Thoughts that keep me going...

THE MOOD OF CONTINUING...

I have a sudden need to blog about something, anything, just to keep my "reanaclaire.com" alive.  

And there is no better way than resuming where I left off in my previous post.  But thoughts of using AI came to my mind, should I or should I not?  All I got to do is to key in my keywords and then sit back and relax.  But then I would be back to square 1... I am not using my brain like what I was doing since I started this blog.  I feel that my English is deteriorating, see, I just googled how to spell deteriorate... oh my goodness!  Not only I cannot write anymore, I cannot even get the right spelling without googling!

So the main reason of restarting this blog again is actually for my own good, either this or become redundant, sooner or later, I might not even know how to type anymore on the laptop! LOL.... 

Let's keep our minds alive... let's go back to our old ways.... blogging under our own native language.

Forget about AI and focus on our own brain cells.... its alright if we do not get people reading our posts, as long as we take pleasure in blogging and making our minds active as before, it is good enough for now.

What I need more is time... and of course, my longsighted glasses which I never worn before this day! 

And the post for today is when I left for US to visit my son and family, I stayed there for three months.  Though my flight is 15 hours direct, the thoughts of seeing my grandkids kept me encouraged throughout the long haul.  As usual I took off from Penang to Singapore, relaxed 3 hours at the lounge, popped in a pill to make myself drowsy and sleeping off the hours on the night flight to San Francisco.

Bye Bye Penang... 

Must-have chicken rice in the lounge.... 

Followed by a bowl of noodles etc etc...

Making my tummy full.... 

And the thoughts of seeing these two kept me "alive"

throughout the 15 hours flight.... 

NO regrets.... 

Where Am I in 2025

9 MONTHS!  I have been away from this blog for so long... (I thought it was more than a year) 

So much have happened and I do not know where to start... 

Firstly, I am still around though I feel I have grown many years older physically and yet, still up and about.... and I wish one year has more than 12 months.  Time seems to be moving faster than the time I was working... 

Due to the fast moving earth, so much have taken place in terms of blogging, it has been moved "backstage" to make way for other high tech stuff on social media.  Not only that, everything is made easy for those who are into writing, no more cracking head or having writer's block, now we just have to key in the keywords and AI does the rest for us, ya!

However, I am still old school... I haven't try that out as yet... perhaps one day... but meanwhile, I am still writing in my native language.... I think I will continue doing that till my grammar goes haywire one day... LOL... 

So what have I been doing during my absence from blogging?  

Traveling mostly.... not around the world.. but here and there... 

Ever since my Baltic cruise in April last year, I have gone to several other places after that... I need to refer back to my handphone (that shows my hard disk brain is almost full and needs cleaning up space for storage)

Leaving on a commercial plane to San Francisco

in July and back in early November 2025.... 

Leaving for Bangkok end of November 2025

Leaving again on the eve of December 2025 till 

middle of January 2026.... 

Group Tour At Amalienborg Palace, Germany

We visited the Amalienborg Palace in Germany, one of the excursions we booked on our cruise.  The coach is big enough for the 18 of us and at the end of each trip, the leader would present two red packets, one for the driver and one for the tour guide.  The red packets always bring delightful smiles to the tour guides and drivers.  LOL... yu 

Well, as for the palaces, you see one, you see all... hahaha... perhaps only for us.  We are not historians nor a passionate one.  Anyway, if it is part of the excursion, so we have to go along with it.  As Asians, we are more interested in Food and Shopping, don't you agree?  LOL.. Oh, of course, taking lots and lots of memories in our photographing.... 

Back on the cruise, I relaxed at the balcony.... 

... till it was time to go for our fine dining at 7.20pm.... 

Tips For Seniors To Travel With Comfort

As you all know, I am now a confirmed Senior and have joined the Club for almost a decade now.  LOL... Time flies, as the saying goes.  It is not something we do not like to hear, instead I am blessed to have this privilege to enjoy the golden time doing what I love to do and not being able to when I was "younger."  And this privilege I am talking about is the passion of traveling, not any means of traveling but traveling in comfort and leisure.  LOL... 

Our older relatives, parents and grandparents deserve the opportunity to travel as much as anybody else. It may seem like more hassle than it is worth but the travel sector is designed to provide something for everyone, including senior citizens living in assisted care environments. You can surprise your senior relatives with the experience of a lifetime by booking a trip for them. However, before you jump the gun, here are some tips that will help you make their trip not only safe but full of fun and enjoyment. 

Plan and Research Well

If you have relatives who have been living in assisted care facility it is likely they are used to their home comforts. They are accustomed to certain services such as medication dispensing, timely meals and transport. Therefore, when booking a trip for seniors it is important to look for travel agencies, reliable travel agents and providers who offer similar services in their packages. Make sure everything has already been planned and reserved to avoid disappointment. Book direct flights, choose the shortest travel options and always ask for end to end transportation.  One of the most reliable online travel website can be found here at Booking.com and needless to say, I have used this website for many years now for my flights, hotels and transport.   

Explore Appropriate Travel Options

When planning a vacation for seniors, it is wise to involve a travel agent in the process. An experienced agent will recommend the right packages that can take care of everything your relatives need. Some travel options for senior travelers include:

 -               Bus tours: these tours are mostly designed with senior travelers in mind. Bus tours are one of the most friendly and enjoyable ways to experience popular tourist destinations, local events and national parks, among other things. In case of longer distance excursions, bus tours often include lodging and meals.

-               River Cruises: Cruising down a river can be a pleasant experience and less hard-going than large cruise holidays. River cruises offer short and relaxing trips for seniors with meal and other entertainment options onboard.

-               Resort vacations: All-inclusive resorts are one of the best places for your senior relatives to enjoy a peaceful time. Located in heavenly destinations, these resorts feature world-class cuisine, luxurious rooms, spas etc. They can simply walk around or engage in several activities available at the resort.

Ensure Proper Care While on the Trip

Travel options tailored to suit senior travelers should be designed with their needs in mind. Special requests such as assistance for those with disabilities, seat requests, cost-free wheelchair services and special dietary requirements should be met with ease. You can also ask for personal assistance for your parent or grandparent, if they are travelling alone. Make sure that you confirm all these requests at the time of booking so your relative is safe and comfortable throughout their break. 

Day Excursion To Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN...

The second day or was it the third day, (I forgot) we followed the private tour excursion to Copenhagen.  From the port, the bus waited for the 18 of us and the first place we stopped by was the Little Mermaid statue by the waterside.  Used to see this image in movies and in books, this time it was for real... Anyway, we just stopped for 15 minutes to mark our presence by taking turns to take the famous icon and then continued on our journey to the next destination.

Took one with her but it did not turn out well....

The other tourists did though.... 

They climbed down to the rocks...

I skipped that....

Next destination ...

Gefion Fountain... 

And with a few of the "gang".... 

Pajama Sets- The Next Big Thing in Loungewear?

Pajama sets are becoming more and more popular amongst people of all ages for their timeless, effortless style that are comfortable as well as aesthetically pretty. But are they becoming the next big thing in loungewear? Here at Dear Lovers we certainly think so, and this is why…

Comfort

Pajama sets come with a comfort that other styles of pajamas, such as lingerie and night gowns, just don’t have. They are designed to relax in, and are made to fit this way from soft, breathable and lightweight fabrics that are easy on the skin and won’t disrupt a good night’s sleep. They are designed with maximum comfort in mind, so there are often no annoying seams or irritating waistbands that have the potential to ride up, or dig into the skin. Everyone wants to be as comfortable as possible when they sleep, and pajama sets are the best type for this!

Versatile Uses

The benefit of wearing matching pajama tops and bottoms means that you can wear them for bed and evening relaxing, but also out and about. The coordination and modern style makes the sets look effortlessly stylish, so you can wear them for sleep but also if running errands or having a relaxing day.

Wearable all Year Round 

pajama sets come in lots of different fabrics and styles, so you can buy ones that are suitable to wear at all different times of the year. For warmer seasons, you can buy matching pajama short sets made from light cottons in summery patterns, and when the nights are dark and cold you can find longer trouser and long-sleeved sets made from flannel or even silk.

Good Value for Money

Buying a matching set of pajamas is often more cost-effective than buying two separate garments for the top and the bottom, and when you buy ones that are made from quality materials, you can be assured that they will last a long time too, even with frequent washes.

Relaxation Promotion

Many people believe that wearing a matching pajama set to bed is beneficial in helping the brain to distinguish between ‘day time’ and ‘wind down’ time- which promotes relaxation and wind down during the evening before bed, and improves sleep hygiene too. Wearing a full outfit for bed removes any confusing messages that might be stopping the brain from winding down effectively, making it clear that it is time to rest.

Trendy

If you are simply wanting to keep up with the latest fashion trends, even for sleepwear, matching pajama sets are incredibly trendy and very popular across social media. They give off a cosy and ‘put together’ aesthetic that lots of lifestyle influencers promote.

Conclusion

Pajama sets are absolutely becoming the next big thing in loungewear. From their comfortable styles, versatile designs and fabrics, value for money and their trendy aesthetic, they are ideal for wear all year around and are increasingly being promoted on places like Instagram and TikTok by lifestyle influencers.

 

First Day Cruise Skagen Denmark

SMOOTH CHECK IN AT THE PORT.... 

We went through the immigration process smoothly, each of us were given a small button to put around our neck, that small badge will be our ID on the cruise.  Whenever we go out from our ship and getting back aboard, we have to use this small button/badge and it is most secured around our neck.  Oh yes, we don't have to carry cash onboard... anything we need to purchase, that small button is our ATM too! 

Our bags were already right outside our rooms after we had our first lunch meal on board...

This is our room for me and my sleeping partner... two single beds... 

For appetizer, I had clam chowder.... 

One of my siblings had this...

Mussels and shrimps as appetizer...

I had roasted beef for main course...

Followed by two scoops for ice cream...

And a piece of cheese cake.... 

Actually we had buffet for lunch...

And fine dining for dinner.... 

I did not take any pictures of the buffet unfortunately...

For the next 14 days, we had almost the same food... 

LOL... 

The next morning, the Princess stopped at Skagen ... 

We went down for a walk around the small town... 

Quiet town.. mostly tourists... 

Maybe it is near the port... that is why the quietness... 

We walked around for a couple of hours and then back on the cruise for our lunch...