Rouen is the starting point for passengers wanting to visit the Normandy beaches where the D-day landings took place in June, 1944. I think many of our American passengers would have had a grandfather or other relative who took part … Continued
This little village was as far down the Seine as the Joie de Vivre would travel. From here, we could choose to take a bus ride through the Normandy countryside for a guided walking tour of the pretty village of … Continued
Today the Joie de Vivre was moored at Rouen, medieval capital of the Dukes of Normandy. We were offered a walking tour of Rouen without charge, or for a considerable fee and a very early start, a visit to the … Continued
During lunch the ship slipped around a curve on the Seine and moored within striking distance of Monet’s garden at Giverny. This was one location on the bucket list. I like impressionist art and I like gardens. It was a … Continued
We spent the evening of our first day in France admiring the scenery as we sailed downstream from Paris while we ate dinner. I was struck by the prevalence of white chalk cliffs along the way – but it stands … Continued
By the time you read this Pete and I will either just have arrived home from our first overseas trip in over two years, or we’re nearly there. We’ve been to France for a two-river cruise. From Paris we went … Continued
This has to be the most profound, most deeply significant photograph I have ever seen. It was taken by the James Webb telescope stationed about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth in its orbit around the sun. It was positioned so … Continued
What can I say? I forgot to write a Saturday blog, so now it’s a late blog. Sorry. After weeks of unseasonal rain, the weather here in Hervey Bay has reverted to normal programming – cool to cold nights and … Continued
I can’t help thinking the world is edging toward conflict. Turkei (read Erdoğan) has agreed to allow Finland and Sweden into NATO. I wonder what that cost? He won’t have done it for nothing. That has further upset our mate … Continued
It hasn’t taken long for the Greens and Teals to reveal their true colours. In the past week Zali Stegall has entertained us with her idea of how we can manage Australia’s teetering power grid without resorting to coal, gas … Continued