At around 06.45hrs, that is a quarter to ten back home(!), after a good sleep despite “bumpy” seas, I poked my head through the curtains of one of my oversized port holes. The foaming sea was the colour of graphite, the sky, dull white and featureless. The creeking of my room, and the unusual noise of the water outside (The soundproofing is effective) gave me to anticipate mountainous seas, splashing against the glass. (not so). The navigational information describes these sea conditions as “moderate”. An hour later, and the sun is out, the skies clear, and the Atlantic Ocean “dark-ink” blue with lovely white foam creating an “angry marble” effect.
I don’t know if it did cool down last night, but as I write at 08.23, the air temperature is a welcome 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The maps indicate Newfoundland now opposite our starboard side and the land mass that is North America (Bay of Funday), now evident on the left of the picture.
Yesterday, I all but abandoned my diet. I did walk enough to compensate slightly. Lunch in the Verandah, a “once per voyage” treat, did the damage! A “partial” afternoon tea didn’t help and although I did forego potatoes at dinner, I more or less suspended the diet for that day. Walking, more of an effort that afternoon, was interrupted by convivial conversation on the Promenade Deck. For whatever reason, I felt a tad mixed up and messed up. But not so this morning as the sights of a lifetime beckon over the remaining nine weeks. Now the sun’s out, I do have to start packing for the next leg of this extensive tour. I expect to write more towards the end of the day. This evening is the final Gala (formal) night, themed as a Masquerade Ball. Shall give my white tuxedo a second airing tonight. The trouble is, it makes me look like the “ice cream man! “This evening, I donned my black tuxedo for the gala dinner and the penultimate night “Parade of the Chefs”. I suppose for first-timers, this livens up the Britannia Restaurant. Not all 140 chefs took part in the parade, which, after seeing 20 or 30 times, for me is a tiresome interruption which was much better in pre H & S days when a huge sparkler laden fire risk Baked Alaska led the walk-about. Tonight’s parade was met with the usual serviette waiving enthusiasm with guests leaving their tables to photograph the event. I started packing tonight, and I see no reason for any last minute panic. I spent the day more or less alone, attending the superbly illustrated 60s music lecture by Steve King, whose delivery was extremely good. This was followed by Brian Hawley’s presentation on the first Queen Mary. Excellent it was, too.Before dinner, I watched the movie “The Greatest Showman”, which had its premier on board Queen Mary 2 not so long ago, perhaps 2017. I thoroughly enjoyed this film charting the chequered establishment of the Barnham Circus in the late 19th Century.I don’t think the air temperature reached the 72 degrees Fahrenheit indicated on the TV. Nevertheless, it was possible to bask in the sun despite fairly strong winds from the North West. All in all, a very good day, tinged with flashes of sadness as I remembered Richard C. Faber Jnr., from Manhattan, unfortunately no longer with us. He was brilliant company on previous voyages, and I learned so much from him during the small number of years we were in touch. Finally, we are heading towards Halifax Nova Scotia owing to a critical medical emergency. We shouldn’t be docking there; the plan is for an emergency craft to rendez-vous with QM2 at 4am.The illustration below shows the ship diverting to a north westerly course towards Halifax.
Time to put my watch back a fourth hour.
Thanks for reading,
David.
David's Cruise 