It gets worse every year....GOD HELP US ALL!

Hello one and all hope your all well, happy and got your homes ready for an ice cold Winter.

Anyway, thank you for coming to this protest against protesters, why not, there seems to be a protest for anything these day so now it's time to rise up and protest against protests.

Come on everybody lets protest about anything, get your badly written banners out, lets all dress in non man made fibres that have actually been partly made from some dead animals.
Lets protest about car pollution even though we the protesters drive cars.
Lets protest about the electric grid and power plants even though we watch ourselves on TV after we've sat all day by a big pink boat.
Lets protest against package waste even though half of the stuff in our protester fridges are plastic covered.
Mobile phones are a no no but its OK for us protesters to use them to take selfies with Benedict Cumberbatch.

Its ridiculous all these protests. I agree with all that they are protesting for from Hong Kong to London but come on guys get a grip, you can sit on an oil stained road from now till you die through climate change and nothing is going to happen straight away.

A Oxford University study group is trying to get clapping banned and changed to jazz hands .....................WHAT THE F**K!
They say clapping is intimidating and should be changed to jazz hands.
For those of you who have never seen jazz hands here's Derek O to show you.

Perhaps these very wise millennial students don't know how to clap as its to much of an effort so just lifting hands a waving them wouldn't be to much of a hard task.
These students are our future folks, your welcome to them.
Jesus, even Penguins, Seals and T-Rex with their short stumpy arms know how to clap, yes they do, I've seen it in Toy Story.
Performers feed off the roar of the crowd and thunderous applause.
These students have the finest minds in the world at Oxford (supposedly) and they come up with banning clapping, absolute idiots.

Don't get me started on Greta, if it was an adult saying the exact same things that she is they wouldn't get the same amount of attention.
Also if Greta does read this blog i hope you are self sufficient for energy, don't use the internet or mobile phone, no TV and never use a car, train or plane.. I want to see you travel from Sweden to Zakynthos by horse and carriage and sail boat and sort out the rubbish problem on the island.
You can take as many sick days off from school as you like Greta but nothing will change in my lifetime and i doubt yours.

First Devils game on 1st Dec since I've been back in the UK and what a special game it was.
Sian had bought sponsorship for me of my favourite player Masi Marjamaki

Firstly I got to sit on the players bench while they warm up for 20 mins.
After that Majarmaki had his picture taken with me that i get a framed signed copy of and our pic will also be in the next home game programme and i got a signed ice hockey puck from Majarmaki.
To top it all off before we left the house to go to the game Sian had bought me this seasons black jersey with Majasmaki name stitched on to the back with his playing number.
I had no idea of what Sian was up to which is a big surprise as Sian is hopeless at keeping a secret.
!

Marjamaki warming up.

Very excited at being so close to all the team.

And to top it all off they won the game, The Devils beat Glasgow Clan 7-3, WHOOOORAAAAAAA
Being a sponsor for Marjamaki was the best gift i've ever had for no reason, Sian didn't have to get me that but she knows i appreciate everything she does for me and what a amazing gift it was.

Time for our first mini break tour and Birmingham is our first stop.
On Sat 7th Dec i had bought us tickets to watch the UK Foo Fighters in the Birmingham O2 and we stayed in the Ibis Budget which was only 1 minute walk away from the O2, great location.
Friday we just had a wander around and had a pint in a great little pub called The Sly Old Fox.
Saturday we walked around the Christmas market which spread across the whole of the city centre, it was huge. Went back to room and got changed for the gig,
Got there early, picked our spot to stand in ready for the start of concert.

All i can say is BRILLIANT! They were spot on and played for over 2 hours without any break, just a shame i was on water due to my medical study. One minus point but not that bad a point is they didn't play "Long road to ruin", "DOA" and "Next year" which are quite high on my favourite list, that's just me wanting to hear those songs, nothing at all against the band.
The band were very tight musically, Jay the lead singer gives it his all with no drop in energy, can't fault any of the band, i could have watched them for 10 hours let alone 2.
See, now this is what a tribute show should be like, not a karaoke cabaret singer with backing tracks telling jokes or taking piss out of their audience. You just can't imagine a tribute band sounding that good, it's just mind blowing. They wear the crown of tribute bands and doubt anyone could topple them.

Then after the show we stuffed our faces with pizza, couldn't have wished for a better night.
Sunday we head back home to Cardiff.

So our tour has started. Birmingham, DONE!
This week we head off to Vevey in Switzerland on Fri 13th Dec for 4 nights to enjoy the Christmas village and see Santa.
On 30th Dec we head out to St. Malo in France for 6 nights to celebrate New Year.
January we don't have much on as yet so may go to London, Manchester, Amsterdam or Paris but we'll definitely book something..
February we have 3 nights in Dublin for Valentines day.
March we are off to Calgary, Canada for 8 nights to see where the TV series "Tin Star" is filmed, also going to watch Calgary Flames ice hockey team play 2 games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Arizona Coyotes, that's a exciting holiday.

So as you can see it's busy busy busy for Sian and I which is just the way we like it.
I think i will do my next blog update after our New Year in St. Malo.

So until then.........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!

Back to sunny, warm Cardiff.......NOT!

And so as the season comes to an end we watch our last sunrise for this year on the rock from our penthouse suite at the Phoenix Hotel on the 25th Oct before flying out on 26th to Geneva.

What can i say about season 2019, AMAZING! I will never have a better season, EVER!
Only 16 nights out of 170 was i not full, what other business can say that, 40 plus seats every night full with great customers and great conversation.
What other business is without any gimmicks or entertainment to drawer people in, no cabaret club singers, no karaoke, no wifi, no TVs, no happy hours, no free shots, no promotions, no advertising, no PR's, just music, real brand spirits and properly made cocktails without tacky trimmings.
If you run your business right you don't have to desperately drag people in anyway you can.
The season was that busy that it did actually break me. From the end of August i was struggling with muscle tears, cramping, joint inflammation and exhaustion but i kept it together every night in the bar and collapsed during the day.
Did i enjoy it, HELL YEAH, am i glad i got time to rest now, HELL YEAH. I think another month could have killed me lol.
Now i have 5 glorious months in Cardiff with Sian and lots of travel, ice hockey and fun times.

We landed in Geneva and went straight to hotel for the night before our onward flight to London.
Watched Wales get beat by South Africa in morning and i have to say it must have been the most boring semi-final of a rugby world cup I've ever seen, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick. Box kick back and forth, it was like "Who would blink first". Wales deserved to lose, no flare or ideas at all. Where as England were immense, i did say they could edge it if the play the right game against New Zealand and they did that. England deserve to win the World Cup, slow burning through the group in second gear then ramped it up for the knockout stages, South Africa are not in their league, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon cause Wales are out, i said from beginning Wales couldn't win it.
I may not know much but i know about how to run a good bar and rugby.
Straight after the Wales game it was out of room and on to airport.
As we arrived there was a great sign, instead of "Drop off" it said "Kiss and Fly". Brilliant!

Sat in a bar outside the airport in the sun and waited for our flight to be called. We had a sneaky beer while we waited and it was very nice indeed.

Off we flew to Gatwick and as we landed the sun was setting but at least it was sunny.

Arrive in Fitzrovia, London around 6pm just in time for tea.

Now then, i had booked us in to the Charlotte Hotel but then i thought, why?
Wherever we go we spend so little time in the room what's the point in staying there.
I've never understood why people stay in 4-5 star hotels or pay over the odds for a room.
You sleep, shower and change in a room, that's it.
"Oh we like luxury and comfort", WHAT? You go away just to sit in a hotel room is that what your saying? Anyone can use the restaurant or bar in a 5 star hotel, you don't have to stay there so why pay stupid money for a room?
The Charlotte Hotel was going to cost £475 a night, then i shook myself and woke up. I got 3 nights in the same area for £278, first night in Premier Hub , Goodge Street and 2 nights in St. Giles Hotel, Tottenham Court Road.
Both those hotels had  in the room a double bed, seats, tea making facilities, smart TV, a shower and a toilet, do you really need anything else? They were both very clean and comfortable, what more did we need? NOTHING!

I left all our stay in London in the hands of Sian, we can just chill, go shopping, go sightseeing, whatever, i left Sian in complete control, i trust her 100%.

So in order:-

Firstly as we landed at tea time Sian booked us in to a South Indian restaurant called Chettinad.
The smell of the food as we walked in  was so good.

To start we had from left to right Gobi 65 and Mini Masala Dosa

They were sooooooooo good.

To follow we both had coconut rice (centre) and from left to right Melagu Kolli and Thengai Kolli Kullambu.

Best curry i have ever tasted, fresh, fragrant, flavoursome and lots of it.

Washed down with a bottle of Ayrum, Tempranillo-Garnacha Rosado Albali (Rose Wine), very nice indeed.

Restaurant 10/10

From there we were so tired and stuffed it was off to our room and catch up on some zzzzzzzz's ready for our full on day tomorrow.

Up and at 'em bright and early off to the London Dungeon.
At this point there are no pictures as phones weren't allowed and no cameras.
It lasted 90 Min's and was very interesting learning about the history of horrors that have happened in London from Henry the eighth till jack the ripper and then we were hung at the very end and dropped 10 metres. The stories told were interesting but the actors seemed bored and the staff who led you from place to place seemed uninterested. We were the first group in on that day at 10am, god help the others after us.
Also they need to refurb it a bit as speakers showing spoilt some of the illusions.
One more thing, the hi-vis step paint wasn't around back in the day of torture.

London Dungeon 7/10, change the actors,staff and hide the speakers.

A quick tube over to Greenwich observatory and on to a observatory show called "The sky tonight"
Again no cameras or phones allowed but it was very very interesting and loved it, shame it was quite a short show, about 45 Min's, thought it would be longer.

Greenwich Observatory 9/10, bit longer would have got a 10

This was the view as we come out of the observatory.

From there on to the Banking district and to a bar called Bounce that was underground on the site where Ping Pong was created and patented or as we know it table tennis. The game was invented years before but John Jaques patented it in 1901.

You book a table for 30 Min's at a time and there is a bar and restaurant here also, Sian had pre-ordered our food.

They have about 10 tables altogether 4 of which are famous tables. The table we played on was used in the final of the 2012 world championship.
Obviously no pics of us playing as we were both playing, HELLO?

The table I'm lent against in this pic is from the Olympics

It was a real good night. drinking, eating and playing ping pong. I used to play for the schools table tennis team in Cardiff from when i was 13 to 15 and i have to say Sian was very good with service, smashes, spins and rallies and it was only her second time playing, the first time was this summer at the Ilaria Hotel. I was very impressed.

Bounce 10/10

On to a pub close by to hotel where pints were sunk before off to bed.

Our last day in London and it was another fun packed day.
First on to our usual St. James Park to feed the Squizzles, parrots, ducks and geese. Spent a good hour or so in there and fed loads of little animals from a huge bag of monkey nuts.

Very chilly in afternoon so popped underground in to the Crypt Cafe,
Its OK, we found out that all the bodies had been moved and buried somewhere else but what a cool place.

This was the oldest head stone i could find.

Its time. I'll give you a clue:-
......slowly and surely, they drew their plans against us. DU DU DU!

The most amazing narrated musical album of all time "Jeff Waynes - War of the Worlds"
The immersive experience. WOW! EXCITED!

I used to listen to the album in the dark through headphones when i was 12, it used to scare the life out of me but it was the most amazing recording i had listened to and still is.
Now we were going to be a part of it.

From when we entered the bar it was just pure adrenalin and excitement seeing the Martian ship looming over everyone to the original artwork from the album brought to life on the walls of the bar through video screens.

You are put in groups of a maximum of 12 people to go through the whole musical/play over 2 hours in all.

It was a full mixture of live action actors, hologramic images, interaction/participation and virtual reality worlds through goggles.
If i tried to even describe it in the finest detail i still couldn't do it justice, it was the most well thought up design and execution of a play/musical i have ever seen.
Sian led us to safety from London by boat out to sea where we sailed alongside the warship "Thunderchild" who was fighting the Martian ships, then i led our group to safety to the tavern that was hidden amongst the Red Weed.

The Red Weed Tavern, the only place where "Martian Devices" (mobile phones) could be used.

Could not fault one single second of it, AWESOME!

1,000,000/10

Don't worry folks, we survived the Martian invasion, what else would you expect from two such plucky brave heroic leaders.

Then Wednesday it was time to head home to Cardiff, BOOOOOOOOOOO! Both were pretty sad to be leaving London as we did so much, had such a great time, we didn't really have time to chill and just take a walk around like we usually do.

A huge big amazing thank you to Sian for all her searching and hard work to set up all our days, absolutely brilliant.

So we now look forward to a fun packed winter. Already on our calendar is Eddie Izzard in Concert, Depeche Mode Live in Cinema, front row seats for Adam Ant live, Birmingham to see UK Foo Fighters, Vevey in Switzerland for Christmas, St. Malo in France for New Year and Dublin for Valentines Day. All that booked already and only been home 3 days lol.
We have another London trip but not finalised the dates and looking at Calgary, Canada to visit where Tin Star is filmed and to take in some ice hockey, just got to get the dates right to coincide with ice hockey games.

So that's it for this bumper update, so until the next time...

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!

Day 173...IT'S HOLIDAY TIME! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!

Good morning, afternoon and evening depending on what time your reading this.

IT'S HOLIDAY TIME! YEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAA!

Well it's been the most amazing season ever, even with Thomas Crook going belly up.
I couldn't believe that when i arrived back on 17th Oct only 4 hotels were left open, 6 restaurants and 6 bars in the whole of the resort, that's terrible for so early in October. OK, its never packed with people but usually half the resorts still open, very sad indeed.

Was still doing good money even on my last night (21st Oct) but stock was almost all gone and many of my customers were leaving the next day so a on the spot decision was made and i packed the bar away for another year. I Couldn't leave my normal goodbye sign as i have run out of laminating sheets and i don't think A4 paper would last long.
I stayed in the bar till 4am to pack it away all neat and tidy so i can find everything easy next year and had my goodbye Jack Daniels as i turned the electric off.
All monies owed have been paid and papers sorted so it's time to chill in peace and enjoy my winter break with Sian, i think i deserve it, don't you?.

Was there a bar here?

And off i ride in to the moonlight for another 6 months.

Will be so nice to have a little break now as Sian arrives today for a week then on to Geneva and then finish in London for a couple of nights.

Sian has planned loads for us to do in London and that will be in my next update after i get back settled in Cardiff and after i visit my mum.

Along with that update i will give you my summary of season 2019.

So for this week its, good food, lots of relaxing, a few nights out and then sort the house ready for winter before we leave the rock.

So until i land back in the UK and get settled........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All. Kevlar Out!

Day 170...Wales - What a pile of S**T

Just got back from watching Wales play the worst game of rugby I've seen in years.
I have to say France were immense and deserved to win, Wales looked like 15 dummies with no ideas, no flare and if there was a parks club side on the pitch they would have run Wales close.
If I'm being very honest which i always am Wales didn't deserve it at all.
I left before Wales got the last try as my anxiety was so high i was shaking.

England and New Zealand both were awesome and deserved their places in the semis, that game will be so close and i would go as far as to say England will edge it IF they don't concede penalties as New Zealand will always take every chance given.

Japan v S. Africa is the next game in quarters and would love to see Japan go through to semis but their style of play is more like rugby league, all about keeping possession and field position, if you got the ball the opposition can't do anything, that's a great tactic IF you have amazingly fit players with allot of stamina in the tank.I myself would prefer South Africa in semis.

And one final word about two ex-England players. This shows bad sportsmanship and arrogance, Haskell and Tindall both come out with these comments

Haskell - If they win (Wales) the World Cup, the world as we know it will end. The rugby world will end. It would be unbearable. Every conversation - it doesn’t matter what you’re talking about, you could be in the middle of a business meeting talking about finance and they’ll somehow go ‘well, we f***ing won the World Cup didn’t we?

Tindall - If Wales win world cup, if that happens I’m just going to pretend I never played rugby.

And lets look at English rugby supporters shall we. Almost every single English supporter i have spoken to over the years always when they're on the back foot in a conversation with me brings out the line "But how many world cups have Wales won?"
The ex-England players from that winning team in 2003 always harp back to that victory whatever game they are commentating on.

Haskell, Tindall, grow up boys, concentrate on this England side who could be on the brink of greatness, even better than your World cup victory, your victory will be banished to the cobwebs of history if this England side lift the cup.
Mr. Wilkinson's boot won you that cup, this England side would hammer your England side,
Perhaps your scared that both of you will be forgotten that's why you come out with these childish comments.

Anyway, Wales you were extremely lucky, England I'd put as favourites, roll on the semis.

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out.

Day 167...Is there anybody out there?

Ahoy me hearty's....I be back I be. Landed back 10.50am yesterday (17/10/19)

Bloody hell, where is everybody. The resort is almost completely closed up, I'd say about 1/5 left open many businesses and hotels now all closed up for winter. You know it's bad when your good friend Tassos has closed his bar on the 16th October when he is always the last bar open every season.
Only 6 restaurants and 6 bars open in the whole of the resort.
Usually at this time of season half is still open.

When i left on the 12th Oct over half the resort was open.

So as i stated it was a quick trip home with a beautiful sunset behind my plane to see me off.

As i sat waiting to take of the little circle in middle of the pic is the moon rising above Skopos.

As i was flying home to the left of the plane we could see the silhouette of Mount Etna erupting which was quite a sight but my phone was in my pocket at that point so no picture.

Landed back in UK Sunday then onward to Cardiff where i was greeted by a very excited Sian which was so good to see as i was exhausted.
Monday popped over to Swansea to surprise my mum and she seemed to think i was going to turn up as i didn't call her Sunday as i always do every Sunday but she was still surprised. Had a nice natter and cup of tea before heading back to Cardiff to catch up on my sleep and chill out.

Tuesday off i go for my medical to good old medical centre (My third home).
Nice and early out 6am to be at the medical centre for 8am.
I now hold the record for the furthest travel just for a pre-screen.
This study is a goody and the gain from the study out weighs the cost of my travel and bar closed for 4 nights so much and i get to see Sian, my mum and a Cardiff Devils game, no brainer really.
This study is for a drug that is already on the market for schizophrenia but they are testing it to see if it will help with MS, Addisons disease and Diabetes type 1 to decrease the autoimmune system that creates these illnesses.

We agreed it would be good for us to do it, I'm happy to take the risk but he's not.
So I'm going ahead with the study, it's OK, he will never find out.
You may have to think about the last bit............has the penny dropped..........Ah, now you got it.

Had my full medical, blood pressure 107 over 68. resting heart rate was 57 BPM, BUGGER! I'm one heart beat over that of a athlete for my age.
Now we sit and wait on my blood and urine samples to come back which are usually fine as not a drinker or smoker and don't eat unhealthy.
Tuesday night is ice hockey night, oh poop, we lost 9-2 but in our defence we were playing the number one team in Europe so it was like Cardiff City against Liverpool.
All washed down with a Chinese and a cuppa.

Wednesday back i go to the rock after a day out in the sun, yes sun in Cardiff, i know crazy isn't it and trip to Costas Coffee with Sian and Faggots and peas for tea made with fresh farm shop Faggots.
Soooooooooo good.

Cardiff to Gatwick, Gatwick to Zakynthos, Airport to House, House to Bar and now open again

Was sat next to 2 middle aged ladies on way back and 5 Min's before landing both turned on phones and were trying to call people, they couldn't wait 5 Min's, we were still in the air, utter stupid silly people. Wanted to grab phones and chuck them out the window but then remembered windows don't open.

So I'm now open and in fact busier tonight then when i left so here's to a good last few nights as very little places open for people to visit.

Until my last blog from the island with Sians arrival in 5 days........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out.

Day 161...A quick return trip to UK

Friends, family, countrymen lend me your eyes!

Hmmm doesn't really work for a blog does it. For those not so well educated its my version of Marc Antony speech written by William Shakespear "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears".
I guess you can't say that anymore anyway as not "P.C." These days it would have to be:-
"Facebook Friends, All nationalities, Country all gender persons, lend me your screens"

Anywhoooo taking off today on a quick whistle stop tour back to UK which i return from to the island on Thursday. So no tears just yet that I'm closed for 2019 as i will re-open on 17th as don't leave the rock till end Oct and got all flights and hotels booked (Phoenix Hotel Zakynthos, Sofitel Geneva and Charlotte Hotel, Fitzrovia London) and to tight to miss out on those stays.

But you must stay SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH, to my mum, i'm going to surprise her, Sian already knows as i told her so she's one excited bunny and maybe take in a Cardiff Devils game on Tuesday before i head back. Long way to travel just to see a ice hockey game but their hot dogs are sooooooo good!

So just to keep everyone calm i will be back and open again once more this season

In the words of the great Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy...............

Serve All. Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out.

Day 155..."The finish line is in sight" - Thank God!

Hello my loyal followers , how are we this fine wet and stormy day?

Thomas Cook is gone but still there is no let up in the bar. Thought it would maybe die of quite a bit but even last night the bar was full which I'm amazed at as this time of the season its usually just steady but with the end of TC i thought that would be it for the season but no, Oceanic has proved me wrong once again and that's down to you , the wonderful customer for making this season a record breaking season all round. 

I think after this weekend though the resort will be pretty empty with many places closing down. 

May - Best May in 13 seasons

June - Best June in 13 seasons and best night ever on June 6th

July - Best July in 13 Seasons

Aug - Best Aug in 13 seasons

Sept - Best Sept in 13 seasons and on Sept 17th equalled my best ever season which was 2018

Oct - So far beating best ever Oct in 13 seasons but early days yet.

Since 7th May had only 16 nights where i haven't been full at some point.

So a huge massive thank you to all who visited Oceanic this season.

So what happens now with Thomas Cook gone? Who knows what next season will bring.

Lots of tourists posting their sad stories online about losing their honeymoon, missing their dream holiday, had to stay in UK as lost holiday, poor you.

Lets look at the bigger picture here. 

Holidaymakers will all get their money back IF ATOL protected so even though you missed this holiday you will get your money back and be able to book another holiday at a later date.

Thomas Cook staff have all lost their jobs and some families are already struggling.

As for the hotels this has a huge knock on effect which makes the tourists sad stories look like a happy ever after story.

The hotels have lost 3 months of revenue which they won't get back.

Staff will lose their jobs along with not getting paid and could be without their winter living money from the tax payments.

Suppliers to the hotels/apartments won't get paid as products are usually all on tick and paid up when the tour companies way in with their money.

The Suppliers won't have the money to pay off the manufacturers of the products they buy.

So before we all start posting sob stories losing a holiday but getting your money back is nothing compared to the situations in resorts all over the world. 

Hotels could stay closed, families without any income from loss of jobs, suppliers could go bust, these are the real problems.

I think many accommodations will go with other European tour companies next season and not British as those tour companies don't put as much pressure on the Hoteliers to change things and upgrade.

Sian was booked with Thomas Cook to come over for my birthday.

That didn't stop the plucky little lady. She was that determined to be here for my birthday, she hunted high and low for flights and we got Sian a great deal £279 return for 4 days in from Gatwick and back  to Luton via Prague with only a 2 hour layover between connecting flights.

A bargain considering one way flights off the island the past 2 weeks have been ridiculous money up to 600-700 pound and then there were no direct flights off the island either.

That's a dedicated partner for you, going out of her way to get here.

So i decided to close the bar on my birthday as Sian had made such a huge effort to be here and booked us into the penthouse suite at the Phoenix Hotel in Zakynthos town.

The Penthouse suites are on the rooftop of Phoenix Hotel.

View from Penthouse to the back.

View to the front.

Lovely memory foam bed, such a good sleep.

Our private sunbeds.

Balcony dining and lounge area.

Nice little living area.

View out from bedroom.

Quite a big bedroom.

And of course toilet with shower room.

Sian and i had a wonderful day and night.

First we watched Liverpool beat Sheff Utd in the afternoon, Yay!
Then in the evening Zakynthos town had laid on a firework display, boat gala and marching bands for my birthday which i thought was extremely nice of them but i don't like to make a fuss of my birthday as i don't like celebrating it.
Then i found out the celebrations weren't for me at all, Phew! All the goings on were to celebrate a naval battle, Battle of Nafpaktos in 1571.

All very pleasant it was too, then off to food at a Gyros restaurant next to Alpha Bank in St. Marcos square. We ordered a mixed meat platter for 2 and it was huge, i mean it looked like a farmyard of animals on a plate.
As we were finishing our meal out came a birthday cake and happy birthday was sang in Greek. I noticed they had got my age wrong, I'm 51 but on the cake it had the number 12 made up in candles, ah, it wasn't for me it was a kids birthday phew and bugger. Phew because i get embarrassed easily when being sang at and bugger cause i like cake but didn't get any.

From here we moved on to Bliss Art Cafe for a drink. I was so stuffed it was uncomfortable to sit down.
We ordered our drinks and struggled to finish them but when you pay 18€ for 2 drinks you force yourself to finish them.

Then back to our penthouse suite to crash out on the bed and grizzle as we ate to much but what a great birthday it was and glad to have a night off with Sian from the bar.

I don't understand people who tell people its their birthday, the less people that know about my birthday the better for me.

We have the Suite again for the end of season as a little treat before we leave for our stay in London.

Well there are now 15 interests for Oceanic and no I'm not going to make it a bidding war, Its £10,000 and expenses, that's it and it will go to the person who i think will make a good go of it, maybe someones dream like i had when i first opened it, it would be nice to sell it to someone who wants a fresh start away from the UK but again that's a whole year away yet but if it's given to someone who isn't on the island they will have to start their paperwork in May 2020 to be ready for end of season.
If I'm being honest i just want this season out the way as its been exhausting and manic before i start thinking about season 2020 and then the sale after that.
Many of my customer have asked me not to sell, some have even pleaded with me, some have talked about starting a petition to keep me here but who are they going to send it to? Me, then i will say no I'm selling lol.
I'm very humbled by all the people wanting me to continue but I'm leaving on my terms and when I'm ready, a couple of people will love to see the back of me but that's their problem not mine. Jealousy is a terrible thing folks, HA!

So the bad weather is coming in, the nights are getting colder and the resort is starting to thin out as usual. Will i close early? No, i got lots of booze that needs drinking and boredom for me would soon kick in doing nothing until i leave so i may as well stay open as October is always a bonus month for me.

Strange thing someone said to me the other day. They read my blog and noticed through reading it that i eat allot of black pudding so they said "If you don't watch out you'll end up looking like one".
How is this possible? Even if i ate it for every meal every day for the rest of my life i still wouldn't end up looking like one. Now if i cut off my limbs and head, squeezed my body into black tight plastic and sealed it either end with metal clips THEN i might look like one but apart from doing that no i won't.

So i will leave you with this great sign from Manchester, how the mighty have fallen,
"The race for 6th" lol. I think from today that might be "The race to avoid relegation"

Until my last update from the rock..........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!

Day 139 - Am i being pranked?

So my dear dear followers how are we today?

Its been an incredible past 16 days and if i didn't know better i would think I'm being pranked.
Every single night he bar has been full from around 7.45pm and then continues in that way until about 11.30pm.
On one night i served my first drink at 7.20pm and did not stop making a drink for 1 second until 12.15am. I mean constant with no let up. I worked it out that i made a drink every 53 seconds and that's with taking the order, making the drink and serving it and having to clean tables with collecting glasses, UNREAL!
I truly am now a broken man.
I was bursting for a wee by 12.15am and boy was it a relief lol.
If i had closed on the 17th Sept i would have equalled my best season ever which was last year so as you can see it's been a manic, crazy, amazing 2019 and just the biggest huge thank you to all who have visited Oceanic this season.

Big dreadful sad news about Thomas Cook BUT i could see it coming, couldn't you?
The resort already seems subdued unlike other nights coming in to bar. Took a ride past Ionian Blue which is Thomas Cook i think at 5.30pm and only 4 around pool. Either that or they all having a siesta.
The hotels now have what decision to make, do they leave the tourists stay for free until their flights home or do they charge per night and ones who won't or can't pay have to leave? But the CAA have said that if your hotel tells you they want money for your room do not pay them, you are to call the call centre number first +44 1753 330 330

Another point, the hotels and apartments with Thomas Cook will now be empty for the rest of the season so do they close up shop now?
When they sold off half their fleet 3 years ago that was the beginning of the end.
Last year they sold off the other half, that then was the nail in their coffin. They did exactly the same as Toys r Us, they sold off all their buildings then leased them back like Thomas Cook did with the planes.
I feel very sorry for all the employees who have lost their jobs. People with holidays will get back home and get refunds for future bookings, they haven't lost their income.
Also for those who have booked their holiday with them, remember, its only a holiday, you haven't lost a limb or your house or a loved one or even your own life, its just a few days in the sun, no need for drama. In the big picture off life this is the size of a amoeba (microscopic living cell).
I'm more worried for the hotels and apartments with Thomas Cook, they won't get their money for the past 60-90 days of tourists.
They also may not get another tour company wanting to use them as many are not up to the standard for Tui and Jet2 so the owners would have to pay out a fortune to upgrade the standards which leaves them virtually empty for next year apart from the odd private bookings.
Also then there is the airport situation with Jet2, even if they do take them on Jet2 only fly from certain airports, so TUI would have the stranglehold on the market and they are expensive.
Then flight prices would go up and the private rooms would be to expensive to book as a package with TUI or Jet2 will work out cheaper. Very worrying for many hotels and apartments as Thomas Cook were the cheap option holidays who used the not so up to scratch accommodations.
This will have a huge knock on effect to all tourism and maybe lead to more none UK companies taking over the lesser hotels and apartments.
Very sad day for all involved with Thomas Cook.

On a happy note here's a picture of Jebus the donkey i found.

And a puppy Beagle i want to get awwwwww.

See that must have cheered you up.

So until the next longer update.......

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!