Some great new books and potential fame!

Ok, So I have nearly finished the site, and have just booked the bi-annual appointment with the Chiropracter. However much attention I pay to my posture during the website update, I always need work on my back and shoulders by mid October. So, just one more week to go before I will be back to normal, well as normal as that can be! Quasimodo out you go!

Brochures for the 2009 cruise season have started to fill up the office, waiting to be despatched over seas. One of the nicest surprises in yesterdays arrivals, was the introduction of some new boats to the Locaboat fleet. Known for the ecological penichettes, and very popular among my clients due to their great service, Locaboat are introducing three new boats to their fleet: The Europa 400, 600 and 700. Now when I have a holiday, I like to be away from TV and noise but each year I am surprised by the number of you looking for TV, DVD, MP3 and even computers when on holiday; These boats have it all ( except the PC's though there is a facility for charging them up!) So, you fellow workaholics, can now take a cruise and keep in touch with the use of a 3G key. Have a look at the Europa's at

http://www.hotelsafloat.com/ and let me know what you think.

Personally, I can see them being a big hit, especially with families. Plus they are surprisingly affordable.

Now for potential fame:

Up until now my claims to fame have been very few and far between: I have appeared on TV twice ( Songs of Praise),have drunk coffee with Richard Gere (film star: I was just 18 at the time, and thought him extremely unkempt with his saturday morning stubble!) and once stood next to Gary Linneker (footballer).

That could soon change, well sort of!

In the 2007 season, I sent a journalist on a hotel barge cruise aboard Le Premiere, in Burgundy.

Sadly this barge is now up for sale and I know that all who have cruised on her, will be very sorry to hear the news.

However, the journalist, Solange Hando, has just contacted me to tell me that she will be writing an article on hotel barging mentioning Hotels Afloat and yours truly! Due to be published next summer 2009, ' 1001 Escapes to make before you die!', will first appear in the UK, USA , Australia and New Zealand, and then in other countries once translated, in 2010. It just goes to show that in this world where politeness seems to be a forgotten art, that acts of kindness are appreciated and remembered.

As Philippe, my wonderful guy, often says: You reap what you sew, Emma.