Week 17 of 2026

 I am a day late posting this, I forgot yesterday.

Good morning all it is 5.30am the temp is 11c or 52f, after Tim gets up, I will pack my Cpap machine, we will be picked up around 10ish.

The trip to Sydney went well the driver was a nice guy can’t remember his name. Tim talked to him all the way down.

We didn’t have to wait around as we converted the walker to a wheelchair and that helped us skip the long line.

It has been a long day with a lot of walking most of it done trying to find food. It took ages but we managed it after eating we return to our cabins; well Sue and I did Tim and Jess did a bit more exploring. I am so worn out and my feet hurt.

I am so glad Sue and Jess are with us.

Steps: 10,158=5.9k’s

First night on the cruise the ship is moving a lot, 8but I slept well with around 9hrs of sleep although the watch say only 6hrs I believe it was more.

I am up at 5am as I feel awake so decided to just get up it is currently 12c

We had breakfast in the Botticell Dining room, and we will not be going back there, there service was so slow, and Tim didn’t like what he ordered. The bacon was so crispy it hurt our teeth.

Jess started to feel sick as in motion sickness and skipped breakie and return to her cabin to sleep.

After breakie Sue and I went to hear a talk about Hobart and Port Arthur but due to how much the ship was rocking I start to feel unwell.

After lunch Sue and I returned to our cabins for a nap, I was woken by my alarm for medication. I walked into the bathroom feeling great lost my balance or tripped I don’t know which and fell, I hit my head and ended up with a bruise on my arm, a sore right knee and a very sore and stiff neck. I managed to stand and walk back to the bed get my phone and ring Sue. I tried to ring Tim but couldn’t. Sue was here in only a couple of minutes she checked me over the returned to her cabin when I said I would be ok.

Sue messaged Tim and as soon as he saw the message he came back to check on me.

Steps: 5,066 = 2.5k’s or 1.5miles

ANNIVERSARY OF DAD’S PASSING, IT’S BEEN 7YRS

Up at 5am and had a shower on my own without issue, the temp is 10c.

We are going on a tour at Port Arthur the ticket said not suitable for those with mobility issues, I didn’t notice that when I booked the tour, oh well we will see what happens.

Sue and I decided not to go on the Port Arthur tour which turned out to be the right choice as both Jess and Tim said it was too much for either of us.

Instead, we stayed on board and checked out the photos that have been taken of us and both Sue and I bought 2 photos.

After lunch I had a nap because I had three Baked Alaska cocktails and needed a nap.

Later Sue, Tim and I attended some quizzes then decided to come back to our cabin to rest awhile.

Steps: 5,066=2.5k’s or 1.5miles

Up at 5am and after a wash and dressing I am now just doing stuff on the computer while Tim sleeps.

We are at sea today, Jess and Sue ordered breakie via room service so there will only be me and Tim at breakfast.

Before breakie while I was alone, I went for a walk outside around the pool twice before heading in to have breakie.

After breakfast I was just wondering around the ship when I went to get into a lift only to have Sue exit said lift.

I bought a Coke Zero with a glass of ice at the international café and took it with me to the Fusion Lounge to take part in the quiz. Well, I lifted the glass to have a drink, and the bottom fell off the glass hitting my right knee and getting Coke and ice all over my leg and foot. Sue picked up the glass and went over to the bar to tell them what happened and they didn’t seem to care and did nothing. Sue had to get some napkins to mop it up. I was in shock. After the quiz we went and lodged a complaint.

Sue, Tim and Jess are going to play Bingo this afternoon. I am not interested in bingo.

Went to the burger place for dinner and Tim went on about the burgers not having beetroot so much that I used a firm voice and told him to get over it.

Steps: 8,119 = 4k’s

Up at 5am and had a shower without issue and dressed for the day, we are at Melbourne today, the temp is 14c at 6am.

Sue and I might get off to check out any markets that may be near the ship. There wasn’t so we walked along the pier for a bit then returned to the ship.

We went to check out the ten pin bowling, Sue gave it a try managed to knock down 4.

We then meet up with Tim, and I had a couple of Baked Alaska’s then I had a nap.

After my nap me and Sue went to check out a music quiz then Sue went for a smoke and the ladies giving free sample massages was set up so we got that, but they wanted us to pay $99 for a full half hour massage but we both said we couldn’t afford it. That was when the sample massage ended it was only a minute or two long, but it did feel good.

Stepd:4,535 = 2k’s

Up at 5am and had a shower without issue again this morning and dressed for the day, we are at sea today heading for Sydney. The temp at 6am was 8c. I had 9hrs of good sleep.

I have worn a different outfit each day of the week, unlike the others who didn’t pack an outfit a day.

Tim just came back from having a smoke and said there was a medical emergency on deck 16 a man was waiting for a chopper to come and transport him to a hospital. Tim said that he had died but was revived and the coast guard decided to medivac him a to a hospital. Sadly, his wife was unable to go with him.

All of us are feeling out of sorts and don’t really want to be around people.

I am not going to dinner I will just get some chips delivered to my cabin.

3,287 = 1.6k’s or .9 of a mile

ANAZAC DAY

Everyone was up early and ready to head home. I had a good night got around 10hrs of sleep.

We disembarked the ship at 7am and had to wait till 8.30am for our ride home to arrive, the trip back to Newie was uneventful and we arrived here around 10.45.

The first thing I felt the need to do was clean the kitchen, I then unpacked my bag sat and did nothing for a bit then had a nap and returned to doing nothing much.

Steps:9991 = 5k’s or 3miles

 

 

I'm home

 

I am home and damn it feels good to be home, I am not doing anything much today but tomorrow I will be washing and doing housework.

We disembarked the ship at 7am and had to wait till 8.30am for our ride home to arrive, the trip back to Newie was uneventful and we arrived here around 10.45.

The first thing I did was clean the kitchen and check the mail then I unpacked my bag, I then did nothing for a while before going for a nap.

When I checked my emails there was 712 in my Hotmail and 58 in my Gmail and 37 in my Bigpond account so all up 807emails to go through.

Week 16 of 2026

 

Another early start up at 4.20 it is a cold morning only 9c (48f) at 5am by 6am it was 11c (52f). I had around 6 and a half hours of sleep and I am feeling good this morning.

Late yesterday afternoon Tim cut my hair at last it feels much better.

I walked down the road about 80metres or 262feet to the post box to send off some letters I had written.

By midday it had reached 21c, Tim says he is cold.

Around 12.30pm Tim decided to catch a bus to Charlie to do some shopping, while at the square he saw Sue who drove to the square Tim said she could have walked over in 5-minutes in fact it would take more like 10-15 minutes.

Steps: 7, 974=4k’s

A later start to the day I was up at 5.40 and it is another cold morning with the temp of 10c or 50f.

Tim and I went to Lake Fair to do some shopping, the around midday we went out again to see Jessica, by the time we got home I was exhausted.

Found two deliveries when we got home one I think is Jess’s new table Tim said it was bloody heavy.

I am so tired I’m off to bed at 6.30pm

Steps:5,066=2.5k’s or 1.5miles

Had a good night got 10hrs of sleep woke at 4.30 and got up, I was that tired and not with-it last night that I got out shorts to wear today, had to go and find long pants.

At 5.30am it was 10c or 50f.

Tim has work today and should be home around 3.30pm.

Sue arrived around 10am she came to pick up the printed what to pack list. Jessica and Sam turned up just after they were here for about 15-minutes then Jess took the keys to hand in to Housing and drop Sam off at Bailey’s she then returned here to hang out till it is time to go get Sam and head home.

Steps: 8,404 = 4.2k’s (2.6m)

I slept well having 9hrs of sleep but was still up at 4.30am the temp was 8c or 46f.

Went for a walk this morning did a little more and felt good.

Tim is working this afternoon/night, he had a doctor’s appointment this morning then had to go and get a CT scan of his chest.

I have had a good day, I walked up and checked the letter box, nothing for me but three things for Tasha, I check her box when I check mine.  Also, Jess sent a message thanking me for the new house card I sent her and Sam.

Steps: 8,077=4k’s or 2,4m

I slept well having 9hrs of sleep but was still up at 4.30am the temp was 11c or 52f.

Sue’s shopping day so no morning walk for me today.

Not long after I got home from shopping, I was putting new cans of Pepsi Max in the fridge and dropped one on my foot breaking the skin leaving blood on the kitchen floor. I put socks on so I couldn’t see the blood. After a while the foot was good.

It is another hot day the temp reached 28c or 82.4f.

Steps: 9,568 = 4.8k’s

I slept well got up around 4.20am and had a shower, went for my walk, walking down the road to post letters.

I asked Sue if she could take me to the chemist to pick up scrips, was surprised that we have reached our safety limit so our scrips will be free for the rest of the year.

I did a load of washing this morning hung it on the clothes hoists and took them outside as it is going to be a hot day.

Was able to bring the clothes in around 2pm and folded them and finished packing.

No nap today as Tim put both suitcases on the bed and I couldn’t move them.

Steps: 14,059 = 4ks or 2.4miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going on a cruise

 

Hi all, just thought I would let everyone know that I will not be around till the 25 April as Tim and I are going on a cruise along with our daughter Jessica and my sister Sue, it is a local cruise from Sydney to Hobart and back we leave on Saturday the 18^th.

So will be spending a lot of tomorrow trying on clothes and packing and trying to decide what shoes to take.

This will be mine and Tim’s fourth cruise and Jess & Sue’s first. We booked this cruise a year ago, at first, it was supposed to be Tasha and Jess coming as it was Tasha’s idea but not long after we booked and paid the deposit she decided she couldn’t afford it so we asked Sue is she would like to come and she jumped at the idea. Since she had 9 months to pay for it, she did manage to pay it off in plenty of time.

Jess and Sue are sharing a cabin, and we have booked balcony cabins.

Jess arranged transport to and from Sydney.

 

Links

 

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/friendly-fill-in.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/getting-to-know-you-or-me.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/a-grill-cheese-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/sunday-stealing-your-tongue.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/sharing-my-tone-deaf-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/remarkable-sister.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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History of Chocolate in USA

 

This week we are looking at the history of chocolate in the USA.

Around the mid 1660’s chocolate was being imported, it was consumed as a hot, thick drink which was believed to have medicinal properties.

The first true chocolate brands in the United States emerged in the late 1700s and 1800s, as chocolate shifted from a colonial drink to an industrially produced food.

The fist chocolate brand was Baker’s Chocolate founded in 1765 in Massachusetts, Dr. James Baker and chocolatier John Hannon started producing chocolate for drinking, for more than a century, Baker’s dominated the U.S. chocolate market before the rise of Hershey.

In 1852 in San Francisco the company Ghirardelli was founded it brought European chocolate‑making techniques to the American West. It is one of the oldest continuously operating chocolate brands in the USA and it helped establish California as a chocolate‑making hub.

Let’s move forward to 1894 when Milton Hershey pioneered mass production of milk chocolate, making it cheap enough for everyday Americans.

Hershey bars became a national staple and later a WWI and WWII military ration, cementing chocolate as part of American identity. Its bars and Kisses defined U.S. chocolate culture in the 20th century.

Hershey’s chocolate is considered low quantity due to much sugar, cheaper fats and lots of additives.

 

 

Beautiful Dogs

 

Last week I looked at ugly dogs, so this week I am looking at a few of what are considered the best-looking dogs. Here are five of those breeds.

Starting with the Siberian Husky, they have striking blue or multi-coloured eyes, wolf‑like features, and a thick, dramatic coat. This is why it is regularly ranked #1 on “most beautiful dog” lists.

Next, we have the Golden Retriever with their soft, flowing golden coat and warm, expressive eyes, they are universally loved for both appearance and temperament.

Then we have the German Shepherd with their strong, athletic build with sharp, intelligent features, they have a regal posture and iconic silhouette.

Another one on the most beautiful dog list is the Doberman Pinscher with their sleek, shiny coat and elegant, muscular lines. They are frequently described as one of the most graceful breeds.

Lastly there is the Chow Chow which has a lion‑like mane and plush, teddy‑bear appearance, it has a unique look that stands out from any other breed.