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Back in Blighty with bacci

We've just got back from the bacci cruise to Belgium organised by Smoking hot. (Well not just, I've been kipping most of the day because I'm bloody knackered)

This was our first trip abroad to buy tobacco so we didn't go mad, we just brought a bit back each and never got any hassle when we got back. According to Smokings write up, no one got bothered by the UKBA so that's good.

Next time we will likely save up a bit of money and do it properly. Our main reason for joining this trip was to find out more about dealing with UKBA, and more importantly, to meet some people which we did.

Pat Nurse I have met before when we all went to Stony Stratford. Her partner was along this time and we all had a couple of late night chat's about smoking and stuff in their cabin because they had the foresight to bring a kettle. They're a great couple.

We also met Mr and Mrs Nominedeus whose wine cellar I am dying to sample, Visigoth who I also met at Stratford and his band of barbarians who I didn't, Smoking Hot and Zaphod who masterminded the operation and many others. An excellent bunch of people whose company was much enjoyed.

The ferry was really nice and it catered very well for smokers. The cabins were tiny but they had added a small, private smoking room in each one. There was a shower in it too for some reason. One entire deck on the ship was also reserved for smokers although there was no roof on it. Or sides.

Pat made an excellent observation about smoking on the ship when she asked what they could really do if she just sparked up right there in the bar. I said there would be more coppers waiting for her at the port than would ever turn up to a house burglary. She said that as we were on a ship they might throw her in the brig. That being the case, and as smoking is allowed in prison, they would be locking her in the only place where smoking is allowed, for smoking. We were tempted to give it a try but they probably wouldn't have let us take our beers down below.

The prices were bloody terrible, both on the boat and in Belgium. Next time we will take a suitcase full of food and bring it back full of tobacco, otherwise we won't be saving any money.

Brugges was very touristy and full of chocolate shops. Mrs Bucko made me walk all over it for hours with a hangover.

All in all an excellent weekend and I'm looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Smoking Hot for a great do.

11 Comments:

Smoking Hot said...

Count your blessings that all the shops weren't open on Sundays :) Pleasure meeting you both! Till the next time, mon ami.

Bucko said...

Smoking Hot - I'm also counting my blessings that I left some money at home :-)
Likewise a pleasure. Till the next time...

Angry Squaddie said...

The comment about the "smoking room with a shower" actually made me LOL. Good work, and when I'm settled into my new house I might come on the next trip.

Bucko said...

Angry Squaddie - You should come on the next one, I highly recommend it.
It's not just the cheap bacci, we had a great laugh with some proper charachters.

Pat Nurse MA said...

Great to spend some quality tea time with you and Mrs Bucko. I'll be sending that photo through any minute now.

Likewise - here's to the next trip !

Bucko said...

Pat - Thanks for the hospitality. It's wierd turning up for something like that when you don't really know anyone but everyone was great. Good to meet your fellah too, he seems like a really decent chap.

JuliaM said...

"The prices were bloody terrible, both on the boat and in Belgium."

Really? Wow, I haven't been abroad on a booze run (usually France) for a few years, but I was always amazed at how cheaply you could eat out. And eat well, too!

JuliaM said...

"Brugges was very touristy and full of chocolate shops. Mrs Bucko made me walk all over it for hours with a hangover."

If you go back in a more congenial season, take the canal boat tour. It's quite a pleasant little trip.

Anonymous said...

Like you I enjoyed the 'little smoking room' and like you couldn't figure out why they bothered with the plastic curtain and shower head...as we were leaving we met the little man who was cleaning the next door cabin, he was wearing a face mask/dust mask and I couldn't help but wonder why...if the company are so afraid of what is in those cabins they require their workers to wear them then why were we the passengers not warned of the dangers.
Great time great time, great meeting you both!

Bucko said...

The cleaner had to wear a mask in our room, my guts had been rebelling against all the booze.

They probably all smoke anyway ;-)

Bucko said...

Julia - Really. An evening meal on the boat, buffet style, was £18.45 per person. We had a cheesburger for breakfast in Brugges that cost £5 and wasn't much better than one from McDonalds.
When we were chilling out in the boozer I bought 3 coffees and a lemonade and it came to £18.

We saw the canal boats but didn't have the money for anything like that.