Deciding that your relationship is ready to be moved to the next level of getting engaged is usually sponsored by the knowledge that you love that person more than anything in the world………..or by massive amounts of Budweiser. Once that decision has been made it’s then up to the man to choose the right moment and the most romantic way possible to ask the one he loves to be his wife.
During my time as a Cruise Director I have had countless requests from guests who want me to help them “pop the question.” ………and often these proposals are highlights for the right and one time ………for the wrong reason.
We will come back to this theme in a moment but first let me say a very good morning to you all. It’s 8 am and after a wonderful dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding last night I returned home, watched a bit of TV and had an early night.
I am not sure if I told you but recently Heidi and I moved to the countryside. We now live in a converted barn complete with oak beams etc. It has always been Heidi’s dream to live in the countryside whereas me…….well it has taken some getting use to. This morning when the sun came up ……..yes……we do have sun in the UK….I was awoken by my new best friend……..Peter the Pigeon and his mates. Now, living in the countryside means you share your life with a host of animals including squirrels, mice, deer and loads of birds.
Now, when I mean share I don’t mean they sit around the table and eat breakfast with me but when your house is surrounded by fields, nature is never far away. This morning, once again I was awoken by Peter and his mates who take great delight in sitting by my bedroom window making that awful coohing sound which some people may find cute……..whereas I ……..who just want to sleep a bit longer…. do not.
Peter is a very smart Pigeon………he sits there coohing, daring me to walk over to the window and shoo him away…………and if I dare to do that……..he and I both know what happens next…………he and the Pigeon gang fly over my shiny Range Rover and crap all over it.
There is a huge difference between the countryside of North America than here in the U.K. In America and Canada anyone can walk through the forests and great outdoors dressed in camouflage gear ready to shoot a Deer with an AK47. Here in the UK most of the countryside is owned by the pompous tweed wearing upper class who do their hunting from horseback watching 300 savage hounds tear into a poor little cuddly fox.
Nowhere in the UK is the class system more obvious than in the countryside. In America you can take off your Gucci loafers and slip into a pair of boots and spend time in the great outdoors………..in the UK you have to ask permission of Lord Snoberton who will probably ask what school you went or test your blood for shades of blue before permission is granted.
Snobbery is rife in the British countryside. I remember the first time Heidi and I went to the local pub. It is the only pub in the village and as we drove into the car park the locals were all sitting outside, drinking pints of warm beer or Pimms, talking as though they had plums in their mouth to friends who have names like Henrietta and Charles ………… all eyes stared at Heidi and I as we got out of our Range Rover with the darkened windows with me dressed in my sweat pants and Miami Heat T Shirt…………I knew what the snobs of the countryside were thinking………..oh look the dregs have turned up.
Anyway, overall I do like the countryside but with just me in the house it feels very empty without Heidi. Today I am off to see Alan and spend some time with him if for no other reason then to realise that indeed………I am not the ugliest man in the world.
Alan actually proposed to his lovely wife Alison on the Carnival Ecstasy many years ago although that one was done late at night on the open decks with nobody else there. Alan assures me that he decided to do it like this because it was romantic. I personally think it was done like this so that nobody else would witness her saying no……..like me Alan was astounded that any lady would want to spend the rest of her life with him ………… Alison is a warm, generous and beautiful lady with many great features………she is just as blind as a bat wearing a blindfold.
So, saying those words “will you marry me?” are for many a private occasion but for others the chance to do it in public and in front of an audience is the way to go. Therefore I am asked many times to arrange such a performance. The usual place to do this is on stage during or before a show and one or two spring to mind. I remember on young man who wanted to propose and therefore I arranged this to happen during the Talent Show. Now, just having him walk up on stage would have been a bit boring so I persuaded him to sing first and then propose at the end of his performance.
Now, with respect this chap wasn’t just a bad singer ………he was painfully dreadful and had he auditioned for American Idol Simon Cowell would probably have shot him. The good thing was he knew he was bad but this made the whole scenario that much more real. The song we choose for him to sing was “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and when I heard him sing it in rehearsal my biggest concern was would the band get through the song without laughing or shoving large lumps of cotton wool in their ears…………it was dreadful……..he sounded like a cat being castrated by Stevie Wonder.
It was showtime and I had purposely left this guy to last (I wish I could remember his name) and I introduced him on stage in front of 1,500 passengers including his girlfriend. Well, the look of horror on her face as I said his name and he came from the front row to sing was a picture of horror and disbelief……she had probably heard him sing before.
The band played the opening bars of the music and then he threw back his head and started to sing. At first the audience was embarrassed for him and didn’t know weather to laugh, cry or run back to their cabins and bury their heads under the pillows. He was putting his heart and soul into the performance and as he started singing the chorus the audience’s embarrassment changed to support and applause generated around the room. This gave him even more passion and he sang with gusto and feeling and quite unusually he sang this great standard by using only one musical note……….it was almost a rap song.
He finished with the most painful ear shattering high note that probably had dogs running around in circles back in St. Thomas from whence we had left a few hours before. The audience ………..as only Carnival audiences do……….gave him a standing ovation ……….. and as he took his bow I stood next to him and once the audience started to take their seats I casually asked if they would like another song from the maestro……some said “yes” and some looked as though they would rather set themselves on fire.
Well, I asked who he was traveling with and mentioning his girlfriend’s name I invited her on stage………the lights dimmed……….and the band played Wind Beneath My Wings……..and he knelt down……..and said the magic words………I promise never to sing again if you will marry me…………the place erupted………she cried……..eventually said “yes”……….and there were hugs all around. The rest of the cruise was all about them and everywhere they went they were congratulated and I don’t think they paid for another drink during the rest of the voyage……………however, their fame was not over just yet.
On the last night we held our Carnival Legends show which if you are not aware features the guests as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Elvis, Madonna, James Brown and Britney Spears…………half way through the show it was the turn of Garth Brooks and yep……….out he came…….and completely murdered “I have friends in low places”………it was beyond awful………yet he once again received a huge ovation and he left the ship the following morning with superstar status. I hope their marriage has blossomed and providing he never sings ever again I am sure they will lead happy lives together.
My favorite of the marriage proposals though was way back in 1996 on the Carnival Destiny when Fred proposed to Marge……….I remember their names because for many years we kept in touch ………do you remember letters?……written with a pen?………well Marg and Fred Roper used to write to me every week with all the news on their lives. Fred had asked me if he could propose on formal night and at the Captain’s party we made that happen.
Fred was 80 and Marg just a few years younger. They had both lost their spouses and had found each other…………on a Holland America cruise. Anyway, Fred proposed and they were married a few months later. Fred passed away in 1999 and for a while Marg kept writing but then her letters stopped coming and we lost touch……….I will never forget them though and the way Fred went resolutely down on one knee to tell his darling that he wanted to make her his …..Well that’s something I will never forget.
So, if you would like the Cruise Director to help you make this a romantic and someone what public proposal……let he or she know ………..just like this couple did last week on the Imagination. Here are ……………….Daniel and Kathy.
I was asked if I could help Daniel propose and therefore I asked the kind assistance of George Solano the CD on the Carnival Imagination. He did a wonderful job, setting a private table out on the Adults Only deck and……………well……..rather than me waffle on have a look at these.
We wish them much happiness and again thanks to George and the Carnival Imagination crew for making this happen.
I see my sister is posting again. I have to admit she is quite a good writer and maybe I will take a week off and let her blog…………..except I would be too scared about all my deep dark secrets rising to the service. Therefore I have decided to be nice to her ………. something which has not happened for many years. When I return from California next week as promised I will make sure I return to answering your comments. This is something I truly enjoy doing. I have been though replying to everyone who has marked a comment URGENT. These replies have been administered via Stephanie in the office and if I have not yet answered yours I will promise to do so ASAP. Please keep the comments coming, they mean the world to me. Last week we had over 50,000 hits again………thanks to you all.
Well, tomorrow I am off at 7 am for my trip to see the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton. For me this is a dream come true and as always I will be taking you all along with me. I will send a quick raspberry blog tomorrow night and a full report on Wednesday.
Let’s hope I get a good night sleeps with a long drive ahead of me. Today, I joined the country set and although its illegal to buy a gun here unless you have a double barreled name and are married to a German or your cousin it is not illegal to buy a crossbow ……..let’s see how much Peter the Pigeon coos with an arrow sticking out of his bottom.
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
Hi John. Only 19 more days until there is a new Sheriff on the Glory. Don’t tell anyone, our cabin # is 6—. Please make sure the Moonshine is delivered on time.
Cheers!
Rosco P. Coltrane
Sheriff
Ohhh, what a romantic blog. And I love your new header with Heidi!
)))))
Say hello to Alan & pigeon Peter
Good Afternoon,
Thanks for the good laughs today. I used to live in the Bronx so I know what you mean about pigeon poo everywhere… If my brother saw a pigeon, he probably would use it as target practice with his BB gun…
That was a wonderful story about Fred and Marge. I know what you mean about the pen and paper. Nobody wants to write letters anymore with email around…
Congratulations to Daniel and Kathy! I wish them all the best in their marriage. I have only witnessed a public proposal once. I was in New York City last year and I went ice skating with a friend at Rockefeller Center. Right on the ice in front of the Prometheus statue, fountain and tree, is where I saw a young couple proposing and tons of applause from all angles afterwards. We skated up to them to congratulate them.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Southhampton to see the three queens reunited once again. I still regret not seeing them in January when they came to New York. It must be an amazing site to see!
Have a great day, John!
Alex G.
Hi John,
When the heck did you and Heidi find time to move???? Must have been when you had a couple of days at home in the U.K. LOL
Does Alan know he has a lovely wide Alison? Really John, you should proofread your blog before submitting it to us……..LOL
The weather in eastern Canada is beautiful, the west, well, that’s another story. They are still getting the dreaded s–w stuff while we are getting spring, FINALLY.
Hope you enjoy your time off although I’m sure you miss your beautiful Heidi. Have fun tomorrow in Southampton and we all wait for your report tomorrow.
Cheers mate,
Cindy
Take some pics of that countryside!! Please….
Im glad your resting. For the first time in a long time your life sounds “normal” only thing left to be completely normal is Heidi. Take care friend!!
Nanni
Hi John. Sorry your bit of the countryside is a bit “exclusive”…
We’re in a great bit of the countryside… and there’s no snobs at our local pubs… in fact some regulars turn up on their tractors… well, ploughing is thirsty work!
Round here, the 4×4′s you see outside the pubs are so covered in mud you wouldn’t see the pigeon poop…
As for wildlife, well, ours is amazingly tame. We have a squirrel (yes, red squirrels round here) who will happily jump onto an outdoor table for a few nuts, as long as the people sitting down stay fairly still… one caravan owner had the squirrel taking nuts out of his hand last year…
We have a pheasant who visits a few caravans for snacks… if the door is closed he taps with his beak… if the door is open he just walks straight in…
Last year he followed me into reception, down the passage and into my office, and just sat there for half an hour… then followed me out again after he discovered there was no food in the office…
Hi John/Heidi:
I am looking forward to seeing the Q2 pictures. Please take a bunch.
Sounds like you’re going to have a great time.
I really like the picture at the top of the page with you and Heidi. Very nicely done.
What a wonderful story about the engagement. Congrats to Daniel and Kathy.
Thanks for another great blog and have a great day!
David
I hope you meant to say wife. Otherwise your in a lot of trouble.
“Alan actually proposed to his lovely wide Alison on the Carnival Ecstasy many years ago although that one was done late at night on the open decks with nobody else there.”
We hope you are still on the Splendor for the Nov. 29th sailing.
Ahhh, John, what wonderful stories! I’m feeling especially romantic, since Don and I just celebrated out 34th anniversary, last Saturday. We will continue the celebration on the Ecstasy Thursday!
I’m looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing about QM2.
Hello, John!
I enjoyed your chat about the engagements on board ship. Events like these always seem to be the highlight of a cruise and it’s wonderful the way the Carnival cruise directors go above and beyond to take care of such things.
I’m VERY anxious to hear about your visit to the QM2. I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen the Travel Channel’s ‘QM2, the Birth of a Legend’ but every time I see it I’m taken by the grandeur of the vessel. Please don’t forget to shower us with pictures!!
Have a wonderful time and steal a matchbook for me!!
Cheers!!
GregB
Lovely Wide Alison Hahaha, she may not think it’s so funny, tho! Our son proposed to his lovely (wide) on a cruise also, very romantic. Can’t wait for the pictures. Enjoy!
Jan
Hi John….the hubby and i just got of the Liberty yesterday and what a trip we had!! The ship was beautiful, the weather was great except for Cozumel, no rain but the wind was kicking so bad most of the tours had to be cancelled. The Panama Canal tour was fantastic. Oh and i can’t forget to mention the On deck for the cure walk, we had over three hundred walkers and i heard that keeps the Carnival Liberty in the lead for the most participants. We can’t wait to start planning our next cruise.
John… Can you get Peter the Pigeon to propose to a London pigeon… maybe he’ll move away and leave you alone???
I love the barn house you described… and the close countryside… How wonderful!!! Heidi is a smart lady to get you moved out there!!! Bah, to the snobbery… You’re YOU and keep being you!!!
The proposals are so cute and corny!!! We all love them!! Somehow each of us gets caught up in the proposal as we watch and we imagine how we would feel if it were happening to us… embarassment, nervousness, excitement, passion, fainting… it’ll run the gamut… but we love it!!!
Hummm… your sister writing your blog thingy… ummmm, NO! But keep her writing her own mini-blog in the replies!!!!
Best regards to you, to Heidi, who I’m sure is reading this from Mum’s, and to Stephanie!!
Lambie
I see it is time again for nominations for Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards…
Go to http://www.cruise-community.com/insider_cruise_awards/index.html
John,
I think your new header picture is the best one so far!
Are you trying to give your sister a heart attack? Telling her you are going to be nice to her. I doubt if she believes you!
I’m sure you would like your new house and the countryside much better if Hedi was with you!
Please give Alan my best wishes!
Have a grand time tomorrow.
Princess Susan
Hi John
Welcome home, well what a busy time you are having, I really dont know where you get the energy, its been great reading about all the places you have been and the experiences that you have, thanks for making me laugh.
All good in thorpe, have a great trip to the QM2, my parents loved the ship and their photos of the QM2 are wonderful.
Where are you now, trying to place the only pub in the countryside,are you still in the area?
Put some wire/steel stuff (sorry cant think what is is called) around bottom of ledge (bedroom window) that stops those ~~~~#### pigeons as they cannot sit there and keep you awake at 4am, been there and nearly drove me mad or maybe it did and i am mad!!
take care
michelle
hello mate! well i finally broke my solid gold plastic tiara! drat! but the guy at customs winked at me. i swear. in miami on sunday morning as i got off the valor he winked! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha they love an old lady in a tiara i tell you! whisked us right through!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
PLEASE ANSWER:
Jean, I mean John,
After reading Suzanne’s story of her adventure with the French mayor I can honestly say you are one scary dude, dude! And since the punishment sounded pretty severe you obviously are a glutton for that as well as for sugar-free jelly beans. You are the realization of every parent’s nightmare…a kid with an unstoppable enjoyment of life at any price! (Of course, they secretly are delighted at the complete disregard for convention, but could never let you know that.) Just remember that what goes around comes around and as you and Heidi are working with Mr. Smiley Stick you just may get your come-uppance one of these days, eh?!?! Oh, it could be ugly…not only Suzanne fanning the flames, but all your blogger buddies putting in our two cents worth when your little guy puts flaming poop on the neighbor’s doorstep. Don’t you just tremble at the thought? A “mini” you! Or what if Heidi has twins? A double dose of mischief. I’m loving it!!!
So, I ask as have others, when the heck did you and Heidi move to the “countryside”? I thought you lived sort of in downtownish Londre…I mean, London. You know, what would really frost the snobs is a camo outfit. I understand those are used a lot here in the states for hunting (as well as for picking up women…or men?…who like guns), but they’d probably clash with those (is it red) coats, riding breeches and “quoits” (?) hunting horsemen employ in the kingdom. You could walk in like you owned the pub and say “git ‘er done” and they’d…faint, shoot you, ban you from the premises or ask for your autograph having mistaken you for Larry the Cable Guy.
I liked your stories about proposals. And I didn’t even notice the “wide” mistake until others pointed it out. You know you really should have Alan and Alison, as well as Suzanne and her family on the next Blogger’s cruise. Also, your mom and dad.
Here’s the part I’d like you to answer. You mentioned the Talent Show and the Legends Show. Is there still a Talent Show where people can do things other than impersonate Brittney or someone?
Thanks for an answer,
Myra
John, I will miss your blog next week because
we leave this Saturday on Crown Princess out of
San Juan for a week in the southern Caribbean. Hope our cruise is as good as yours was on Emerald Princess.
John,
What a wonderful post. Sounds like a lovely home in the country. 5 days until we sail on the Freedom
to Rome from Miami. Are you and Heidi still meeting the ship on it’s last leg of the trip? Can’t wait to do the two wine tastings you informed us about.
Hope to see you soon. Michelle
Hi John;
Just exactly,what is Yorkshire pudding and is it something that I want to eat?
Hi John,
I really enjoyed the blog today. Sounds like you will have a busy week without Heidi. I don’t know when you had time to move out to the country, but I am sure you and Heidi will both enjoy it very much.
I really enjoyed your sisters comments from yesterdays blog. She writes very much like you with lots of humor in it. I can’t imagine how your parents put up with all the antics… on second thought… yes I can. There were 4 of us and more than once, I can remember Dad getting mad during mealtime and leaving the #$% #@$@ three ring circus. LOL We all laugh about it now, though. But I do hope Suzanne will share more stories… and often!
Have a great week!
Barb
John,
You had better hope Alison does not read the blog.
You might be in BIG trouble. LOL.
John,
My personal Pecker story……..
I thought since you talked about your pigeons and living in the country you could appreciate this.
We live in the mountains and woods of the Highlands in Northern, NJ on the first hole of a golf course with Deer (the varmints traavel in packs 8-12 at time and will eat anything), Beaver, Bear, Muskrats, Hawks, Vultures, Moles, Voles, Skunks, Opossum, Groundhogs, Rabbits and many other local critters. For the most part we enjoy watching all of them and we feed the many types of birds we attract to our yard. We also have a personal pecker, Woodpecker that is.
Almost every morning, rain or shine between 6AM and 6:30AM, a red headed woodpecker comes to our house and sits on the rain gutter just outside our bedroom on the rear of our house.
For some reason he likes pecking the gutter and it makes a very loud hollow sound (rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat) throughout the neighborhood and of course in our bedroom. Believe me he is better then any alarm clock and usually pecks 3 or 4 times in succession and then is on his way to where ever else he visits.
We have gotten so we enjoy him and I’ve not found any damage (yet) where he has put holes
or marks in the aluminum gutters.
We love living in this part of the country and watching all the critters.
Now if we can just teach the golfers to read?
Best to you and Heidi,
Dave and Jo
John, you said when you got out of the Rover at the Snobshire Pub that “I knew what the snobs of the countryside were thinking”. Well so do we, they were saying what is that beautiful blond doing with that dreg. I bet when you went into the Snobshire Pub and ordered a pint………… of diet coke Henrietta and Charles feel off their stools laughing so hard.
Suzanne, did I tell it right?
BIG ED
Hello , John
I have been thinking of a carnival vessel that I desinges very simular to the carnival splendor , and it is 133,000 tons and id like to call it the carnival justice.
i will share more whith you later and i put you as the cruise director to start , if it ever comes as a reality and if you are still cruise directing as the most famouse person in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
from , JAKE S. ( :
I’m looking forward to reading your report of seeing the QM2. One of these days, we will too. In the mean time, thanks to your enthusiasms we are packing for a short trip on the Elation. Now if we can only get our Travel agent to read your blog, life will be heaven.
John, I love the proposals, and the table set for Daniel and Kathy was a work of art YUMMMM!!
We are all so excited for your trip to see the QE2, have a lovely drive there and take lots of pictures please!!
And John? Put a big stuffed cat in front of your window…..
Love to you, and to you and your Mum, Heidi!
Dear John missing Heidi,
have been faithfully catching up on all your posts from our upcoming Splendor ports of call…awesome photos and accounts….what a compressed scheduled you experienced and so glad I’m sailing and not flying
haven’t commented on your daily box of stuff recently (so many echoed what I believe) but oh my (I experienced with you a Med-a-vac aboard the Destiny out of NYC in 2000 hey $#^% happens) I and surely many passengers would join in to help educate the poor lost soul last week who lost sight of why he was cruising…no questions asked.
…Thanks for your input on the Baltic ports, we can’t wait to experience, as you reported during our inaugural Grand Med season your unbiased opinion is greatly appreciated.
Safe trip to CA and back home to the lovely Heidi.
Ciao friend, Ray
Hi John
I have been catching up with your blog after returning from my cruise on the Carnival Liberty.
As I have mentioned, I live in Moscow so your comments about St. Petersburg were interesting. You are right about Russian drivers – they have no regard at all for pedestrians! And as for the airports, they are getting better albeit slowly. We have three airports in Moscow and only one of them is truly modern, but the other two are catching up.
Back to my cruise on the Liberty. First of all, thanks for the recommendation on the Panama excursion. I did in fact take the “Two Oceans by Railroad” trip and it was very informative.
On the topic of godmothers for the Carnival Splendor (spelled incorrectly), if Angelina or Uma are not available, you could try to get Steve Knisley, the CD of the Liberty…for the Carnival Legends show he came out dressed as Dolly Parton!
I do have a question though for you (or PA 007 or one of the other readers who might know the answer). On this particular cruise, each night at the Venetian Palace there was a hearing-impaired passenger and a sign-language interpreter who interpreted all the shows – comedians, songs, everything – for this passenger.
My question relates to this – is the interpreter provided by Carnival (it looked like the interpreter had all the lyrics and show transcripts on paper), or would the passenger have brought his own interpreter?
It was very interesting to watch the interpreter – when she was signing a song she would move with the music!
Jeff
Hi John,
Would love to see some pictures of your converted barn house. That sounds soooooo neat!
John:
Love the header picture of you and Heidi at Half Moon Cay. That was a great cruise, wasn’t it?
I,too, am a kid of the country. I was raised on 300 acres about 20 minutes from “town”. I had my first horse when I was 4. We had a breakfast nook that overlooked a pond surrounded by pecan trees.
Every morning, we would sit there and watch the squirrels jump and play from tree to tree.
I was so blessed to have a magical childhood.
Now we live “in town” and I can’t wait for the day when we can return to the country!!
Leave the poor pigeon alone. He is just doing his “job”. How you would like it if someone turned your into instant shish kabob, just for doing your job?
LOL
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
When I was growing up and I would carelessly leave a door open or leave my clothes laying about, my mom would ask if I was brought up in barn…. Since you now reside in one….I suppose that gives you privilege to do that…..and if Heidi wants to place you in the doghouse due to the aforementioned transgressions….simply explain that this is acceptable behavior for those living in a barn.
Seriously, when did you move to the country?
If the residents of the area remain pompous and aristocratic simply invite them over for a Heald ho-down…..that’ll get ‘em really talking.
http://www.funsilly.com/hillbilly.shtml
Mark
The Flying Dutchman
During our extended stay in England (1970) we rented a house in the country for a few months. It was a three story home with fireplaces in many of the rooms. It had the thached roof, green house with gardener and a house keeper. We loved the place but was a long walk to catch the public bus. As a teen we depended on the bus system to see the country. We ended up back with a place in town. England does have some lovely country side complete with an old castle or church.
We live on 12 acres now and do enjoy the extra space. You should post some photo’s of the country home.
I always wonder about these public proposals… have you ever helped arrange one that ended in “no?”
Hi John, I saw Dave’s post about our woodpecker and thought I would add something. This morning our woodpecker hit the house at 6:15AM, 6:30AM, 6:35AM and 7:15AM. He can be annoying but I have to admit I miss him when he doesn’t show up for a few days. Dave forgot to mention the wild turkeys. Last spring we had a mating pair nearby. They can really be obnoxious. The male runs out in front of cars and refuses to move. They are huge and could really hurt you if he attacts. No you wouldn’t want to eat them. The are not like the turkeys you eat for Thanksgiving. They would have a gamey taste. Yuk.
) You could write her at Dollywood.
I have a suggestion for the godmother of the Splendor. How about the real Dolly Parton? I know she is a busy person but she would love it. Imagine you dressed as Dolly beside the real one.
Jo and Dave
john, Please Reply
are you still planning to join the Freedom somewhere along our transatlantic leaving this sat?… i noticed it was left out of your schedule..
congrats on the move to the countryside.. I’m sure it is fabulous… you are going to love your time at home even more when you get a chance to holiday
John–Good to hear at least the pigeons in New York and England are the same–crapping all over cars. Enjoy your rest-as you would say, tell the pigeons to “bugger off.”
Nice engagement stories and pictures…..
hey John,
don’t worry about any spelling mistakes or typos.. my blackberry is also possessed
Good afternoon Mr. Heald. I can really picture your countryside and the animals that seem to enjoy you. yesterday I woke up and lo and behold there were two ducks one a mallard and the otherhad to be his wife. I think they were in the process of making a family. Also, in the corner of the yard there were two young rabbits running and playing throughout the yard. On my fence there was a large hawk seemed to enjoying his early morning breakfast. I also had a multitude of different birds, cardinals, blue jays etc. and around the trees of course are squirrels. So as you can see, I seem to have a small zoo around me.
Enjoy you break and I can’t wait till your next blog. Ciao.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Great post! We just got off the Pride on Sunday and we couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better cruise! Butch was wonderful, so when we he get his own ship?????? We also met a lovely couple that work for Carnival Gregg and Tuti, he is a purser and she is a bartender, he is getting ready for a 5 week vacation, then joining the Spirit in Alaska, both truly great people, and they LOVE their jobs! We came back to ughh, snow and rain, but the cruise and the time we spent together was perfect! Time to start planning the next one!
John,
Your travails with Peter the Pigeon remind me of a bumper sticker that was popular a few years ago: “Help keep your city clean – Eat a pigeon.”
I’ve always marveled at proposals done in public. Have you ever had one where she said “no”? Now THAT would be the talk of the ship! I think Alan was smart to do his asking in private.