Hi Phil et al. Yes, daughter now safely back at home which is great relief after a week of rushing around like a blue bottomed fly. She's fine and glad to have (some) freedom. Relatives about to arrive to stay for the week so mad dash around to get house half reasonable and food on for later. Yes, I too nearly became a milionaire on Wednesday Phil - three numbers. Proudly stomped into my local Tesco, counted my winnings (all £10) and made immediately for the wine aisle.....well you've got to, haven't you??
Must dash still a bit of polishing to do (it only ever gets done when visitors arriving as usually I am happy to live in a "comfortable" house where the dust acts as a protective layer!).
At this rate Craig will have written his review before me and I'll just chip in with bits. I'm counting the days with you for those who have still to experience all the excitement as the big day draws nearer

Green and pink hair dye would match the waistcoat perfectly but do make sure you do a skin patch test first you don't want to be bald as a coot for your long awaited cruise , see Luci not off topic really. Poor Magsy she must have caught the virus from that foul mannered man at their table. I do hope you are now feeling better and will soon be posting merrily and answering all our questions, take care Carol R

hi evryone i am back from the big apple!!!what a city!!!
there were a lot of pages to catch up with,glad to see phil is on top formi reckon you can turn water into wine and still make us laugh i definately want to see a heavenly body in a sarong with multicoloured hair and diamonte flipflops !!!!!!!
how about we vote he leads the protest....we would make all the dailys!!!!!!!1
its nice to see a few more new names finding the site we are all rooting for you all.
look forard to hearing the reviews of our last lot of intrepid cruisers.
i am out tonight and as i read all night on the plane i reckon i will need some ding dong to keep me awake!!!!!!!cheers everyone carol

Hi Chris,

sorry it's taken so long to reply - been enjoying a few days in Devon.

We booked Ryanair tickets to Milan - the cheapest route at the time from both Luton and Stansted. You can then get a coach to Milan central station. If you want to know anymore please let me know. Ryanair tickets get more expensive the later you leave it.

Jean

great news !!!!!!
alison mca got her tickets this morning in post
for 3rd oct melody

naturally as all you ladies will understand she has not been seen since
i expect she will come home when the shops throw her out !!!!!!!!!!!



pauline (alisons mum)
xxx

That's marvellous Pauline. Those who have cruises do seem to be getting the tickets a bit earlier now which is one worry less. I'm sure she will have a fabulous time - I know I did.

Yep folks the 3 October Melody trip looks like a goer. I have received my tickets today and some of the other Melodians have also received theirs!

Very best wishes to Damama and Alison and all other 3 Oct melodian HT members.

terryw

Good Afternoon from the Balcony

Just got in from Lidi's great news on the peppered smoked salmon, for 250g (about 4oz) just 1.99p So I just finished salmon and cucumber sarnies, no boliger left :bawl

Da Mama What do you mean Pauline has gone to the shops, I was under the impression that Primark and Lidi were the shops used by HT are you a submarine who just let her cover blow over her. if so what is your gain why are you on the £10 (£1000 (real price by the time telephone calls, bottles and tanker costs taken into account + plus bridge tolls - sorry juro nearly forgot.cruise).

If this is a genuine slip up and you have given your daughter freedom of the high street - you should be ashamed, Littlewood is closing - Primark is in trouble and you allow her freedom, how can we your fellow HT's carry our tee shirts on high (well high on my belly) in Primark any more
but lovely

Phil

Tickets arrived today for 3 Oct. Nice to get them 2 weeks before and not at the last minute. Am at the front on Continental deck, anybody been near there who can give me any info on it re noise etc

dogleap, you jamster! i'm down on the bahamas deck near the lift! has anyone any advice on the noise down there? does it seem really confined or anything in one of the cabins without a window? it's finally hit me that i'm going on the cruise and that i need to get sorted.... hence the shopping.... and yes it was on the high street..... but i also was in primark so i wasn't too naughty!

i haven't posted in a while, my da mama keeps me up to date (ie she never gets off my computer to let me go on line!), but i'm going to have to go and have a wee read again at all the posts and tips to get me ready!

and a wee thanks to everyone who has posted about their cruise, it's been (and is going to be!) great to have an idea of what to expect.

alison.

Hi Alison,

I was on Bahamas Deck and it was fine. I must admit I missed seeing daylight from the cabin but you don't really spend too long in there anyway. You have plenty of cupboard space. I didn't have any problems with noise and actually found the gentle throbbing of the engines and the occasional motion of the ship quite soothing when I was getting to sleep but if you think it may bother you why not take a cheap pair of earplugs.

Don't worry Alison, I will still speak to those below decks and I promise not to go up and down in the lift all night. Seriously I look forward to meeting you and will get in touch later to at least travel to the airport. Any idea what time we have to be there?

Stephen
Unless I'm very much mistaken I think everyone else, apart from you and I, are flying to Malpensa Airport, whilst you and I are going to Linate.
So it looks like we won't all meet up until we're at Genoa.

Brenda

aslemma

if i was there i would have earplugs in
seasickness tablets in me
and probably sleep with a lifejacket on (Pauline)

but not to worry
alison is a great traveller

dogleap

if all else fails you could always have a party in the lift
pick up more people as the night went on
like a black hole
into the lift and never come out (well until morning)
stephen hawking has changed his mind on his thinking of black holes
you know how he always thought matter cannot be lost
only changed
he now thinks information can just be lost
even little bits from your brain !!!!!!!

alison may come back changed
like a stepford daughter

Whoamy, it looks like it. It looks like our hotels are about 1 km apart with Alison a couple of Km away next to the Central Station

Just to say welcome back Craig - look forward to hearing about your cruise when you get your land legs. As for you Oct 3rd cruisers.....not long to go now

Good Afternoon from the Balcony, lovely day, bit overcast but no sign of Manchester Sunshine

Hi Smoky Carol

we vote he leads the protest.

... If I did Carol, it would take a week to cover the route, even with my zimmer in top gear Thanks for the vote though - nice thought.
I wonder if the Alianti will go at strike at my turn out

I have just been to the Car -Boot and there were life Jackets on sale £10 at least they were available not like something else which (supposedly) cost £10. (Sorry Luci )

Grandsons birthday on Oct 1st so went to get him a birthday present, hard to find anything under £1.00 these days I did find a rucksack for £1.50 (as I told number 1) :idea:'he will grow up and then he'll find it useful' (with 3 daughters one learns to think on ones feet).
The trouble is he (grandson) will want things to put in it now,
I did mention that we could fill it will old soft toys and teach him how to sell at the garden gate to his mates and passing pedestrians -(number 1 NOT impressed) But it will teach him the value of money at an early age - then he will be able to save up and buy the DE save tokens and get in early on the next cruise promotion (hows that for getting back on Topic)

Byeee for now

phil

Good Afternoon from the Balcony (yet Again)

Can anyone assit with the explination of the symbols used in the 'deck plans' on the Melody beside the cabin numbers are squares, triangles or circles some filled in some not - what the blazes do these mean ? Before I hit the bottle again Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllppppppppppppp !!!

Phil