Author Archives: Holly

About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!

Sydney on a Monday Morning

Unlike yesterday when there might have been a remote possibility of city travel in less than a life time – today was Monday morning travel at it’s worst. the skies were clear as we caught the first shuttle out of … Continue reading

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Sydney arrival

It wasn’t all that early when we sailed into Sydney Harbor. But the sun was shining as the first of the skyscrapers appeared over some of the headlands. For the Aussies reading this – sorry for whatever I get wrong… … Continue reading

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Newcastle

Moving south along the Queensland Coast, we come to the Hunter River and Newcastle.  I don’t know if this was the original “coals to Newcastle” but it might as well have been. When the local coal started to run out, … Continue reading

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More coughing.

I am not dying. Not even a little bit. But just miserable. My fever has broken, Now I would just like to be able to get some uninterrupted sleep. (queue more whining…)

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Coughing Day 1

This should say “Sea Day” but really… It seemed that half the people who boarded in Cairns were coughing and have taken their time sharing their joy with the rest of us. I do not enjoy coughing my brains out. … Continue reading

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Brisbane

Obligate sunrise pix   Not on the original list – Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, the third largest city in Australia (2.6M) and definitely bustling without seeming overwhelming. We docked at the new cruise terminal which, as I mentioned … Continue reading

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Three at Sea (3/3)

And the seas have calmed down, people are out and about. The decks are open as is the Star Grill (eatery on Deck 8) which serves as the buffet location at dinner time. Not being much for group activities, I … Continue reading

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Three at Sea (2/3)

Since today was just a bit less rough and ready than yesterday, and still at sea without the ability to hang out on deck or walk along corridors without making sure there was a railing – I though I would … Continue reading

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Three at sea

This is the first of three sea days in a row. There is minor grumbling among the passengers. Mostly, I think, due to the change in the itinerary. Not that anyone in the cruise industry, or any human for that … Continue reading

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Cairnes to Melbourne

(Note the changes due to the possibility of Cyclone Jasper hitting the area of Queensland right about the time we might have been there. Glad we went to the Great Barrier Reef yesterday. Met some people this morning who had … Continue reading

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Port Douglas & the Great Barrier Reef

Up front, you will be disappointed. I was not sure what kind of security, if any, was going to be provided on the vessel sailing us out to the Barrier Reef.  I did know that Quicksilver would have more than … Continue reading

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Storm Definitions

Storm Defnition As Val reminded me the other day, where you are in the world matters when defining a storm. Let me run down some quick definitions associated with north vs south of the equator. While I am at it … Continue reading

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Thursday Island

Across the Torres Straits from Papua New Guinea lies Thursday Island.  As you can see, it is not all that far from the mainland either.  With a population of ~3,500 it is not exactly overly populated.  We tendered in and … Continue reading

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Tasy Tarts

It is a sea day. There was also another 30 minutes of time change to get from Darwin’s time to that of Queensland. As a result there was almost no one up at 0600. So I was able to enjoy … Continue reading

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Glorious Sunrises

Which doesn’t even come close to how incredibly awesome it was. My day was pretty quiet. I skipped the fitness center since we had walked more than a reasonable amount yesterday and my knee needed a bit of a break. … Continue reading

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Darwin, NT, Australia

The last time I was in Darwin was 1 Nov 2013 – so just over 10 years ago. Since this is our first stop in Australia there was just the small matter of having to clear immigration as well as … Continue reading

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A sea like glass

I don’t remember many times when I have cruised on an ocean that is this flat. Hardly a ripple, easy to see fish, and dolphins pacing the ship for short sprints before veering off on their own business. The Sunrise … Continue reading

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Dili, East Timor

I had read a warning in a 2021 blog about the lack of Wifi in East Timor but had naively thought things would be upgraded in 2023. Not really, and my iPhone wasn’t really happy with the 3G connection. Like … Continue reading

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Kupang

Right before sunrise, and the sun just over the horizon. Still in Indonesia. Kupang is the southern most city in Indonesia and located in Timor.  It is not a city that often sees cruise ship traffic. The port is well … Continue reading

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Mostly Tin roofs

Today we are in Waingapu – another one of the Indonesian cities on an island (whose name is escaping me at present but will be filled in if I can located it.SUMBA! ) The ship was offering limited (like ONE) … Continue reading

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