Photo Wednesday

About Alotau

Hello all today I am just going to tell you a little about our second port of call Alotau in Papua New Guinea, we docked at Alotau which was a somewhat short distanced from the town if you were fit you could walk into town in about 30 minutes but we didn't we got a cab into the town cost us $5 so that was ok.

Moving on, Alotau is the capital of the Milne Bay Province it has a population of around 78,000 it around 7,970 square kilometres in size, this is the are that the battle of Milne Bay took place during the second World War in 1942. An Aussie digger won the Victoria Cross during the battle can't tell you which Aussie digger as don't have free internet to go searching.

The locals in the area speak English as well as another 48 languages although there is around 350 different languages spoken in Papua New Guinea.

The currency used is the Kina but many stalls accepted the Australian dollars as well but of course it was cheaper to pay in their own currency.

Each year in November the national Kenu and Kundu (drum) Festival sees clans from all around the Milne Bay Province come together in Alotau to race for spoils and glory some travel up to a week to get there to share their culture with others.

Sunday's Post and Did You Know Monday

Hello everyone, here we are on a cold Sunday morning, I did something this morning I rarely do, I went back to bed after I did my morning exercises and after I threw a load of washing on and slept for another two hours.

Yesterday I had Leo while his mum worked but only during the day not over night and Kathy and the girls came over, well Kathy had to bring my weekly grocery shop over I do click and collect where I do the shopping online and Kathy collects it and brings it to me.

So I get up not long ago and go to get the washing out of the machine and bloody hell the damn machine was out of balance and not finished,grrrrrrrrr......................

So I unpacked the dishwasher and now I am sitting here and writing this..........................

You know something I hate itchy underarms mine get very itchy, spoke to the doctor about it and he said it might be my deodorant, no happens even when I don't use deodorant, so than he said it was my laundry detergent but I don't think so as it happens even straight after my bath, so of course he then said it was the soap, I don't use soap, ok the body wash but I use different types of body wash and not the same one every time, so than he said he had no idea........................that makes two of us.

On Friday Jessica bought me a new pair of slippers for Mother's Day, yeah a little late but that's ok anyway one of the first things she asks yesterday was do I wear them, yes I wore them Friday night and Saturday morning. Now I don't like to wear slippers much with just my bare feet as my feet sweat but with my problems so days getting my socks on I wanted something I could slip my bare feet into after my bath and first thing of a morning before I get dressed for the day. I wear shorts and a tee shirt to exercise in then I go and get dressed for the day afterwards.

Natasha and Blain both gave me photo frames which I like and Kathy gave me a new breadboard as the one I had was broken and I do like to use a breadboard each day, has to be a wooden one so the toasted sandwich doesn't sweat and become soggy.

Oh yeah Jessica emptied Leo's money boxes he has here and banked the money, he had $215 in his money boxes and yes took a few years to save that much but now it is in his bank account which has over 3 grand in it. I have money boxes here for all my grandchildren and Daemon and I add whatever coins I have spare to them on a regular basis.

On Friday mum had to go with Dawson while he opened up a cashcard account because he is now 18 and will be going to Centrelink on Monday to register and will at some point get a payment once he leaves school if not before. It is Centrelink who pays unemployment benefits and family payments and disability and such. If he doesn’t already have his own Medicare card he will have to register for that as well, here you get your own card usually between the ages of 16-18.

Tim and I are going over to my parents again today for lunch because last weekend my brother Dave was unable to make it and so we are doing it again so he can be there, last weekend I wanted to put it off till this weekend but Sandra didn't want that and all I could think was if you had to find the money for the KFC it would be different sis..................that said we love her and had it anyway.

Ok started this yesterday morning, yes it is now Monday morning I had planned to finish this yesterday and post it but didn't get around to doing it so here I am doing it now.

Being Monday that means it is did you know Monday, so I am asking this, did you know:

A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in a single night

Five things Friday

Good morning all it is Friday again, didn't do a post yesterday I planed to answer some letters, I managed to answer none yeah a big ole 0 how that sucked for some reason I just didn't get around to it, oh well no biggie...................

So what do I have for this weeks five things, stuffed if I know, let me think...............................

No ink

8 unanswered letters

Pissing off my daughters

Thinking they will get over it

Being told I am a gossip and not trustworthy, I only share things with my mum or eldest daughter, the person who said this shouldn't have said what they did and upset so that I needed to vent and rant to someone, it's done deal and move on.

ODD a Rant

Hello everyone, please excuse me while I have a little rant this morning.................................

As some will know my 9yr old grandson has Oppositional Defiant Disorder or ODD he also has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, these are really medical conditions and not some lame ass excuse to excuse bad behaviour in children like some people and members of the family think, I will not mention names but those who think this know who they are.

For those who do not know ODD is a suppose to be a childhood behavioural problem but my eldest daughter who is 31 and my nephew who is 18 both still have ODD so I don't think it is just a childhood condition. Also more boys than girls have the condition, with the ratio of two to one.

ODD is one of a group of behavioural disorders know collectively as disruptive behaviour disorders, which include conduct disorder (CD) and ADHD.

Those who have this disorder do not react well to bossy people who they consider as bullies, you need to speak to them in a calm tone, demanding they do something or yelling and going crazy will not work. They will become argumentative and will not back down easy, they do not get the whole I am the adult you are the child you have to do what I said thing.

Children with ODD can become easily angered, annoyed or irritated, they have frequent temper tantrums and argue frequently with adults particularly those they are most likely to interact with. It is not uncommon for them to refuse to obey rules if they don't understand why the rule applies. They seem to deliberately try to annoy or aggravate others but often that isn't what they are intending to do.

They have a low self-esteem as well as a low frustration threshold and often will seek to blame others for accidents because they fear getting into trouble.

The condition is treated best with the aid of medication, medication allows the child to remain calm and concentrate and it reduces the amount of flare ups the child has. Also some people would do with parental training to help the parents better manage and interact with the child usually this is the first step in treatment but from personal experience medication is a big part of treatment.

These children do not just need more discipline to behave right, they need to be spoken to and interacted with a little different from a child who doesn't have ODD. This is something some I know do not get. Also many who have the condition may be on medication for their whole childhood and into their adult years, some may need medication their whole life. So family members and those who are in the suffers life need to understand that and not make the child feel something is wrong with them because they need medication.

At my grandson's school there are many children who need some form of medication each day so children like my grandson do feel different because they need medication.

Saying the child is “just like their parent” in a negative way is wrong or saying that you hope any other sibling doesn't turn out the same way is also in my opinion wrong, it is like you are saying the parent of effected child is in some way inferior and that is so wrong.

These children are often quiet bright and are deep thinkers and can have a lot of patience with younger children I don't know why that it is but it is what I have seen in those I know with ODD.

With my grandson it is wrong to compare him to his older cousin they are very different boys and I love them both equally and differently just as I love both my granddaughters the same and differently because even though they are sisters they are also individuals. 

About Brisbane our first port of call

Our first port of call was Brisbane, so I am just going to tell you a bit about the place, it became a municipality in 1859 and in 1924 it was consolidated into a metropolitan area. It is situated on the Brisbane river in the southeast corner of Queensland, Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland and has a population of around 2.5 million.

Brisbane has a subtropical climate so it is usually hot and humid during the summer months which is between December and February with the temperature being around 40°c during the day and nights around the mid to high 20's.

Of course the main language spoken is English but there are many different cultures and nationalities in Australia so many other languages spoken as well but for the most part we speak English or as Tim would say we speak Australian here in Australia.

Of course the currency in the Australian dollar, our money consists of coins ranging from 5cents to $2, our silver coins are 5cents, 10cents, 20cents & 50cents and we have two gold coins being $1 & $2. Then we have our notes which consist of $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100, $5 is a purplish colour, the $10 is blue the $20 is orange, the $50 is yellow and the $100 is green, Tim and I rarely have $100 notes in our wallets most we have 5, 10 or 20's.

Queensland is also home to the famous Gold Coast with 26 miles of beaches and many resort hotels and Queensland's casino, also around the Gold Coast you will find Movieworld and Dreamworld both are theme parks and both are popular and expensive.

Queensland is known as the sunshine state because it is suppose to have around 300 days of sunshine each year, since I don't live in the state I have no idea if this is the case or not.

The state of Queensland was named in honour of Queen Victoria who signed the proclamation separating the state from the state of New South Wales in 1859.

The Koala is the official state animal, the official state gem is the sapphire, maroon is the state colour worn by the Queensland footy team in the State of Origin footy games which is NRL. The states bird is a large grey crane known as the brolga and the state flower is a lovely Cooktown orchid.

There are over 200 national parks in Queensland covering around 16 million acres.

One of Brisbane's most recognisable attractions in the historic Newstead House, it dates back to 1846 and is the oldest surviving home in Brisbane, it was originally a simple colonial Georgian cottage but if you ask me back then most homes were pretty simple, anyway it has been transformed over the years into a huge homestead with a sprawling verandah featuring panoramic vista (whatever that is). In 1939 it became the first Australian house to be preserved by its very own at of parliament.   

Did you know Monday/Toothbrushes

Ok since things are returning to normal that means this Monday you get did you know Monday with another fact out of Leo's 1000 facts book, this weeks fact is this:

More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones

What colour is your toothbrush?

Mine is usually pink so not blue but Tim always likes a blue one as does Leo.

We all now that toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes, and forms but did you know that most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.

Also did you know the first bristle toothbrush resembling the modern one was found in China dating back to the Tang Dynasty which is between 619-907 it consisted of hog bristles, just so you know. 

Home and returning to normal

Hello all, I am home safe and sound got home around 1pm on Friday afternoon and today is Sunday didn't do a post Friday or Saturday as I just didn't feel like it but here I am on Sunday morning at last writing something.

We have had Leo since Friday after school and will have him till Thursday after school, why you wonder well he wanted to stay Friday night because he missed us and yesterday and today his mum will be working till late in the afternoon and it is just easier for him to stay here with us.

While I was hanging up the clean clothes I thought about how we all may call something by a different name, like what I call a coat hanger some will call a clothes hanger same thing different name, same goes for a pillow case or a pillow slip some item slightly different name.

However, while on the cruise I was confused a bit by what they called lemonade it wasn't lemonade it was lemon squash aka Solo what to us is lemonade is what they called Sprite for us Sprite is just a brand name of lemonade like Coke or Pepsi is a brand name of cola.

So when they said that you could have water, juice or lemonade free with your meal I was looking for Sprite not lemon squash, I don't drink lemon squash but my dad does.

I also noticed that at times they called custard, vanilla sauce and what they served up as pie on pie night was more like pasties although you could get a normal Aussie meat pie from the burger place.

Things are returning to normal here, I have exercised yesterday morning and this morning again so getting back into it yesterday only did 35 minutes and this morning I managed 52 minutes.

I read a heap of blog posts this morning and will post this as well before I go over to my parents place for a late Mother's Day lunch with the family. Speaking of Mother's Day my daughters and my sisters need a bit of a slap they all had an extra two weeks to get us presents and they still say they didn't have time or money to do so, what the hell is with that. Although Kathy-Lee gave me a new wooden breadboard yesterday for Mother's Day which I love as the old one was broken..

Tim and I gave mum her present on the day, well we ordered her roses from the ships florist and Tim bought her a compact mirror while he was ashore that day which she really liked. 

Last day of cruise

Last day aboard and I have been worried about mum as she hasn't been with it this morning, I returned her to her cabin at 10.30am so she could have a lay down as she was falling asleep while we were sitting on deck 7 this morning.

Tim went and bought mum a bottle of water and told her to drink some, after doing so she started to improve and he told me to let her rest till she was ready for lunch which I did. After lunch I went back to her cabin and helped her pack some stuff ok most of their stuff expect for dad's stuff.

I have now packed all my stuff that needed to be packed but Tim said he will do his stuff so I will leave it to him although I feel like doing it but I never know how he will react sometimes he is fine with me doing it sometimes not so much.

My right ankle is still very sore as it the palm on my right hand but the hip is pretty much ok now as long as I don't lay on it or do anything to cause the pain to return I should fingers crossed be ok.

Tomorrow I have told mum that I will push her off the ship, so she doesn't have to walk thus the reason we are packing as much as we can in the luggage that is taken off the ship for us with only a few items being carried off by us.

I have now had shower and will wear what I have on tomorrow.

Two more sleeps till home

Ok two more sleeps before I am home and able to have a hot bath and sleep in my own bed and even though I have loved the cruise I am looking forward to my own bed and a hot bath. I am also missing my girls and grandchildren, I have bought them all a gifts and hope I have not forgotten anyone.

I think we are all looking forward to returning home my brother and sister in-law will be picking us up again and Dave said they will be leaving very early to get down here as near the terminal there is some disable parking spots and they would like to get one of them and as Dave said they can nap in the car while they wait for us better then paying over a $100 for parking.

For most of the cruise we have not felt the ship move much at all, well I have not although this afternoon while I was trying to have a nap I could feel it move and can while I am sitting here typing this and have to say it is kinda nice the gentle swaying of the ship.

This morning mum and I went and bought a few more things and put some money through the pokies didn't win anything though. While at the casino Tim was with us and mum said to him was he going to put money through the pokies or stand around and annoy us, so he left to have a smoke and we didn't see him again till lunch time.

After lunch I had a nap but didn't sleep well I dozed on and off for a couple of hours give or take and woke the last time with a start after I heard someone walk into the cabin and come sit next to me on the bed and touch my hip, I opened my eyes expecting to see Tim but he wasn't there and I called him but he wasn't here at all.

I can tell we are getting closer to Sydney as the temperature is dropping and it is getting cooler although today outside it was nice mum and I sat out on a deck and watched the water, something both of us and well as dad find very relaxing.

Also when I went to the toilet earlier I had a woman as me if mum was my mum or Tim's much she thought she was my mum as she said we looked alike but she had heard Tim call her mum as well so wasn't sure. I said she is my mum but Tim has called her mum for over 30 odd years, she thought it was wonderful that he called her mum as well.

As mum said my dad called her mother mum as well but he called her dad by his given name Ron, dad like Tim was very close to his mother in-law.

Noumea

Well here we after lunch on Tuesday afternoon, this morning Tim, dad & I all got off the ship and went ashore into Noumea mum stayed onboard as she didn't feel up to getting off and it is a good thing she did as there is no way she would have managed the stairs on the bus that took us from the wharf to town. The stairs were narrow and steep and no bloody way mum would get up them or down them so she stayed on deck 5 and had a latte, I parked her in a corner and that is were she stayed, just joking, although she seated in a corner out of the sun and in a place where her walker was out of the way. She doesn't sit on the walker but moves to chair at the table.

Tim was still ashore when we had lunch and came back to the cabin, dad left him there and came back on his own.

This morning I had to ask Tim to put my socks on for me as it was quicker then trying to do it myself and I commented that it was ridiculous that I had to get help to get them on and what does Tim say.................... “it is ridiculous that you have allowed yourself to get like this” yes that is what he said and he didn't get why I was upset with him because of it. I did NOT allow myself to get like this it just happened and I could have gotten my socks on but I am worried that the strain of doing so may cause the pain in my hip to return and I do not want that.

Note I can get my socks or stockings on myself just takes longer and is a bit of hard work to do so and yes I know I have become fat and all but I am working on changing that and I do not need comments like that.

You don't tell someone who has say lung cancer that they allowed themselves to have get lung cancer because they smoked to me it is the same thing their actions may have been the cause of the cancer, my actions may be the cause of my problems but still not a nice thing to say. I KNOW he LOVES me but still not a nice thing to say or hear.

While ashore I bought a few things mum wanted me to get for her and a couple of things I wanted and now I am looking forward to going home, having a hot bath and sleeping in my own bed, just saying.  

Port Villa

Hello everyone here I am sitting in my cabin after lunch and before a nap telling you all that I am exhausted this morning after breakfast we all went ashore at Port Villa to wonder around all the markets and there are a lot of markets.

Getting off the ship mum had to be pushed on her walker down the gangway and it was steep and I pushed her around the markets and let me tell you it was bloody hot and crowded most of the markets have pretty much the same stuff with slight differences in goods and price.

Tim bought himself a couple of more shirts an something for Sydney-May and Summer I bought myself a top and few other little things not sure who for yet, although Tim said he thinks we have enough I said no we don't have anything for Kathy-Lee or Natasha yet but I will have a look at our next port of call which is Noumea and I know there are markets there as well.

When we got back to the ship before we boarded they were handing out wet face clothes and cups of water and yeah I wiped my face over didn't care that it removed my make-up as I was that hot and when I got back to my cabin I notice my clothes were soaked with sweat so had to change all of them.

We then went to lunch and now are back in the cabin and after I write and post this I will be having a lay down as well.

While wandering around the markets another lady mentioned she pushes her mum around on her walker as well. Mum says she feels terrible that I am pushing her all over the place but I am not bothered at all I like being able to help mum out.

At lunch she hurt her knee while moving from the walker to a seat and was crying, I do not like to see my mum cry and knowing there is nothing I can do to help stop the pain is terrible.

We are only at Port a Villa for half a day and in fact should be under-way again soon as everyone had to be back on ship by 1.30pm and it is now 1.30pm.

Mother's Day

So it is Mother's Day as I start this while waiting for mum & dad to get ready to go to breakfast, Tim has gone to have a smoke and check out the docking of the ship we are at Luganville today not sure at this stage if me and mum and going ashore Tim will check it out and let us know if it is worthwhile doing so.

Yesterday I asked Tim if he would go to the casino and get me a couple of scratchies to give mum for Mother's Day and he didn't not happy Jan.........................

Ok it is now after lunch and Tim has been ashore and returned with a heap of goodies, he did really good something for mum just a little mirror compact and both Tim and I ordered mum some roses for Mother's Day which I hope and expect her to like I noticed they had been delivered when I returned her to her cabin.

Tim also bought me a lovely necklace for Mother's Day which I really like and he bought a hat for Leo and a tee shirt for Blain and little doll keyrings for Sydney-May and Summer and of course a fridge magnet to add to my collection.

Damn my right hand is sore from pushing mum around on the walker it is my right hand I use to steer and manoeuvre the walker around.

I am not eating a great deal so hopefully I will not have gained weight when we return home, I guess only time will tell.

A few more cruise days

Here we are at another day what number day I cannot remember all the days are running together for me and mum, it has been a humid sticky day if one is outside which for the most part we (mum & I ) have not been.

This morning dad and Tim went ashore via a tender to check out Kiriwina Island but mum wasn't able to board a tender because of her needing the walker to get around so we stayed onboard and had a chat and cuppa.

After lunch mum was exhausted and wanted a nap and I felt I could do with one as well so back to the cabin for a nap was what we did.

Tim while ashore got his camera wet and now it will not turn on and all he said was he was due for a new camera, yesterday when I left one of the two ways on a table and lost it he carried on a bit and made me cry, he got over it but I wasn't happy with the way he carried on I didn't lose it on purpose.

Last night we had pizza for tea which was dished out by the slice and what large slices they were and have to say not a bad pizza at that.

Ok today is Thursday we docked at Rabaul and both Tim & dad got off the ship for a look around, it was stinking bloody hot and not much to see near the ship. Tim went for a wander into town and he bought a baseball cap and a fridge magnet as he knows I like to collect fridge magnets from places we have visited.

Mum and I stayed on ship and sat by a window and could see dad and Tim get off and back on the ship, after lunch we went and had a rest.

Dad doesn't sound good and I said I thought he needed to rest a bit and mum was super tired as when we are in port the shops onboard are closed as is the casino so to me it is a time to relax in the sun or in your cabin and watch some telly for a bit.

Mum didn't bring a book to read so she has been on Facebook a fair bit and she has been having afternoon lay downs after lunch.

Ok it is now Friday evening been at sea all day, mum spent more money as did I just not as much as mum, we have just returned from dinner and I have just had my shower yes it is early but I will just relax a bit in the cabin before going to bed.

Cruising..............whats included

My eldest daughter was asking about cruising she wanted to know what was included in the cost and such so I am writing this for her.

I feel cruising is great value for money generally speaking, on board you don't use cash to pay for stuff it gets charged to your cruise card and you settle your account at the end of the cruise.

What is included in the price of the cruise is accommodation, your meals and entertainment, there are movies shown each night and again during the day, not really old movies either but pretty recent movies on this cruise Tim has seen the movies, Passengers, Hidden Figures and Jurassic World. There are about 6 pools onboard and there are other shows on in the theatre each night and talks during the days, there is a casino onboard. You can fill your day with stuff or do nothing but lay by a pool soaking up the sun or you can read many people spend a lot of time reading onboard.

There is a TV in your cabin with TV shows and movies shown all the time, there are some bars opened 24 hours as well.

However, drinks are not included in the price so it is worth while investing in getting a drinks package, the all inclusive package is about $59-76 per day per person and it may seem a lot but when you take into account that cocktails up to the cost of $14 are included as well as beer, spirits and soft drinks, as well as coffee and hot chocolate it is good value. On our first cruise there wasn't a drink package and we spent close to $1800 on drinks for the cruise. You can also get a soft drink package which is what Tim got for me for this cruise which is only between $7-9 per day and covers soft drinks, and mocktails, and coffees and hot chocolates. I strongly suggest if you are going on a cruise get a drinks package. You can drink as much as you wish if you have a drinks package, you are not limited to $59 or $76 worth of drinks it is as much as you wish to drink during the day.

There is plenty of food included, yes there are some speciality restaurants that cost extra but we don't bother with them on this cruise the buffet is great we are all pleased with it and the variety of food available. There are also restaurants where you are seated and waited on, although Tim and dad prefer the buffet, mum and I like the idea of being waited on at the end of the day but we are compromising.

Most nights you dress casually although there are formal nights but we also don't worry about those nights as getting dressed up isn't something we can generally be bothered with.  

Cruise Day 4 Sea Day

Here we are at the end of another day, today has been a sea day as will tomorrow be, this morning after breakfast we all went to the shops on deck five and mum & dad bought grog for Dave and Sandra and Tim bought 3 bottle of Vodka and I got one bottle of Southern Comfort all duty free and will be delivered to our cabin the night before we disembark.

Tim wondered through a shopping display and bought himself a watch and a couple of other things, then mum and I went to a talk about Papua New Guinea which was a little boring and I could tell mum wasn't interested so we left and went to lunch.

After lunch we went back to the shops and mum bought a few more things for people I, however, have not bought anything yet then we sat and listen to some musicians for a bit but mum and I got a headache so we returned to our cabins.

I was writing a post about Brisbane when Tim turned up to change his clothes as he was getting hot.

Been and had dinner, it was formal night tonight and Tim looked really good he changed from his shorts to trousers, button up shirt and dinner jacket, he doesn't often get dressed up and he did look nice, I changed from leggings into nice black slacks.

I just took my night time medication and one tablet got stuck in my throat and I coughed and coughed and managed to dislodge it and bring it up but now I am shaking and have broken out in a sweat.

Ok that is all for this post until tomorrow take care all and hope all are well....................................

Cruise Day 3 Brisbane

Well hello all here we are at the end of another day, a day spent really doing nothing but chatting and talking, although Tim and dad went ashore and had a wonder around Brisbane with dad returning exhausted from the trip, neither mum nor I felt like going ashore.

I had a nap after lunch while Tim downloaded photos from his camera to the computer but even though I was laying down I could hear Tim complain that the laptop wouldn't play the video clips he recorded I said I would l have a look at it but not right then as it took me a while to get comfortable and I wasn't moving.

I am pretty much over my cold but seems like I gave it to my brother as he was telling mum he had a cold when she spoke to him at lunch time, being in Brisbane meant we had service while out on deck and in the Horizons Court food area.

At breakfast my sister Sandra rang and told mum she was sorry she burnt one of mums nightgowns while she was sleeping over there last night, she had put on a small light mum has in one of her cupboards near her bed and got up went and had a smoke and went to the toilet and she started to smell something burning and when she went into mums room the nightgown was burning, bloody good thing she didn't burn the house down.

Before we left I sent Sandra a message asking if she helped mum pack could make sure mum had outfits that matched, as sometimes mums fashion sense isn't all that cracked up and she wears item that I feel clash and I told Sandra not to tell mum, well today mum was telling me that Sandra told her about the message and that I hadn't wanted mum to know what I said. Mum and I had a good laugh about it, she also said making sure she packed outfits that matched didn't mean she would wear outfits that matched...............

I am writing this in the afternoon while mum and dad have a rest, mum wasn't feel great and dad was exhausted from his morning trip to Brisbane. I told mum to ring me when she wants to go to dinner and to just take her time and rest for a while.

Tim came down to get his phone, I am saying down, I don't know why though as we are on deck 14 near the top of the ship, anyway he came and got his phone and he had this drink with him which he gave me a taste of and I can tell you it was disgusting, had to have some water to get rid of the taste. He is trying new drinks out while we are here because why not but I am still annoyed that he only got the grog drink package for himself because he has realised we can't share it and we are often not together and when we are he doesn't want soft drinks he wants grog so I am not happy and he knows it, well I think he knows it.

Cruise Day 1 & 2

Well here we are at day two of our cruise, last night saw me in so much pain from sitting and walking and standing and you know moving and not moving, after dinner which wasn't much wasn't hungry I returned to my cabin and had a hot shower and then wanted to sit in bed and read but I was in far too much pain.

Although because mum had the walker we didn't have to wait in any long lines at check in and going through customs. Mum had to be patted down as she set of the metal detectors due to the pins and plate in her arm and there was an issue with Tim having the two way radios but that was ok. Dad had an issue with his multi purpose tool because it has a knife in it, the security guy was going to confiscate it but I was standing next to him when he asked who it belonged to and I pointed to dad and said the old man there with the hat on he looked at dad, said the old man, oh well it will be ok. If it belonged to a young man I reckon it would have been confiscated but because it belonged to an old man it was ok.

When I went to bed last night, I laid down at first on my left side for a bit but had to go to the toilet after 15 or 20 minutes, then I laid on my back and didn't move for a long time till the pain subsided. This morning I have been ok pain wise didn't take my cane to breakfast as didn't feel like I needed it.

Yesterday I walked to the dinning area and so did mum there and back at lunch and also to the emergency drill but when we went to dinner I pushed mum on her walker and that was so much better for both mum and myself.

So I started this in the morning and it is now 6.45pm and I am just returning to the cabin after a full day out doing nothing much, checking out shops and just sitting and watching the ocean for a while.

Tonight we had dinner in the Bernini restaurant on deck 5 and it was nice to sit and be waited on for a change, the chicken dish I had was really nice followed by ice cream with chocolate topping now I am in for the night and Tim is going to watch a movie on the big screen outside near the pool.

One more sleep, till cruise day

Ok this maybe my last post till the 20^th as tomorrow is cruise day, yes we are leaving on a 15 day cruise this time we are going to Papua New Guinea again we are going with my parents and I can tell you I am super excited about the cruise.

This morning has been spent packing and washing and of course it is raining so the washing had to go into the dryer but that is ok at least we have a clothes dryer. This time our cabin is next to mum & dad's cabin and we got interior cabins so no window to look out but I feel that should be ok as we are usually only in a cabin for sleeping.

Tim has just said we are going to the club for lunch so I just had to get shoes on and change my top this I expect is because we have very little food left in the house, but that is ok I like the idea of having lunch at the club.

I am still in a fair amount of pain and last night I had a shocking nights sleep, kept waking up having difficulty breathing due to having this rotten cold, I asked Tim to get cold tablets when he took Leo to school which he did but not the good stuff that you have to ask the chemist for but at least he tried but if it was him who had the cold he would be somewhat pissed off if I didn't get the good cold tablets.

Yesterday afternoon Tim picked Leo up from school on the motorbike which really made Leo happy and this morning he drove him to school on the motorbike but this afternoon we will have to get him in the car because of the rain.

Well I started this earlier this morning and now it is 4.30pm so I will post this, I will do some updates on Facebook but don't think I will be posting here but we will see.  

History Tuesday

Hello everyone, here we are at Tuesday afternoon and guess what I have a bloody cold it is really annoying, I had a 2hr nap after taking some cold tablets because Tim picked Leo up from school, this made Leo really happy as he picked him up on the motorbike.

Anyway since it is Tuesday it is history Tuesday and what to write about after thinking I decided on this post about Zouave. During the American Civil War there were men in the Zouave uniform fighting.

Zouave? What is that you asked, well let me tell you............................................

Well, it all starts in North Africa...

Makes total sense, right?

The Zouaves originated in the 1830s in North Africa. They were recruited from the Zouaoua (a Berber tribe) and became one of the most elite fighting units in the French Army of Algeria.

They were not only known for their fighting qualities, but also for their distinctive and heavily tasseled uniforms. These usually included brightly coloured, baggy pantaloons and bright turbans and fez hats.

So there were a bunch of North African tribesmen wearing crazy uniforms fighting in the American Civil War?

Not quite...

Actually, this is what happened. The Zouave fighters became well known around the world and it became popular for militia units around the world to try to emulate their outlandish uniforms. The volunteer units raised for the Civil War were no exception...

Early in the war, when almost everyone (on both sides) thought it would be nothing more than a quick adventure, volunteer militias devised uniforms that they thought would make them look very "grand" as they heroically marched off to battle. For many units, in both the north and south, this meant dressing like the famous Zouave fighters from North Africa.

The uniform above was worn by a soldier in a Union Zouave regiment from New York.

During the Civil War, many of the Zouave units adopted fighting styles more closely related to that of the North African fighters than to traditional infantry warfare. This often included a preference for light infantry style open formations, prone firing and reloading, and movement at double time rather than regular marching.

As the war wore on and militia units became part of the regular armies, many Zouave units began to disappear. This was due in a large part to the fact that the elaborate uniforms were very expensive to make. Although some Union regiments were issued Zouave uniforms in recognition of battlefield performance, many Zouave units disappeared as they were forced to adopt regular army uniforms.

Without a doubt, the Zouave Civil War uniforms were some of the most colourful, but they are not the only uniforms with interesting stories behind them..................but they will do for this post.............

It's Monday so did you know.........................

Well here we are at another Monday, and what a busy Monday it has been in way of appointments first up went to the doctor about hip pain he referred me for an X-ray so next stop the X-ray place then home for a bit.

However, while at the X-ray place my mobile phone kept ringing in the end I answered it but knew what the call was about before I answered as all the ringing made me remember that Leo didn't have his medication before we left for school and yeah it was his mum ringing to see if he had it as the school rang her when I didn't answer.

I then came home for a bit till it was time to go to the podiatrist for my diabetic foot check now I am home for a bit till I go to get Leo from school.

Pain has been sitting at a 7 when I walk and a 2 or 3 when I am seated doing nothing, I have managed to hang Natasha's washing on the line.

So being Monday means it is did you know Monday......................................

You can't catch a cold by sitting inn a draught, the change in temperature may bring on a temporary condition called vasometer rhinitis, which causes swelling in the tiny blood vessels in the mucus membrane linings of your nose and give you a runny nose, but it is not a cold.

A cold is a virus, just saying.