We docked at Southampton early this morning, and guests could depart between 07:30-10:00, but passengers were leaving earlier than that. I had booked an 11:30 train to Waterloo, but managed to get on the 10:30 train back so we could get back earlier. We made a quick pit stop at home to drop off the luggage, then we had lunch at Caravan before I transitioned the boys back to their dad.

I asked the boys: 1) What their favorite part of the holiday was, 2) What the least favorite part of the holiday was, 3) And whether they would prefer a longer, or shorter cruise, or thought this was just the right amount of time.

F said: 1) His favourite parts: Playing the Switch, Hellesylt walk – the one designed by O – because it was very short. His favorite place was Hellesylt because it was small, 2) His least favourite parts: Me scolding him, the Haugesund walk because it was so long, 3) He thought the cruise was just the right length.

O said: 1) HIs favourite parts: He liked the whole trip; his favourite place was Hellesylt because he liked the waterfall that split in the village in two, 3) He thought the cruise was just the right length.

I think I would have preferred a longer cruise. I feel like I was just getting used to the rhythm of the cruise, when it was time to leave. For now, things I have learned / what I would differently next time: 1) Plan ahead and book restaurants in advance, 2) Transfer resources from onshore experiences to dining / food, especially where the port is near the centre, and there are things to visit in the port. Maybe I might have more thoughts over time.

I came back to home with the scaffolding gone, bits of the home fixed (damp patches on walls, broken window mechanisms, under kitchen sink cupboard door and shelving… things I asked the contractor to help with if he could.

I’m bizarrely exhausted for having just spent a week on a cruise holiday. Maybe it was my lack of sleep – between waking up early to swim and late nights watching Cobra Kai with the boys, I got less sleep than usual. Or spending a lot of time refereeing the kids wore me down? Or my low exercise levels combined with my high calorie intake from buffet meals made me sluggish? My legs and glutes are still aching from lunges two days ago – I’ve discovered new muscles I never even knew existed in my glutes!