Back again.

[Thos]

I thought I would report in for duty after my cruise from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Without going into a lot of detail, there were one or two interesting moments. On our way to Columbia, our first port of call, the Captain announced that we were diverting to Kingston, Jamaica, because someone had been taken seriously ill. We changed course then it was announced that the sick person was worse and a helicopter had been scrambled to meet the ship. It was very interesting to stand on the pool deck and watch the chopper come over, manoeuvre around, pick up the casualty, then his wife, then a ship's nurse before flying off. The ship's crew were highly organised and very efficient. We heard later that the sick person wouldn't have made it without the helicopter and he was now OK and would fly home. Because of this we missed out on Columbia but went through the Panama Canal on time.

That was a great day. Tremendous engineering achievement. We paused on the lake which had been dammed up in the centre to provide the power for the locks at the Carribbean and Pacific ends and had a small boat ride to see the wild life, sloths, monkeys, lizards etc which had retreated to the mountain tops which were now islands in the lake.

We enjoyed Costa Rica and on to three stops in Mexico. The last one, at Cabo San Lucas, was at the tip of the peninsula of Baja California. Then up to Los Angeles,on to Port Hueneme which I had never heard of, but which gave us a most interesting day. It is a port close to Ventura and Santa Barbara and we took the opportunity to visit the Ronald Reagan Memorial Library. Wonderful, beautiful spot in the mountains where he had lived and, in fact died. Lots of interesting memorabilia including the very touching last letter he wrote by hand telling the American people of his knowledge that Alzheimer's disease had taken hold and he would communicate no more.

We went around Air Force One, the travelling "Oval Office" and paid our respects at his grave.

Finally to San Francisco, our disembarkation port. We had been there four times previously so we did not stay but flew back Saturday evening. Now we are trying to get back into our routine, lose some of the weight cruising puts on ( the sea air does shrink your clothes!) and catch up with the 8 hours time difference.

Thos.

[deuces wild]

Welcome back. Can't wait till hear the other details.

[Irene]

Welcome back! :D

You have most certainly been missed!!

I'm looking forward to seeing some of your photos in the gallery.

[andsome]

Welcome back, I have looked after things while you have been away, and everyone has behaved themselves. You can take over again now. :D :D :D

[artist]

Welcome back, I have looked after things while you have been away, and everyone has behaved themselves. You can take over again now. :D :D :D

When was that??? :D

Glad to see you're back Thos. :)

[Gandalph]

Welcome back Thos. Sounds like you have had a great time. Everyone behaved themselves, except andsome. :lol:

[Irene]

Welcome back Thos. Sounds like you have had a great time. Everyone behaved themselves, except andsome. :lol:

I second that. :lol:

[andsome]

[gordythegouge]

Nice To see you made it back and enjoyed yourself as well!! :D

[Gandalph]

Who's a big cry baby ten. There there, here's tuppence, go and get yourself a tube of smarties. :lol:

[nellie2]

For tuppence???

Welcome back Thos

[Irene]

For tuppence???

I remember when I could go to the fish & chip shop and buy 'a penn'orth' (an old penny worth) of chips.

Who else can remember that? :D

[rong]

For tuppence???

I remember when I could go to the fish & chip shop and buy 'a penn'orth' (an old penny worth) of chips.

Who else can remember that? :D

I don't think many of us are that old.

If you had the right year of penny it would be possible.

[dadyassa]

For tuppence???

I remember when I could go to the fish & chip shop and buy 'a penn'orth' (an old penny worth) of chips.

Who else can remember that? :D

And a shovel full of crackling on the top. :lol:

[andsome]

Who's a big cry baby ten. There there, here's tuppence, go and get yourself a tube of smarties. :lol:

MEANIE, that ain't enough.

For tuppence???

I remember when I could go to the fish & chip shop and buy 'a penn'orth' (an old penny worth) of chips.

Who else can remember that? :D

I can

For tuppence???

I remember when I could go to the fish & chip shop and buy 'a penn'orth' (an old penny worth) of chips.

Who else can remember that? :D

And a shovel full of crackling on the top. :lol:

Can't beat a bit of crackling, nudge nudge wink wink. :D

[Thos]

For tuppence???

I remember when I could go to the fish & chip shop and buy 'a penn'orth' (an old penny worth) of chips.

Who else can remember that? :D

I can beat that.

We used to take our old newspapers and get some chips for free.

The "crackling" was the bits of fried batter left in the fat after the fish was taken out. The fat was sieved and customers were asked if they wanted any "bits" on their chips.

Thos.

[-pops-]

Ooooooooo! Batter bits and if you were lucky there would be some tiny bits of overcooked fish and burnt chips in with them.

What I really liked was to have some gravy on them - one spoon of gravy was free at my chip shop.

I can see all these health experts having apoplexy now at the thought of that.

[dadyassa]

Ooooooooo! Batter bits and if you were lucky there would be some tiny bits of overcooked fish and burnt chips in with them.

What I really liked was to have some gravy on them - one spoon of gravy was free at my chip shop.

I can see all these health experts having apoplexy now at the thought of that.

And playing football in the street with a slice of bread and dripping in your hand, dodgy if you was in goal though. :lol:

[joysness]

Welcome back Thos.

Sounds like an eventful trip. :)

Believe it or not, I used to work in Port Hueneme at a Veterinary Hospital back in the mid 90's.

Used to be a nice town, but haven't been there in years so not sure what it's like now.

Small world eh?

[Thos]

Believe it or not, I used to work in Port Hueneme at a Veterinary Hospital back in the mid 90's.

Used to be a nice town, but haven't been there in years so not sure what it's like now.

Small world eh?

Really?

I've never met anyone else who's heard of it. It apparently has a strong military presence, there was certainly a lot of security people around. Our trip from there into the mountains to visit the Ronald Reagan library and memorial was one of the (unexpected) pleasures of our trip, though.

Thos.

[joysness]

Believe it or not, I used to work in Port Hueneme at a Veterinary Hospital back in the mid 90's.

Used to be a nice town, but haven't been there in years so not sure what it's like now.

Small world eh?

Really?

I've never met anyone else who's heard of it. It apparently has a strong military presence, there was certainly a lot of security people around. Our trip from there into the mountains to visit the Ronald Reagan library and memorial was one of the (unexpected) pleasures of our trip, though.

Thos.

Indeed there is a huge military presence there.

The countryside around that area is some of my favorite. There is a town up in the hills north east of Ventura called Ojai (pronounced ohi) where I lived for 3 or 4 years. I left my heart there when I had to leave. It's been 9 years since I was there and I still miss it.

If I could afford to live there, I would go back today.

All the wealthy folk from Los Angeles moved there and prices skyrocketed so most of the people like me with small incomes were forced to go elsewhere.

I still get angry when I think about it.

I worked in a store that was the original "General Store" that was owned by the same family since the 1800's.

Old wooden floors etc etc.... Boy that was a fun job. Don't know if it's still there though.

Ah well, wonderful memories.