Still cruising!

 We entered the Arctic Circle today - 

my first time in this part of the world!

Romsdalsfjiord was quite stunning as the daylight appeared. We are docked at the very end of the  fjiord. The town was quiet, streets empty as we tied up. Unfortunately, it was quite cloudy, meaning we couldn't see where the gondola reached the top of the mountain. 

We left the ship and looked down into crystal clear waters. I had seen many jelly fish as we cruised in the fjiord, but now there were considerable numbers of sea urchins. A walk along the edge of the fjiord gave us interesting vistas. 

The sun broke through the cloud, and so we took our chance on the gondola. The views down to the fjiord were spectacular.  Unfortunately, we followed people's advice and clambered and scrambled, with John's helping hand, over rocks and mud to see the same view only higher up. Needn't have bothered, really. Same view only with bruised knees!

Another day at sea. There were fewer activities than usual, or so I thought. The consensus was that we weren't attending the  talk! Jake started to insist that we went to Line dancing - John and I were not keen! " I will go by myself then," she said. John and I looked at each other! This was really a sign for us to go with her!

Rather, reluctantly, we all took to the floor. The first dance got your heart racing! I didn't really help myself because I was laughing so much at my efforts. Jake seemed to pick it up quickly, John was ace at the lasso action, and any twirling made me dizzy! As much as we didn't want to go, I bet the next time Line Dancing is on the programme, we'll be  there!

Awake early today to see us 'glide' into Tromso. It was cloudy and cold - 9C. There are patches of snow on the mountains and quite a lot of activity on the water - fishing boats, a naval ship, as well as the ferries.

Getting ready to go ashore for the day was an effort - there were thermal long johns, thermal top, jumper, trousers, down jacket, hat scarf and gloves! I look like the Michelin man - for any who remember that advert! 

Shuttle buses took us from the ship into the town. We wandered into a glass shop and were luckily enough to be able to watch a couple making whisky glasses. Their English was impeccable, and they happily let us watch them while they talked us through the process.

The evening entertainment was an organ recital in the Artic Cathedral - very impressive! 

23/10

Beautiful day greeted us as we headed towards Alta. Could have been a disaster when the captain announced " Whales on the starboard side!" As you can imagine, most of the ship rushed to startboard! I did see a pod from my balcony!

The scenery is beautiful. Crystal clear water, sunny cold skies - fabulous sunrise today.

Once again, John and I were 'dragged' to line dancing! We really did try our best and managed to do the 'grape vine' steps. Luckily, no lasso today! 

Our cruise is being changed slightly following concerns about bad weather up here. We are leaving Alta at 2am instead of being here all day tomorrow! We docked about 1pm and, after lunch, took a shuttle bus into town. Frost was on the ground with many icy puddles. As the sun set at about 4:15 the cold soon crept in - 3C is rather parky!!! 

Instead of a siesta, we started a jigsaw - kept us quiet for an hour! 

We actually saw some of the 'Northern Lights - could only see it through the phone camera not the naked eye!

The seas have become wilder and we are experiencing  severe gale force winds. The deck have been closed off - don't want anyone being blown over! It was difficult to sleep with the wild rolling of the ship and the accompanying orchestra of clanging coat hangers!

Attended a  talk about Pop Art  - there is an interesting Art gallery on the ship. This afternoon, the talk is about Street Art.

Gave Line dancing a miss yesterday - the ship was  rocking and rolling too much! Went today - it was quite difficult as the ship was rolling again but we all managed to stay on our feet!

Made it to Norway!

 When was I last in England at this time of year i wondered? Brain cells kicking into gear, searched my brain data base and came up with October 1996! I had forgotten about damp misty days! 

Our trip down to Southampton was uneventful. It was a relatively easy process to board the ship and find our cabin. This ship is so much bigger than the last one I was on - wonder how often I will get lost! 

Jake and John are at one end of the ship and I'm at the opposite end! They are also 3 levels above me!

We did an exploration of the ship - 2 outdoor pools with a couple of hot tubs , an indoor pool with a couple of hot tubs, an art gallery, two theatres, the list goes on. 

We left around 5pm on a sunny afternoon. The captain had announced that at around sunset, we should have a good view of a comet, which was a once in 80,000 year event. We had drinks in the 'Crows Nest' bar just before sunset and then dashed onto the deck to look for the comet. We stood on deck, shivering, long after the appointed time but no luck for us. Maybe the clouds didn't help! One of the crew told me, next day, that they had photographed it! 

Our first full day at sea was glorious. The sun was shining and it was quite warm. We attended a couple of lectures - ' How fjiords are formed' and then an excellent one about 'Art Heists'. The evening entertainment was terrific - a trio singing Motown songs ( my favourite genre) then a dash to see Jay McGee ( formerly of the Rocking Berries). He was fabulously funny and I was laughing so much I had tears streaming down my face!

Yesterday, Saturday, was much cooler and very grey but that didn't stop us from. having a swim and hot (?) tub before breakfast. We started in the indoor pool and the went to the outdoor pool - mad fools!

After breakfast we attended another Art lecture this time it was about L S Lowry, the English artist - very interesting.

The rest if the day was spent playing cards resting and reading until it was time to get into our finery for the 'Black Tie' event. We all did our glittering best for Champagne with the Captain! By the end of the evening I, alongside numerous other females, had to take my shoes off and walk barefoot, my feet were aching so much.

I am writing this at 6am, our clocks have moved one hour ahead, and I can see land and twinkling lights as we head to our first port of call, which  is Andalsnes. This area is know as the mountaineering capital of Norway. We have glided into the Romsdalsfjiord. It's still dark as sunrise isn't until 8:30!

A grey rainy day!

 I had forgotten to mention that, not only were we gardening on Sunday but we also cleaned the hot tub! Part of my job was to clean the lid of mould and spiders! I did need help to get it back on the hot tub!

I think I've shrunk!

Yesterday, Monday, dawned grey, cold and rainy so we headed off to Upton House  (National Trust) near Banbury Oxfordshire. The house was built in 1695. It's last owner was Viscount Bearsted who inherited a large fortune from his father, the founder of the Shell oil company.

The Viscount was a major collector of art, mainly English and Continental old masters. The house is more like an art gallery than house. The unusual part about this house is that you can view the old masters at close quarters and not behind a barricade!

We then wandered around the gardens - the autumn colours were gorgeous,

These Cedar trees are 350 years old!

Not sure that my aching muscles from my gardening stint were helped by all the walking!

Doesn't matter how much exercise I'm doing it isn't helping my jet lag!

 

Off to England.

*Joy of Sydney to Singapore!

Luck was on my side - no one in the seat beside me! Definitely not a full flight!

Don't you hate watching a few movies, thinking hours have passed, only to look on the flight map to see that you hadn't even left Australia!

An announcement told us all that a couple, who met on this flight 5 years earlier had got engaged during lunch - round of applause from us all.

Just as you start to nod off imminent landing is announce!

All the talk about how wonderful Changi airport is doesn't come to fruition as Qantas are 'parked' in the 'rough end of town'!

*Joys of Singapore to London!

Not one, not two but three empty seats beside me! I managed to sleep across three seats after wrestling the seatbelt around myself  - didn't want to be a projectile if we hit turbulence!!

Somehow time passed and then the landing announcement was made. I put on the 'tail camera' to watch our decent. The wheels were down, we were lined up with the runway lights, just getting ready for touch down when straight  back into the air we went!! I think all our stomachs churned! The pilot gave his apology for the scare but said  the plane, which landed before us hadn't got off the runway quickly enough! It was pretty impressive at the way the A380 got back in the air - good pilot and air traffic control!

Finally on land I caught the train to Paddington and then onto Worcester. Luckily my taxi - Jake and John - were waiting for me!  I  needed a walk and, as luck would have it, Marks and Sparks was near.  A few items ended up in my basket!

I managed to stay awake until 8:30 pm! 4 hours later I was wide awake again - much like now! I was able to make a cuppa with the travel kettle etc. placed beside my bed. Eventually I fell asleep again!

Following breakfast I was set to work - prepping oranges for marmalade, filling bird feeders , down in the dirt setting onions and garlic - the slave driver did give me something to kneel on! I then went on to helping with clearing out dead plants!

The autumn colours are lovely but the garden was looking rather bedraggled so a clean up was necessary. It was a mild 13C - although I was wearing my puffer jacket. Morning coffee outside in the garden - most sane people would be inside! - was very pleasant. I always enjoy listening to the song birds here as a change from the  raucous Aussie birds.

 Checking the garden produce!