Hicky's Family Life & Crisies

Happy New Year! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (287 days old)

yes I know its nearing the end of january but I have not had time to sit down since before xmas! It all started xmas eve - I didnt feel right but put it down to being my first xmas on my own with my l… more

Ooops I Did It Again! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (322 days old)

I am hanging my head in shame...Well either that or its the headache from the bottle of wine I so thoroughly enjoyed last night! I keep saying I am going to start blogging more regularly but so far it… more

DInner Guests - Who??? From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (358 days old)

My friend asked me earlier today who would be my three ideal dinner guests and what would I serve for starter, main and dessert!? Simple I thought - Robbie Williams (directly opposite me so Icould sta… more

Poxy Chickenpox! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (362 days old)

Well I was just starting to settle into my 'new life' down here, got a job (only part time but its better than nothing and there are great prospects, but more about that another time!), my son was set… more

Worse Before It Gets Better I Think From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (378 days old)

Well today I went for a physio appt, the problem being that I have got something called plantar fasciitis - basically in laymans terms the muscle that supports the arch in my foot has collapsed. I jus… more

Ive Done It Again!!! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (381 days old)

Ok, I am not going to apologise as it is becoming too regular to be acceptable! Needless to say I'll just berate myself for not having updated for so long. Well I suppose I should start with an upd… more

Ok So Here Goes... From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (410 days old)

Well its taken me longer than I had hoped but to be honest Ive been trying to work out what to blog about! I seem to have done a lot but not have much to speak about if that makes any sense at all! As… more

sorry! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (415 days old)

Hi Just wanted to apologise for not having written for ages - Im out today but will sit down this evening and do an update on the mundane happenings of my life - just incase any one is interested! … more

Phew! How Did I Ever Manage Without The Net!? From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (439 days old)

Well guys - sorry Ive not been about for a bit - I have now moved and as you know it takes a while to sort everything out. Anyway it felt like my right arm had been cut off with having no internet! I … more

No excuses - just sorry! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (491 days old)

Wow! I cant believe I have left it so long, I apologise and which I had a decent reason to give but I dont so I'll just say sorry and leave it at that! Which reminds me - I may not have told you befor… more

Day 11 Alicante From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (500 days old)

Now, I’ll let you into a little secret. When I first met my wife, over 15 years ago, the first real holiday we ever went on was to Benidorm. Now at the time I knew nothing about the place but very qui… more

Day 10 - Relaxing Day at Sea From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (500 days old)

Not really a lot to report today, other than we had a very lazy and relaxing day at sea.… more

Day 9 Civitavecchia – The Port For Rome From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (500 days old)

We arrived here nice and early in the morning, around 7.30am, this was so all the tours could get off and into the Italian Traffic. We have been to Rome a couple of times before, so we decided this ti… more

Day 8 Santa Margherita From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (509 days old)

Santa Margherita is a tender port, this is because the port itself it a tiny fishing village, however it does have a bay large enough for s hip the size of Ventura to anchor. So we took the tender boa… more

Sorry for my absence From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (510 days old)

Hi Everyone, As some of the more observant amongst you may have noticed, I have been away from my blog for quite a few weeks now. There are any number of reasons why I have not been posting, inclu… more

Good Things Really Do Come To Those Who Wait! From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (535 days old)

:DD I cannot believe it! After 5 years of constant phonecalls and letters and general pestering I have finally been given a flat in my hometown! I have been on the list for a house for so long I thoug… more

Thinking about Why I Blog... From silvermist in Trials and Tribulations Of A Single Mum (545 days old)

Ive been trying to work out why I decided to create a blog and apart from my friends saying Id be good at it and needing somewhere to post my thoughts (annonomously) so that they are not circling … more

Thursday 24th April, Extract from Captains Log, Ventura Maiden Cruise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (546 days old)

Ventura Maintained her easterly course throughout the night towards Livorno, passing to the north of the small island of Gorgona. Ventura embarked her two local pilots at 06.33. At 06.55 we entered th… more

Day 7 Livorno, Ventura Maiden Cruise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (546 days old)

Today we are in Livorno, the Port for Pisa and Florence. As usual, Amanda and I just took the complimentary shuttle bus into the town. As first glance there did not seem much to do, then as if… more

Ventura Captains Log Wednesday 23rd April From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (549 days old)

As Ventura made her final approaches to the anchorage, the Captain rang "Standby Below" on the engines. Once in position, the order was given to let go the starboard anchor and commence lowering the b… more

Day 6 Villefrance, Ventura Mailden Cruise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (549 days old)

Today we arrived in the pretty little fishing village of Villefrance, the ideal port for trips to Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo. Ventura anchored out into the bay and the mode of tra… more

22nd April extract from Captains Log - Ventura Maiden Cruise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (550 days old)

At 6.30 "Standby BElow" was rung as Ventura approached the Catalonian Coast. At 7.02 the local BArcelona Pilot embarked as we entered Barcelona Harbour. All Bridge and engine room arrival checks were … more

Day 5 Barcelona - Ventura Maiden Cruise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (550 days old)

Day 5 Barcelona After 3 days at sea, it was really nice to make landfall and where better than Barcelona. As most of you know, the cruise ships offer a huge range of tours that can take you fr… more

Monday 21 April, Day at Sea, Extract From Ventura Captains Log From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (551 days old)

At 04.30 Ventura altered onto an easterly course to enter the traffic separation scheme of the Gibralta straight. She then followed various easterly courses throught the busy waters of the straight, w… more

Day 4 Day at Sea, Ventura Maiden Crise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (551 days old)

We were up early this morning (7.30) as it seems the clip clop spa girls upstairs had forgotten the barefoot rule after just a few days. We had to have a word with Sean the Spa manager who again assur… more

Day 3 Sunday – Day at Sea, Ventura Cruise Captains Log From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (552 days old)

Extract from Captains Log Shortly after 1 o'clock Ventura entered the Traffic Separation Scheme off Cape Finisterre marking our exit from the Bay of Biscay. Once clear, we set southerly courses as … more

Day 3 Sunday – Day at Sea, Ventura Cruise From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (552 days old)

Had a lay on this morning until 10am and then a very lazy breakfast after a brief visit to the gym. Later this morning we had a go at Bingo in the exchange pub, a little pricey at £15 for a strip of 6… more

Ventura Captains Log Saturday 19th April From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (553 days old)

0200 - Ships clocks were advanced 1 hour to GMT+2 (Central European Time) Throughout the night and into the morning, Ventura followed south westerly courses therough the busy English Channel. Shortly … more

Day 2, Saturday, At Sea From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (553 days old)

19th April – Day At Sea This was the first of 3 days at sea, a time when you can really explore your ship and get to know her. What I didn’t realise is that on this morning, my explorations were to… more

Ventura Captains Log Friday 18th April From ukcruiseguy ^Pro in Cruising is FUN (554 days old)

The following is an extract from the Captiains Log: With all pre departure checks complete, clearance was granted and the Captain made his departure broadcast. Ventura let go all her lines and move… more