Sunday 19th July – Wed 22nd July
I don’t know where the past few days have gone, but I don’t seem to have had time to update the Blog daily. We have been at sea most of that time doing the usual at sea things.

We sailed past Christmas Island – a long chain of uninhabited islands except for the wild life and probably park rangers or scientists (GD spotted a couple of people walking on the beach through the binoculars). Evening entertainment has been excellent as usual. We had a nice day on land yesterday at Honolulu. We took a shuttle bus to Waikiki beach, did a bit of shopping at the supermarket and at the International Market then had lunch at Moana Surfrider resort. It’s an historical colonial building, reminiscent of Raffles in Singapore. We both had the most delicious seafood crepe with hollandaise sauce. We then took a taxi back to the ship, napped and then did the market at the port. We were not terribly impressed with Honolulu on our first visit a few years ago but we both agree that our opinion is now changed and we actually enjoyed our visit this time.

Sunrise at Equator


King Neptune ritual

. Friday 17th July
A day at sea, much the same as every other day at sea. Didn’t think the show was up to scratch this night – a female entertainer whose singing was OK but her fill in persona left a lot to be desired

Saturday 18th JulyWe crossed the Equator this morning and the usual Neptune ritual was held later in the day. A full day at sea doing all the usual things we have been doing on sea days, like catching up on the ironing, playing cards, eating, sleeping, reading, other games and shows etc.. Too late – house full at the show we wanted to go to and the other show was a continuation of the previous night which hadn’t impressed us so we just had to slum it at a 50/60’s music bar. Before you know it it’s bed time again

Thursday 16th July
Woke up this morning as we arrived at Bora Bora. The weather is fine and not too hot. After those with booked tours went ashore on the tender, we went across to the island. The tenders were going back and forth all day. We did the rounds of some of the stores – mostly selling sarongs and black pearls and charging the earth. Everything is expensive. They use island francs, which cannot be used anywhere else and based on the euro. The do take American dollars. We went back to the ship for lunch. Since barter had failed to get us on a tour around the island in the morning, I decided to go back with the right money and try again while the GD had his afternoon nap. I am so glad that I did. I did not do the whole island but took the shuttle bus to a public swimming beach which was absolutely beautiful, just like they are shown in the brochures, had a swim in water just to my liking and then took the shuttle back to the pier. Back in time to rest for a few minutes and then get dressed for sundowners and dinner. After dinner we went to one of the shows – a comedian, Mike Harris – he was great – lots of laughs.


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Papete Tahiti

Tuesday 14th
Another fine day at sea – finished the washing, always a queue, – tidied the rather small cabin – dinner and another show.

Wednesday 15 July
Well, something different today. Up early and had an early breakfast before the ship docked at Papeete, Tahiti. We had a tour booked to see a taste of Tahiti which was a little late getting away – island time!!! Papeete – forget it – it’s rather untidy – thank goodness the bus we did our tour on was air conditioned as it’s really hot and muggy. I must admit once out of town the scenery is rather idyllic if you don’t look to closely. We had a good tour guide who spoke good English and saw some really pretty beach spots and a very high water fall, along with some of the historical sites on the island. The traffic here is incredible, particularly at lunch time as everyone goes home for lunch and a siesta at midday and return at 2.00pm. There is actually as many cars as people on the island to give you some idea of the traffic jams, very few lights and many round-a-bouts. Pedestrians step onto the road to cross and stop the traffic, which is the rule. The people we spoke to are generally polite. I don’t think we have any wish to return but enjoyed the experience.

Monday 13th July
Much the same today as yesterday except I had a Nana Nap today instead of trivial pursuits and bridge. Had dinner and then a show with Donna Campbell the singer. She was very good. Just took some washing up to Laundromat. The next cruise we do with Princess Line will entitle us to a Black Card and that will entitle us to free laundry. We are still trying to sort out visas for India but managed to get our US visas via the internet today. They are the only two countries we need visas for. Well, back to the laundry to do the mundane chores. Tomorrow is another sea day.

We have Internet problems on the ship it works from the Satellite that is when the Satellite is there. There for the posting order is not always in the correct order!!??
E-mail services is working well!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lost Wednesday’s diary info for NZ

Thursday 9th and Thursday 9th

Yesterday was Thursday – a sea day. Spent eating, sleeping, walking, playing cards etc. Tonight night was a formal. In the lift a lady took a fancy to the GD’s bottom – every man in a black suite she must have thought she had hold of her husband but I was observing her hand and GD thought it was me. Amazing things can happen in lifts. The GD has also been stuck in one of the lifts a couple of times too. We’ll give that one a miss in future. Went to a show after dinner and then to the Wheelhouse Bar for a couple of drinks and a dance, then to the Upper lounge for a cuppa and a chat with a couple from our dining table before bed.
The second Thursday 9th spent much the same as the first one. We crossed the international date line last night, which is why we have had two Thursdays. Need to do the washing soon – running out of underwear. Went to trivial pursuits yesterday and today – lots of laughs. Doesn’t this all sound boring?
After dinner we couldn’t get into the show we wanted to as it was full so we decided it was time to do our washing. 1.5 hours later and it was all dry. Have to change our clocks again by one hour.

Friday 10th

Passed a few islands off Tonga this morning and then up to breakfast. Just had lunch and still lots of islands to portside. Just the usual bridge for me, computer for Jorgen and trivia before lunch. Had our Nana nap then went to the wine tasting. Some very nice wines presented including one of our favorites from WA, Brookland Valley Verse 1 Shiraz.

For those of you that is new to our “Block Spot”
Marcella is known as Gemini, and she refers to me as GD ie.,. her Great Dane

Sunday 12th July
We’ve been to a couple of top shows the past couple of nights, one of them a Polish piano player and the other one a variety show. Yesterday we were in Samoa we took a taxi into town and had him drive us to the places we needed to get stuff, like to the chemist and the post office etc., and then to Aggie Grey’s for lunch. After lunch we walked back to the ship. There was a bit of delay disembarking at Samoa as they don’t have any swine flu cases yet. We had to fill in a declaration that we had no symptoms and even with none of the symptoms mentioned on the form we still all had to have our temp taken. Of course we both passed and as far as I know there was no one who didn’t pass. It is very hot 30 degrees and humid, after our last port in NZ. Played trivia before dressing for dinner, then the show and then dancing under the stars on the top deck. It’s a lifestyle we could well get used to.

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Passed a few islands off Tonga this morning

Wednesday 8th,

Lost Wednesday’s diary info for NZ

Thursday 9th and Thursday 9th

Yesterday was Thursday – a sea day. Spent eating, sleeping, walking, playing cards etc. Tonight night was a formal. In the lift a lady took a fancy to the GD’s bottom – every man in a black suite she must have thought she had hold of her husband but I was observing her hand and GD thought it was me. Amazing things can happen in lifts. The GD has also been stuck in one of the lifts a couple of times too. We’ll give that one a miss in future. Went to a show after dinner and then to the Wheelhouse Bar for a couple of drinks and a dance, then to the Upper lounge for a cuppa and a chat with a couple from our dining table before bed.
The second Thursday 9th spent much the same as the first one. We crossed the international date line last night, which is why we have had two Thursdays. Need to do the washing soon – running out of underwear. Went to trivial pursuits yesterday and today – lots of laughs. Doesn’t this all sound boring?
After dinner we couldn’t get into the show we wanted to as it was full so we decided it was time to do our washing. 1.5 hours later and it was all dry. Have to change our clocks again by one hour.

Tuesday 7th July
The rolly polly seas have settled down and some people who looked rather green yesterday seem to have recovered. From a management point of view not everything is running as smoothly as it should. Even though we cancelled having $10 per person per day deducted from our account for tips, on getting a print out we found that it was being charged so Jorgen has had a couple of trips to the desk to try and get that sorted out. Some people have had up to 3 key cards before they had one which worked. I got some details on a shore trip to Paris, we plan to do and find that it is 50% more than the advertised price I checked on the internet a few months ago. Before we left we checked with the representative of the cruise line to see if we needed any visas. We were told no. Now on the ship we find out that we do need one for India and some other passengers have been given information suggesting they need them for US and Egypt. Soooo we are trying to sort that hic-up out too. I joined a group and I’m learning to play bridge. Played yesterday morning and afternoon. We are enjoying the food, the wine, the company, the entertainment and the relaxation. Jorgen is doing morning deck walks while I sleep in.

Tuesday 7th July
The rolly polly seas have settled down and some people who looked rather green yesterday seem to have recovered. From a management point of view not everything is running as smoothly as it should. Even though we cancelled having $10 per person per day deducted from our account for tips, on getting a print out we found that it was being charged so Jorgen has had a couple of trips to the desk to try and get that sorted out. Some people have had up to 3 key cards before they had one which worked. I got some details on a shore trip to Paris, we plan to do and find that it is 50% more than the advertised price I checked on the internet a few months ago. Before we left we checked with the representative of the cruise line to see if we needed any visas. We were told no. Now on the ship we find out that we do need one for India and some other passengers have been given information suggesting they need them for US and Egypt. Soooo we are trying to sort that hic-up out too. I joined a group and I’m learning to play bridge. Played yesterday morning and afternoon. We are enjoying the food, the wine, the company, the entertainment and the relaxation. Jorgen is doing morning deck walks while I sleep in.

Monday 6th July
Well it’s day 2 of our cruise and we are just getting our sea legs. Our first hic-up was at the airport.After checking to see how much luggage we could carry and being told we could have 30kg, Qantas had other ideas. We had 12 kg over a 23 kg per person allowance and that cost us $120 excess. If we had been told that then as frequent flyers we should have been able to take 30kg but we did not have the number and if she had looked on our luggage which had already been put through on the conveyor there was a take on the luggage which had it on. Qantas and Princess will know about it you can be sure. It was a good flight with a bit of a holding pattern over Sydney. Things went smoothly to the ship on boarding. We had a little lunch on deck and a lay down then a look around. One of Jorgen bags were at the cabin before we set sail but mine didn’t arrive till after dinner, so needless to say I didn’t dress for dinner. The group at our dinner table were great company and I will be playing bridge with a couple of them. Jorgen just about knows every detail of the boat and has done his exercise often (walking around the deck). Monday – A quiet day at sea, eating and resting. Off to have sundowners and then dinner

The next post will be when we have boarded the ship next Sunday the 5th July.
Our Friend and House sitter arrived today and will take care of our Dog and Cat
and the general running of the house hold.
We are looking forward to posting some pictures from the trip and daily reports.

Well….Well
These two orchids is mainly cold climate Orchids, and I haven’t had a lot of luck with them.
The Dendrobium I was given for a present many years ago from Pat and Merilyn, very good friends!!!
I managed to get one flower some years ago by watering the pot with chilled ice cold water 3 times a week, what a job.
When we moved back to our renovated ole/new house I simply planted all 4 Dendrobiums in my Gemini’s flower garden in a shady spot, and see what happened and a second one are showing flower spikes, neglect is the answer for these Orchids!!!
The Lady Slipper only flowers on rear occasions well this was a supprice.

A window of two days sewing root crops according to the Moon Calendar.
I have sewn Carrot and Beet root,
Hopefully they will be mature to harvest when get back from our Holiday.

I have Cane Mulched the rest of the vegetable garden ready for spring.
That will cut back on the watering time having to be spent by our friend and House sitter!!!

Beef Fillet Pot Roast

Brown the eye fillet in about 1 inch of hot peanut oil
Remove from pot and tip the oil out then add a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil and

Gently braze the chopped vegetables for a minute or so:-
Carrot, Celery, Italian Parsley, a little fresh Thyme and Rosemary, 2 small tomatoes and a Leek, tops and roots and all - the leek roots has more flavor than the rest of the plant.
Last add a Bay leaf and a KNOR beef stock cube.

Add the browned Fillet and top up with hot water, simmer about 40 – 50 minutes or till done = 77C or 170 F. There is nothing worse than over done meat as it gets stringy and tasteless.

When the fillet is cooked remove, strain the stock, and rest the meat in the stock for 1 – 2 hours to obtain moister before serving.

Use the stock to make pot roast gravy ,at the finish of the gravy I added a dessertspoon of lingonberry jelly that I got from IKIA some time ago, alternately use Redcurrant Jelly, This will give the Gravy a delicate finish.

Serve with steamed new Potatoes, Carrot and baked Pumpkin and home pickled Dill Gherkins

Chopped Vegetables for the stock

Browning the Fillet

Simmering

Fillet resting in the stock

Dinner is Served
Bone appetite

The house cat also known as Pushka, in HIS garden , where he spends most of the day sunning him self, in between regular visits to the kitchen for a top up on Cat food

The Passion fruit vine has started to yield its massive crop of extra large very sweet Passion fruit the size of Apples and Oranges.
I planted the seeds a little over a year ago.
I only keep a vine 2 seasons as the yield will be marked reduced at the 3rd season

This is the Orchid that got me all started growing Orchids again,
Gemini bought me this particular one at Woolworths when she was doing the weekly shopping one Friday some twenty years ago.
We were living in a unit at time but as soon as we moved into our then new house at Hervey Bay it was on again and the Orchid fernery started expanding very fast
To the extend it is now.
I enjoy my Orchid growing hobby!!!

an other butiful speciment this one have been in bloom over 2 months