A Golden Wedding Celebration

Our good friends Sylvia and Ron recently celebrated fifty years of marriage.  A milestone that few couples can achieve.  Spending half a century in love with one person is wonderful.

They celebrated by inviting some close friends to a delicious Italian meal at Rossinis in Wokingham.

John had us guessing.  What pop song was top of the charts 50 years ago.  Clue.  The Beatles.

 
And Julia made the beautiful flower arrangement for the centre of the table.

Afterwards it was back to Ron and Sylvia's beautiful home for coffee and cake, embellished with a golden butterfly.

    
We also presented the Happy Couple with a Golden Wedding Celebration Rose.

   
  We hope it will give years of pleasure.

Congratulations.  What a great day and  we all enjoyed flipping through the original wedding album. 

Wimborne Minister's Famous Model Town

During August we took Emmie and Chloe to explore the miniature model  town at Wimborne Minister.

They peered into the Butchers, the Ironmongers, the Bakery and the Fishmongers....

not forgetting the stunning interior of the Minister Church, where Caroline married Mike, and Chloe and James were Christened.

The historic market town of Wimborne Minister has been re-created exactly as it was during the 1950s and built well over 50 years ago, the magnificent 1/10th scale models are amazing.

You can just see the full size Minister in the distance.

Next was the fantastic working model Railway with Thomas the Tank Engine.

Emmie and Chloe also enjoyed playing in Wendy Street, a designated safe play area for younger visitors  with four Wendy Houses next to a Marquee where you can eat your lunch.  Unfortunately, it
was pouring with rain so I forgot to take a photo!

After lunch there  was a fun family craft workshop, where for a £1 donation, the girls made Dinosaurs.

Then when the sun came out again we enjoyed a game of "golf"!!!

Wimborne itself is delightful, but don't tell everyone - it's a well kept secret!

Celebrating the Christening of our Grandson

At 12.30 p.m. on Sunday, 20th July, 2014 we celebrated the Christening of James William Rees at Wimborne Minster.

The Christening of a child is a very special occasion and the role of Godfathers was given to Alun and Chris and Godmother to Emily.

Alun read Mark 10: 13 - 16

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.  He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. 

James is now six months old and is a well behaved baby.  He seemed to really enjoy the ceremony.

To our special grandson on your Christening Day.  May your christening blessing today be the first of a lifetime blessed with much love and happiness.

Afterwards we went back to Caroline and Mike's for a delicious Barbeque lunch with a sumptuous spread of salads and desserts.  Thank you Tina for your excellent salads and Gemma and Emily for the yummy desserts.

Mike and Phil did a wonderful job on the barbeque cooking sausages, pork ribs and chicken kebabs.

The garden looked very attractive too and even had a bouncy castle for the children.

We were so lucky with the sunny weather and were able to sit outside all afternoon.

Once again Gemma produced a masterpiece.  The Christening Cake.

James was so well behaved all day in spite of the ohhh's and ahhh's of the guests who wanted a cuddle and a closer look.

Again, I say that the best part of grand-parenting is enjoying the grandchildren with no responsibilities whatsoever.  Grandparenting is the best!!!!

Another excellent day with the family.  Thank you everyone for making it so special.

 

Pepper Pig World

Our granddaughters love Peppa Pig so we treated them both to a visit on 11th July.

They got to meet  Peppa and George:-

Chloe loved them both and shook hands with them but Emmie thought they were a little large and wasn't too sure.

The whole Peppa area at Paultons is excellent - really well themed with good rides for toddlers and everything seems really high quality.

  

Being a sunny day the queues were quite long for toddlers,  about 30 mins each ride, but Emmie and
Chloe were so well behaved.

Children under a metre high get in free and there is a slightly cheaper  rate for Senior Citizens.
One tip - book online on their website in advance.  We did it one day in advance so we knew the weather forecast.  Then take your ticket with you - you can either print it or store it in your iphone.
(If you can't go for any reason on that day - don't worry - I understand the ticket is valid for about six months.  Just check dates.)  Booking on line saves about £1.50 per person and you get to fast track the queue to go in.  Peppa Pig World is a day in itself.  There isn't really time to see anything else despite there being loads of other interesting looking rides to do.  We did, however, enjoy the  new double decker Victorian   Carousel.

Downsides:-  The queue for Mrs. Rabbit's Helicopter Ride.

                       The sun was also quite hot whilst queuing and there is no shade so suggest you carry a large umbrella.  Also useful if  it rains.

                        The food is expensive and not much choice.  We packed a picnic that the little ones munched on whilst queuing - stopped them getting bored.  Plenty of seats available so we took it in turns to queue with them and eat our picnic whilst not on duty!!!!!

Tip:-  If it's a sunny day take the children's swimwear and towels as they have an outdoor water park area called muddy puddles.

The 4 o'clock reward for being good girls.  Then home before the rush to leave the car park when the Park closes.

The girls loved their visit to Peppa Pig's World and so did Nanna.

Sailing Croatia....a Chronicle of Admiral Phil's Fleet, June 2014

When we arrived our Sunsail boat, Rosanna, was not available until about 5 p.m.
so we spent the day in Dubrovnik's old town.

Europe is full of Roman "old towns" but the one in Dubrovnik is exceptional ( which is probably why Games of Thrones chose it for all the outdoor Kings Landing Scenes).  It's large and well preserved,
with it's original fountain still working, walls and ramparts still walkable, streets    still paved with polished marble.

As you pass through Pile Gate you are walking back in time 2,000 years.  We paid the admission and
walked the entire 2 1/2 mile perimeter of the wall, probably climbing 500 feet above sea level in the process, affording great views in all directions.

Unfortunately, these days it is subject to horrendous cruise boat invasions!!  It was pouring with rain so perhaps some of the 10,000 cruise passengers stayed in their cabins.

There were nine sailing boats in our Mljet Flotilla plus the lead boat "Mljet One" with the skipper Kreso and his crew Petra and Bruno, who looked after us so well during our week's sailing.

On Monday we set sail for Magical Mljet.

The weather looked ominous and by lunchtime Phil had decided that to avoid the thunderstorms we should anchor at Lopud Island for lunch.
                                      

It was very pretty despite the thunder and lighting with the walls of Fort Spanjol on the hillside above the village. After lunch we motored to Mljet through quite rough seas but all boats arrived safely.

We moored overnight at Okukije, a pleasant well sheltered cove

and after a welcome punch party we all had a lovely meal at Maestral.

Very loud thunderstorms overnight but awoke to beautiful sunshine and Clive and Rosie walked up to the pretty church on the hillside above the village for this stunning photograph.

On Tuesday we left at 10.30a.m.  Time magazine once placed Mljet among the ten most beautiful island of the world.  It is 36km in length and consists of a chain of hills. We sailed to Luka Polace

with lunch en route.

On entering the very pretty inlet we stopped for a swim and a glass of champagne.

  Arrived at 5 p.m. and berthed stern to quay.  The whole group met for dinner at Stella Maris restaurant  where we enjoyed "lamb under a bell" and the Germans entertaining us with their guitars after dinner.  Very loud thunderstorms again overnight but sunshine on emerging from cabin.

Wednesday morning Phil strolled down to a lovely bakery for our breakfast.  After breakfast Rosie and I caught the 8.50 a.m. bus to the National Park's large lake, on which is an island with a 12th century Benedictine monastery.

The monastery is reached by a boat, and so our trip to Polace consisted visiting an island on an island.  Rosie and I were the only visitors so early in the morning, it was so peaceful.

 

The boys, after the briefing, hired bikes and cycled over the hill to the large lake, which is circled by paths.

When they returned we sailed back up the inlet, anchored and lunched then left at 2 pm and sailed most of the way to Korcula arriving at 5 p.m. for our glass of champagne and more bubbles - SHOWERS!!!  Stayed overnight at Marina Lumbarda, situated in the cove Tatinja in the southern part of the east coast of Korcula island.  A group meal again in the local winery with potent liquers too.

On Thursday after breakfast

we caught the local bus and visited the historical walled town.  Korcula Old City really is a stunningly beautiful location, the views of the Old City and from the Old City are breathtaking and I am glad I have visited this location.

It is steeped in history and the views from the top of the Cathedral bell tower are a must.

  The steps are very narrow and windey but it is worth the effort.  Beautiful city with an interesting layout of streets.  The walled city is positioned on an oval-shaped swelling of land pointing deep into Pelijesac Channel.  The city itself is grooved with a succession of narrow marble streets that branch off the spine of the main street like a fish bone.  This design is to reduce effects  wind and sun.  The streets to east have been curved around the town and for a good reason too.  During the winter months they protect the town from constant torture of the Bura wind and the rainy Jugo.  On the other side, the streets to the   west are straight and freely allow the refreshing western breeze Maestral to flow through them, which cools the town during the hot summer months.  The architecture is mainly influenced by Venetian Renaissance.

The greatest world traveller, Marco Polo, also began his life journey in this town.

We  returned to the Marina and left at 2.10 p.m. motoring to the old town nucleus on the peninsula.

We then backtracked and sailed on to Pomena on our "free day sail" arriving at 6 p.m.

The local waiters from the Barba Ive helped us to moor then very kindly came with a tray of Walnut Brandys for  us.  Delicious.  We had a wonderful meal, with a perfect view, Rosanna, fresh sea food, snapper, very good service and affordable prices.  Highly recommended.

Friday.  We departed Pomena at 9 a.m. and sailed and motored to Prozura

and anchored at 1 p.m. for lunch and a swim.

 

We left at 2 p.m.

and sailed all the way to Sudurad harbour on Sipan Island, with 22 knots of wind.
Sailing is one of the most sensory endeavours one can pursue.  I enjoy it when the engine is turned off, leaving us to the sounds of the wind and water caressing the boat and our spirits.  Add to that, the smell of the fresh air and open sea, and the feel of the wind in your face.  You can let sailing be as low  tech or gear-headed as you want it to be.  You can get into the physics of setting the sails, navigating to our next destination, keeping up with the on board electronics and plumbing.....or not, and just enjoy the experience.

Upon arrival a cocktail party was organised on the quay with each boat entering the competition.

We had bought a watermelon, which Clive sculptured into a Shark, whilst Rosie and I removed the melon inside,  strained it to get rid of the pips and then mixed it with lemonade, vodka and lime wedges.  We called it Juicy Jaws Rosanna.

Saturday.  Our last day and we woke to beautiful sunshine so we all had a refreshing swim at  8.30 a.m., and left at 10.15 a.m.  No wind, so motored to Celo on Kolocep Island.

Anchoring at 11.30 a.m. for a coffee.

We then motored on to Dubrovnik to look at the old city walls from the sea.

 

Continued on around Lokrum Island

which, to our surprise, was full of nude bathers!!!!  Did not stay, perhaps 40 years ago????
Anchored just outside the old walls for lunch and then back to the Marina.

 

arriving home at 4 p.m. after refuelling.

 

The last get together was a Gin and Tonic party (we took our own wine) and prizegiving.

Guess what  we won the golden chalice for our cocktail.

 

 

A wonderful holiday.

Thanks to the Sunsail crew for all their help.

 

 

It was lovely to spend a week with Clive and Rosie, our very good friends and excellent company.

Well done Phil - you are an excellent Skipper.

 

 

What else can I say except the Dalmatian coast of Croatia is some of the most beautiful sailing waters in the world.