I feel like I am on a winter cruise

 It is the lady's choice

The Lady's choice

What are my plans?

I am sitting in my chair with a blanket over my lap, thinking "this reminds me of seeing videos about cruises for senior citizens."

The blanket isn't only for warmth, after my accident last month, my left knee cannot stand the pressure of my laptop on the joint.

I hadn't considered the possibility of a cruise before now, since my wife passed away in January 2025, my mind has been on clearing the house.

Before now, the idea of going on a cruise didn't appeal to me, I was one for seeing as much as I could, not sitting aboard a ship, last month changed my outlook. I have to admit, I can't do as much walking as I used to, so sitting on a boat is a good replacement. The next issue is where to go?

Now I am in a relationship with Svitlana, it is a matter to discuss for later, the first thing we aim to do is meet in Didcot, where she lives

Where would I like to go?

 Summer Holiday

A Romantic walk

Scarborough

With the scam behind me, last night I started to think of places to visit for a short break, possibly next year. If I was to go on a cruise, I would need to replace my passport, as mine is about to end.

TBH, I haven't thought much about a cruise, not only for the cost, but there are many places in the UK I would like to visit.

I have wished to visit Edinburgh for as long as I can recall, I've been through several times on trains from Elgin to Bristol, but I never had time to have a break there.

Closer to home, I wish to visit Avebury, Wiltshire, to honour my late wife's wish. She wished she could have gone to Egypt too, that is not on my list of places to visit. 

I always wanted to visit Norway, I went to Sweden, Denmark, and Finland on a school cruise in 1970. One journey I would have loved is the Appenine Expess. Most people have heard of the Orient Express, few know of the Appenine Express that travels from Rotterdam, across Germany, and down to the toe of Italy. When I was stationed in Germany, it would have been possible to do the route by car using the E9, however, there was a major hitch. At Kleve, the road enters the city from the north, and departs from the south, without a linking road, this means there was a 17 Km gap.

Now I have a relationship with Svitlana ongoing, we may need to talk about taking a break, I am sure we can come to some nice visits, as we have not had a problem in our online chat in the four months since we made contact

A Romantic Cruise

 Summer Holiday

Svitlana's dedication

Svitlana's wish

I haven't been on a cruise since a school trip to the Baltic, in 1970. I have been across the English Channel several times, back and forth to Germany, during my term in the Royal Air Force.

Being unable to afford a holiday as the money had to pay family bills, while I was married, the matter never arose.

I was considering a few trips next year, but they were mainly inland. If my friend, Svitlana wished for a relaxing, romantic, cruise, it is something we could plan for. 

My plans for next year, before I got chatting online with Svitlana, were trips to Exeter, Gloucester, and possibly Edinburgh. I've been though Edinburgh several times, on my way south when I served in Scotland, but I never had time for a day out