Cruise 2013

Well we made it to our 3rd cruise. No dramas getting here, just the usual major organization of everything. There is so many things to remember to take. Boxes of feed, my own bedding, mattress wedges, multiple chargers, medication, the list seems endless. Also this year I have brought my own hoist. We have hired a full hoist for bed transfers but other transfers are MUCH easier using standing hoist. And it's proved to be an excellent decision because it has been impossible to get me sitting comfortably using the hired hoist. It's taken 4 nights to get the bed setup correctly so I am not very uncomfortable by 3am. I have only woken Kadvi once at a horrible hour so far and have managed to perservere other nights until a more reasonable time. But last I cracked it and I was comfortable all night. So it's already day 6 and we have just left Toulon and are now heading for Italy for the 3rd stop; our first stop being Gibraltar, which was without any exploding oil storage facilities this year. Although Daniel was keen to point out the remains of the location to Kadvi with "I was there" enthusiasm Tomorrow's stop has an excursions to Pisa which tracy and the boys will go on. I knew beforehand that for me, any sightseeing would be restricted to areas in the immediate vicinity of the ship or maybe slightly further where shuttle buses are available. Jake and Luke have been reluctant to participate in many activities except eating and watching the cabin TV which we have found frustrating but have given in trying to persuade them otherwise and getting the "Kevin and Perry" reaction for the next 20 minutes. Daniel has been much better at participating and has also been very helpful driving my wheelchair and coming to find me every so often. The biggest change for me compared to our previous cruise in 2011 is my inability to drive my wheelchair which is real pain in the arse. At home this restriction is irritating but here, with so much wheelchair accessible space it's particularly frustrating. I can't even turn to look in a different direction. This isn't so bad in the evening when we tend to be together, but during the day when we are typically more indepenent, it's a bit of a pain. Obviously Kadvi can take me to different locations but having spent 3 hours getting me up and ready every morning, I am trying to give her 3 hours uninterrupted break during the afternoon, because flights back to the Estonia are always available at every next stop!!! Evenings are better for me, when I can watch the nightly theatre shows, then move to one of the many bars to watch the house rock band. I think Tracy is enjoying it although I think, like for me, it's a bit lonely at times with only 3 truculent 12 year olds for conversation. I felt for her the other night as I left for a relatively early night and she was left by herself. It takes about an hour to get me to bed, so although Kadvi has been brilliant, I am conscious that whatever time I return to my cabin, she won't be able to go to bed for another 90 minutes. The weather has been good and as I write from italy it's around 30 degrees. . .