I will never forget my first experience of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. This cold taste of heaven had yet to be popular in the UK and when someone told me that it was simply the best I was tempted to say no thanks, I will stick to what I know and head to the Haagen Dazs stand.
However, thanks to the persistence of my friend I tried something called “Chunky Monkey” ……and fell instantly head over heals in love. Unfortunately my Chunky Monkey days are over however I had tried something new and I was so happy I did.
Many of you will be unfamiliar with P&O cruises and for those from North America who may have read something about them then you probably dismissed the idea of cruising with them preferring to stay with what you know……that’s understandable ……however I am here to tell you that after my visit to the Ventura today I have discovered another Chunky Monkey and I later I will be urging you all to try it.
Good afternoon. I am at our hotel writing on my raspberry quickly before Heidi and I go for a walk, hold hands and have a romantic dinner. I have just returned from a wonderful day on the Ventura and tomorrow once home I will tell you all about our day and how impressed I was with the ship. Please excuse me not writing today but if I tried to get my lap top dancer computer out Heidi would no doubt Ram it up my A drive. So, tomorrow I will provide you all with a special Ventura blog………and special is one of the words I will be using a lot.
Tomorrow morning we will drive home and after I have posted the blog and photos we will have dinner with my friends Danny and Nadia. Danny is a real character and a regular contributor my facespace book thingy so if you want a brit friend on facespace book then write to Danny and tell him he I sent you………oh by the way, Danny is a professional boxer and will be fighting for the European middleweight championship next month……..I could take him.
I see some of you were asking where I am taking Heidi on Monday for holiday. Well, I did consider going to Spain but that would have involved flying. I am not sure if I have mentioned this before but I hate flying and would rather have I love Paris tattooed on my bottom.
So, we are off to a small country hotel on Monday for four days of total relaxation. The hotel has a spa, a pool and most importantly wireless internet so expect daily blogs as always.
Have a look at the new carnival.com web site. A lot of people have worked very hard to make this site the best in the business and thanks to them for keeping my blog on the front page.
So, time for a walk before dinner. I look forward to writing my Ventura blog tomorrow. She is a gorgeous ship and talking of gorgeous ships today a few miles from where Ventura was docked was her Majesty Queen Victoria and docked next to her was a something of the seas.
Heidi and I drove over and even though this was a new something of the seas…….but all eyes were on Queen Victoria.
This left me feeling sorry for the same old thing of the seas Captain. Docking his ship next to Queen Victoria must have been like buying one of those Japanese sports cars, polishing it and adding a new stereo and loads of spoilers and sticky out things. You then invite all your friends over to look at it and then just as they start to do so some bugger turns up in a Bentley GTC……..and they bugger off to stand and admire a touch of class.
Cheers
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.
Excuse me John but I have to make a comment. You start telling us a about holding hands , romantic walks and dinner about the hotel and all the things that it has and then wooshhhh wireless internet . How romantic….
Heidi!! Hide the computer and the other thingy!!!!! Please!! You love us you really love us….. but we can live for a day or 2 without a blog.
LOL
Love you John!!
Nanni
John,
Looking forward to tomorrow’s blog!
As to your 4 day holiday with Heidi, enjoy the relaxation, the spa, the peace and quiet. Ignore the wireless access! I’m sure others will agree with me when I say, we can do without a blog for a day or 2 if we know it’s for you and Heidi to finally have some alone time. Pretend computers, boysenberry’s and cell phones don’t exist for just 1 day…I dare you! LOL
Princess Elaine
I can’t wait for the details about the Ventura and the pictures!!! I’m sure she’s something quite special!!
You had me rolling on the floor talking about the QV and the nearby Whatever of the Seas… I’m sorry but I can’t muster up a bit of sympathy for the captain of any ship who would allow a flying saucer to land on it.
Here’s hoping that Heidi and you have a perfectly wonderful time!!!
Regards,
GregB
Hi John & Heidi,
I’m glad I looked at your blog thingy before I leave work. I can’t wait to read about the Ventura (and I too love Chunkey Monkey – banana ice cream, yum).
Anyway, enjoy your romantic weekend – don’t spoil it with blog thingy – we understand, just have a wonderful time with Heidi. Do I hear “Couples Massage”?
And I did see the new Carnival website. Very nice and easy to get around.
So enjoy,
Carol
Please let me know about this Chunky Monkey!!! Can’t wait!!! Is it for diabetics???
John,
You have good taste when it comes to ice cream among other things….Chunky Monkey and Cherry Garcia are my favorite flavors of Ben & Jerry’s….
I certainly hope that you and Heidi have 4 days of total relaxation…Heidi may ram your lap dancer up your A drive if you plan on daily blogs!!! Remember that you have to concentrate on the happy stick!!!
I need to send a card to both of you for making my voyage on the Carnival Inspiration memorable….what a wonderful job on the rehab…the vessel looks fantastic….I even won $170 the first night at Bingo; it was a $500 jackpot that I shared with 2 fellow passengers…of course the slot machines got a nice share of my Bingo winnings too…We had a group of 19 ranging in age from 3-90…we had Felipe as the CD and I spoke to him one evening and of course mentioned how I was a big fan of your blog….he was very funny and full of energy, but I did miss being aboard without you as CD.
Of course I cannot wait until the Carnival Dream comes to Pt. Canaveral in 2009 and then in a couple of years to be joined by new Mickey & Minnie ships…it is very convenient for me to sail out of Tpa or Pt. Canaveral. How about a Blogger’s cruise out of Pt. Canaveral on the Carnival Dream????….I know that a lot of fellow bloggers would be very happy with that choice.
Linda
Heidi,
Since you do all the packing you have our permission to NOT pack John’s lapdancer or his buggerberry thingy for YOUR 4 day trip. I can live without a post for 4 days I THINK. Just take a camera to get some of your great pictures so John came post them when you return. Get a shot of John in his thong.
Enjoy your holiday.
BIG ED
While I am sure you and your blog updates would be missed, no one would begrudge you a day or two off so you can spend time relaxing with your wife.
I say: Enjoy your time in the small country hotel!
John, Please leave the laptop and the blackberry at home, you can blog after you have your 4 days of rest, relaxation, and your romantic time alone. We can live without a new blog until you get back. We might have withdrawls, but we will live…….grin
Carolyn and Don
TO JO ANN:
Chunky Monkey is banana ice cream with fudge chunks and walnuts. It is made by Ben and Jerry’s, a famous ice cream company based in Vermont USA. They are famous for really intensely flavored ice cream.
I tried to see if they make a sugar-free version of this, but sadly, no. And at 28g of sugar per 107g serving I don’t think it’s too good for diabetics. Sorry.
Dear John: Please, Please DO NOT send us blogs on your romantic 4 days with Heidi. We know you love us and you know we love you. I’m sure we can all wait a few days. Just you and Heidi, take it from someone who has been married almost 49 years…..
You and Heidi have a delightful time.
God Bless you both.
Regards
Terry
Ok, that’s it! I am hanging a sign on your door: DO NOT DISTURB!……welll, except for blogging…a little maybe.
Ciao, Kathleen
JOHN – stay away from the computer. We can all wait.
CruisingGrandma
dude! i was going to say “step away from the lapdancer” but somehow it didn’t sound right! ha ha ha put the raspberry down and have a lovely holiday my friend!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
Hi John,
I’ve been reading your blogs since last March when the Freedom debuted and I was captivated instantly. But now something is bugging me.
This blog feels like it has become an advertisement for Carnival Corporation. Sure every now and then you interject with your outstanding sense of humor (which I love by the way, most the time I’m on the floor laughing hysterically) but for the last few months, it seems like every other blog was a sales pitch to try a different sister line.
Off the top of my head I remember being told like a commercial that I have to run out and try:
Princess
Costa
Holland America
Ocean Village
Cunard
Aida
…and now P&O
So John this is a plea, to stop turning your blog into an advertisement for Carnival Corporation and go back to just being you.
I’m still amazed you liked the hull art on the Aida ships but hate the hull art on that other… hippie cruise lines ships. To me, hull art looks ugly on any ship
Just something to consider John.
John,
So good to hear from you, and wonderful to see that the dynamic duo (you and Heidi) are back in action.
I am, however, concerned with your mental state. The purpose of a vacation is exactly that – to VACATION. Your wife is an exotic beauty who deserves your complete attention. You, on the other hand, choose to BLOG? I fear that this has become an obsession for you, much like for those of us who read it.
Trust me when I say, a few days without us will not damage your psyche; and while you may suffer withdrawals at first, I’m certain that you will find yourself beginning to relax after only a few hours. Get someone to take over for the days you are gone. I know that in your eyes this would be tandamount to handing over the reins, but this is merely a manifestation of an oncoming paranoid delusion. Just one more reason to set your electronics aside and place your arms firmly around your wife where they belong.
Enjoy – we’ll still be here after.
Rus & Nina
John & Heidi
As much as we love to read your blog I think the two of you deserve some “us” time and just relax, we will be there when you come back. Heidi, please take his blackberry and laptop away and leave it at home.
Enjoy!
Love,
Suzann
John, I am trying to figure out how to contact you, would you mind emailing me a link to contact you? I’m leaving on the Carnival Liberty on 5/24 and have some questions regarding meet and greets for cc roll calls, need suggestions.
Thank you so very very much!
Attention Suzanne!!!
Since John thinks we have to be “blogged” everyday, would you mind taking over for him for a few days. He needs to leave the laptop and raspberry at home. He needs to take time off to wine, dine and make love to Heidi.
Don and Carolyn……. and the evil Krewe too
I DARE you NOT to blog for 4 days, you and Heidi need that time to yourselves, and the smiley stick! It is time to make a baby, forget about the blog! We won’t miss you that much! I don’t think so anyway? Heidi would sure appreciate not having to share you with all of us women bloggers! Right Heidi? Happy weekend! Linda
JOHN
WE WILL ALL LIVE WITHOUT YOUR BLOGS FOR 4 DAYS!! Listen to all of us when we talk to you! We will miss you, but it is more important for you to spend quality time with your lovely wife. She deserves it, and so do you! Trust me, we will all still be here waiting for your next blog after your “holiday”. We may not have laughed those good old belly laughs, we may be in blog withdrawl, we may have logged on 50 times a day just to see if you decided not to listen to us and blog anyway, but we will survive!
Sheryl
No, No, No….You must leave that D***laptop at home, everyone agrees, John. So there, it’s settled then…I do have a question, but maybe Stephanie can answer it, has to do with special diets and the menu on the ships. Does anybody else out there have to eat GLUTEN FREE like my husband does?
SuefrmNarrowburg
John:
I also vote for the “Do Not Disturb” sign…period.
(no blog)
All work (even when it is fun) and no play, makes John a dull pencil.
This is time for you and Heidi…..
we care enough to want the very best for you both!
Linda (Tired Domestically Challenged Goddess)
John, I wholeheartedly agree with all the posts above…we urge you to enjoy your time with Heidi and re-charge the Duracell’s. We, your faithful bloggers cruise for that specific reason…understand we will be there when you return. Please take some time to smell whatever….
Cheers,
Ray & Deb
Ironically, I have to agree with all the others who have opined about this issue – leave the lap top dancer and the raspberry at home. This time is meant to be a V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N and some romantic time with your W-I-F-E without the JHB (John Heald Blog) reporter appearing.
We can get along for a few days without your blog. Heck – just have Stephanie repost some of the old classics like Miss Ma Jong to keep us happy.
Your loyal marriage counselor
Jon
I have never had Ben & Jerry’s ……from your mouth watering impression ….something I should try one of these days…Chunky Monkey …sounds awesome…
Enjoy your holiday….leave the boysenberry and lapdancer at home…..a holiday should be exactly that….a holiday ….. (not to be confused with the ship Holiday which may not be in the Carnival Fleet for much longer IMHO since Celebration has transitioned to Iberocruceros)
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Exchange the cold days for the sun
A good time and fun
Let me take you far away
You’d like a holiday
Mark
The Flying Dutchman
So, John, it seems to be pretty much unanimous. LEAVE THE COMPUTER AND THE RASPBERRY THINGY AT HOME!!! Maybe, without a blog to read, plus all the comments, plus writing my own, etc., etc., I’ll get off my rear and get some housework done!
Have fun and romance you two!
Love ya,
Myra
John:
Just catching up after vacation, the blogs are great as always, but I agree with some who have posted before me, We can live with out your thingy for 4 days, Rest and Relax with Hedi, and maybe you will get a Reverse Murphy…….. and Hedi’s suit might not fit in the Future……….
Take Care and Beltated Happy Birthday to your Lovley Hedi……
Ben and Jerry’s is serverd on some something of the seas ships, I think.
Hi John and Heidi,
John – Go and enjoy your holdiay. We will all still be here when you return.
Clair
Hi John,
I am so glad your blog is on the new Carnival site-on the first page where even I can find it! Everything about the new site is great. And I agree with everyone about taking time off…no one understands this like a cruiser!
John,
I must agree – no blogging on your getaway. This is your alone time with Heidi and you both deserve privacy. If you try to sneak in a blog, Heidi has my permission to relegate you and your berry thing to Fido’s Lair for the rest of the month. Kibble and water only.
mmmmm…….. chunky monkey.
Hey Big Ed,
why don’t you fill in for John?????
All of the evil Krewe can chime in and help. Sound like a good idea?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Carolyn
Carolyn,
I already offered to fill in for John but Pat told me what she would do with the smiling stick. So I withdrew the offer.
BIG ED
Please respond when you can
Hi John,
I know you are busy with Heidi but I have a question I hope you can answer.
Could you please explain the Sail Into The Future program that people are talking about? I don’t see anything about it on Carnival’s site. I would love to know what ships it is available on.
Thank you.
OK – Chunky Monkey or Chubby Hubby are my favorites!!! Gotta go with the group here….hope you left the lap dancer and the raspberry things at home! Go to the spa and enjoy your four days of bliss….we’ll still be here when you get back!
Hugs,
Lori
John,
I like the new carnival site. There does appear to be a problem with the search though. The first 4 months of the search for 2010 dates all read as undefined instead of the month name. Should be a quick change for the development team. Carla
Hi John/Heidi:
Nice hearing from you. Sounds like Ventura was quite a journey and i look forward to reading more.
Don’t get yourself in trouble on vacation by playing with your “crackberry”. Just my opinion.
Hope everything else is going well with you.
Thanks for keeping in touch!
David