Laura got all indignant tonight. I called Nik to look on the computer at a rude joke someone had emailed me. Laura knew she wasn't invited to look and she complained to Nik.

"It's not fair", she said. "You know, mum, I'm not a baby and there are people in my class who know the B word". She almost did the Les Dawson nod-head-with-arms-folded look.
"Well you know the B word", said Nik. "It's 'bloody'."
"Oh, is it?" Laura said. "Well, anyway, some people know the F word", she said, conspiratorily.
"I don't want to hear you say that - ever", said Nik. "It's a very unpleasant word and nobody who's nice ever says it".
"Oh...

West Ender

It was just Laura and me today. She doesn't go back to school until tomorrow (inset day today) and her mum was at work so we had each other for company.

I got up slowly, as I often do these days, and came downstairs at 9 to find Laura curled up on a sofa in front of the fire, snuggled in her fleecy dressing gown and watching Spongebob on the telly. I had my orange juice then went to make my breakfast porridge. I asked Laura if she'd had her brekky earlier, with her mum. She said no, she hadn't, but she didn't fancy porridge and she'd make herself some toast with chocolate spread. In the interests of an un-chocolate-smeared kitchen worktop I made it for her - very carefully - the bread hasn't to go brown, it must become hot and...

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Our next-door neighbours have got a new cat. They've had him about a month and he's 4 months old, just being allowed out for the first time over Christmas. He's a tabby with white feet and he's going to be very handsome when he's fully grown. At the moment he's like a gangly teenager, all legs and big ears.

Jeanette was scared to let him out because he hasn't been neutered yet (he's in for that treat in February). She's never had a tom before but I assured her he's too young to spray his territory or to have lascivious thoughts about queens - or, if he has them, to do anything about them - I've had many tom-cats so I know what's what in that department. She also worries because they had 2 lovely little queens, Fluffy and Smokey,...

West Ender

Greetings, Gentle readers. ITMA.

Well, today Ladies and Gentlemen, once again we have had a great many passengers on board the Discovery Sun; well over a thousand, in fact! Once again two coaches had to be sent, and once again other team members other than I will reap the benefit of our bumper passengers by going on the tour. Man, I was looking forward to going on the tour today!

In a few days, I will be signing off the vessel for my vacation, and I have no doubt the reigns of the daily Blog will be taken up by the Cruise Director coming off her leave. Very soon, I shall be leaving the Sun drenched Island, with the beautiful white sandy beaches, the great tours and excursions, the Duty free shopping, and all the...

Rick

Greetings once more, Gentle readers! ITMA!
It has been a real doozey of a day, today folks! We have had over a thousand passengers again, (second day in a row!) on the way to Grand Bahama! There have been safety meetings, (A subject we take very seriously, and my red nose and large shoes have to be left firmly at the door!) there have been issues to deal with, and there has been paper work coming out of my Ah, there’s my coffee!

A great deal of passengers means a great deal of passenger activity, and we had to send two coaches on the beach and shopping tour today, which meant I had to send another team member along, because we promise a team member to look after them on their coach. The shame is, I was going to go along...

Rick