Friday afternoon around 5pm. 16/5/25

I can not believe that I am letting Cunard’s 185th anniversary slip by with barely a thought.  An urgent modification to my house, the cost of a world cruise, has influenced me to stay away from the high seas for more than this year.  Over time, the rear wall of my house had become saturated from the inclement North Derbyshire climate storming in from the Moors, which themselves provide magnificent distant views from the windows overlooking the back garden, and some surrounding houses.  Damage to the interior decoration was severe.  Papering over the cracks, so to speak, would only be a very short-term solution.  As long as a full world voyage is, the magnificent extension, an orangery, will (if I don’t croak it) give me unlimited pleasure, rather than perhaps 110 nights wandering the planet.   *However, looking back on my extensive and exciting travels, especially since retirement, also gives me long-term enjoyment.  The entire back wall, which still continues to dry out, is now completely protected from Buxton’s harsh elements, and the interior damage from resultant moisture is more or less dried out.  One small room, that until recently was the “dinette,” remains to be replastered, decorated, and carpeted.  This begins on Monday next week.  The extra 4 x 6 metres of living area, with substantial glass roof and generous window area providing an almost panoramic view of Axe Edge as well as a wonderful skyscape, is particularly attractive, and, tastefully different.  

*Amended 06.45 hrs 17/5/25. 

00.08 hrs 17/5/25 at home.

The cruising mantle seems to have been passed to my great nephew and his wife of less than a year.  I had met them both in 2022 during a fabulous Amtrak tour, west to east, then back west, south, and then back north in the U.S.A.  **A blog describing this still exists. (davids-cruise.blog).   It was my brother-in-law who suggested that I might WhatsApp my sister’s grandson, who was with his then, long-term girlfriend near Washington D.C.  I would be there for two nights prior to my last Amtrak journey of a phenomenal tour, the like of which I will probably never experience in the foreseeable future.  Our meeting was joyous, as were future meetings, including their eventual marriage in 2024 in Maryland and their U.K. ceremony in Lancaster earlier this year.  Their month in the U.K., over Christmas, and the New Year was unexpectedly prolonged until mid-May because my great nephew managed to break his leg!  Not many hours ago, the still very happy couple left for New York… on Queen Mary 2. 

07.11hrs 17/5/25

Having myself, sailed on QM2 most years since its maiden voyage in 2004, I feel “qualified” to offer some gentle insights.  Thus, another convivial meeting a week or so before departure seemed appropriate.  Their excitement was palpable, especially his.  I remember, again, with pleasure, counting the days to my first ever cruise, a kind of 3 night Christmas party excursion on QE2 to Cherbourg and back, in December 1988.  The novelty is only just beginning to wear off, after some 37 years! 

With luck, I shall return to the high seas next year.  Only Japan remains on my bucket list. Covid 19 put paid to a brilliant round-the-world trip where I was booked to travel by ship and rail to Vancouver, pick up the Queen Elizabeth, and sail to Alaska, Japan, and South Korea before flying home from Tokyo (originally booked 1st Class). This odyssey was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, never to be reintroduced.

It was put to me that my blog address was by now somewhat misleading, especially to those hoping for cruise-only comments, opinions, and experiences etc.  I agree and apologise.  The plan is to return to ocean travel early next year and see the sky once more over places previously visited, and, maybe Japan!

**There are two blog addresses. My first blogs, from December 2017 to January 2023, can be accessed on davids-cruise.blog, (Blogs 1 – 853)

Blogs from mid January to now are at this current address, davidscruise.blog

Many thanks for reading,

David, 08.03 25/5/25.