Holly Crabtree uncovered……………..

You are reading this blog because you are interested in possibly reading what I have to say about cruising. We have a common interest. But what if we have more than one interest which leads me to ask you what do you really know about me. Are you a little intrigued re the person behind the phone? Maybe we have more in common than you think? Well Just for you here you go……….. Holly Crabtree Uncovered!!

FAMILY LIFE

I was born in a town in Leigh Lancashire in 1972 (1982) according to Facebook. I lived there with my mum (Margaret), dad (Brian) and my brother Andrew who is 2 years older than me until I moved out to be married in 1992 at the age of 20 years of age. We had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Prince and a Siamese Cat called Bluey who I absolutely adored. Bluey came everywhere with me and I mean in my car with me to visit friends. He loved the car and sat on the front seat with me wherever I went. Sadly he passed away at 17 years old I still miss him. I left Leigh in 1996 and moved to Leeds West Yorkshire where I still am and work from so I kind of feel I am a Yorkshire girl too at heart. A combination of the roses.

EDUCATION

I left my catholic school in 1988 with passes on all GCSE’s and genuinely didn’t know what I wanted to do regarding a career or work. A friend of mine was offered a job as a YTS in a local Travel Agency so I thought that seemed a good idea so I applied for a different agency and was taken on as a YTS on £29.5 a week boy those were the days. I remember stood behind the desk and there were ashtrays all over the counter so customers could smoke with their cuppa whilst making a holiday booking. Looking back now the office was full of smoke when you entered from a lunch break. Can you imagine that now……. I guess it’s like the casino on a cruise ship now as of course we all know you are allowed to smoke there.

After my 2 years YTS training was up I was offered a full time role followed by assistant Manager and then Branch Manager role of A.T.MAYS in Atherton and then Branch Manager of Going Places in Leigh . At the age of 24 It was then I moved over to Leeds and had my first child a daughter and then followed by my Son Joe 3 years later. Working in the Going Places Leeds store as my children were growing up made me realise my passion I guess for cruising.

WHAT WAS MY FIRST CRUISE

My first cruise was Ocean Village 2 just before she sailed to Australia, the sadness felt by many of her passengers that she was leaving the Uk and Europe behind was immense. I loved Ocean Village and the food in the James Martin restaurant was to die for . Ill never forget the steak pie I had there. It is all about the food with me when I cruise :-), followed a few weeks later on my 2nd cruise with Hurtigruten on the MS Trolfjord. I sailed from Bergen to Tromso in March time to see the Northern Lights. This I have to say was one of the best experiences. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking , the food on board was superb although not alot of choice but I will be honest I love my food (as I can always tell when my clothes don’t fit) so I will eat anything put in front of me. I do remember however paying £17 for 3 small glasses of Red Wine and that was years ago. If you ever do decide to do a similar trip and if you are offered the dog sledding then it is definitely a must see. sledding under the stars with beautiful husky dogs and seeing all the bay huskys finished off with reindeer stew and coffee you could cut your way through(they like their coffee strong) was a memory I will never forget.

HOW MANY SHIPS HAVE I BEEN ON AND WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE

From what I can remember OCEAN VILLAGE THOMSON MAJESTY, CELEBRITY ECLIPSE. QUEEN MARY 2, CROWN PRINCESS EMERALD PRINCESS, P&O BRITANNIA, QUANTUM OF THE SEAS, ALLURE OF THE SEAS, HARMONY OF THE SEAS, FRED OLSEN BALMORAL AND BLACK WATCH, REGENT EXPLORER , CRYSTAL SERENITY.

My favourite and where my heart lies is on the Celebrity Eclipse. I just love the feeling you get on her. SO many passengers but so many open spaces you never feel like you are crowded,  unless your queuing at the Martini Bar , a part of the ship you can often find me after dinner. I love the library in the middle of the ship and the food onboard and the wine(yes I like my wine as well as my Gin) is superb. To me the Celebrity eclipse feels like home.

WHAT IS MY HOME LIFE NOW

Well as you may or may not know I work from home, in an office overlooking my front garden. For a change though I brought my laptop downstairs into the dining room for a while and am still here and the only reason for that is that my kettle and biscuit jar and within a hop skip and a jump. I started working from home 4 years ago and have never looked back. A great opportunity when your children are young . Of course now my daughter is in her second year at University and has moved out and My son starts University in September so the benefit for me working from home is my dog Buster and that I am with him everyday. I have been divorced now for 14 years and have brought my children up on my own and I am so so proud of the adults they have become.  My son 18 in August is about to sit his driving test so I look forward for the day when I can finally call him from a pub or restaurant to say pick me up. My taxi driving days may soon be coming to an end and for that I am eternally grateful. Where have the years gone since I was that 16 year old girl taking her first YTS job in a Travel Agency all those years ago.

I work 6 days a week and my hours are set in stone so my customers always know when they can catch me. I am as dedicated to my job as I am to family life. Embarking on this job I am giving a commitment to give the best service I can and make your holidays as easy as they can be.  I absolutely love my job although working form home in the environment that I am in I don’t really class it as working as many of you I know got to know really well through organising your holidays and I class you as friends too.

I guess when the time comes when my son leaves the nest in September I am back to living on my own again. Although I am confident to say I am proud of how my children have turned out and I know they will be fine as they make there own mark on the world, although the feeling of my youngest fleeing the nest fills me with dread. Maybe I should get another dog. I have been single now for 4 years and I am happy spending time with my children Buster and have a great circle of friends I ask myself do I look to jump on the latest dating app or just be happy as I am. The latter seems much more acceptable to me.

Sadly at 73 years of age my dad passed away only a few weeks ago and he wanted me to go and see the world and to make as many memories as possible. My mum and Dad would have been married 50 years come this April and they had so many wonderful times together. So that is what I am going to do make memories.

I have been asked to go to Canada on Rocky Mountaineer next month a place on earth that is so stunning in its natural beauty and for me that is where I will start making even more memories. Life is for living and it’s a huge world out there so Canada and the Rockies Here I come………..