Including disembarkation at Southampton, perhaps it should be Days 72 and 73/75. However, my Steps Challenge for Christian Aid ends at midnight tomorrow, 14th July.
12th July 2022.
At ten minutes past midnight this morning, according to Captain Hall in his noon address today, he announced that at 00.10 hrs, we were exactly halfway to Southampton.
I attended Alastair Greener’s excellent account of the life and times of the former Cunard liner, now Hotel in Dubai, Queen Elizabeth 2. My very first cruise was on this ship in December 1988, but I no longer can get into my very first tuxedo! After the lecture, I joined a handful of others who wanted to add their stories, all of which were fascinating and well worth hearing. A few of us joined him in the Carinthia Lounge for an hour or so in the late afternoon.
Just two full days remain before the return to reality, which I still (naturally) have mixed feelings about. But all good things do have to come to an end, and I was expecting to be far more “saddened” as this holiday of a lifetime accelerates towards July 15th. So, I have to start thinking about packing, one last effort to safely put everything away for the journey home.
Wednesday 13th July
When I looked at the TV Navigational Channel on waking up this morning, it was 9.30! I’m going to have to do better than that the day after tomorrow when I’m asked to leave Queen Mary 2 at 08.45hrs. Last night, I joined people for dinner, including a couple I dined with the previous evening. Cunard laid on a comedian for the main show. He must have been quite good because I was laughing much of the time. Even so, his show was much of a muchness. Again afterwards, I looked in on a couple venues. Wigan lass Georgina Jackson who learned the trumpet at 8 years of age had long since perfected her craft and was entertaining in a crowded Queens Room where it was difficult to find a convenient seat. I moved on; the Irish duo had the punters in the Golden Lion in the palms of their hands; I moved on, intending to get that extra lap in on the Promenade Deck. I bumped into Kelvin whose limo I shared in New York for the ride from the hotel to the cruise terminal in Brooklyn. I did walk eventually and have just 9,484 steps to hit the final target of 1.5 million, total for the entire Challenge. The plan is to complete this challenge, tonight, a day early. Again, the seas are calm, and it remains cool in the shade. There is no adjustment to the time today. We remain at GMT. It’s safe to contact home, now, without the risk of waking people up at 3am! Crew Drill this morning was completed before I was ready to start walking. Now I am ready. My body clock says it’s 07.44, but in reality, the Captain’s noon day address is in just 15 minutes.
I shouldn’t have stayed up so late last night, in conversation. I don’t think I have ever met a Vietnam War Veteran before. Maybe I have without knowing it. His philosophy on life may be completely different to mine, but I was amazed at his quiet conversation, and could talk with him and his wife for hours, given the opportunity.
The last 9,484 steps feel the hardest. However, I am just around 300 steps away from that final target of 1.5 million which I have revised twice on this recent 74 or 75 day journey which took me between 9° and 59° north of the Equator.
The dreaded packing is underway. But this is hampered by this evening being a Gala/Formal night. That means keeping the tuxedo out until either late tonight or tomorrow. I have just enjoyed tea and scones (no cakes or sandwiches) at today’s Afternoon Tea in the Queens Room where the harpist returned to entertain the cake and sandwich eaters. The room is completely empty now as cleaners vacuum this venue for tonight’s Roaring Twenties themed celebrations. It is now 17.08 hrs GMT, just 1 hour behind U.K. Time.
After around half an hour in the Queens Room, following dinner, I decided on an earlier night, the remainder of the packing being put off until the next day
Many thanks for reading. David, having just got up the following morning.
David's Cruise 