Wonderful is this sultry warm weather.
I spent much of this morning re-writing yesterday’s blog. Thus, although I was up in time to watch as we left Manaus shortly after 07.15hrs, I didn’t have breakfast until 10.45, a good time to take my malaria medication.
It is around two weeks since I switched tables to one occupied by Jo who, with Joyce, had joined my table back in 2018. Therefore, it’s about time for introductions. There are nine of us for dinner on most evenings: Hose and Aidan from Hawick, a town once served by the railway Waverley Route over which I made two journeys before its ridiculous closure in 1969. Brian and Kate also hail from north of the Border. Viv and Ginny (another Virginia!) represent Wales. Janet ” stands up for North London, Jo for the Sussex Coast (St. Leonard’s) and me, Buxton!
I have just entered the final month of being 70, and plans are in hand for some kind of celebration from when I shall “cling on” to being 71!
The Cunard brochure assures its guests and “would-be” passengers that nothing is too much trouble, and indeed, when celebrating my birthday on the Queen Mary 2 in 2018, the dining room crew “went all out” to stage an excellent dinner at the Captain’s table, festooned with balloons and with specially over-printed menus. QM2 World Cruise 2018 invitation cards were provided and delivered to invitees. Nothing was too much trouble.
On board Q.V. last year, my birthday celebrations seemed to cause some confusion and bewilderment, but turned out most satisfactorily after a few little misunderstandings had been rectified.
This year, a table for eighteen is already causing mild consternation. “We can do anything Cunard” seem to be tumbling at this first elementary hurdle. That, most understandably is because, unlike an hotel, many tables on cruise ships, by obvious necessity, are bolted down.
I have just been joined by a fellow guest at an outside table, where not long before, I had enjoyed another al fresco breakfast, aft on deck 9, but, still shaded from the hot sun by one of several awnings. I had then stayed and relaxed while compiling today’s blog. Conversation which, far from scintillating, revealed her as just a year younger than I, and confirmed my wisdom of having stayed single! She asked me what type of phone on which I was typing my blog….”not sure,” I replied, sensing an on-coming “why haven’t you….etc etc.” “Samsung A70,” I then confirmed. I wasn’t wrong; she pulled the kind of face a disgruntled cat might make when confronted with a dish of fake Kattomeat! (I could go on)
The Deputy Captain’s noon day announcement was a welcome interruption. After ascertaining we had sailed 7,888 nautical miles since leaving Southampton, I mumbled “excuse me,” got up and left, soon finding a seat in the Royal Court Theatre in time for a lecture discussing the possibility of alien life! “Frying pan to fire….?”
This was the first in a series by Dr Sue Bowler of the Royal Astronomical Society and University of Leeds. Her delivery was fluent, interesting and scientific. A lot of the detail was too much for my non- academic brain. Nevertheless, I am tempted to attend her second presentation.
Earlier, I passed on Clare Balding’s talk on sport. I suspect this lecture was “full, and standing room only.”
I have no plans today, other than to watch as we return along the now muddy Amazon, slightly lighter in colour than earlier today.
Janet “rescued” me from my splendid solitude as I continued writing at a window table in the Lido…out of the burning sun that I had longed for back home, and will do again. In fact, I was glad of the company of both Janet and Jo who kindly “fetched me a brew.”
Now to relax outside for a short while, and then walk the Promenade Deck hoping the mosquitoes are far off.
More later Thanks for reading,
David.
(above)
Leaving Manaus: note in the last two pictures, Rio Negro (clear blue/black) alongside the Rio Solimoes converge to flow side by side before reaching the “birth of the mighty Amazon.” The current is behind us now and we are thus exiting quicker downstream rather than battling in the opposite direction.
David. 16.26 hrs, 1st February 2020.
David's Cruise 