November 25th, 2024Just sayin’…

By Donna Kelly

I am sitting in an information centre in Puerto Rico – trying to finish The Local – after finding the promised  high speed internet on our cruise is not so high speed.  

You might think it is not a bad place to be but it is hot, really hot and humid, and a pretty poor country. At least the internet works.  

The info centre has a nice lounge  suite, a round table with four chairs,  some banner signs and two people sitting under aircon which is set at 23 and struggling to keep the temperature down.

The big swinging glass door is not quite built right and every time someone comes in it sounds like it is breaking.  Outside people perch on concrete steps, with colourful flags trying to wave in the wet conditions.  I guess I am not Hepburn Shire Toto.  

But the internet is whirring away and I have managed to download the photo of Jack and various other images. The download is not really the big problem, it’s when we finally finish and we need to upload this big ol’ edition of The Local.

I just asked Kyle how long the ship is in port and he answered: “Until we get The Local up.” Hmmm.

Now we couldn’t get our regular sub-editors involved, Nick and Lindsay, so  I have done my best to edit, but I am sure there are a few typos. If you find them please don’t tell me. It’s a need to know basis and I really don’t need to know.  

Last edition, after all our work, I had an email saying I had chosen a European/Asian crow as an image for a funny letter about some breakfast cereal. They said I  should build up an Australian bird catalogue.

Sadly I don’t know my birds and my free web photos come from a site that mainly sources from Americans, Europeans  and Asians. Not so much Australian content. Anyway, I will check from now on.

The cruise has been interesting. Long, but fun, although sadly we have lost two of our people so far. As in they died. I guess people die on land and with the age and,  let’s be honest, some of the health issues of the passengers, there has to be a few who don’t make it.  

There was also that brawl that Kyle has already mentioned over there on the left.  It wasn’t actually in the buffet but a high end restaurant. Apparently one bloke stood  up and said “Make America Great Again” and another bloke punched him in the  face.

Then the wives got involved and it was on. The blokes went to ship jail and the  wives were contained to their staterooms – and all four were escorted off the following  morning.

I wonder if they get a refund.  

Talking of America, there is a great piece by Jeff Glorfeld on the back page about the election results over there. And if you are over that you can read where you can listen to his radio show, The Down Under Hour. All good fun.  

Anyway, I think I better get going now. Time for a beer. It is 12 o’clock  somewhere – and it is actually just 12 in Puerto Rico. I wonder if they have chardy?  

So see you when we return in a week or so. Another column about travel perhaps.  Did you know you need an electronic form so you can waiver needing a visa for the US? Neither did we until we tried to check in at the airport. Always something to  learn. Just sayin’…