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Today we were back in the UK sort of.  We were really in Gibraltar which seems to think it’s in the UK, even to the extent that there are “I’m In” stickers on shop windows and doors.  It begs the question, why does the UK hold on to these tiny vestiges of its once great empire.  Wake up and smell the coffee, people.  The empire is no more.  The commonwealth is no more.  In fact, the wealth is no more.  How much money could we save by giving these enclaves back to the countries that really own them.  Gibraltar is a tiny Spain-locked bit of Britain that we should get shot of.  Likewise for the Falklands.  If the people who live there want to remain British, let them return to the UK where they can enjoy the climate and lifestyle they talk so much about.  I’ve never seen so much jingoism as you get in these far flung places.  That said, the booze and fags are cheap.  Not so much the electronic goods.  I wanted to buy an extra SD card for my camera.  At home in Glasgow, a Toshiba 16GB micro SD cost me £4.95.  In Gibraltar, the best price I could get was £10.  Exactly the same card by exactly the same manufacturer and exactly the same speed.  Twice the price.  Cut price booze, hiked up price for electronic consumables.  I don’t like Gibraltar, I’m sure you’re getting that vibe.  It’s more English than England and it smells of pish.  Yes, that  about sums it up for me.

The ship arrived at 11.15am and was ready for disembarkation by 11.30.  There were three gangways in place, two on deck 4 for all passengers and one on deck 5 not suitable for wheelchairs.  So why is there a prick in front of us with a wheelchair trying to get it down the steps from deck 5.  The steward had already told him that it was unsuitable for wheelchairs, but still he continued.  These people are not born stupid, they have made a lifetime study of stupidity and have achieved a masters degree in the application of stupidity.  Anyway, nobody helped him with his wheelchair which was for another passenger who had already disembarked and eventually we all got off then headed down the long trek to the town.  Most of the shops were open, but M&S, BHS an C&A were closed because it was Sunday, or there was a cruise ship in, or it was a day with a ‘Y’ in it.  Who knows?  I didn’t care.  I wanted to stretch my legs, post my blog and possibly get a memory card for my camera.  Managed two out of three.  Walked the length of the high street, which ticks off item 1.  Had coffee in Costa and achieved item 2 courtesy of their free WiFi.  Due to the price locking of all the Indian and Pakistani electronic salesmen, I couldn’t achieve item 3.  No big deal.  I got a nice bottle of whisky and Scamp got a nice bottle of gin for the price of a smaller bottle of the same whisky in Tesco back home.  Scamp also got a new Pandora bracelet.  We headed for the sanctuary of the ship.

Had lunch at “Smash & Grab” and saw a Globemaster military plane landing at the airport.  Scary looking dog-leg to final!  It was while we were having lunch that the Elbow track came over the tannoy.  I just thought “one day like this a year will see me right”  summed up this bright sunny day.  After lunch we were lucky enough to get a sunbed by the nice wee pool at the back of the ship.  Soaked up the sun there until about 5pm when I went to put some washing in the laundrette machine.

Dinner was in the Indian restaurant and it was really, really good.  Most impressed, as was Scamp.  After that we found a couple of seats in the theatre to listen to a NZ tenor sing.  That’s the second time I’ve heard him and I was impressed.  I’m not a big opera fan, but I did enjoy it.  After that we had a drink in the ‘Crows Nest’ or whatever it’s called on this ship before heading for bed.

Another day at sea tomorrow.

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4.15am. I didn’t think such a time existed, but here we are sitting in a bus of grey hairs ready to head off for Southampton in search of more sun now that ours looks as if it will soon be in short supply. I just hope we don’t have to wait for anyone who has made a last minute decision to stay at home and luxuriate under grey skies.

Well, it’s just after 8am and we’ve just had our first stop near the lakes in a heavy mist. We did get away on time although one pair had decided to fly down rather than slum it on the coach. Unfortunately they didn’t tell the company. I was impressed by the fact that the driver made the decision to leave on time rather than wait. THEN the second driver phoned the folk to tell them he had left without them. That’s the way to do it.

Big holdup outside Manchester. Seem to be making up time now. By the Time Now is 10.35. Glad I’m not driving today.

Despite our holdup, we arrived only 15 minutes late in Southampton and with P&O’s usual efficiency were boarded in no time at all.  Our cabin is quite small, but bright and airy.  It was worth holding out for an outside cabin IMO.  Wandered round the ship to find lunch and shared a table with a London(?) couple who were also veterans of cruising.  After that, the inevitable lifeboat drill that is not the best part of the trip.  However, it is a necessary evil. 

When the drill was completed, and we returned our ‘Mae Wests’ to the cabin, we went on deck to watch the ‘Sailaway’.  P&O almost seem embarrassed to take part in this.  They say there is a sailaway party, but apart from a DJ playing music, there’s no ‘party’.  No enthusiasm, no flag waving, nothing. 

We were doing Freedom Dining for the first time and it seemed to work.  Some of the people at our table were a bit stand-offish to start with, but once got started chatting they were fine.  From there we went to the theatre where Scamp wanted to see an opera singer.  He was a New Zealander and very good.  Then I realised I didn’t have my camera bag.  I’d left it in the dining room.  Dived back to the other end of the ship and, after explaining to the person in charge, found it where I’d left it under the table!!

We went and watched the sunset after that and then had a drink in the piano bar on deck 16 (top deck).  Scamp had a Strawberry Daquari and I had a Mojito.  Then it was time for bed.  Clocks go forward an hour tomorrow.

There’s not a lot to say about today.  Had breakfast in bed.  The first time since Scamp left for Fuerteventura.  Started a painting then got bogged down in it and started to seal up the boot lock for Scamp’s car.  Got it done and tried to fit it, but the plastic box I made around the switch was too big and wouldn’t allow the lock shield to bolt in place.  Had to remove it and resort to silicon sealant.  Messy stuff.  I’ve left it to dry and set overnight and will fit it again tomorrow hopefully.

Went for a drive in the afternoon, but with low light and no directional sunlight, there wasn’t much I wanted to shoot.  Took some photos on Fannyside Moor, but nothing that inspired me to work on it.  It was photos for photos sake.  However, the settings I changed last night seem to make an improvement to the general quality of the shots I took.
<Technospeak> (This indicates the start of a technospeak section JIC)
Found out how to link a MySet to an unused dial position on the camera which is a great advance.  I didn’t know you could do that on the E-PL5 either.  It’s amazing what you learn.
</Technospeak> (It’s ok, you can start reading again, technospeak over)

By the way JIC, here’s an interesting thing to try with your coffee grinder.  I’ve tried it and it works with some coffee, but not all.

Went to salsa and learned an interesting new move and an intersting sequence in bachata.  Other than that, it was cloudy all day and it’s raining now.  Hope the rain keeps away tomorrow to get this boot lock fixed on the Micra.

Another bright day, but frosty this morning. Thermometer was showing only 0.1ºc at 8.30 when I was making breakfast, so just a wee bit cool.

Scamp was going out visiting today, so I had the afternoon to myself. I did venture out, but only as far as the supermarket and then back to do a bit of painting. Nothing for general consumption yet, but enjoying slapping the paint on. Later on I decided I’d better try to get some photos taken. I went down the Luggie burn for a change and got a decent shot of the only snowdrop I’ve seen down there. There are more to come, but none want to show themselves yet. Probably waiting for warmer days. I also found lots of catkins of different varieties. So if the snowdrops are out and the catkins are out, hopefully spring will be just around the corner.

I’m still not happy with the images I’m getting with the Tamron (Sorry to harp on about this Jic), so I decided to build myself another lens tester. For some reason I’ve deleted (or more likely a dodgy program called File Juggler – avoid like the plague) has deleted the AutoCad files for it from my PC. Then I found that some kind person had uploaded a PDF of almost the same model as mine. I printed it out last night and am hoping to assemble the model tomorrow to check if the D7000 is back or front focusing, which might be causing the lack of sharpness. If it’s not that, then the lens is going back to the Tamron hospital to have it looked at.

The day was bright and clear, but as Jic and Sim were meeting up with friends in the afternoon, we had to choose somewhere close at hand for a walk. Scamp picked Glasgow Green as our destination and off we went. Had a walk around our usual circuit of the Green, then extended it hoping to take in Richmond Park, only to find that they were reinforcing the bridge over the river. Don’t know who the mysterious “They” were, but I’m hoping it’s not Glasgow Cooncil or it may be closed for the foreseeable future.

Anyway, we turned back and headed for the People’s Palace, intending to have a low fat skinny Roll ‘n’ Sausage and a cup of coffee. First downer, due to lack of grocery deliveries, there were no rolls ‘n’ sausage, in fact there were no rolls ‘n’ anything because there were no rolls. Ok, change of plan. A healthier ham sandwich would do on this occasion. Second downer, due to lack of grocery deliveries, there was no milk for tea or coffee either. Ok, change of plan number two. Let’s leave and head for Costa at Robroyston. Hopefully they will have had their groceries delivered. They did and we got our lunch then headed home after initiating Sim into the joys of wandering around Watt Brothers.

After the youngsters had left to go in to Glasgow, I managed to get their calendar finished. Just got it printed when I noticed that January had two January 1st days, on a Thursday and a Friday. Luckily it was just the one copy printed. Got that sorted sharpish then combed it together and stuck it in a poly bag ready for them when they returned. This calendar has been on going since the start of November and I hadn’t seen the glaring error. Numpty!

It’s been a grand day weather wise, with blue skies but the usual accompanying cooler than usual temperatures, however the wind is beginning to get up now and heavy rain is predicted for tomorrow. Oh well, at least we all got out for a walk today.

Just a day in town at the HorseShoe Bar.  Drinking and slagging off.  What else do you expect from six auld guys.  A great time was had by all.

That’s it.

Today Scamp retired. The title for today’s post came from one of her throw-away lines when she was speaking to Hazy. “Yes, this is The Retirement Home”. For someone without a sense of humour, that’s pretty good going. It was a stressful day. Up with the lark (if the lark got up about 8.00am that is) and out to get the tinsel, the helium balloon, the lights and the coloured balloons. It’s amazing what you can get for a fiver in the pound shop. Back to decorate the place. Where’s the stapler? Found it! It’s empty! Where are the staples? Found another stapler! Yippee it’s got some staples in it!! Just got it finished and Scamp phoned to say she was on the way home. Time for a cup of coffee.

The decorations seemed to pass muster. Then it was time to take Scamp to her retirement party. Dropped her there talking with one of the ‘Witches’ and went to take some photos. Cold and bright when I left, then the clouds rolled in, but I persevered and got some interesting shots in the intervals of sunlight during the hour or so I had. My favourite, but not the POD was the broken umbrella stuck in the tree. This path is far from any well trodden route so I imagine the umbrella must have blown quite a distance to reach its final destination.

We’re just back from our dinner at Vecchia Bologna in Bridge of Allan. It was lovely. I think it drew a line under a rather fraught, but essentially a very successful day.

Sitting in the Armadillo waiting for Jools Holland. We’ve just seen the intro act, Mark Flanagan playing guitar and singing – and very good he was too.
Amazed at the number of people who wander in late to these events. Maybe we’re out of touch, but it’s really annoying. Quite sad too that there are so many incontinents having to take toilet breaks every 15 minutes. Let’s hope the zimmers are now parked, the crutches stacked and the incontinence pads wrung out and that Jools can continue uninterrupted.

Jools and his orchestra were brilliant.  Just as I expected them to be.  I think Scamp is ready to sign up for tickets for next year’s show DV.  Special guests were KT Tunstall and Ruby Turner.  Both gave of their best and had us dancing in our seats.  Yes, really.  Amazing night.

Got the train back to Glasgow Central without a problem and then walked up Bucky Street, past the rubber men and the lady stilt walkers teetering on their incredibly high heels “How can they walk in those shoes?“.  Both groups struggling against (one last time, surely Storm Desmond)

The drive back along the M80 was interesting with gale force winds and heavy driving rain.  However, we’re home now.  Let’s see what tomorrow brings.  Hopefully this is bye bye Desmond.