Perhaps because we have experienced Ghana, India and Vietnam heat we are a little less worried about reaching temperatures nearing 40 degrees here today. There is an "extreme heat alert". We are fortunate to be living in an air conditioned apartment but I do feel guilty about what this is doing to the environment.
Went to see "Sustainability" the other day at the Hamilton Fringe Festival: it's a lecture on climate change set to some music and would have been a great addition to Global Studies on our first voyage in 2009 with SAS when the theme was just that, 'Sustainability". The 'play' was not receiving rapturous reviews because most of the audience were there to be entertained and this, as you know, is scary stuff. As Warner Granade said on FB yesterday...we must care for our Grandchildren and act now. Trouble is North American life is built around cars and surviving in a hostile climate much of the time. We use our A/C very little as we both love fresh air but today we are also looking after our grandson and my daughter and husband who live in a lovely old 150 year old house, which is cooler than most but has heated up drastically since yesterday.
George picked up our China visas in Toronto yesterday and now there just remains the Indian one. Unfortunately we still don't know which day he has an FDP in Chennai so we have to delay booking our flight to Sri Lanka and, because we consequently need a multi-entry visa we have to supply details and dates before it can be issued. We received all the excursion information on Monday afternoon from SAS but this vital information was missing....wouldn't you know?!
Our suitcases are now in our respective packing rooms: G's office and our bedroom. We are flying on Porter Airlines for the first time from Toronto Island to Boston and when Fiona came to shower here this morning (their hot water system has broken down) she was making it sound like the only way to go! I look forward to this: she is driving us right to the airport by ferry. I'm hoping my grandson, 7 year old Bryn will come to see us off too...he will love the process...but Grandma will HATE saying goodbye!
Am now chatting with my Grandaughter Katie (11) in Sudbury on Facebook. Isn't the social media amazing? This will make keeping in touch with my families so much easier while we are away. 2011 is my first year on FB. Fiona told me that she too had been chatting with her niece last night and that Katie was talking to a friend too so juggling all three of us at the same tme! No wonder the students are such great multi-taskers on the ship!
I'm off now into the 'furnace' outside....wish me luck!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Good news
Just to confirm as some of you have asked. I have had the green light as far as my blood work is concerned. They certainly don't think I have hemochromatosis as the iron level has dropped to almost normal. I have to have one more check before leaving but I am OK to go.
So we have our anti-malarial Malarone supply and I shall have Dukerol, cholera immunisation but actually prevents tummy upsets (great idea to have this if you are travelling to suspect places), up to date on Hepatitis and Yellow Fever shots...oh enough said!!
So we have our anti-malarial Malarone supply and I shall have Dukerol, cholera immunisation but actually prevents tummy upsets (great idea to have this if you are travelling to suspect places), up to date on Hepatitis and Yellow Fever shots...oh enough said!!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Final post
Thursday 6th May 2010
I am sitting writing this on terra firma in the Springhill Suites in Fort Lauderdale, USA. It has been a surprisingly interesting cultural experience after a voyage round the world with the theme of 'sustainability'.
We went out to lunch in a typical American diner yesterday. I asked for a salad. It was absolutely enormous....I would think that anyone who could actually clean the plate would have an eating disorder. It was too much to the point of being gross.
Last night we went with Chris, Audrey and Liz to a sports Ale House. Again I ordered a salad and was once again rewarded with a helping the size of which would have defeated anyone but a giant sized basket ball or baseball player and they might well have left something on the plate. This applied to all the other dishes ordered. I asked why they served so much.
'Our owner wants everyone to be impressed and overwhelmed' I as told. Liz suggested they must throw out bags and bags of unwanted food each day 'No' she was told' Our clients ask for doggy bags'!
Well I for one find that hard to believe. Chris chose ice cream and brownies for dessert; it was HUGE! It was shared by the five of us and we still left at least two normal helpings on the plate! After visiting third world countries where the populations make do happily with so much less than ourselves this trend is disturbing to say the least. Thank goodness Canadians do not appreciate such waste and greed for the most part and I think there is a greater awareness of the wider world.
Our flight to Toronto leaves at noon so we shall be leaving here in the airport shuttle at about ten. Fiona will meet us and we shall drive straight into Toronto to the west rush hour....ah well we shall be home at last. I have so enjoyed sharing my thoughts and news with you all... faithful readers, especially you Sal. Thank you to Sally and Dia for keeping me always in the picture...we look forward to seeing you very soon....Happy Birthday Dia on the 9th. We shall celebrate.
Signing off finally....au revoir!
I am sitting writing this on terra firma in the Springhill Suites in Fort Lauderdale, USA. It has been a surprisingly interesting cultural experience after a voyage round the world with the theme of 'sustainability'.
We went out to lunch in a typical American diner yesterday. I asked for a salad. It was absolutely enormous....I would think that anyone who could actually clean the plate would have an eating disorder. It was too much to the point of being gross.
Last night we went with Chris, Audrey and Liz to a sports Ale House. Again I ordered a salad and was once again rewarded with a helping the size of which would have defeated anyone but a giant sized basket ball or baseball player and they might well have left something on the plate. This applied to all the other dishes ordered. I asked why they served so much.
'Our owner wants everyone to be impressed and overwhelmed' I as told. Liz suggested they must throw out bags and bags of unwanted food each day 'No' she was told' Our clients ask for doggy bags'!
Well I for one find that hard to believe. Chris chose ice cream and brownies for dessert; it was HUGE! It was shared by the five of us and we still left at least two normal helpings on the plate! After visiting third world countries where the populations make do happily with so much less than ourselves this trend is disturbing to say the least. Thank goodness Canadians do not appreciate such waste and greed for the most part and I think there is a greater awareness of the wider world.
Our flight to Toronto leaves at noon so we shall be leaving here in the airport shuttle at about ten. Fiona will meet us and we shall drive straight into Toronto to the west rush hour....ah well we shall be home at last. I have so enjoyed sharing my thoughts and news with you all... faithful readers, especially you Sal. Thank you to Sally and Dia for keeping me always in the picture...we look forward to seeing you very soon....Happy Birthday Dia on the 9th. We shall celebrate.
Signing off finally....au revoir!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wedenesday May 5th:
I'm sitting in our cabin waiting to be told the ship is cleared. George is in the final Faculty meeting, Liz and Audrey are sitting on their beds in their incredibly tidy cabin....waiting...we are all waiting to be let ashore. I think we go forst, before the crowds and crowds of students....i do hope so. Fiding ones luggage is difficult at the best of times. Ours is pink labelled and was collected from outside our cabins yesterday so will be waiting pick up in the terminal. I have just one multi pocketed handbag and an intensely heavy (wasn't supposed to be but is!) back pack.
The sun is shining and it is hot...in the eighties. We are spending one night in the Springhill Suites near the airport and meeting Chris, Liz and Audrey, in different hotels for supper tonight...our 'last supper'.
Lots of wonderful memories and some regrets at not having tried harder to get to know people...I believe it either happens in three and a half months or it doesn't. My special friends from the last voyage have not been replaced, they were irreplaceable! That was such a sparkling experience this one very much 'the second time around'. Will miss Erika, Ann, Chris, Sherry, Bob and a few others. There are so many women I would love to have got to know better however my shyness or something held me back. Monica Karen and Jill particularly. i do know that we might meet again sometime somewhere, life has taught me its surprises....who ever would have thought twent five years ago that George and I would be married and that he, Liz and i would circle the globe together?!!
I'm sitting in our cabin waiting to be told the ship is cleared. George is in the final Faculty meeting, Liz and Audrey are sitting on their beds in their incredibly tidy cabin....waiting...we are all waiting to be let ashore. I think we go forst, before the crowds and crowds of students....i do hope so. Fiding ones luggage is difficult at the best of times. Ours is pink labelled and was collected from outside our cabins yesterday so will be waiting pick up in the terminal. I have just one multi pocketed handbag and an intensely heavy (wasn't supposed to be but is!) back pack.
The sun is shining and it is hot...in the eighties. We are spending one night in the Springhill Suites near the airport and meeting Chris, Liz and Audrey, in different hotels for supper tonight...our 'last supper'.
Lots of wonderful memories and some regrets at not having tried harder to get to know people...I believe it either happens in three and a half months or it doesn't. My special friends from the last voyage have not been replaced, they were irreplaceable! That was such a sparkling experience this one very much 'the second time around'. Will miss Erika, Ann, Chris, Sherry, Bob and a few others. There are so many women I would love to have got to know better however my shyness or something held me back. Monica Karen and Jill particularly. i do know that we might meet again sometime somewhere, life has taught me its surprises....who ever would have thought twent five years ago that George and I would be married and that he, Liz and i would circle the globe together?!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
We're almost home...
Monday 3rd May
Just one more day before we leave the ship....and we may not board it again if we by any chance leave something on board. One exit only....too bad if you left your Grandmother's diamond ring near the hand basin....you've had it!
Tuesday 4th May
I didn't get very far with that one did I? I have just left a faculty lounge full of people to finally end this on ship blog.
David, you must be wondering (if no one else is) how Rockaby went. I think it went well: I had a lot of positive comments afterwards and I think Liz liked it. I was relieved to record it into a really sophisticated system which gave it a good sound. I had our music professor, David Harnish, playing the singing brass bowl for which I was terribly grateful. He is such and instinctive and sensitive musician and he listened and 'stroked' the bowl accordingly which was wonderful for my reactions. Ecce cor meum has such a sad lament and it started and finished the piece beautifully. It was fantastic to be allowed to decide on my own production, all the details were my own. Erika came to rehearse with me and made good suggestions but ultimately it was my own work....and I think she was pleased and that it worked.
Just one more day before we leave the ship....and we may not board it again if we by any chance leave something on board. One exit only....too bad if you left your Grandmother's diamond ring near the hand basin....you've had it!
Tuesday 4th May
I didn't get very far with that one did I? I have just left a faculty lounge full of people to finally end this on ship blog.
David, you must be wondering (if no one else is) how Rockaby went. I think it went well: I had a lot of positive comments afterwards and I think Liz liked it. I was relieved to record it into a really sophisticated system which gave it a good sound. I had our music professor, David Harnish, playing the singing brass bowl for which I was terribly grateful. He is such and instinctive and sensitive musician and he listened and 'stroked' the bowl accordingly which was wonderful for my reactions. Ecce cor meum has such a sad lament and it started and finished the piece beautifully. It was fantastic to be allowed to decide on my own production, all the details were my own. Erika came to rehearse with me and made good suggestions but ultimately it was my own work....and I think she was pleased and that it worked.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Passing St Lucia and the Grenadines
Saturday 1st May
Another early morning for me. I awoke at 5 am and again looked out to a moonlit sea. I have butterflies this morning thinking about Rockaby tonight. At least I can't fluff my lines as it is pre-recorded but I am still working on the expression on my face and in my eyes as the words are said. Beckett is no easy ride for actor or audience.
Last night in the same venue, the faculty lounge, we listened to our "string band". This is a group of talented musicians: faculty and students and two 'family', a boy aged twelve and a sixteen year old girl. Both of the latter are superb fiddle players. There were 7 players in all (two of them excellent singers) and they made amazing music. Mostly blue grass and some jazz. There is an enormous pool of talent on board. They had a wildly appreciative audience but I felt very un-American as I listened; I know nothing of this style of music. Chris Hill had encouraged me to listen though and I'm happy I did. George chose to correct papers in the cabin!
We had our 'last supper' with Heather, Kristen, Meng Neng and Katie last night and of course I forgot to take my camera. What a truly beautiful and delightful quartet they are. Kristen, tall and blond and very fair skinned has been the object of intense curiosity in many of the countries we've visited and says she's looking forward to being home where she doesn't stand out as being different. It was so interesting to listen to their thoughts about Ghana and Brazil. I didn't get the feeling that any one of them was devastated to be going home. That they have become friends and have done things together ashore has made their shared thoughts even more pleasurable to listen to. They had won in auction an evening of hors d'oeuvres with the Executive Dean and his wife so had been to their cabin, just along from ours, prior to having (soft) drinks on our balcony. They were, to put it bluntly, very 'full' before we went down to supper. George and I ate alone as they watched until the arrival of the delicious chocolate ice cream cake which we all enjoyed and were able to share with some of their friends. We were sad to say goodbye....although we shall be bumping in to each other around the ship before Wednesday. I hope they will keep in touch and let us know about life after Semester at Sea.
As I read on the BBC newsletter about the opening of the 2010 World Expo today in Shanghai: the BP oil spill off the Louisiana coast: the British Election (promises to be interesting with Gordon Brown's gaffes, the Lib Dems in the field and Cameron of the Conservatives 'winning' the TV debate) I realise that we shall soon be back to real life.....are we really ready for it?!
Another early morning for me. I awoke at 5 am and again looked out to a moonlit sea. I have butterflies this morning thinking about Rockaby tonight. At least I can't fluff my lines as it is pre-recorded but I am still working on the expression on my face and in my eyes as the words are said. Beckett is no easy ride for actor or audience.
Last night in the same venue, the faculty lounge, we listened to our "string band". This is a group of talented musicians: faculty and students and two 'family', a boy aged twelve and a sixteen year old girl. Both of the latter are superb fiddle players. There were 7 players in all (two of them excellent singers) and they made amazing music. Mostly blue grass and some jazz. There is an enormous pool of talent on board. They had a wildly appreciative audience but I felt very un-American as I listened; I know nothing of this style of music. Chris Hill had encouraged me to listen though and I'm happy I did. George chose to correct papers in the cabin!
We had our 'last supper' with Heather, Kristen, Meng Neng and Katie last night and of course I forgot to take my camera. What a truly beautiful and delightful quartet they are. Kristen, tall and blond and very fair skinned has been the object of intense curiosity in many of the countries we've visited and says she's looking forward to being home where she doesn't stand out as being different. It was so interesting to listen to their thoughts about Ghana and Brazil. I didn't get the feeling that any one of them was devastated to be going home. That they have become friends and have done things together ashore has made their shared thoughts even more pleasurable to listen to. They had won in auction an evening of hors d'oeuvres with the Executive Dean and his wife so had been to their cabin, just along from ours, prior to having (soft) drinks on our balcony. They were, to put it bluntly, very 'full' before we went down to supper. George and I ate alone as they watched until the arrival of the delicious chocolate ice cream cake which we all enjoyed and were able to share with some of their friends. We were sad to say goodbye....although we shall be bumping in to each other around the ship before Wednesday. I hope they will keep in touch and let us know about life after Semester at Sea.
As I read on the BBC newsletter about the opening of the 2010 World Expo today in Shanghai: the BP oil spill off the Louisiana coast: the British Election (promises to be interesting with Gordon Brown's gaffes, the Lib Dems in the field and Cameron of the Conservatives 'winning' the TV debate) I realise that we shall soon be back to real life.....are we really ready for it?!
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