To the 72 countries I have visited to date

I can now add one more, St.Vincent.

The master chef of all things Oriental is truly first class.

A dish after a dish is excellent and I order what I know he is going to cook be it a Thai chicken soup with coconut or a crab and prawn cake.And the desserts!  What he can do with matcha!My waiter Robinson has told me the chef is from Thailand.I hope he is going to cook the next time I am on board.

It had to happen.A speedo man on board.

There he was resplendent in the tiny cloth barely covering his buttocks,parading all his predicaments by the pool.Don't these grown up men know when they look ridiculous? And if they don't shouldn't the wife point him on the straight and narrow? Or lock him up in the cabin until he comes to his senses?Several years ago on the Queen Elizabeth I was chased by a Speedy Gonzales around the ship,he found all my hiding places until I could hide no more and it was either telling him bluntly enough is enough or jump off the ship.As I am here to tell the tale,it was not the latter. 

I have a scratchy throat.

Bad luck if this happens on a ship but happen it does to quite a few of us judging by the coughing all around.In St.Maarten I picked up Vics syrup and some retinol face cream I could see sitting on the counter.Today in St.Vincent a supermarket was open,nothing else whatsoever outside the terminal,as it is a Sunday.I came across it by chance.A pharmasist said lozengers were the best thing  for the throat as I myself had thought.But I cough.Didn't go to the theatre last night.Cancelled the tour I had planned for today and tomorrow.My lovely waiter just  brought me some cranberry tea, as I am having dinner in The Britannia club restaurant.Robinson and Laszlo are fussing over me.It is lovely to be fussed over.

Drug death lady Beth"let down by the NHS",says the family.

I cannot imagine anything more painful than a parent burying own child.Beth had so much,born to wealth and riches,yet ended her  short life selling her body for money to buy heroin that killed her.Where was her family when she was struggling with anorexia,self-harm,drug abuse?Why are they now blaming everybody but themselves?

A little girl was born in  my street two years ago.She was such a good baby,I never heard  her cry.Lately she cries constantly.It is heart wrenching listening to her.She cries for her mother, who has time for parties,week-ends away,everything and every-one, but her child.The little mite does not respond to smiles,to baby talk.Cared for by nannies,by the housekeeper,showered with toys and clothes,she has everything and she has nothing.Lady Beth in the making.

After a little retail therapy back to the restaurant for some jerk chicken.It is hot,hot,hot.

This is what I see from the table where I am sitting,St Maarten,the Dutch half

The cappuccino was adequate,the fresh orange excellent,once the ice had been removed.They fill up the glass with ice,the usual trick,the second glass of this freshly made deliciousness was super.