August 2025 - Melbourne and a Uniworld cruise in Europe


I finished last month’s entry by saying we had 35,000 subscribers to our YourTube channel - https://youtube.com/@weliketocruiseandtravel?si=dWqmjiL2P6n7E3di That number is already over 40,000! Incredible given that we only started in late January.

Incredible also because there was really no plan for this channel. When the offer first came in early 2020 for Andrew and I to sell our legal business, he was adamant that we wanted to retire. I was pretty sure that I didn’t. Although the sale was protracted (a Pandemic intervened), he didn’t waver and neither did I.
When the new owners of the legal business decided not to offer either of us ongoing work, Andrew was delighted. I was not but I said I’d have a break and do some writing. And see what happened.

The first three stories I had published were in an online dog magazine and were unpaid but at least I could then send emails (“pitches” as I now know them to be) and say that I was a published writer and link my work. Go World Travel Magazine (whom I still write semi-regularly for) was the first publication which took a story and paid me for it. The Editor there, Janna Graber, has been very helpful to me. Just this last week, she gave me some constructive feedback on a story I sent her (“filed” in “journo lingo”).

The day I saw an email accepting a story from Mamamia (a few months later), I was doing somersaults with excitement. Mamamia have now published about ten stories by me. I keep seeing my face randomly on social media as Mamamia continues to re-publish the stories so people are out there reading them!

Little by little, my suite of publications has expanded. Mostly, my pitch emails are still ignored but, once in a while, there is a surprise email saying “yes” or “tell me more” – both of which delight me.

I still love the telling of the story process and get a thrill every time I see my name published. I never would have imagined that stories by little old me would be featured by publications like Escape in Australia and newspapers in New Zealand!

And, with the writing, comes these wonderful benefits called Press Trips or Famils where I (and, often, Andrew) has a free or discounted holiday in return for travel stories. From that travel, more stories originate so it is like the Cobbler fairy tale where one pair of shoes enables him to buy leather for two pairs and so on and so on.

Later last year, Andrew started to wonder how he could contribute (secretly, I think he was getting a little bored) and he mentioned buying a GoPro before we went to Norway with a view to producing a video and uploading it to YouTube. At that stage, I had rarely watched YouTube but Andrew was an avid watcher so he knew what type of videos he liked. He had no idea, however, how to create one.

I encouraged him to buy the GoPro so that he had no regrets but I didn’t honestly think he had the patience to create a video. Well, I was wrong as not only did he create three videos about Norway, he has created about twenty videos and he will create at least four more from this trip.

And that is the story of how our YT channel came about. Will it take us to the moon (figuratively!) We’ll just hang on for the ride and see where it takes us!

The first half of the month was spent in Melbourne, catching up with family and friends. Our twin nephews turned 21 so they and their family came to Melbourne for a few days. We had some of the family staying with us so it was a busy and lovely few days.

Mid-month, we flew to Brussels and boarded a Uniworld ship for 2 weeks. We’ll finish at the end of August in Basel and then join up with our sons and their partners for a weekend in Paris. More on that next month.

As with Viking in June, the Uniworld cruise is a famil. For Viking, I had to write a story and have it published (I actually have filed three stories). Andrew produced two videos for them and they are really pleased with the videos. They actually asked him to produce some facebook reels as well and we are waiting to see how they performed.

We have never cruised with Uniworld before and we are loving it. It is 6 star luxury and all inclusive – tips, excursions and all drinks all day are included in the fare. Often, airport transfers too and laundry (if laundry is not included, there are two Miele washers and dryers to use free of charge).

I am writing this as we are sailing to Basel. We have opted not to go into Basel but for an included excursion to Lucerne and then into the Alps with a bus trip, a train trip, a boat cruise, a hike, a visit to a cheese factory and a picnic. Channelling Heidi for the day basically. Can’t wait!

The cruise has been FABULOUS. We have loved every minute of it and would be sad to leave if not for seeing our boys and their partners and the few weeks after that.

What a life we are living!!

WRITING WINS:

Whilst July was quiet, August was a bumper and I still have over a dozen unpublished stories waiting to be published. They’re all travel stories as I just haven’t had time to write fiction as well.

Re: fiction, my early reader “When Harry Got Lost” is ready so I am awaiting a publication date. Very exciting. I have four children’s picture books in the pipeline – two are ready just awaiting an illustrator to be appointed by the publisher and two are in the editorial process with some minor changes to be made. 

Travel stories published this month:

• A Cruise  taking in the Polar Night, the Northern Lights and a whole lot of snow - https://www.thewisetraveller.com/Articles/view/?permalink=a-cruise-taking-in-the-polar-night-the-northern-lights-and-a-whole-lot-of-snow

• Hotel Review, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore - https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/travel/hotel-review-marina-bay-sands-hotel-in-singapore/ 

• Luxury and Sanctuary at the Iconic Raffles Singapore - https://thepaige.au/luxury-and-sanctuary-at-the-iconic-raffles-singapore/ 

• Don’t go to Phuket nor Koh Samui. Try this quieter Thai paradise instead - https://www.mamamia.com.au/hua-hin-travel-review/

• From Lyon to the Med – the Ultimate French River Cruise Adventure - https://www.goworldtravel.com/french-river-cruise/

• Enjoy Afternoon Tea in London with Me - https://www.joincitro.com.au/news/afternoon-tea-in-london

• Review of the E&O Hotel, Penang - https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/travel/hotel-review-eastern-and-oriental-hotel-penang-in-malaysia/ 

• Portugal’s Douro River. The Cruise You’ll Talk About for Years - https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360789401/portugals-douro-river-cruise-youll-talk-about-years (This is the first time I have written for Stuff and it was syndicated to weekend papers in NZ!!, namely The Post  and The Sunday Star Times).

So far, retirement isn’t slowing me down!!

I also have my granddaughter to look forward to. Countdown is real – two months to go!!! I saw a 4D scan of her precious face today!! xxoo














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