Day 54 Looking Back to yesterday in pictures.

1) Mein Schiff 4 at Port Rashid, Dubai, in front of QM2 25/3/192) QE2 from QM2, 25/3/193, 4, and 5) Departure from Dubai, and a last look at QE2.All the above, Day 53. Published Day 54Day 54, 26th March 2019. So, here I am on the final leg of this round the world tour, on board Queen Mary 2. 1,400 had, apparently embarked at Dubai, yesterday.The accumulation of laundry has been sent for washing, and crumpled jackets and trousers, re-pressing. Because of the location of the plug sockets in my stateroom, I am unable to charge my phone there. That’s an inconvenience I could do without. However, the Purser’s Office has agreed to charge it each night.This last leg is really an opportunity to relax and take excersise for the final 20 days. Needless to say, however, I have booked shore excursions for all ports except Cyprus. I don’t like the idea of being sung to, like on last year’s trip! Little seems to have changed since I was on QM2 last year, and found the “welcome back” from various staff most gratifying. I have chosen not to return to Petra; instead, while in Jordan, I am doing two small trips, Wadi Rum, and a sunset dinner cruise. I attended a lecture this morning, but had difficulty staying awake. It was delivered by Conrad Humphreys, the Second in Command of a re-run of Captain Bligh’s voyage after the Mutiny on the Bounty incident, this being sponsored and financed by Channel 4. After lunch in the Britannia Restaurant, a couple from near Bradford I met during lunch, and I attended Graham’s port lecture on Aqaba. It was that which made me decide not to repeat the excellent Petra trip, which the tour desk gleefully tell me is sold out anyway! Of course, they will find another bus, and those on the wait list should be accommodated. I have met one or two from last year’s World Voyage who are doing the same this year. There is the usual mix of guests on board, and irritatingly, I am far from being amongst the youngest. Outside, it is pleasantly warm. The sea is calm. High time for a,walk! The trouble is, there are “roadworks” restricting access on parts of the Boat Deck. By that, I mean maintenance staff carrying out essential repairs and renewals. The sun set tonight behind a distant cloud-bank on the horizon. Watchers were thus bereft of spectacular skies. I have only one real issue, a slight but definite hint of something not very nice as one enters the corridor at which my stateroom is at the end. There are just four such inside cabins here. The others are Grill Suites, at the other end of the “scale”. They tell me “know one else has complained” but that stock answer doesn’t wash…and they agreed, fairly quickly, to shampoo the carpet. Time to change for what has been branded a “gala night”. What was wrong with the term “formal?”.Yet again, the Voyage Sales are not accepting deposits or enquiries for the maiden voyage of its new ship. These irritations are of no consequence. This journey remains among the most successful I have undertaken. Thanks for reading, David.