Its exactly one year ago today that Noel had his Ileostomy reversal and its been a very tough year indeed what with getting back to fitness, trying to get used to a new bowel routine which changes every few weeks ort months whilst planning every trip out with military precision to ensure he knows where all the toilets so as not to get caught out but also always travelling with a back pack with a complete of underwire and trousers plus a number of items which won't talk about. The last year has been the most mentally and emotionally challenging of the last three years. I wont say getting over a colon operation plus two liver ops was easy alongside all the other issues. The year prior when he had a bag to empty 10/15 times per day was also difficult as that should have been on only for about two to three months which in you mind is manageable but then finding out about the spread to the liver meant I had the bag for fourteen months, so the next year on top has been difficult at times but perhaps another few months the body will have finally adjusted, we shall see. At least he can begin to try and regain his normal travelling lifestyle as confirmed by the Florida visit and Caribbean Cruise , and so having bloody garlic when they say there was no garlic and taking almost five days to recover is a pain to say the least.
We decided to not have breakfast in the room for a change and went to the Main Dining room at 0830 and finally left there just before ten am, rather slow service and mix up on my order oh well that's the last time we shall probably go there except perhaps for the last MORNING on board. We spent most of the day on the cabin balcony watching the sea birds taking advantage of the ships wind draft and then hurling down to collect a flying fish for lunch. Jennifer went for a walk around the walking zone and picked up some sandwiches for lunch and then a peaceful afternoon reading and listening to music.
In the evening we had booked to go in the Pinnacle special restaurant where you pay extra for better food it says and we were not disappointed in any way and the food was really good. Jennifer had the Crab cakes to start and the Lamb Chops for mains whilst his majesty had the Large gulf bay prawns followed by a 10oz Filet Mignon steak which was really great and washed down with a bottle of Kirkland Malbec which the wine waiter who had to serve it sneered at it!!! until Jennifer told him that I can only drink certain wines due to a medical problem. Needless to say in this environment they went out of their way to avoid any Garlic or onion and so the meal was really good and perhaps we ate a bit to much so its good that we arrive in Port tomorrow and can get some serious walking done to walk off the nights food.
We returned to the cabin, (stateroom they call them) presumably because we are heads of state of Surrey?, and decided to watch a film called La La Land which won a number of awards at the Oscars last year, its quite nice and original in many ways but we cannot say it was a great film.
