Elaine and Richard

Well we are still here!! Today we have arrived in very hot Dubai, once again the internet is really slow and so I am afraid tales and photos are not really forthcoming! Since Hong Kong, we have been to Vietnam, Singapore and Mumbai, and I have been taking it very quietly and mainly staying on the ship so there is not a lot of news. Egypt has been substituted by Israel, although now I see there are problems there, so who know? Anyway am fit and well, and will let you have some more news soon ... read more

After a really easy jouney, Cairns - Hong Kong - Manilla, we have once again met up with the Amsterdam, and it is lovely to be "home" again!! I feel rather like a celebrity, everyone missed us and I am continually reciting my adventures to everyone!! It would be much easier to rent out the Lecture Theatre and tell eveyone in one Presentation!!!! After another day at sea, we are back in Hong Kong, the sun is shining and we are really having 2 days to see this place at it's best, although I am taking it carefully! p.s. Watched 2 brilliant movies on the flight, The Kings Speech, and Black Swan, fantastic!! xx pps Have found a twin!! Met a Swedish lady on the ship who used to work as an au pair in Clifton!! ... read more

A Week inCairns!! After what could have been a nightmare, for all sorts of reasons, including a new hip and a three month stay! (requiring big immigration issues), our extended stay in Cairns has worked out really well. The only problem is it has rained, and rained and rained, well it is the rainy season in the Jungle!! However, after leaving Hospital, the only instructions from the Doctor were to take it easy for a few weeks, but to walk, “To the Moon if necessary” he said!! So after the first couple of days and I was confident that I could still walk off we went! Cairns Base Hospital, my short stay here was a real eye opener, it is the only Hospital to serve an area the size of England! With the back up of ... read more

Tuesday morning, having stayed up very late on Monday night, our second day in Sydney, at about the same time as the earthquake was hitting Christchurch where we had spent such a wonderful day 10 days earlier, I got out of bed, bent down to pick up the daily programme, the ship took a bit of a roll with the swell and bang!! My leg blew across the room!!!! (Well that was what it felt like, in reality, my hip had dislocated) Whilst I was screaming in agony, Richard called the ships emergency Doc, and she came running. Yes, I was right, my hip had clicked out, they would have to move me to the medical centre. Not a chance, I am going nowhere!!! Well after about an hour, and very gentle moving along with a ... read more

Adios New Zealand! Here we are again, after a wonderful trip in fantastic weather around New Zealand, we have now crossed the Tasmanian Sea and set foot in Hobart Tasmania, our first Port of Call in Australia!! Indeed, we are following in the footsteps of many of our Ancestors, as this is the penal colony that all the british prisoners were sent to many years ago!!!! (And worse still they all seem to have been called Jones)! After Auckland, Tauranga. Napier, and Wellington, we arrived in the beautiful city of Christchurch, have been here before, and it is gorgeous, just like our old Cathedral cities of Oxford and Cambridge, with the lovely river Avon running through the middle with beautiful weeping willows and horse chestnut trees on the banks. Just a day to wander, along the ... read more

Here we are in Wellington, the bottom of North Island on a glorious day!! Since Auckland we have been to Tauranga and Napier in Hawkes Bay. Tauranga I loved, Napier, I would give a miss to next time, although would have liked to have seen the spectacular Cape Kidnappers Golf Course! Anyway, we are moving further south and tomorrow head for Christchurch on South Island. Not stopping any longer now as the weather is gorgeous and I am off on the funicular to see the view, before heading back to the ship! These days in New Zealand are very busy! Happy 1st Birthday to Ollie! Love to everyone Elaine x... read more