DU AVE DUBROVNIK

Here in Croatia after nil nil in empty stadium. What is going on - it was only a small swastika. Lovely little city and we were impressed with how clean everything was. Walking only town with no traffic. We got on & off by tender today, which was great, avoiding the shuttle bus from the new cruise port. Not so good for the oldest passenger list I have ever seen. Yesterday I had to help offload 2 ancients with rollators from the bus & today you should have seen the struggle getting back on the boat with only a small swell going. Ah well, we all have to get old sometime!

Who was Ron Brown anyway?

CORIGLIANO CALABRO

Nice day here, apart from sudden torrential downpour & mum had removed brollie from back pack. Jumped into cafe for Cappuccino's. Bought some of the stuff piled in piccie 1. Let you try some when we get back. Tour round Norman castle in the mountains. Turned out when we set sail round heel of Italy. Next stop Dubrovnik.

NEARLY IN JAIL

Couple of sea days, formal do, Mum got the bling out. Went out for a stroll in Catania in Sicily. Visited the highlights, Benedictine monastery, now a university, St Francis Sq, where we had a few beers & of course the elephants bum. Not sure what it's doing there, rumour has it there used to be a herd of dwarf elephants roaming the foothills of Etna. Not sure that's right but did glimpse Warwick Davis with a turban. We had to go through security to re-board. The rucksack went through & next minute I was surrounded by security people and given the full treatment. Unbeknown to me I had mum's 8 inch hair scissors. When I got out & told her what had happened, she said - that's good I need to cut my fringe.

Not all bad tho, got an email for a free birthday dinner at the pub.

CADIZ 2

After the horses, we toured the sherry bodega that made Tio Pepe, Croft and brandy. Nice relaxed visit that ended with 3 glasses of sherry, Pepe, Croft & nectar. Followed that up with a walk around town in the squares, cathedral, Admiral's house, Roman ruin followed by a couple of beers in a bar. Boy are we chilled now! Sitting on balcony with Yorkshire tea followed by G&T & Famous Grouse.

ONE FOR CAT & THE GIRLS

We went to the Jerez Spanish riding school today. They specialise in dressage, winning silver in Athens and part of the Spanish team at London Olympics. You get one-to-one tuition with a professional rider and have the use of Spanish Andalusian pure breds or Arabian crosses. All stallions. 4 year course, tuition fees 2000 Euro per year & you have to find accommodation. Two probs before Cat & girls apply, they only take on about 6 pupils per year, and you need to speak Spanish.  Get the night school language course booked.

SICK BAGS ON THE BANNISTERS

It's Friday, must be the Bay of Biscay & it's force 7. Misty, galloping white horses & the ship is rocking 'n rolling & rattling away. Nice comfortable cabin, oldest ship in P&O, ditto passengers. Food good, curry in the Sindhi. Entertainment good, 5 murders by the lecturer, pop opera singers, too rough to dance.

Sunday now beautiful, Linda's doing a step, ballroom fitness combo designed by strictly dancer. Still too rough for me to dance, so practising scotch drinking on the balcony, spilt some so obviously need more practice. Too much food, as usual & too busy. Need more chill time. Black tie tonight,  meet captain Sarah. Tomorrow, Cadiz.

AT LAST, WERE OFF

to the Med that is. So far, some good, some bad; tweaked back Wednesday -bad - loads of ice and hot baths -  good. SW trains & central line on strike - bad. Bought insurance of coach ticket - good. 'cos of bad back & mum's mega case, booked cab to Waterloo- good. Breakfast at Carluccios - good. Train on time & empty - good. Wasted coach ticket - bad. Mum knocked tea all over table - bad. Needed cash, half mile walk to ATM - bad. Got on boat early, nice lunch - good. Early in cabin - good. No luggage - bad.

Loads of WhatsApp in from Cyprus, Des's daughter getting married in mountains this afternoon, reception on yacht.