Sunday 9th November - Cruise back home to Bermuda - or not?

Sunday morning - we packed all of our many bags (and Christmas presents) into the rental car, left Sheila and Bob's and headed to the cruise ship, for our cruise from Southampton to Bermuda (stopping in New York - more shopping!!).  Our only concern was where we were going to store all our bags in the cabin!!  A nice way to travel back to Bermuda after 3 months away.

We thought the lady at checkin was joking with us, when she said that the ship would not be stopping in Bermuda, but going to Madeira instead!!  She said it was due to bad weather predicted in 10 days time in Bermuda!?!?!?.... There was in actual fact a big weather system in the Atlantic that we needed to go south of.   However, we remain convinced that this was just an excuse, and not a reason, to not stop in Bermuda.  Needless to say, a lot of hours were spent with Customer Relations over the next few days, sorting out how we would get home (and who would pay for it!!)

Despite our issues with Customer Relation, the ship was lovely - the nicest ship we have been on.  It even had a putting green on the top deck!!  Shows and food were also great.

The centre of the ship, consisted of 6 fully glassed, 14 floor, elevators in an atrium, with a tree growing in the middle!!

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools. However, these had to be closed for some of the time, when the rough seas caused the water to rush from one end to the other (and out all over the floor)

So, after a couple of rough sea days, as we skirted the storm, a short, unschedule stop in Madeira for a few hours.  Not a good trade off for Bermuda!! - It seemed like all of the passengers on the ship choose this repositioning cruise because they wanted to see Bermuda, and most of them had already been to Madeira before! A lot of disappointed campers!  However, the weather was quite nice in Madeira, so that made people happier.

Wifi Zone!!

As we left Madeira, the weather got better for a couple of days and people started to fill the deck, sunbathing.  However, unfortunately it didn't last for long, as we started to head north again towards New York, the weather deteriorated - cold and gale force, howling winds, just before our arrival into New York!  They even had to close off all of the outside decks.

The cruise should have been called the 4 seasons cruise - Autumn in UK, Spring in Madeira, Winter in New York and summer in Miami!  

Sea days consisted of different activities - Playing bridge, singing in a choir, music trivia quizzes, one trip to the gym..., reading, watching movies, listening to talks, watching great shows every night, and of course... eating!!!! The compulsory past time on a cruise ship.

There were 2 other couples that we knew on the cruise, Richard and Wendy Gray and Jane and Andy Bermingham, and we all ate together most nights:

Here is a picture of me with the captain - he had no idea what he was in store for next!!

Finally, after another 5 sea days, we arrived in New York - 24F!!!  Freezing!! (but sunny).

For some reason it took 6 hours for immigration to clear all the passengers into the USA, and nobody could get back on the ship until everyone had been cleared.  We were in no rush, but after getting ticket number 33 ticket at 9am, were not allowed off until 2.30pm!  I felt so sorry for all those that went ashore early and were not able to get back on the ship until about 4pm.  We took a walk around Manhattan, but abandoned getting tickets for a show that night, in favour of getting back into the warmth of the ship!!

The following day, November 19th, I finally flew back to Bermuda with all of my many bags!  Jimmy stayed on in New York.

Last 2 weeks in the UK

We stayed in Shoreham for the week after dropping Charlotte - with such great weather it was hard to believe that it was late October as we sat outside for lunch!


It was about 70F and blue skies for most days, except Wednesday, (it rained..) when we went to Thruxton Park to meet Lewis and Eddie (friends from Antigua) to go Go Kart Racing:


Another visit to see Bernard, who was looking (and feeling) much better on this visit, pictured below with his beautiful garden in the background.

A concert in Brighton (the Billy Joel Songbook) - a great show with a guy that, if you closed your eyes, you would think it was really Billy Joel.

Saturday back to school to watch Charlotte in the inter-house hockey in the afternoon - hard to believe it was November!

In the evening, we went to the Bonfire Night, with a spectacular Fireworks display - better than what we have seen in Bermuda!  Charlotte ran round having fun with her friends.

On Sunday, we went to chapel, with breakfast at the school beforehand:

Off to see Arno and Thea on Sunday night and then back down to Sheila and Bob's on monday for the last week before leaving on the cruise back to Bermuda.

Back to School after the Half Term Break - Sunday 26th November

As we drove up the drive to Windlesham House, on Sunday evening, I asked Charlotte if it reminded her of Enid Blyton's "Twins of St Claires", returning to school.  She said yes, but that she had never realised exactly how exciting it would actually be going back to school!  With a comment like that, we felt very comfortable dropping her back at school.

In the afternoon Charlotte wanted to meet up with one of her new friends Lucy, in Brighton (before heading back to school).  Lucy lives in Indonesia and soon to be moving to Barbados.

Charlotte's carry on bag was much heavier than the start of the week.  Despite being told that boarders were allowed one weekend outfit, and 2 for overseas boarders, she managed to persuade me that most girls had far more and that it was not a problem her taking extra stuff.....  I justified the 4 jumpers by thinking that she could double up in the cold months ahead!  This was the longest (half) term of the year - 7 weeks until the Christmas break, with the dark mornings and afternoons to come....

Charlotte seems to be becoming more and more independent.  She didn't want me to come to her dorm and help her unpack.  However, with her heavy bag, plus some other items and a set of draws to go under her bad,  she relented and asked for help to carry everything!....  Up in the dorms, it was lovely to see all the girls hugging each other, so excited to see one other again.  Some girls returning from countries all over the globe - one from Africa, feeling the cold as it had been 100F, another from Korea, feeling tired as it was 4am for her! - girls similar to Charlotte, used to living in different countries and traveling.

Brands Hatch Formular Ford Festival - Saturday 25th October

Back In London for the weekend, Jimmy headed off with Alan to Bands Hatch.

Paris - last couple of days

Day 4 we relaxed in the apartment until late afternoon.  Term time is very busy for Charlotte and it's important to also recharge the batteries in the holidays.

Then out for a boat trip on the River Seine - no Paris trip is complete without it (according to the guide books).

Heading up to the Notre Dame

They say that when a couple come to Paris, they should lock a padlock on a bridge and throw away the key, to lock in their love for one another.  As a result, a lot of the bridges in Paris are getting weighed down with all the weight!!! 

Day 5 - Friday - we checked out of the apartment at noon, headed to Gare de Nord Train Station to drop our bags at left luggage and then walked over to Montmartre.

There were lots of artist there - Charlotte had her portrait done:

We then whiled away the afternoon with a late lunch, and the early evening with crepes, hot chocolate and a glass of wine, until it was time to head back to the station for our evening train back to London.

Day 3 Half Term in Paris - Versailles

Jimmy took the "Alternative Disneyland trip" and headed to Versailles.

Disneyland - Day 3 Half Term in Paris

The day Charlotte had been waiting for, the highlight of the trip to Paris! - the two of us took the 45 minute train ride to Disneyland Paris.  (Meanwhile, Jimmy went in the other direction to check out Versailles (I wonder why??))

Never have I "Paid so much, to line up for so long.....".

First stop was Space Mountain - Charlotte had been longing to go on this, since she was too young/short last time we went to Disneyworld. My great desire for these rides had wained a little since then... with the bones and head taking a bit more of a battering....

Unlike Florida, it was cold here!!  Fortunately Charlotte wasn't cold at all, so I borrowed her jacket (on top of mine)!

"It's a Small World" is always one of my favourites (and no chance of banging my head on the side while doing an upside down loop at 100 miles per hour!)!

The wait time for Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster was 75 minutes.  Charlotte's choice, we started to queue....  After queuing for 70 minutes there was an announcement...... Yes - due to technical difficulties the ride had to be closed down!!!  The consolation was a fastpast ticket for later (when there were no queues!!).  We finally got to do the ride, twice, in the dark.

And last stop before the final show - a good old fashion American dinner.

All in all, a great day in Disney, but the French just don't quite do it as well as Florida Disneyworld.

Paris! - Half Term October 17th-26th

Monday 20th Oct - Day 1 - we took the Eurostar From London to Paris - 2 hours 10 minutes!

We stayed in an apartment quite close to the Notre Dame, so made that our sightseeing trip for what was left of Day 1. The Notre Dame was built in 1100s and took over a 100 years to build.  It fits over 900 people on a busy day.

I am sure the cafes look a lot nicer in the warm sunshine!

Day 2 - a walk past the Louvre (it was closed on Tuesdays - Yippee said Charlotte!)

Then a stop at the famous "Angelina" fancy tea rooms - we had to try their Signature Hot Chocolate! Reported to be so thick, that you could stand a spoon up in it! (one would hope for that price!! - the most expensive cup of Hot Chocolate we had ever had, but well worth it!).  Even Charlotte was not able to finish it and said she had had "too much chocolate"!!!!!???

 Oh and why not a pastry to go with it!!

Then to walk off the thousands of calories we had just inhaled!

And a trip up the Eiffel tower.  Unfortunately, due to the winds (remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo) the top was closed and so we were only able to go to the second level.  (However, this still seemed high!)

All followed a lazy morning relaxing at the apartment.