Published 9/3/26.

I’m home now, with mixed feelings.  The cruise was brilliant and I was perfectly content with and even fond of my single stateroom room forward on Deck 2 with its picture window (albeit with two parallel bars making photography a challenge) right by the pillow on my bed, my home for five glorious weeks.  I have secured something similar on QM2 for a (very much) future cruise.  Time goes by so quickly these days that booking so far in advance is not a frustration.

I impressed myself with an almost straightforward packing with nothing (except my walking stick!) left behind when I disembarked the ship yesterday. 

Roger, my neighbour over the road, soon showed up with my car to bring me home.

Ironically, as we journeyed ever northwards, I saw one of the best sunsets of the entire 36 days away.  It didn’t cone with Caribbean warmth however.  In fact short sharp showers of rain produced a decent rainbow at one of our coffee breaks.

10th February 2026  09.57 hrs.

I arrived to find my home immaculate, having been deep-cleaned while I was away.  It’s not so immaculate now with half empty luggage and contents strewn in an incomprehensible mess which needs sorting right now.  At night, I still feel a convincing movement of the ship, during frequent bathroom visits.  During the day, the murk and mist of early February assures me that my five week odyssey in the sun is now firmly in the past.  Church, bible study, cataloguing and decluttering are the future now! 

15th February 2026

I haven’t completed my unpacking yet.  (Most of it is done)   it’s almost 08.30 and time to prepare for church. Some things don’t change.

24th February 2026

I did complete my unpacking- just a couple of days ago!  Upstairs is a tip right now.  But I have loads of time to tidy up. 

9th March (Just after midnight)

Despite these writings now well out of date. I will publish them anyway.  

It’s one calendar month since I stepped off Queen Victoria at Southampton.  The sun tan has long since faded, but strangely, (and I hope this isn’t temporary) my knee and back problems seem to be behind me now.  Time and ( on board) massages are a great healer! 

9th March (Just before getting up at around 10 am)

This morning is murky outside.  Last week, the miserable weather warmed up somewhat and an abundance of sunshine cheered the place up.

Back in 1960, a posh train, The Midland Pullman was introduced between Manchester Central (closed May 1969) and London St. Pancras (from where you can now catch a train to Brussels or Paris.  Who’d have thought it 66 years ago!).  Presumably aimed at high-end business travellers, the striking blue and white six coach. diesel units powered at both ends, being first class only with a (then) hefty £1.00 supplement.   Riding this ultra magnificent train was as out of reach as trip to Australia, or a house in Prestbury. This train ran for just over six years before an electric loco hauled Manchester Pullman, again first class only was introduced between Manchester Piccadilly and Euston.  I did ride this train on two occasions in the 1970s and 1980s. 

Fast forward to last Wednesday 4th March 2026.

Private companies have tried to resurrect the Midland Pullman, the first with a diesel locomotive and coaches liveried in the nanking blue and white of the original Midland Pullman.  I don’t think this was overly successful but it was a good effort.  The second company Locomotive Services Limited have done much better with a former withdrawn H.S.T. 125  comprising at least two power cars and a seemingly “endless”  supply of Mk 3 coaches,  done up in original Blue Pullman livery.  A speed test run, open to the public (probably a last minute decision) was run from Crewe to Euston and back with the idea of testing its suitability for regular 125mph running on rail tours.  Not a snip at £209 including compulsory solo traveller supplement and a tenner for not booking on line!  Having said that, the train is magnificent with nine first class beautifully refurbished Mk 3 coaches between two almost convincing power cars.

Coffee and tea was served throughout in both directions with snacks as an optional extra. 

It was a rare gorgeous day which I shall look back on with similar pleasure to my ride on a scheduled Manchester Pullman in its last week of operation.  Seated opposite me was Mr. Boddington. Remember Boddington’s Beer? – That Mr. Boddington!  Breakfast was a “best ever.”

Many thanks for reading, David 10.47 hrs 9/3/26.