The April issue of the Silver Traveller mentioned a study of last year by the British Heart Foundation. Only yesterday they collected from us a leather sofa and we were so pleased when they said they were sure it would sell within a week for £150.00 to add to the charity’s coffers. Excellent news.
On the 17th of this month we go on our 26th cruise. Thirty years ago we booked a Canaries cruise on the then Black Watch (it has now been replaced by a ship of the same name) and afterwards decided to get married and call it our honeymoon. In spite of spending our honeymoon night in a force 11 gale in the Bay of Biscay and in separate bunks (stabilisers were not so good in those days!), we overall enjoyed the cruise so much that we have cruised ever since. When asked what was the most wonderful sight I had seen in my life I used to say Petra (the rose coloured ancient travellers site) in Jordan. The pink buildings are hewn out of (not on) the mountainside. It is quite breathtaking how it opens up before you after passing through a narrow gorge opening.
However, since visiting India three years ago, I have to say that the Taj Mahal tops it. Often sites do not live up to the expectation but the Taj Mahal certainly does. It is truly magnificent.
Now we are planning something special for our 30th anniversary later this year. In view of my age it may be the last particularly big bucket adventure we undertake. What bucket adventure is it to be? It has to be the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu. To be able to see all that wonderful wildlife (both land and sea life) that so impressed Charles Darwin and to view the ancient civilisation of the Inca people presents an exciting prospect. From those with whom we have talked who have already been there and from what we read there seems no doubt such an experience will live with us for the rest of our lives.
Often we reflect on what we have (and we have known the days when we had difficulty paying the bills!) and are able to enjoy and realise that the many years of hard work on the part of both us have now paid off in enabling us to see as much as we have of our wonderful world. There is much to sadden us in the world today but thankfully there is also much of it still to be enjoyed and wondered at.
By Peter W Whiley
