Jan Leeming - The Official Website

PRISCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT

30th September 2009

PRISCILLA - Queen of the Desert

I had to go to London for a meeting on Wednesday 30th September and thought it would be a good idea to see a show.  Both Jonathan and I wanted to see Priscilla - Queen of the Desert - so he raced around and managed to get a couple of not bad seats in the Upper Circle.  I loved the film which came out 15 years ago and very much wanted to see how it transferred to the stage - especially as Jason Donovan was in the cast - he, of course, was one of my companions in 'I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of here'.  

The story appealed to me very much because I experienced a seven month, 17000 mile trip around New South Wales in the 60's with a group called the Young Elizabethans - we took potted Shakespeare to the Bush in a Van thing not unlike Priscilla (the name of the Bus).  Recently on the Arcadia I was talking with an Australian Priest on a Sabbatical and he told me the the Young Lizzies are still going strong.  In my day, every State had it's own Shakespearean group.  It was hard work with long drives - sometimes over Bulldust roads - between venues. We had to carry heavy rostra and arms full of costumes and sometimes we performed in venues that were so cold, our breath hung in the air like clouds.  And I've only once been colder than I was at the Motel Titania in Oberon in the Blue Mountains 100 miles due west of Sydney.  The 'colder' place was a closed 'Atomic' town in Siberia where we encountered temperatures of minus 41 degrees.  On tour,  I remember the other female in the group, Laura, saying to me 'If you can hack this one Leeming, you'll be right'.  Well I did get through it and as they say in the song 'I'm Still Here'.

Priscilla  was absolutely superb - everything about it was excellent - the casting, the music, the costumes (brilliantly over the top) and the staging. 

The three lead characters were excellent and very well cast.  Jason showed a very sensitive side as the one who discovers that he had fathered a child from a very brief straight affair.  Oliver Thornton as Felicia was screamingly over the top and wonderful.  Bernadette's sensitivity and desire for love  (as a person of transgender) brought a lump to my throat.  Now, I'm not sure who to praise here.  On Wednesday, just before the performance, a voice announced that two roles would be played by Understudies and I thought I heard 'Bernadette' was one of them.  (Having collected Theatre Programmes since I was a very little girl, I had a very large collection which I donated to the Royal Theatrical Fund and then decided that I wouldn't buy programmes in future.  Consequently I didn't purchase a programme for Priscilla until after the show - I was so impressed, I had to have a keepsake) 

If Bernadette were played by one of the Understudies - Mark Inscoe and Phillip Arran-  or by Tony Sheldon - the characterisation was faultless and an absolute joy to watch.  I really did want to cry for her and was so pleased when she found love at the end.

A large chunk of the music is from decades back - great numbers which are as enjoyable today as they were then - 'Pop Music' - What's Love Got to Do with It - Macarthur Park, to mention a few.

I really cannot do justice to the show without writing a long piece telling you the whole story.  If you want a good night out, go and see Priscilla.  At the curtain call, Jonathan and I simultaneously said 'I want to come again' - and that's something I don't often say or feel.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

ST. DUNSTAN'S - Wonderful Organisation

28th September 2009

ST. DUNSTAN'S - Wonderful Organisation

In 2002, I helped out at the Albert Hall with the Remembrance Day Service.  In the Green Room, I was delighted to meet the actor Richard Todd (who my father resembled when young) and with him was an official of St. Dunstan's - the Charity which helps blind and partially sighted members of the armed services.  I mentioned that my father had just been registered blind as a result of Macular Degeneration (AMD) and also that he had been in the Royal Artillery.  I can't remember the name of the St. Dunstan's man but he gave me his card and offered any assistance they could give my father.

Daddy is a fiercely independent individual who has never taken a 'hand-out' in his life so when I gave him the card, he wasn't particularly interested.  Then when he realised all the areas in which St. Dunstan's could help him to continue to enjoy an active life, he did contact them.

My father and stepmother have had some very enjoyable holidays at Ovingdean in Surrey - one of the St. Dunstan's Centres.  Over and above that, Daddy has been on a Gardening Course and a Cookery Course. 

BUT the piece de resistance is that he is now using a computer!!  My father was brought up in India and had excellent schooling (his command of English and use of words is second to none and he is appalled at the bad grammar and sloppy speech he hears all around him and, worst of all, on the television)    - he is a great conversationalist and letter writer.  A few months ago he told me how cut off he felt in that he could no longer write letters etc.  St. Dunstan's have come to the rescue.  He's now got a computer which speaks to him and he is learning how to type letters.  So watch out  - he will become very vociferous in print about what he sees as the 'malaise of modern day society'.

So a Huge Thank You to St. Dunstan's from me and my Family.  You've given my father a new lease of life even at the age of 94.

This was father on his 90th Birthday - with my sister Gillian,  and our stepmother Avis.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA - OVERVIEW

27th September 2009

BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA - OVERVIEW

I don't quite know where to begin.  The Cruise was absolutely superb - every single facet of it.  I accepted the contract because I thought the Baltic trip was a cruise that offered so much in the way of culture and new experiences.  And my son and I weren't disappointed with anything.  St. Petersburg surpassed expectation and all our ports of call were of interest in different ways.  As I've already said I particularly liked Arcadia -  an entirely subjective choice - because of the lack of a central Atrium which on other ships tends to be a congregation point so the ship always appears busy.  On Arcadia and Oriana, you really do wonder where all the people have gone - there's a lovely sense of 'space' and it's hard to credit that the full complement of passengers and crew number nearly 3,000.

The passengers were delightful and we made a few friends on the trip - one couple actually wanted to 'adopt' Jonathan.  And after the ice was broken when I'd given my first talk, we found that the passengers were much more willing to come and chat.  Mind you, until I clarified a mis-conception, many thought Jonathan was my 'toy-boy' and they were probably giving us a respectful space.  This mistake has been made so often now, that we both find it highly amusing.  We do get on remarkably well and our friendship is very obvious.

I've already commented on the high standard of Cuisine and Entertainment.  There is something for everyone virtually every hour of the day.  The tours are very well organised and offer a wide variety of experiences to suit every taste and a lot of trouble is taken to ensure that most of the tours are suitable for disabled passengers.

I have always loved dressing formally and Cruising is absolutely ideal in that there's a full programme of Formal Evenings (requiring DJ) and semi Formal ones. 

There's a superb bulletin called 'Horizon' every day which lists all the activities on offer - one is actually spoiled for choice.  In your cabin there's a full line up of programmes on the Television and in the Screening Room you can catch up on some of the most recent Film releases.  J and I watched a couple of very good films - the latest Dan Brown - Angels and Demons (thank goodness I had Jonathan to give me a basic outline of the plot!!) and a lovely 'Aah' type film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino (the latter I probably wouldn't have gone to see at the cinema but am very glad I had a chance to view it on the ship).

I could go on and on - with superlatives flying in all directions.  The Baltic is definitely a cruise I would do again though I very much doubt that we would ever get the absolutely 'perfect' weather conditions we encountered. On thinks of the Baltic Countries as being predominantly wet and cold - it was T-shirt weather virtually the whole trip.

I very much enjoyed giving my talks which appeared to be appreciated if the attendance was anything to go by and only wish I'd had a slot to talk about my fascinating and unique experience of visiting a closed (Atomic) town in Siberia - perhaps next time!

So my overall reaction is to 'Carry on Cruising'.  I think I'm becoming addicted especially now that I've kind of sorted out which end of the ship is which.

I will now attend to putting some photos of the Baltic Trip on to the Internet.  That's going to be a job and a half.  Although I've become far more selective in my photography, I did take over 1000 photos which I've cut down to 600 but that's still a lot from which to make a choice for the Gallery.

I very much enjoy writing my Blogs but I sometimes feel as though I'm talking to myself.  Please give me some feedback.  I'm intrigued to see that people log on from places like Mauritius, Taiwan, the Russian Federation, Brazil, China, the U.S  - the numbers aren't massive but they are growing in China and the U.S.  and I'd love to know why they come to my site - is it the Cheetahs perhaps?

Till the next time - but it will be a long time before it is all quite as exciting as the last few weeks.

Take care,  Jan.

Photo of Jonathan and me dining in the Rhodes Restaurant on board the Arcadia

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - KRISTIANSAND

18th September 2009

KRISTIANSAND - NORWAY

I have always been interested in Fossils and Minerals and basic Geology  and Jonathan inherited this trait from me.  I can remember him spending two months pocket money-  £8  - on an Ammonite Fossil which he bought at the Natural History Museum.  With this in mind we booked a tour to Setesdal Mineral Park.

The drive took about an hour and the scenery was absolutely delightful.  Throughout the whole Cruise we'd been blessed with good weather and our day in Kristiansand was no exception. 

We drove through the most lovely countryside dripping with photographic opportunities - total mirror image reflections in still Lakes and lovely panoramas.

The actual area only boasts indigenous feldspar and quartz, but an enthusiastic collector, Arnar Hansson, decided to create a Park in which are displayed minerals from all over the world.  The 'Museum' has been blasted out of the rock and there are five chambers absolutely stuffed with the most beautiful exhibits - they are shown in natural form - e.g. there is a lump of matrix in which you see a thick vein of Opal.  I'd love to be more explicit but, very surprisingly, the labels were only in Norwegian and not all minerals translate easily.  As most Norwegians speak English and the Park has visitors from all over the world, it is odd that the names were not translated. ( I will put a couple of photos into the Gallery for you - but please don't be impatient as they take a while to upload and I've already spent hours writing the Blog and illustrating each day with a photo.  I really must get down to some work of my own.)

Once again I left my Credit Cards on the Arcadia so as not to be tempted by the beautiful semi-precious artefacts on sale at the Park.   I can avoid temptation so long as it isn't there!!

We had a lovely sunny sailaway from Kristiansand.

This was to be our last Formal Evening so it was hairwashing and getting suitably attired.  It was also to be the last show of the Headliners - that was a great sadness as we'd enjoyed their shows so much.  However, as we were at sea the next day and they'd no show in the evening, the youngsters were able to party after their performances - so we all ended up in the Disco where the delightful James devoted a great deal of time to teaching an 'old' lady to Salsa.  Quite a few of the passengers suggested I should be on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.  Actually I was interviewed for the programme in 2006 but, unfortunately, they didn't choose me.

(Please forgive me if I'm teaching Grandmother/father to suck eggs but, because I've put so much information into September, to continue reading the Blogs you will have to go to the left-hand side of the page and click on September where you will get all the writings about the various ports of call.  The same goes if you want to look back at any old Blogs.)

I'll do an overall view of the whole cruise in a day or two as I have to go off  Cambridge to discuss a possible future work project.  

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - OSLO

17th September 2009

OSLO - NORWAY

Jonathan's Grandmother is Norwegian and J has been to Oslo several times - the first time as a baby just after I'd presented the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest.  We were staying on a tiny island where one of Veslemoy's relations owned a house - and even on the island we were bedevilled by Norwegian reporters wanting an interview about Eurovision.

Again in Oslo, we decided that we'd just please ourselves and Jonathan was on a mission to find Norwegian 'Success' Cake.  It has several different names and is Death on a Plate.

One of the Headliners had told us that the Changing of the Guard at the Palace was a sight not to be missed - rifles being twirled and thrown in the air and all very picturesque.  So we based ourselves near the Palace and went in search of 'The Cake'.  We found it in a Bakery which boasted a couple of tables and chairs and Jonathan ordered two coffees and two slices of cake.  We both choked at the price - £18.  But Sweden and Norway are notoriously expensive countries at the best of times.  And the Cake was supercallifragilisticexpialidocious - yummy.

We timed our break so as to be at the Palace for 1.30 and we waited and waited and waited and nothing much happened.  A few soldiers (and one female one) marched out and a few more marched in and nothing else happened which could in any way have been considered exciting.  We think Tony must have visited on a day when a Dignitary had been calling and they'd put on a special show.  What we witnessed was a great anti-climax.

Then Jonathan announced that he simply had to go to the Sculpture Park where all the exhibits  have been executed by one man - Gustav Vigeland -  who made it his life's work.

Famous last words from my son - it's not far!  But he is over six foot tall and has a very long stride. Almost an hour and half later - and me with very sore legs - we arrived at the Frogner Park which encompasses the Vigeland Park. There were hundreds of Sculptures by Gustav  and I'm sure they were all very symbolic but we had no guide to explain them to us. If you are interested, google him on the internet and you'll find out all about him and the symbolism - fascinating man.

Having missed out on seeing the Viking Ship in Stockholm, I declared that I really wanted to see the one in the Oslo Museum.  It was too far to walk so we finally got a taxi - only to arrive and be very disappointed - so much so that we didn't even bother going in.  Then another 15 minutes walk down the road to the Kon Tiki Museum - again we could see all we wanted from the Entrance. 

Time was marching by and we'd not really achieved very much - A Changing of the Guard which didn't really happen, A Sculpture Park and a lot of Symbolism we didn't understand and a Viking ship which wasn't that exciting - so we ended up in a fit of the giggles waiting for the ferry to take us back to Arcadia.

This is a shot of some of the sculptures round a fountain - I thought it looked rather arty with the Rainbow effect.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - TALLINN

14th September 2009

TALLINN  - ESTONIA

Our next port of call was Tallinn in Estonia.  We decided not to go on any of the tours but just to have a leisurely walk around the old town instead.  I find that there's only so much I can absorb and enjoy and too many museums, art galleries and cathedrals simply merge into one.  It reminds me of the very old film 'It's Tuesday, it must be Belgium' about a group of people on a coach tour of Europe.  You have to have time to chill out.

Estonia is a very interesting country, having like Helsinki, been passed around like a football between Sweden, Denmark and Russia and the country only achieved it's long desired independence in l993 when the Council of Europe voted Estonia as a full member.

We took the shuttle bus from the ship to the old town and wandered around at a leisurely pace meeting up with some of the dancers from The Headliners company.  The centre of the old town is very mediaeval and the Estonians play this up to the tourists.  We had a light lunch in a delightful old restaurant dimly lit by candles and attended by waiters and waitresses in mediaeval garb.  I learned later that only the walls were authentically mediaeval but what the Heck - as we sat there drinking mulled wine and eating 'Ye Olde Mediaeval Pate' it felt OK and was highly enjoyable. (The loos were fairly primitive too with an aroma to match!  They were quite fascinating and I wasn't the only one to take photos - not only the Ladies but the Gents too!  I'll put them into the Gallery when I am able to devote the time to uploading everything)  There was a Museum opposite the restaurant featuring Mediaeval Torture but I passed on that one - bad enough seeing it in films without paying to see it on a larger scale.

The Town boasts a superb Cathedral  - the Alexander Nevsky - Byzantine in style and out of keeping with the surrounding architecture with its Russian onion domes.  It is an Orthodox Church but only about 30% of the population practice this faith - the predominant one being Lutheran due to previous German influence.

Yet again there was no photography allowed inside the Cathedral.  Again I wouldn't have minded but the postcards on sale were a dire collection and I know I could have taken much better even without flash.  I have a superb Sony Camera (bought when I was engaged to take part in the BBC 2 series Safari School - and not allowed to use by the Game Rangers who said we were in potentially dangerous situations so cameras would be confiscated if rules were broken).  So the Camera was bought for taking photos of animals but has been used to good effect in other areas over the last three years and one of it's main attributes is taking very good photos in bad light.

I really enjoy cruising with my son Jonathan.  He's good company for all sorts of reasons but one of them is that he makes friends with the Dancers and Singers and when they go disco-ing after the shows, Mother goes too.  I love dancing but it's very difficult to find venues when one is older and especially if you don't have a partner.  However, one of the performers - the lovely James - took me in hand and has taught me to Salsa.  Oh, the joy of dancing with someone who knows what he is doing and he was so patient with me.  I know there are other parts of the country where they have Dance Schools which you can attend even without a partner and you are paired with professional dancers - often those in between jobs.  Unfortunately there's nothing like that down where I live near Deal in Kent.

When we boarded the Arcadia at Southampton, I ticked all sorts of activities and lectures I fully intended attending.  However as the Disco Evenings increased and the 'Go to Bed Time' got later and later, I didn't exactly get up with the larks.  But I was having a wonderful time so what did it matter.

At Sailaway this was the view of the lovely Tallinn Skyline.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - ST. PETERSBURG - The Catherine Palace

13th September 2009

The Catherine Palace in the village of Pushkin was actually completed by Catherine's daughter Elisabeth.  It is smaller than the Hermitage but is crammed with valuable artefacts.  The one room I wanted to see above all others was the Amber Room.  The whole Catherine Palace was reduced to a shell in World War 11 and the panels of the Amber Room disappeared - no one is sure to this day whether they are at the bottom of the sea in a sunken submarine or whether they are still hidden somewhere. 

The reconstruction of the Palace and the Amber Room is an astonishing feat - a truly remarkable story of a Phoenix rising from the ashes.  When you see the pictures in every room of the bricks and rubble that remained after the war, you cannot credit that the Palace has been restored to its former glory

Russia must have the most extensive, comprehensive  and valuable collections  in the world of Art, Artifacts and Sculpture.

We were allowed freely to take photographs, without flash, throughout the Hermitage and the Winter Palace with the exception of the Amber Room.  This was a great shame because, although I purchased a book of cards and also a complete book about the Amber Room, the photography was dull and disappointing.  I could have taken better pictures with my Sony.  But if you are interested, just Google Amber Room and you will get some idea of what I'm talking about.

We had two days and one night in St. Petersburg and the only disappointment of the whole Baltic cruise was the Ballet Visit.  One should never make assumptions and many of us, when booking for the Ballet, assumed that we would be going to the Mariinsky Theatre - home of the Kirov Ballet company.  In fact we were taken to the Conservatoire and the dancers were graduates of the school.  After all the beauty we'd seen, the Conservatoire was a decidedly dull building which looked as though it had seen better days.  The Corps de Ballet were ragged and it's probably sacrilege to say it, but I am really fed up with Swan Lake.  The Male Dancer was not particularly inspiring but then Swan Lake doesn't really offer much in which the male dancer can shine (show off!).   I'd love to have seen something more adventurous like La Bayadere or my favourite of all time 'Romeo and Juliet' - the Prokofiev version - much better than the Tschaikovsky in my opinion.

Having said the latter, I do think the Prima Ballerina might be one to watch for the future.  The programme was very ordinary  - just a couple of printed pages and she was only credited as LOMACHENKOVA  A.  all very impersonal  with no indication of what was her first name.  But she was like a piece of gossamer and coped superbly with the dual role of Odile and Odette - an absolute joy to watch.

Someone did tell us that we would only see Students performing at the Ballet and we tried to change our tickets for the Folklore Evening but that was fully booked.

I shall put a few photos into the Gallery showing just some of the wonders of the Catherine Palace but for my one allocated picture per blog I'm entering one of our Dinner in the Rhodes Restaurant with the Commodore.  We felt very honoured to be asked and Steve Burgoine turned out to be a wonderful host with a great sense of humour.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - ST. PETERSBURG - The Hermitage

12th September 2009

ST PETERSBURG

The Jewel in the Baltic Crown. This was, for me, the highlight of the cruise and I was not to be disappointed.  St. Petersburg, the Hermitage, Catherine the Great's Palace and the Amber Room, surpassed expectation. 

I purposely left my Credit Card on the Arcadia when we went on our tours.  I love Amber and did not want to be tempted.  There is so much Amber everywhere that one becomes a bit blasé about it - however in the Gift Shop at the Hermitage my eyes flew to one piece which I asked to view and hold.  It happened to be a designer piece (don't ask me the name of the designer and I wouldn't be able to spell it even if I remembered it) and was stunning - quite unlike any piece I've ever seen before and it had one great lump of White Amber (white and black being the most precious) offset on a chain of differently cut Amber pieces.  In the days when I was working full time, I would have purchased it and thought about the cost afterwards but nowadays I can't afford to be foolish.  It was lovely to see and touch and I felt virtuous in not being able to buy it.  My lovely son said 'Mother, if I had the wherewithal, I'd buy it for you' and I know he would have done. (Isn't Fashion interesting - 30 or more years ago, I interviewed one of the very few people who was interested in Amber and purchased a few pieces from her - at the time Amber was considered passe and Old fashioned.  Now it's all turned around and Amber has become a 'must - have'.  If only I'd stocked up on it when it was 'going for a song'!  What I love about semi precious minerals and Amber is their antiquity.   I think of the resin running down a tree and trapping an insect or a water platelet which is there frozen forever -- and find the whole story of Amber a very romantic one.

I had worried slightly about crowds in the Hermitage and the Catherine Palace but we were very fortunate in that our tours were organized to take place before the doors were opened to the public and that really was a blessing.  There were, naturally, many many coaches of people wishing to see the magnificent collections in the Hermitage and the Catherine Palace and the tour was organised so that we were broken up into smallish groups and set off one after the other so that we could enjoy the rooms and the treasures without too many others being around.

The collections in the Hermitage are simply mindblowing.  We were told that there are some three and a half million artefacts and that if one were to stand for a minute in front of each one - with no toilet break or a break for sleep - it would take 13 years to view the lot.  (Jonathan did some maths and decided this was a bit of an exaggeration but even he worked it out to around 7 years!!)  The Tsars were very acquisitive - Catherine the Great being one of the worst - and they purchased or were given great works of art from around the world.  Thank Heaven the communists didn't destroy the lot.

I couldn't even begin to describe what we saw - suffice to say that whereas in most Museums and Art Galleries there might be one or two treasured works by a particularly Great Artist, in the Hermitage there are whole rooms full - rooms full of Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt just to mention a few.  And I spied Five Rodins - five!!!!! 

Many years ago I started an Arts Foundation Course with the Open University and we went to Florence for a few days visiting the Uffizi, the Academia and countless churches.  I got quite Frescoed out and couldn't distinguish one from the other in the end.  But one artist remained in my memory and that was Luca della Robbia who developed a particularly hard wearing glaze for his sculptures.  He often sculpted the Madonna.  As we were walking quickly through a corridor, I spied what I was sure was a della Robbia - and I was correct.  There it was on a side wall and the guide didn't even mention it.  There are so many treasures that I suppose one by an Italian Sculptor was unimportant.

There was a smallish unfinished Michaelangelo and a Ball Room where they'd used 40 kilograms of Gold in the Gilding of the pillars and decorative swags.

Trying to choose one photo to accompany this little piece is an absolute impossibility - we saw so much.  So I've decided to show you my 'find' which everyone else walked past  - a work by the Italian Luca della Robbia

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - HELSINKI

11th September 2009

HELSINKI

Not knowing anything at all about Finland we decided to take a walking tour of Helsinki.  We were lucky to score a very good guide.  (Guides do differ enormously and they can make or break one's enjoyment of a tour.  Although they all speak English, it is often so heavily accented and spoken so rapidly that comprehension is a problem. Another common mistake they make is in not waiting till the whole group are assembled at a place of interest and thus you can miss out on much of the explanation.)  incidentally, on our scheduled break by a lake for Coffee and a Danish Pastry - we both agreed they were the best Danish pastries we'd ever tasted - and that in Finland!

We found the history of Finland quite fascinating - this little country has been kicked around rather like a football being 'owned' variously by Sweden and Russia and only established itself as a republic in 1919. In the 1930's around 30% of the population spoke Swedish but today that is reduced to 7% but most public signs are in both languages with the Finnish coming first. 

Helsinki suffered badly from the ravages of war but even worse from fire.  All Finnish towns were previously built of wood, the domestic raw material, and fire caused much devastation.  Therefore there is very little that is 'old' in Helsinki and it is predominantly a modern city.

We enjoyed our walking tour but my foremost memory was of the Church in the Rock.  Our guide was very specific about the name.  When people ask for the Church of the Rock they are directed to the Church of St. Peter (on this rock I will build my church) but when asking for the Church in the Rock, you are directed to a most unusual place of worship.  Two young architects decided to 'blast' a Church literally out of the Rock.  Light in the church, apart from candles, is derived from the shine of the Copper around the 'walls'.  I am not a lover of modern churches and modern cathedrals - to me they lack the 'awe and grandeur' that I associate with the Majesty of the Church.  But the Church in the Rock, though modern, had an aura about it - probably caused by being constructed from the rock.  I believe that rocks and minerals give off vibrations and certainly felt something in that particular Church. Despite the crowds, there was a sense of peace and beauty.

Jonathan decided to stay and wander around the city and I took the coach back to the ship.  I like to practice my talks several times before a performance and the Helsinki afternoon seemed a good opportunity.

Jonathan came back clutching a big bouquet of lovely red roses.  They were fully open and I feared that they would only last a day or two.  As it was, they lasted until Southampton.

I am sorry I can only post one picture per blog so I decided to show you the altar of the Rock Church.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - STOCKHOLM

10th September 2009

STOCKHOLM

What a lovely city this is - quite stunning and very clean.  I was meeting up with a friend for lunch - we'd not met for nearly 20 years - so I gave the sightseeing a miss.

Jonathan lunched with us and then went off to view some of the sights.  He did manage to go to the Museum housing the Vasa - a 17^th Century Warship which sunk on it's maiden voyage and was only raised to the surface in the 1960's.  Amazing restoration work has been carried out and it's incredible to think that so much carving and decoration was made on a Warship.   J took many photos so some will make their way into the Gallery in due course.  He also declared that he was in love with Stockholm and would like to live there.  My son's grandmother Veslemoy  is Norwegian but Jonathan doesn't speak the language so I think he might find it a trifle difficult to cope!!!  I must say that I would be tempted to live in Stockholm or Oslo were I younger and could earn a living there.  One big downside is that both Sweden and Norway are very expensive countries in which to live.

The majority of passengers had been asleep when the Commodore threaded his way through the multitudinous islands on our approach to Stockholm.  But Sailaway in the evening sun was absolutely gorgeous.  I joined Jonathan on deck for a glass of wine, a bit of a bop to the music and took dozens of photos of the beautiful islands we passed.  It was also interesting to see the Liners behind us - queueing  up like a row of buses.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - COPENHAGEN

8th September 2009

COPENHAGEN

We decided not to go on any of the organised tours - which perhaps was a mistake.  Instead we took the Shuttle bus in to the Centre of Town.

I wanted to see the Tivoli Gardens expecting them to be beautiful gardens with a few amusements.  In fact the reverse is the case - there are some beautiful beds and a few lovely fountains but it is predominantly an Amusement Park - fabulous for the children or for adults who enjoy the thrills of things like the Big Dipper - but not for either Jonathan or myself.  We did however experience the most expensive coffee ever - approximately £11 for a Cafetiere.  To be honest we could have squeezed another cup or two out of it but it was so strong it almost walked to the table by itself. One item of interest was a beautiful white, highly perfumed rose names after Karen Blixen - the subject of the true story which was made into the film 'Out of Africa' - one of my favourites which I've watched so many times, I've almost worn out the DVD!  Karen was a Dane and as she was immortalised in the 1985 film, it's appropriate that one of the roses in the Tivoli should be named after her.  (Just  a personal moan - why do growers work ever towards bigger and more disease resistant strains of rose at the expense of their perfume - the same is true of Freesias which rarely have that heady scent I associate with my youth - in fact I've stopped buying them - their beauty lay in the all pervading aroma which lay heavily in the room for a couple of days.  I'd rather have that experience even if the flowers wilt more quickly.  When I had a garden, I made a point of only buying roses which still had a perfume.  My mother has an old rose tree which came from her mother's garden and to this day, it has a heavenly smell and it must be around 100 years old!)

We left the gardens and went walking and walking and walking.  There are some lovely buildings in the town and they do have a very attractive waterway.  We walked so far that it seemed ridiculous to take a bus for the remainder of the way back to the ship.  All in all I think we must have walked about 4 miles but the weather was lovely and the walk enjoyable.  Because Copenhagen is flat, a huge proportion of the people get around on bikes and we took some amazing photos of bike ranks as far as the eye could see.)

We enjoyed our day but perhaps, with hindsight, we should have taken a tour.

And I hate to admit it but we missed the Little Mermaid. We went to the wrong one - the Alternative Mermaid - rather modern and not very attractive.

Below is a picture taken outside the railway station - Bikes, bikes, and more bikes.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA

6th September 2009

BALTIC CRUISE ON THE ARCADIA.

The cruise got off to a great start from the moment we  boarded and heard that our Cruise Director was Sally Sagoe - she was the CD on my first cruise with P & O last year on the last leg of a world cruise from Capetown to Southampton.  She's a hard act to beat not only professional but great fun as well.  Sally has a great team around her - all lovely in different ways - Helen, Elaine (who was on the Aurora on my Caribbean cruise at Christmas)  Rich and Millie.

We've also scored the most senior man in the whole Fleet - the delightful and very drole Commodore Steve Burgoine - he is the equivalent to the Admiral of the Fleet (Navy) and we felt very honoured when he invited us to join him for dinner.

Jonathan watched a presentation on the workings of the Arcadia and commented that the bridge resembled the Star Ship Enterprise.  Arcadia is the only one of the P & O Fleet which is propelled by Azipods  - a revolutionary system which enables the propellers to be rotated 360 degrees thus giving the ship amazing control over its manoeuvres (I do hope I've got this correct but if you look up Azipods on the Internet you'll know what I mean.

I've enjoyed all my cruises for different reasons but this one has to be one of the best.  I'm fortunate to have my son with me - we get on very well and it's lovely to be able to share this adventure with him - and adventure it is - visiting such interesting places on a lovely and happy ship.  I've now done four P & O Cruises and have always found the staff to be friendly and of the highest standard. 

It must be a nightmare organizing the various activities - there's always something going on every hour of the day - something for everyone whether it be a sedentary activity, learning a new skill i.e. dance or computer studies - or toning the muscles in the superbly equipped gym. 

The Spa offers the highest standard in beauty treatments.  And you can relax in the Hydropool and then lounge on Ceramic heated beds - difficult to describe but absolutely yummy.

When you think that the ship carries just under 2,000 passengers who are catered for from morning till night, it is staggering what a high standard of cuisine is achieved.  The waiting staff, also, are efficient and friendly and nothing seems to be too much bother for them.  If you want an extra special treat there is a small supplement to dine in the Gary Rhodes or the Orchid Restaurants - fine dining at London Standards.  Gary Rhodes himself was on the ship for a couple of days and staged cookery  demonstrations in the Palladium Theatre.  Jonathan went to one of the demos and was very impressed (J likes good food and is taking an increasing interest in cooking his own 'fine cuisine').  We tried to book for the Rhodes Restaurant whilst Gary was on board but they were full.

As for Entertainment - well it is of the highest standard from singers to magicians to comics.  My preference on all the cruises has been the Headliners - singers and dancers of a very high standard - some have come from the West End and some will definitely end up in the West End.  They are employed on a six month contract and initially meet for six weeks of rehearsal in London.  They have to learn upwards of 17 shows and on our two week cruise we were treated to eight completely different shows throughout the voyage and these they have to perform twice in a night to encompass the passengers who go for First and Second Sitting Dinner. All their shows have different themes and, consequently, they have innumerable changes.  The costumes are stunning and I was particularly taken with the outfits for the Race Scene from 'My Fair Lady'.  (Couldn't believe it when I went to Cambridge for a meeting - possible Panto - and the Costume designer was the self same accomplished lady who designs the clothes for the Headliners - a lovely, glamorous lady called Sue Simmerling)

The Theatre on the Arcadia is the best I've encountered on my five cruises - it's even got a Circle upstairs.  The seats are more comfortable than you would get in any West End Theatre and the Stage is enormous.  There are different sets for every musical evening and I take my hat off to them all, the Performers, the Stage Crew and the Production Staff - especially the lovely Chris who coaxed my Keynote presentation out of the computer.  (And unlike most West End theatres, you don't have to queue for the loo)

Cruising can become an addiction and most of the passengers are seasoned cruisers - all having their favourite ships.  I've enjoyed all my cruises but so far my favourites are the Oriana and this one - the Arcadia.  I like them because they are designed without the central Atrium.  This is only a very personal preference.  The Atria on other ships are stunningly attractive but people congregate around them and there is always a sense of 'crowd'.   This is not the case on Oriana and Arcadia and because of this it's difficult to believe there are so many people on the vessel.  There is always a sense of space and you wonder how the ship is hiding almost 2000 passengers and not far short of a 1000 crew.

This is the Arcadia docked in Oslo.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA

5th September 2009

BALTIC CRUISE with P & O - Arcadia.

This will be my fifth cruise in 18 months - so I'm flattered that they keep asking me back to give talks.

We will be visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Oslo and Kristiansand.  Both Jonathan and I are very much looking forward to St. Petersburg in particular and hope we can get on the tours as priority is always given to the Passengers and one can miss out if they are full.

I hope I'll be able to pass on our experiences as we go, but if I don't have the time whilst at Sea, will certainly give you all a detailed description when we get back and, I hope, accompanied by many lovely photos.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.

THE BLADES

5th September 2009

I know I've been promising the clips from my Blades flight but each time I transferred them to disc, there was a problem.  I've finally bought a programme which I hope has transferred the material into the correct format to be entered onto my Website.  The whole flight lasted nearly half an hour so I had to choose the most exciting excerpts for you - do hope you will enjoy them.

What do you think? Send your feedback to contact@jan-leeming.com.