through life seemingly unaffected when so many people our age are in terrible shape, or not here!

Things are moving along quickly regarding the acquisition in the USA. Wally has the matter firmly in hand and juggling lawyers, accountants and bankers on both sides of the border. He and two of our staff are going to Chicago on Wednesday for a couple of days. The deal closes on October 28. Exciting stuff for Wally and CTI.

Sister Moe is a little under the weather since coming home.

I did take my camera out today, just to have something to show for our day. Wow, how bad can it be to show some green waste ready to go to recycling as the highlight of our day!

Some ornamental grass that I cut yesterday. 

Fellette and I bundled it up for acceptable size for take away next week.

The Brussels Sprouts are tied up. hopefully they will get bigger in time for winter eating.

The last of the colour in the parterre.

Back to the grind...

Monday, September 26. Nice in Amsterdam, rainy in Langley.

The day of course was/is a blur. The transfer from the ship to the airport was slick and we had use of the lounge in the airport which makes it nice. We also had excellent seats that lay flat so I actually put a blanket on, ear plugs and face mask then hunkered down for the vast majority of the nine hour flight.

Moe nodded off a bit and Fellette watched movies and chatted with Moe. We had two light meals, which was more than sufficient. No issue at the Vancouver airport except I almost had three dozen certified tulip bulbs taken away by an inexperienced customs officer.

We dropped Moe off and her place was in good shape and soon we were also home. Nathan left the place exceptionally tidy. We wandered the garden and picked tomatoes and a nice cucumber and called it a day. We do not feel like eating at 2:00 AM in the morning and that bed is beginning to look pretty darn good!

Great trip, thanks for coming with us. 

Over and out till we meet again in January for a 66 day trip around South America. Lord willing.

We think this is Barnston Island, in the Fraser River, as we flew into Vancouver, nice to see.

The pumpkins cured well.

 KLM, the Dutch airline, gave these little replicas of Amsterdam houses to us today, the three on the left. [Moe gave hers to us.] We had the other three from previous. A tad of Bols Gin is in each.

Last fling in Amsterdam...

Sunday, September 25.  (Three months till Christmas!)

Lazy morning today, again! Then a light lunch then off on a tour of the city by coach, by canal boat and on foot. 

There is not much to say about Amsterdam except it is about it is about the most liberal and accepting of any country that I know of. Drugs, prostitution and any form of expression that is non violent is accepted. 

The place is teeming with people, literally teeming. This life is a bit beyond Fellette's and my comfort level. I guess we are plain and simple folk at heart!

We enjoyed again all that this city has to offer, and are in awe as to how the Dutch seem to blend into many societies that are far less open about accepting such a variety of lifestyles without passing judgement upon others who may be less open. The previous statement may not make much sense, but I hope you understand.

The cruise has been wonderful in all respects. There has been some bumps and grinds along the way, but I am pleased how we rolled with it and also proud of our fellow passengers, about 45% of whom are elderly Canadians who took the momentarily, hourly, daily and changes with class, dignity and humour!

Our day tomorrow is a long one: coffee at maybe 5:30, breakfast a bit later and bags out at 8:45, off the ship at 9:30 to the airport and start the long, luxurious ride home to Beautiful BC. 

My next and last post will be from Fort Langley tomorrow at the usual time when home, around 

10:00 pm,  BC time.  Lord willing! 

*********************************

Thanks for being with us, no matter how periodic, it gave me a sense of purpose and I thought of you all at various times throughout the trip.

****************************************

Our busy day today...

On the canal cruise boat.

Houseboats abound.

Snobby cruiserson a personal tour, they appeared to have everything except happiness.

Sunday, what to do? Sit and watch the silly tourists go by.

Charging cars.

Finally a car too small for Fellette.

Quaint buildings everywhere, and tall Dutch people!.

In a cheese shop.

,

Gouda, gouda everywhere!

More cheese.

Just an attractive building by the canal.

Do the Dutch eat cheese by any chance?

Shoes too big for her?

Tourist trap.

There is a long stretch of a canal with nothing but garden supplies, mostly bulbs.

We could spend hours in there but only had minutes.

Wooden tulips this time of the year.