I woke up this morning wondering if anyone still blogs. I haven’t written anything on here for months and that’s because I just got out of the habit of writing posts. It seems to me that what you have to do now is vlog. Can people be bothered to read a lengthy piece of text anymore or would they prefer to watch a video on Youtube? I admit to watching a lot more Youtube channels these days to reading blogs. Infact I would say that I have a slight addiction to Youtube and can sit and watch videos for hours. I now know all about the poor of state of some Pontins Holiday Camps, where the kings and queens of the United Kingdom are buried, secrets of the M4 (more interesting than it sounds), what you should never (or always ) do in Norway, discovered what people across the pond think of our food and I have learnt A LOT about cruises. Youtube cruise channels are my favourite and I am just a little addicted to them. I have my favourites Suite Natured Emma Cruises Paul and Carole love to Travel One Couples Adventure and for a glimpse into the luxury cruise ships Visit with Us but there are many more. To think a year ago I had no idea about cruise lines, what the inside of a cruise ship looked like or simply what cruising was all about. Apart from a mini cruise thirty years ago in a ship that didn’t even have a swimming pool, my experience of being at sea was the quick crossing across the English channel on a P&O ferry, which is, as I have now learnt. not related to the P&O cruise line. Following my cruise to the Fjords last October on Ambassador’s Ambience, and having the of best times, I admit to being hooked on cruising and can understand why people do it as often as they can afford to and when time allows. Am I envious of them? Absolutely! Would I like to have a cruise channel? Another big fat yes! There are a couple of stumbling blocks however that would prevent me from joining the rest of the Youtube gang. 1. I can just about afford one cruise a year. 2. I can only go in the school holidays and I’ve discovered that few cruises fit in with the school holidays outside of August. 3. I haven’t a clue how to create and edit content let alone promote it. On the rare occasions that I have attempted to speak on instagram stories, it’s taken about twenty goes before I say something without cocking it up. It’s just so hard to be natural! The big question is, shall I dip my toes into the vlogging pond or stick to blogging when I report on our cruise on the Queen Mary 2 in August? Or should I just play safe and create Instagram stories? I know what I want to do, but the sensible option would be to stick to what I can do!

And yes, you did read right, there is anothor cruise booked and Mr R is somewhat reluctantly coming too. He’d much rather be walking the South West Coast Path with a backpack, a tent and a sleeping bag and not washing for a week but he owes me a 60th birthday treat as he only bought me a card and thought that would do. Err, no my darling, I don’t think so and if you think I’ll let it go, think on matey! So three years too late, we are having my big birthday treat. He’s convinced that he will be bored. How on earth can you be bored on a great big ship and I keep reminding him that he will be able to get off at four ports in Norway and he can take his walking poles and boots and walk as much as he likes just as long as he is back in time for all aboard! I meanwhile will be partaking in a few little cocktails and maybe learn how to cha cha cha in the ballroom.

Mr R off on a hike to buy chips in Cornwall!

My biggest dilemma is trying to find a swanky evening frock and not looking like a little dumpling in it. I am kidding myself that I will ever in a million years look chic and sophisticated but I am determined to look half decent. After the dress malfunctions on my last cruise (note to self, always try on the dress before wearing it to a gala evening and take safety pins) I want to get it right this time. I want to be a dress size smaller and the bingo wings need to shrink a bit. To be honest they need to shrink a lot but I only have months, not years to make changes. I will be happy with just a little less upper arm wobble. To achieve the black dress look (note I didn’t say ‘little black dress’) I have been following the Noom plan and so far so good. The weight is slowly but surely coming off. Mr R is helping me keep on track by eating any chocolate that I am given as gifts. What a star! I’ve also started using resistance bands and dumbells. My darling husband keeps nagging me to go for walks but walking is just so boring. Sometimes I tell him fibs and say that I’ve been for a walk. Just don’t tell him that I told you that. I just hope he doesn’t want to look at my Fitbit!

The beautiful Queen Mary 2

So cruising aside, what else have I got to tell you? I went to Penzance back in February. Mr R was supposed to go but backed out at the last minute. We were going to view a flat but it went under offer and he couldn’t see the point in going. I was a bit miffed but there was no way that I wasn’t going and I had a lovely time, as I always do.

I now have seven penpals! From lovely Avril in Jamaica to Crocodile ‘G’day’ Roy in the Australian outback. I did have another penpal in Australia but she decided that I was too nice and didn’t want to write to me.What’s wrong with being nice! Some people are just weird. I have a new penpal in Northern Ireland who is very into poetry and suggests poems I should read. The latest being The Ballad of Reading Goal by Oscar Wilde which was very bleak.

As far as my novel is concernced, I have lost confidence in my ability to write and get it finished. I was kidding myself that I could write!

I’ve also been cyber stalked but lets not dwell on that!

Time to stop and makea healthy supper. Mr R has gone for a walk so I’m going to sneak in a Youtube video. Maybe find out about how to shrink those bingo wings!

I’ll write again soon!