HaPpY NeW YeAr 2020
from MaRtIn!
I do hope you have had a good year, I certainly have! Here is my annual newsletter, I would love to hear your news too!
The year began with me wearing my Black Watch tartan kilt at the Durley Dean hotel in BoMoH. My first cruise of the year was my last on the lovely little Saga Pearl II to the Canaries. The highlight was my second visit, after some years, to Fuerteventura.
In February I flew out to Perth in Australia and then back from Auckland in New Zealand, courtesy of Celebrity Cruises. The highlight was a magnificent day out in Melbourne with my dancing friend Michael.
In April I went to an Open University staff development event in Milton Keynes, followed by Harlow, where I saw my brother for what turned out to be the penultimate time. That month I also drove up to Liverpool for a month's long cruise to the Adriatic, with four new ports to explore.
In June I cruised on the brand new Celebrity 'cutting' Edge ship around the Western Med, visiting two new ports and five new towns. That month I also went on the Sapphire Princess to Scandinavia, including an excellent tour in Oslo to see five new sights for me.
In July my brother was taken into hospital and I only got to see him once before he passed away with suspected motor neurone disease aged just 73. I then went back to the Western Med, this time on Fred. Olsen's Braemar. The highlight was a glorious day in Marseille.
Back in Harlow again, we had a moving funeral for my late brother and you can read his obituaries at the bottom of: My Family That month I also sailed to Norway on the brand new Saga Spirit of Discovery (SofD), having a balcony for the very first time. On board, I taught both the ballroom and line dancing classes.
In August I was back lecturing on the SofD, going to the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland for the third time. The highlights were two new ports visited (Oulu & Pori) and one new town (Fredrikstad).
In September I was back on the SofD for a third time, going to Norway again, visiting one new town (Skudeneshavn).
In October I sailed across the Atlantic on the Celebrity Silhouette, going to New York, Boston, Bermuda and the Bahamas, three of which were new ports for me.
In November I was in the academic procession at the Open University graduation ceremony in Poole. I had had two OU students to supervise during the year, but I only have one for next year.
In December I will be flying out to San Juan on Puerto Rico courtesy of Silversea cruises, visiting two new ports in the Caribbean. Back home just before New Year, I will spend that with my sister-in-law Pam staying with her best friend Gill in Milton Keynes.