And so another day ashore comes to an end and a lovely day it was too, the various shades of green were in evidence everywhere. The golf course, fields and trees, thatched roofs and flowers showing a summers day in Ireland at it's very best

Though rain was forecast, we didn't get a drop, and tendering service went smoothly both to and fro, now we have added Ireland to our list of places visited, with a call at Dublin to look forward to after Liverpool tomorrow. We've decided to take the hop on hop off bus to get our bearings in Liverpool, Dorothy wanted to take the tour into North Wales but we were late putting in our request, I find the all day tours very tiring so wasn't overly upset at missing out.

As we sat down for dinner the Maasdam weighed anchor heading for England, we were 45 minutes late departing due to a tour bus that was a bit tardy getting back. A good reason why some pax will only take the tours sold on board, had they been on their own, it would have been too bad so sad and they'd have been in a pickle.

Osso Bucco was on the menu, it's the favorite of a character in a series of books I've read and I always mean to try it but so far have not. Instead I had a very nice scallop dish after a chilled peach soup, and a "lo-cal" !?! blueberry sundae for dessert.. Are my clothes shrinking due to the sea air do you think!!?

Woke up this morning as we sailed up the Mersey river with a bit of an ache in my heart. I had hoped to meet up with some of my ostomy friends from the UK. We kind of made loose arrangements but due to British weather being fickle, there was no guarantee we would get into Liverpool. So now here we are and I'm brooding over what might have been.

I would have felt so bad with the distance and expense of them travelling to Liverpool only to find that the Maasdam had canceled the port. The weather is dull and overcast, in keeping with how I feel but that's life and I know we'll enjoy our day.

We left the ship at about 0900h, purchased tickets at the pier for the HOHO bus and the Beatles museum plus the maritime museum. The architecture of Liverpool is awesome, the water front as seen from the ship very moving. Living in Calgary which is so new, our memories of the old world fade and though I had not visited Liverpool before, those memories for some reason came flooding back.. From the open top double decker bus we strained our necks taking it all in. A skyline of ancient and new with many museums, churches, towers and the cathedral. Liverpool was bombed heavily during WW 11 but as fate would have it many historical buildings survived. We rode the bus for almost a complete circuit, then hopped off to visit the Beatles museum. This is a must see for all Beatles fans, it is so well done and transports you back in time some 50 years. There's memorabilia from their school days on up, with the Cavern and other places they played, recreated in the finest detail, everyone enjoyed this very much.

I am so glad we did that but I was getting tired and begged out of the maritime museum, I know I'll regret it but in a word I was knackered. Dorothy and Trish our friend from Virginia carried on while I walked back to the pier. It's a beautiful walk along the river, I could see the ship but made the mistake of staying on the walkway and found my passage blocked. So retraced my steps with some help from a friendly port worker, did the security bit and dragged my butt up the gangway and headed for our cabin and a power nap.

My power nap was not to be, thoughts of all the places we've been and seen over the past three weeks played havoc and my head was spinning so I read for a while (my 4th. Book) and waited for Dorothy to get back, she did not arrive empty handed, she'd picked up a few gifts and made a pit stop at Tesco's for a bottle of wine. It's been a great day marred only by the fact that I didn't get to meet up with my UK ostomy friends, I shall raise a glass to you all tonight.

Just after 1700h we pushed away from the pier with a decent crowd ashore waving us bon voyage Over the loud speakers Gerry and the Pacemakers "Ferry across the Mersey" played, Then Rod Stewart's "Sailing" It slowly dawned on me that this could be my final visit.

A wave of emotion washed over me and leaving the land of my birth aboard a ship felt somehow different than before, perhaps the nostalgia of a bygone age when life seemed simpler or seeing England slowly merge with the horizon wondering will I ever be back, I don't know but tears welled so I headed to our cabin, a bit bewildered and wondering why after 43 years I felt this way.

After a hot shower and a change of clothes I felt somewhat better, then it was dinner time, so I put on my "game face" and joined in the chit chat, every one had lots to say about their day. Dessert was a toss up between chocolate torte with a mound of vanilla or the fruit plate, life is tough and full of decisions! About an hour after we sailed I was amazed at the number of windmills and oil & gas rigs we were passing in the Irish sea, seems to me that everyone's drilling these days.

Tomorrow Dublin.