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ALASKA Cruise Report
( or Trains, Boats & Planes- not necessarily in that order)
Pensions Increase
Pension Pay Dates
New Look Payslips & P60
Annual General Meeting 2012
Pension Authority Member Representation
Equitable Life Update
Customer Service Excellence Review
New District Offices
Parkinson’ s UK
Overseas Pension Payments
Electrical Fire Warning
Alaska Cruise Report
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HERE
Competition
Winner 18
Pension
Puzzler 18
We
Are Here To Help 20
John Vaughan, one of our retired members, has very kindly sent in this article to share with you the special memories of his holiday cruising Alaska( sent in July 2012). Thank you John and now over to you
I’ ve reached retirement age after 49 years working in various industries, the last 13 with South Yorkshire Police as a Dispatcher. My partner Kathleen and I decided as we were both 65 this year it would be nice to have a special holiday. I was thinking on the lines of us taking off on my motorbike for a month or taking our motorhome over to Europe but Kathleen persuaded me that I would like a cruise! I wasn’ t really convinced until Alaska was mentioned, as 42 years ago I was offered a job there, but for personal reasons I was unable to take it, so this was my opportunity to see what I had missed.
We first travelled to Chicago where we spent two days. I’ ve visited lots of interesting places in America, but Chicago knocks all the other cities into a cocked hat. The skyscrapers are magnificent; they are much more than ordinary skyscrapers they are pieces of architecture to be treasured for years to come. We saw the beautiful statue of Marilyn Monroe and took an open top bus tour of the city; it’ s a must if you’ re a stranger in town. We discovered the Corner Bakery and visited Navy Pier where we had shrimps, scallops, spider crab legs and lobster claws, all in the same pot, delicious. The daytime temperature during our stay in Chicago was between 70f and 80f and we got sunburned, painful, if you’ ve got follicle deprivation like me.
The next leg of our trip was a two day train ride on the Amtrak Empire Builder across America from Chicago to Seattle. We had looked at the‘ roomettes’ online but it did not prepare us for actually living in one for two days( you have to be close friends!) but we thought‘ what the hell’ we are on holiday. The train staff were great, helpful, friendly and hospitable.
Chicago Navy Pier continues on next page >>