TALLINN

Beautiful day here, went on a tour, both coach & walking through the 2 levels of the historic town. It is summer solstice so loads of shops shut and really quiet. The stadium is their singing Festival where up the 33000 people will sing in choirs. The old town was really lovely with historic churches, museums, cafes in the squares and lots of tourists, even though we are the only ship in port. They are prepared in the outdoor cafes for all weather. They all had rugs or fleecy things and one had a strange pink smock you pulled over your head if you were cold. Not needed today, tho'. Tomorrow starts 2 days in St Petersburg, gonna be knackering. Anyway, must get back to the trough, haven't put enough weight on yet!

COPENHAGEN, DONE & DUSTED

On our way to Estonia in a couple of hours. Spent some time in town last couple of days. What did we learn - Danes used to be the happiest people in the world, the military are really sloppy, on guard at the palace shuffling around holding their rifles with arms folded in front of them, with bearskins on too. Tax is horrendous here, 160% on cars, 40% on income over £6000pa, VAT 25%. No one lives here, 5 million in whole country, weather dreadful - 0 degC for winter, rains 178 days a year. Grub still good, just off to afternoon tea & cakes as we set sail.

SOUTHAMPTON TO COPENHAGEN

2 days sailing, due to arrive Co'hagen Tuesday at 2pm. Sailings been great,  calm and pretty warm for the N Sea, you could actually sit outside with no problem. Food great, shows great. They have changed the ship since we last said with a gastropub (never sure about this title, makes me think enteritis) and sushi restaurant. We have been eating in Blu, one of the specialty restaurants that comes free with our booking, as does drinks & tip. Trying not to drink ourselves sillier than we are. Met up with a variety of nice people over dinner. Chilling wonderfully, not getting up until 10am, how decadent. Sounds just right for Des! Pictures are of Elsinore castle, Shakespeare stuff & the usual rubbish. Nice sail away, drinks and good band by the pool. BTY, the free Euro roaming seems good, so you should be able to Email us OK.

SOUTHAMPTON, READY TO GO

Farters day - too much Peroni last night does that to you. Cards great, ta v much. The pictures on the cards are good, the likeness to Des is especially good. It's a Dad's duty to teach his daughters a full vocabulary, don't you know. Nice stroll round Southampton last night, historical stuff from the 1500's, modern shopping malls ended up with a nice meal at Zizzi's. Ships getting ready, hope to be boarding @ 11 - let's see. Traffic yesterday was a nightmare, M25 - M3 junction closed, accidents everywhere, 30 deg C, thank goodness for AC. Next stop Copenhagen.

GETTING READY TO RUMBLE,

and that's not just the result of a high fibre, veg rich diet. No, we are cruising through the Baltic to Russia & back. Getting ready to travel and stop in so many places is a nightmare. So much planning, shopping, packing that it makes your head spin. Lin looked at the pile of stuff and said we got to get a bigger case. We did. To get some relief I went catfish wrestling. I beat him with 2 ippons to 1 waza-ari - slime everywhere. Ah well getting ready to leave for an overnight in Southampton prior to boarding.

NEED TO WORK OUT MORE

Now in Daytona Beach, which is a bit of a dump in the centre. We are on outskirts near Ormond Beach & that is much nicer. We feel at home in the over 70 community here. Went down to the lighthouse yesterday. 175ft high, 206 steps. Legs like jelly when I got back to ground level. Bike hire also suits my age group. This is where NASCAR racing started on the beach and several world speed records set by Campbell & Seagrave. They are running an historic re-creation on the beach at Ponce. It's whetting my appetite for the Atom drive. View from balcony not bad, weather is stunning.

So, Fartwalker, you buy no duty free?