Friday, August 29th, 2008...4:21 pm
Raspberry Blog – Part 4
It’s a strange old world. One minute you are in Amsterdam debarking guests and making last-minute preparations for Heidi to take charge and the next minute you are back at home in a pleasantly sunny UK.
I just returned from my doctor who gave me a bollocking for not losing enough weight but at the same time a nice pat on the back for maintaining a low sugar level with a six-month average of 5.9. That’s the British scale by the way. I have no idea what that is on the American scale but Doc was happy overall.
So, here I sit in any empty house trying to get some work done and plough through the mail which includes 12 different offers for loans and a letter from the company that supplies our oil noting that prices will rise 23%……might need one of those loans after all.
OK, considering the only thing to eat in the house are some tea bags and a frog which seems to have died on my doormat…..So, as I have no milk for my tea and am not French I shall bugger off to Mum and Dad’s.
Back soon.
Heidi and live 30 minutes or so from my parents. And here I am having just eaten half a cow complemented by Yorkshire pudding, peas, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower ………. tomorrow may not be a good day to be anywhere near me.
Mum and Dad look great and Dad has added photos of the Carnival Splendor and the plaque I was given by the Royal Navy divers who helped us at our naming ceremony. There is also the model of AIDAdiva and seeing it reminded me that I must try and get Dad one of those big models we have at the Carnival offices.
So, I just spoke to Heidi. Her Mum is safely onboard and, apart from the Dutch immigration officers being their normal pedantic selves, the ship has sailed on time and Heidi has breathed a sigh of relief…..I know she won’t be totally comfortable until I get back onboard………I, though, have total confidence in her.
It seems that Tropical Storm Bastard…..sorry, Gustav, has caused many deaths as it charges across the Caribbean and, of course, a lot changes for the Carnival fleet.
I know a lot of bloggers use this as a source of information, so here is the latest news from Vance and Stephanie.
Well, in about an hour after Stephanie has posted this short blog she will post the replies I have written over the last five days to comments marked “urgent please reply.”
So, I am going to watch some football and then go to bed. I have a two-hour drive tomorrow and I need to leave early as I want to be on board by 11 am.
Thanks for allowing me on night off from blogging and hope you have enjoyed the short blogs I have written today.
Goodnight
Your friend
John
16 Comments
August 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Good news on the health front! Excellent! We can’t have our most beloved blogger going away on us!!!
I’m sure that your parents were thrilled to have you home, even if for a short while. When you get an opportunity would you please post another picture of your dad’s den? I love his collection of Carnival memorabilia especially the picture of the Triumph plowing head long into those very impressive wave.
Have a wonderful, relaxing evening and I’m looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow.
Ciao!!
Host Mach
August 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
As an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic, I say GREAT JOB, JOHN!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
John:
Get a good night’s sleep.
Glad to hear your “numbers” pleased the Doctor.
David is not taking his laptop with him and I don’t know if we will have any computer access at the hotel in Galveston (actually Texas City)…so we will chat when we return from our cruise.
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
August 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Four Raspberries for one . . . what a neat idea! Bet the number of “slaps” you got on your blog quadrupled!
Remember back when they used to call them the “Friendly Skies”? Now we fly the “*&%*-you” skies, or walk, or swim . . . or, whenever possible, cruise!
Regards, Richard
August 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Hey John,
Thanks for keeping us along with you today. Glad the Dr. was happy with some of those numbers anyways!
Jan
August 29th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Dear John glad you received a favorable check-up from the Doc.Enjoy your bachelor night knowing dear Heidi handled everything on board.Sit back and relax for tomorrow you will be back to the Mrs.Snobs and Fred’s, Oh Buggers!!!!Best wishes Gary and Bug p.s.Have a safe trip.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
WOOO HOO John!
Good report from the doc on those sugar levels, and you just keep that weight going in the right direction and it’s all good!!
Dinner with Mum and Dad, a night of rest for you, and all is well with Heidi! Wonderful blogs today!
Rest well and sweet dreams!!
Floatie
August 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
dude, i take it the 5.9 was your A1C number and it is the same in the usa as there. great job with that!!!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
August 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Well, glad you finally made it and had a good report from the doctor and great dinner with mum and dad.
Customer service in most industries is gone that’s why cruising is so refreshing in this new era of “nobody cares”. I hope that never changes!
Sleep well…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
August 29th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
John,
Glad to hear your visit w/the doc was a good one. And, remember, as long as the weight is dropping, it’s going in the right direction. Keep up the good work.
Enjoyed your raspberry blogs today…was a treat to find something new each time I checked the computer.
Take care and safe travels,
The Kilmartins
P.S. Please repy!
I remember in one of Bubba’s guest blogs from Alaska he said Shawn was doing her last cruise on the Spirit. Has she left Carnival or just moved to another ship? She’s one of my faves…she’ll be missed if that’s the case!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
My wife’s a diabetic too John, and that’s an excellent number. On the old scale that no-one uses anymore that was a 70.8, by the way.
Have fun at home!
August 30th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Hi John,
This upcoming cruise must be the last one in the Baltic before the transition cruise to Rome on 9/11. We’re packing and getting excited. I’m reading Frommer’s Barcelona while Sharon is up on the exercise bike building a safety margin for her dance dresses. Jessie, our dear friend and one of the head waitresses in the Black Pearl restaurant on the Splendor (who’s been our head waitress on two prior cruises on the Liberty), has already primed us. We’ve received e-mails from her telling us how great the ship, the supper club, and the musicians are. So let’s hope that we won’t be needing your favorite toy too much (I’m talking about that sliding roof over the Lido deck). Since we’re also booked on Splendor’s trip from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires (even in the same cabin), I’m confident that there’ll be lots of blue sky up above and that the wind will be tousling our hair. Can’t wait!
August 30th, 2008 at 11:49 am
John,
Glad the Doc was happy, that’s always a good sign. Yorkshire pudding, my Mom use to make that and a nice Sunday roast with roasted potatoes. Brings back many good memories.
Rick
August 31st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Thanks for the 411 on your blood sugar! Good reports on your numbers! Tough on the seas in the Carribean right now. Giving them best wishes on their travels. Nice to hear you have seen your Mom and Dad. Yours, Kap
September 1st, 2008 at 12:04 am
John,
I LOVE listening to your Mum’s favorite meal to cook for you!!! Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding is such a treat for me!!! Just LOVE IT!!! And th brussel sprouts just make it all the better!!! YUM!!!
Im finding their house when I’m in England… and Im booking a dinner reservation!!
Great doctor news!!! WOO HOO!!!
Its great have Heidi taking charge back on the ship!!! I know all the guests have loved her tender loving care!!!
Regards to you both and the ever-present Stephanie in keeping us all up to date!!!
Lambie
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Hi John/Heidi:
Nice to see how on top of things corporate is in the wake of all these hurricanes passing through.
Makes your jobs very difficult.
Good luck to everyone in the organization as they deal with these weather patterns over the next month or so.
I hope we can see an updated pic of your dad’s office in the near future.
Good luck with the diet and hope everything else is going well.
Take care!
David
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