So here we are in Barcelona for a few days before the cruise begins. Richard, Yvonne, Jeannie and I arrived from Darwin on Sunday via Singapore and Dohar, Andre and Patricia Monday via Singapore, Nepal, Timbuctoo and Schiphol (yes I know what it sounds like) Amsterdam where Andre was caught stealing someone else's suitcase and had to return it. Jan Marie and Mick arrived late Monday also and we linked up yesterday. The Roommates Hotel is fantastic, just off Placa...

Day one : Freedom! Jetstar to Singapore in transit. Richard, Yvonne, Jeannie and I. Time to hop the MRT to Chinatown for our traditional Tiger beer(s) at the corner, by the TinTin shop. Last time we did that I was embraced by some heavy drinking Singaporeans and Jeannie had to chisel me away and pour me on to the plane to Europe. Like Willie says, "on the road again...". Jeannie wisely booked us into a hotel in Singapore to get a few hours kip before the long...

OMG - only 27 days to go!! Can't wait to get the Magnificent ate (8) together again onboard the Regal Princess. Costumes are being prepared, excursions planned, eating and drinking capacity enhanced and general fitness for the fun times we are about to embark on. Prepare for limited sleep, much laughter and general revelry as we sample the delights of the Mediterranean aboard a new ship, the Regal Princess

Long layover in Singapore, waiting for the connection through to Bali tonight. Had a three hour wait in Dubai also after flying from Cairo but we are steadily progressing back toward our time zone as we flew east in hops on Emirates. Watched "Walking Dead" zombie series on the personal entertainment device and I'm jumpy at the best of times with this genre, so I jumped about a foot in my seat at one point and scared half the passengers around me including Jeannie...

Egypt trip memories: the awesome pyramids from our bedrooms. 2.3 million blocks. The Nile cruise. Plaintive "Hallo?!" from the Boat hawkers. Hawkers at every point. Nothing's free in Egypt. Camels, donkeys, horses as transport, work animals, tourist props. Wild desert temple dogs. Karnak Temple. Cairo traffic. Ramses II lying statue. Walking in Memphis. Crazy Columbian on-board. Jeannie bellydance champion. Dick's Stand Up Plane! Saqqara pyramids - where it start...