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at thats it for now folks...

I'm punctuating this post with random totally unrelated to the text photos just to share some more pictures.  Some of which might have appeared before...🤣  
I never swam once... inspite of buying newcozzie...

This is our last cruise for quite a few months, in fact until December.   We've been on the Balmoral which is my favorite boat. 
This is sideways on andzwont change.. specimens...

Apparently it's going to be decommissioned in 2029 and actually when you look around I'm not surprised, in spite of the refit it is starting to look a little bit tired in places.  
Lovely nativity in Sans Sebastian (not as nice as Bishop Auckland Palace one)

The cabin we were finally allocated ( no fault of ours ) this time is definitely been the worst we've ever had.  It was extremely noisy,  meaning that we perhaps got three hours of sleep any one time being constantly woken in the night by crashing and banging because we were under the kitchens.
Pirates ahoy

The daytime wasn't any better - some nights we went to bed at 8 o'clock just so we could catch up on sleep.  We often missed breakfast ( not that thats unusual)  because that would be the quietest time when they were actually in the dining room and not in the kitchen.  Neither of us function very well on little sleep so we were a bit tetchy...
Coffee and beer planning time

We did enquire ( politely because technically we are supernumery so we should be grateful for what we get) about alternative cabin but there was nothing available.   
Rainbow

However, given all that the rest of the boat was quite good fun.  We met some really nice people and we were fed quite well over the period of the two weeks.. 
Unreachable rocks at Sintra🙁

we were able to sit out side on the deck in the sunshine,  and we went to some interesting places. 
Take that you bounder - tile at Sintra

We walked up and down quite a lot of hills and steps (this is definitely been the year for hills and steps) and had some lovely days out.
The sky at night

Dr Freds session were recieved extremly well and a lot of people stopped him for chats and questions  as we wandered around the ship. 
Ceramic bather

I very much enjoyed the art classes... the teacher this time was very good - I struggle with watercolours but she gave me some good tips.  Its possible I might improve🤣.
Local colour

However... Its nice to be home... freezing as we wait for our boiler to be mended but our own bed makes for a warm haven... 
Next adventure looming ....
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