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- Jan 26, 2011
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Literally and figuratively.
With son moving to the UK and getting married there, in the midst of Covid, as kids are in the habit of doing, it's been three years since we celebrated Christmas with him and his family. So when they married we determined that Christmas in 18 months time it is.
And so we booked a cruise.
. But this one will be special, it is a Christmas Rhine cruise, from Amsterdam to Basel in December visiting some of the fabulous markets of Cologne, Strasbourg, Colmar and a visit to the BMW factory in Kiel, where MrP promptly stated, 'at least it will be warm there'. So its 8 days away according to the cruise planner. And I went all out, booked a suite, (includes laundry as there's no self laundry onboard and I'm mighty tempted to bring a couple of shirts needing to be washed from home 
). And the drinks package. My first time in a suite. Well, our first time I should say.
A few days in Amsterdam prior, the cruise, then two nights in Lucerne in a very swish hotel (Thankyou Viking) then Zurich to Heathrow, staying at the airport and venturing into London during the day, then a rental car up to Lincolnshire and booked an airbnb next to a pub and about five minutes drive from sons parents in law. I should say we get on with them very well. MIL was born, raised and married in South Africa and they are so similar to us. FIL is a Brit who lived in SA. DIL was born there. We were going to spend four nights with them, but they are currently hosting a Ukraine mother and daughter - who've been there 18 months now and show no signs of leaving, stressing everyone out by now as that was never the plan but that's another story.
We will spend four days over Christmas with the family who have stocked up their wine cellar in participation of our arrival. Then its drive back to Heathrow, overnight then winging our way to Dubai for New Years Eve, we are trying again to see the fireworks this time after the huge fire at The Address last time cancelled pretty much most of it. We are staying near JumeIrah Beach with views of The Khalifa and I think along the coast from Al Arab. Then a couple of days later, back to Oz. We are flying Emirates on 380 there and back, then flying to Singapore then transiting back on Qantas from Singapore. Our first flight is Tuesday night. I've packed. And, well, I've packed.
So, let it snow let it snow let it snow (but not disrupt our flights). And these flights will confirm WP for both until April 2024.
With son moving to the UK and getting married there, in the midst of Covid, as kids are in the habit of doing, it's been three years since we celebrated Christmas with him and his family. So when they married we determined that Christmas in 18 months time it is.
And so we booked a cruise.
. But this one will be special, it is a Christmas Rhine cruise, from Amsterdam to Basel in December visiting some of the fabulous markets of Cologne, Strasbourg, Colmar and a visit to the BMW factory in Kiel, where MrP promptly stated, 'at least it will be warm there'. So its 8 days away according to the cruise planner. And I went all out, booked a suite, (includes laundry as there's no self laundry onboard and I'm mighty tempted to bring a couple of shirts needing to be washed from home ). And the drinks package. My first time in a suite. Well, our first time I should say.A few days in Amsterdam prior, the cruise, then two nights in Lucerne in a very swish hotel (Thankyou Viking) then Zurich to Heathrow, staying at the airport and venturing into London during the day, then a rental car up to Lincolnshire and booked an airbnb next to a pub and about five minutes drive from sons parents in law. I should say we get on with them very well. MIL was born, raised and married in South Africa and they are so similar to us. FIL is a Brit who lived in SA. DIL was born there. We were going to spend four nights with them, but they are currently hosting a Ukraine mother and daughter - who've been there 18 months now and show no signs of leaving, stressing everyone out by now as that was never the plan but that's another story.
We will spend four days over Christmas with the family who have stocked up their wine cellar in participation of our arrival. Then its drive back to Heathrow, overnight then winging our way to Dubai for New Years Eve, we are trying again to see the fireworks this time after the huge fire at The Address last time cancelled pretty much most of it. We are staying near JumeIrah Beach with views of The Khalifa and I think along the coast from Al Arab. Then a couple of days later, back to Oz. We are flying Emirates on 380 there and back, then flying to Singapore then transiting back on Qantas from Singapore. Our first flight is Tuesday night. I've packed. And, well, I've packed.
So, let it snow let it snow let it snow (but not disrupt our flights). And these flights will confirm WP for both until April 2024.
or a ship swap mid cruise. Neither appeal. At all. A couple of boats in Basel were impacted over the weekend. But thankfully, flood has peaked and we are all good to go. Phew As we are going upstream from AMS we will encounter a strong surge against us.
. I do know that once seated in a lounge MrP won't be changing so it will only be one. Flight departs around 10.30pm. Dubai has an interconnect of around 2 hours, hopefully landing and departing from Concourse A.
