HaPpY NeW YeAr 2017
from MaRtIn!
Here’s my seasonal newsletter for 2016. The year began with the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Funchal, Madeira on board the lovely Saga Pearl II (SPII), where I was giving the port talks.
My next cruise was lecturing on board the lovely Braemar in the Caribbean. The high point was the trip to see the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza (Itchy Chicken?).
In February I had an Open University weekend in Milton Keynes followed by a visit to my brother and sister-in-law in Harlow. I continue to supervise two students per year on the T802 MSc course.
In March I was back lecturing on the Braemar which included Holy Week in Seville.
In April I was dance hosting back on the SPII to the Western Mediterranean. This cruise included four new ports for me to reconnoitre. In Toulon I was able to meet up with my old friends Stephen & Brian, who were on board the new Viking Star.
In May I was back dancing on board the Braemar’s mystery cruise, which took me to five new ports in Scandinavia.
In July I was lecturing on the lovely Crystal Symphony for the first time going around the British Isles. This cruise included excellent tours to Waterford, Powerscourt, Hillsborough, Chester, Armadale, Rosslyn, Stirling, Edinburgh, Leeds Castle and Canterbury!
In August I had double billing (Guest Lecturer & Dance Host) on board the lovely Saga Sapphire, also going around the British Isles. I had a novel view of the BoMo airshow!
In October/November I was back dancing on the newly re-fitted Queen Mary II going to France & Belgium.
The year will end with the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta, when I will be lecturing on board the Saga Sapphire. Next year’s fireworks will be in Stockholm: snow and Christmas markets! I already have my next eight cruises booked, five as a port lecturer going to all the usual places and three as a dance host going to new ports including Kristiansand, Aarhus and Brest. I will be lecturing on Celebrity Eclipse for the first time and Crystal Symphony for a second time.
Visitors during the year included Mark Urwin, John Cardoza and Pamela & David Lee.
During the year, I continued to go to Sue Payne’s sequence dance sessions on Tuesdays and Karl Winson’s line dance class on Wednesdays, together with live music in both Highcliffe and St. Leonards at the weekends.
I ditched Virgin Media when they deleted my HomePage, so I have a new web site: www.MPLee.Co.UK, a new email address: M.P.Lee1953@Gmail.Com and a new land line +44(0)1202 619331. Do get in touch!