Caribbean - P&O IONA Day 1

 

Cruise - Day 1

Embarkation, Southampton

The promenade deck of P&O Iona.

Arrived on board about 13:30 after all the usual check-in stuff. Which for a change went straight through even with the glucose monitor attached.

Managed to straight to the cabin rather than having to wander around wasting time.

Just about to leave and go to lunch, when the cases turned up. That was really quick. 

Went to the Quays restaurant for fish and chips. Which I would recommend. 

Food order 

Departure from Southampton Docks is due at 21:00 but we are booked into the Headliners theatre for 20:30 so will miss that. It's going to be dark anyway. 

Caribbean - P&O IONA Day 2

The cabin. Home for the next 5 weeks. 

Cruise day 2

Restless night with the lifeboat from the deck above, creaking like Spanish galleon all through the night due to the swell of the sea.

First event after breakfast where you always get meet some interesting people. On this occasion a couple from Yorkshire who owned a farm. Luckily the have someone to look after it while they are away.

One of talk today was about Police interview techniques and how they have changed over the years. 

Another on one of my favourite films. Casablanca. We go behind the scenes and look at the history and how the film was put together. All made in 1939 in Warner studios USA. Making us believe we were in Casablanca or Paris. 

Time for a spot of line dancing. 

The last event was a talk on famous/infamous art heists over the years. Interesting in that some of them they walked out of the building with the artworks.

Ightham Mote - Kent

Ightham Mote House & Garden

Location: Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT

Ightham Mote is one of the oldest medieval manor houses to survive in England. It had a number of owners, who made a series of alterations and additions throughout the centuries.

The origins of the house date from circa 1340–1360 The earliest recorded owner is Sir Thomas Cawne, who fought in France with Edward the Black Prince and who acquired the Mote in the 1360s

Upon his death it was passed to his son Robert the house passed by the marriage of Robert’s daughter

Alice to Nicholas Haute and their descendants, their grandson Richard Haute being Sheriff of Kent in the late 15th century. It was then purchased in 1521 by the courtier Sir Richard Clement (d.1538).[1] In 1591, Sir William Selby bought the estate.

For visiting information, see more on the National Trust website

At the time of writing there are extensive works on the entrance and parking area. Don't just park in the first car park you come to.

Parking fee is £3.50 (11/12/23)

There is a very good café with a large seating area in and out.