David's Cruise

Surely, it can’t get any better than this.

It is Day 1 of 69 of a journey which begins with, a now, almost “routine” westbound transatlantic ocean crossing to New York, and then, a train ride of around four hours, to Schenectady for my first night on the North American Continent. Nevertheless, I remain as excited as I always have been, but perhaps, without having counted the days from months before. Mid morning the following day, I shall continue from Schenectady to Toronto on Amtrak’s Maple Leaf, continuing a journey I first took in June/ July 2013. From there, after 4 nights at The Royal York Hotel, it’s back on the train for a three days and a quarter, journey to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies where I am informed that mousse which roams the streets, should not be approached!The remainder of the journey to Vancouver, is by The Rocky Mountaineer travelling in daylight for two days, spending the intervening night in Kamloops. Three further nights ensue in Vancouver, before embarking Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth for a rare foray into Alaska, not usually in Cunard’s repertoire. The journey home, again on the Queen Elizabeth, is by way of Victoria, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cabot St. Lucas-Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Aruba, USA, Canada, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland.The ambience in the cruise terminal this morning at Southampton was almost celebratory with people either returning home from their European and/or U.K. vacation, or travelling across “The Pond” either for the first or umpteenth time. I did meet one couple who would be making their way by train and car to Vancouver for the 49 night voyage home on QE, and another who were taking, not for the first time, a round trip, allowing just one day in The Big Apple. Core!

I am very pleased and impressed with my almost new (2016) single cabin on 3 Deck, where the photo gallery used to be. The accommodation resembles that of a decent hotel with two large circular windows separated by a spacious writing area. To my mind, this rivals the balconied staterooms which, although for double occupancy, seem to occupy little more area. For that reason, I declined the now rare opportunity for a complimentary upgrade.

As has become a more regular occurrence, my neighbour Roger, brought me down from home in my car, obviating the panic of being ready in time for trains, and assuring plenty of “wiggle room” to allow for the most catastrophic of possible events…within reason! Still being unready for a hoped for midday departure from home, we managed to avoid being caught up in a major accident which had occurred earlier. Congestion at embarkation was minimal and I am now safely on board awaiting my luggage.
History repeats itself; the compulsory life boat drill is taking place at muster station K in the Queens Grill, which was the location I was allocated when occupying cabin 4198 on QM2’s maiden voyage to Fort Lauderdale in January 2004. Could this a ploy by Cunard to encourage “guests” to book for higher grade Grills accommodation on future voyages?… I’m sure it isn’t!
Well, that’s another boat drill complete; soon we shall slip our moorings and the now familiar journey along the Solent will begin.The dull and cool feeling day of earlier, suddenly morphed into something more akin to the beginning of summer. I do like this single cabin, but, time will tell whether it’s a quiet part of the ship. I watched yet another sail-away, at the aft end on Deck 8, with the resident pop group belting out familiar melodies prompting occasional dancing, but not the full floor of previous “sail-aways”. But, the atmosphere remains convivial.There is little further to add. Watching through these big circular picture windows as we progress along the Solent creates another perspective to this familiar journey. In the near distance, I was able, eventually, recognise Portsmouth where my brother, Tommie, was a chemistry lecturer at the university. Opposite, and, obviously out of sight, on the starboard side, Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, where his remaining immediate family remain settled. I had become very “heavy-eyed” by the time we did cast off at around 17.45.

Note: Blogging is becoming less easy; photographs fail to upload and for some reason, the spacing of my script defaults to continuous writing with few gaps. This might be an “at sea” problem which may resolve itself later on. It might be, on the other hand, the limitations of my phone, or the non-paying deal I have with WordPress. Helpful comments always welcome!

Thank you for reading this.

David.

A handful of days ago, with, yet again, a similar number of days left before I would resume my “global adventures”, I realised that I needed to confirm that my vaccinations were up to date. My medical centre recommended a place in Manchester who would be able to take care of any outstanding requirements.

Today, I commenced walking to the railway station, my place of employment for 43 years, including 21 years based at the nearby loco depot. From here, a late running train was about to leave.

I am writing this blog in the 6th floor “restaurant” of what was Kendals in Manchester, my very first place of gainful employment. In April 1966, I gained a week’s experience, while still at school, in the Boy’s Department. I remember very little of this embryonic time of earning a living. In September of that year, having scraped through just three G.C.E. O-levels in English, French, and Art, I commenced full time employment in Kendals’ “Trunks Dept” (Dept 52) on the basement floor. Mr. Curtis was the Buyer, Mr. Forth the Assistant Buyer, Mr.Baldwin, Mr.Dyer, Mrs McDonald, another lady, (I think, Mrs Glover) and eventually me, were sales assistants. Mr. Forth passed away while in service. I progressed to the Dept 65 (Toys) for the rest of my time at Kendals, moving on to a new career as Dealer Representative for Flymo in January 1970. Personnel in the Toys department included Mr. Young, the Buyer, Mr. Hedley his assistant, Mr. Peter Thorpe the grumpy but highly amusing Senior Salesman, and a bevy of attractive female staff who regarded me with less admiration! Carl Bowen looked after the stock room.

Around 10 years ago, maybe more, Kendals reinvented itself as House of Fraser. It had been part of that organisation even during my employment in there in the late 1960s, the flagship store being Harrods. Occasionally, usually in connection with later work, I would walk past and observe a subtle “it’s-not-what-it, used-to-be” feeling about it. Around two years ago, its closure was announced; today it is “rescued” the saviour whose name escapes me. All six floors are full of merchandise. The sense of occasion ambience is no longer so evident. Strangely, the Trunks Dept has plenty more to offer, now on the fifth floor. I remember selling Samsonite back in the day. Samsonite remains prominent and plentiful in 2019…and expensive!

I also walked past Brown Street where for a short while, I was a life assurance consultant with Canada Life. Unintentionally, I had revisited three of my five places of employment, a journey down Memory Lane I doubt I will take too often.

And yes, my travel inoculations are up to date and valid for next week’s journey.

Walking back to Piccadilly Station, I retraced steps of a life long ago firstly to St. Ann’s Church which I would visit very occasionally during my brief time at Canada Life. By that time, the office had transferred from the dingy Victorian accommodation on Brown Street (since demolished) to much more becoming and modern premises on St. Ann’s Square. My career there was hardly glittering and I left after around 18 months. I did, however, attain a very good understanding of the life assurance industry which would stand me in good stead throughout my life.

I revisited the Church which felt larger than I recall, and very much more interesting. One of the clergy (I presume, judging by his clerical attire) engaged me in brief conversation. I explained that I had heard Lord Longford speak there in the early 1970s. He assured me he would try to find reference to his visit in church records, and invited me back after my travels.

Today was gloriously sunny and Manchester vastly different from how I recall it over 45 years ago. I took photographs on my phone with the same enthusiasm I had in San Francisco or Melbourne. I am now on the train home. There was a service ready to leave as soon as I arrived at the station.

I enjoyed my oddysey to the days of yore with almost the agility and stamina of half a century ago. I can’t say the same about my hair! Although I have lost weight recently, I am still over 3 stone heavier than I was in my twenties….another sign of the times.

The restaurant (above three pictures) on what was Kendals’ 6th floor, the days of silverware and table linen long since gone.

Down one floor to where the “Trunks Dept” now is.

An extensive choice of luggage!

The 4th floor. It was around this pillar (first picture) that I held an exhibition of railway memorabilia in September 1968 to commemorate The End of Steam on British Rail a month earlier, as illustrated here. Most of the signage handwritten by the Display Dept survives in my collection.

This area (above) in the basement was once the location of the Boy’s Dept. We would supply uniforms for some of the high-end schools in the North of England, as well as boys’ casual ware.

The now slightly less prominent Art Deco exterior of the former Kendals, without the neon “KENDALS” which gave the building its special look during the “glory days”.

(Above) Two views of Police Street, off the now pedestrianised King Street, immediately behind the original Kendals of the mid to late 19th Century, which was still the furniture building. A subway passage beneath Deansgate used to connect both the old and “new” buildings.

The short lived offices of Canada Life in St. Ann’s Square.

Inside and outside St. Ann’s Church.

Brown Street. The newer buildings in the first picture are roughly where the long term location of Canada Life, on the 2nd floor was; the Victorian red brick buildings long since torn down. The second picture illustrates the style of architecture which these new buildings replaced, and to which the original buildings were attached.

Today’s nostalgic journey was not planned, and did not materialise this way until after my visit to the “travel clinic”. Walking into Kendals was on impulse; being so very close by, curiosity got the better of me. I returned home by train, calling briefly at the train crew facilities to have a chat with former colleagues. I then took a taxi to the Polling station, cast my vote for the European Elections and walked home the rest of the way.

My school friend, now of around 65 years called. We reminisced for an hour and eight minutes. Another sign of the times. Now, with less than a week before driving to Southampton for the start of my further travels, I must focus on preparing for an astonishing trip to Central and North America.

David.

The drive from Buxton on Wednesday was in excellent warm bright and dry weather; the roads, while busy, were not too clogged up. There were occasional minor traffic jams, and I arrived at my “hotel” just before 6pm, having left Buxton almost five hours earlier. When I set off, the sat-nav estimated my time of arrival to be 16.00hrs. After a break for lunch, and having dropped off a family heirloom at Penrose’s (near Chatsworth) for restoration, I was now expected to arrive at 17.08hrs. This grew later mainly as a result of occasional slow moving traffic and a second “comfort stop”. I have described, already, my hotel accommodation. The following day, I would meet a cruise table companion from my World Voyage of last year, Martin Narey, who lives in North Yorkshire. He had devised an excellent itinerary for much of the day, which took in a ride from Whitby to Goathland, steam hauled, a walk back to Grosmont, around four miles along the original railway which, originally was “horse-drawn” operated and, hopefully back to Whitby by train, in time for fish and chips at the best fish and chips shop in the U.K. We missed the train “by a long shot” and returned to Whitby by taxi. Even after 3pm, the queue for the cafe stretched out on to the pavement. Service, however, was rapid and we didn’t have to wait long to be seated and “plaice” our order with the waitress. All too soon, a most pleasant day had passed and I had been taken back to my hotel. An item in my collection was a framed and glazed auction poster for a house in Sandsend, an area of Whitby dated in the 1890s. This, I thought, might be an appropriate present for my friends in Whitby. It will soon be on display much nearer to its place of origin than ever it was in Buxton. All that was yesterday. Today, I achieved what I had set out to do some time ago, and travelled both ways the entire length of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Whitby to Pickering.My fish and chip lunch prevented me from wanting an evening meal, although I had walked into Whitby from my hotel in an attempt to develop an appetite. In the end, I bought a light snack from the Co-op situated on former railway land, once part of Whitby station.

Usually, I take numerous photographs both on my phone and with my small camera. But today, I merely wanted to enjoy the wooded undulating and sometimes dramatic scenery which still feels unspoiled. I did take a few pictures. At Pickering, I had three hours to explore (and eat!). Prominent at the top of one of a hill, in Pickering’s town centre, stands the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Originally, a Saxon church, it was rebuilt by the Normans in the 11th Century. I had stumbled across a phenomenal piece of (now) well preserved and highly important piece of history. Father Antony Pritchett is the 31st priest since the church’s establishment in the 11th century. At 3pm, I was once again on board a steam train heading back to Whitby. At Grosmont, the ex- Southern Railway Schools Class No. 926 which I think I last saw at Steamtown USA, was replaced by a Class 25 diesel locomotive, reminding me of my early train driving career. Tomorrow, I drive home at my leisure ensuring I am back in good time to familiarise myself with the passage I am reading in church the following day.

Here are a few pictures.(Written the following morning, 18/5/19).The first picture illustrates a cast iron North Eastern Railway (pre 1923) trespass notice, still in place decades after the railway to which it applied had been dismantled. It now marks the commencement of a walk along this former track bed from Goathland to Grosmont.Picture 2. Typical pleasant scenery along this walk (approximately 4 miles)Picture 3. A restored rare class 101 three car diesel multiple unit; I used to drive these and similar units between Buxton and Manchester Piccadilly/Oxford Road. (1980-around 2001)Pictures 4 and 5. The restored medieval wall paintings inside the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Pickering, taken during a three hour visit to the town. (17th May 2019).Picture 6. The market town of Pickering.Pictures 7 and 8 The grade 2 listed Pickering railway station with its overall roof thankfully intact.Pictures 9 and 10 Journey’s End, Whitby.It’s time to pack and drive home.Probably, the next writings will chart my imminent meanderings across North America, nd elsewhere, at the end of this month.DN.

In between trips around the world, and other long-haul adventures, it is refreshing to venture back to other halcyon days, when any travel abroad was “out of the question”. Even today’s short break to Whitby, staying a few days in a former mansion overlooking Yorkshire’s Eden Valley, would be a very rare treat indeed.

Larpool Hall, around a mile from Whitby Town Centre, and up a steep hill, now provides recently renovated accommodation at fairly hefty hotel prices. What you then get is a freshly decorated room with more than adequate and seemingly brand new en-suite facilities. A small flat screen television is wall mounted to alleviate possible boredom if England’s lack-lustre climate decides to be too inclement to venture out. I like the way the sleeping accommodation has been decorated, plain and flower patterned walls. The beds are of hotel standard and far more comfortable than my now ancient bed at home. Breakfast gives scant regard to my brutal diet regime and is both plentiful and utterly delicious. However, the first night reminded me that structures erected at the end of the 18th century are, generally, noisy buildings, every footstep marked by an amplifying thud, and the twittering of said wall mounted televisions, not a problem in 1798! Inadvertently, I had signed up for three days of sleep deprivation as the occupant of the room directly above mine would pace up and down, not only in the hours leading up to 11.30pm, but from 05.30 the following morning. In desperation, at around 06.30hrs, I Googled the nearest Premier Inn to Whitby. Every town has at least one….but not Whitby. Gently, I voiced my concerns to who I believe is a manager. I was offered another room with no other accommodation above. Peace, perfect peace, but perhaps not for the person next door as I watched (as I do at home) “Question Time” which follows the BBC’s news broadcasts at 10pm. Aware of the possible leakage of sound to next door, and possibly even further, I kept the volume to an almost inaudible level. Next door “retaliated” at a respectable 7.30 the following (this) morning!

Right now, I am finishing a ham salad lunch in Russell’s cake shop and cafe in Pickering, Yorkshire, where, unbelievably, I have found a home for my hundreds of railway periodicals which I need no longer. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway have agreed to relieve me of them. That means their consignment to landfill is delayed! In fact, I do hope that eventually, they find a new home, or several new homes. De-cluttering my house is “a work in progress”, and a long term one at that. But for these three/four days, I am enjoying for the first time, travelling the length of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between Whitby and Pickering. I shall write more on these three days soon.

All the best, David.

One thing was extraordinarily fortunate on our return from Dubai, bad weather was close by, but did not impact on any port visits I took part in. I believe one shore excursion did get caught in a local downpour, and strong winds did cause the cancellation of a dinner cruise in Aqaba, to view the sunset. But the sun shone on visits to Omodos in Cyprus, Rome, Barcelona and Lisbon. Welcome warmth, but not excessive heat, prevailed throughout, with Celcius temperatures in the mid-teens, 20 in Lisbon. I enjoyed a much better over-view of these cities than I did in the 1980s when exploring these places independently.

I was surprised and delighted that adhering to Virginia’s diet, coupled with deck and other walking between 3 and 7 miles on most days resulted in a much better than expected weight loss. I have a further six weeks to maintain this regime before setting off for New York, by ship, of course!

Disembarking at Southampton this morning, a cool wind made standing outside waiting for transport uncomfortable. But warmer days are promised as Easter approaches.

Being at home now, it’s hard to believe the vast journey I have travelled; it seems as if I have been home all the time. Hopefully, the memories will be future treasures as I recall, for instance, flying over Ayers Rock.

Tonight, I went for a curry. No bread roll with the soup, and just chicken and low fat sauce for the main course, no rice! A decent side salad, however.

That really does close my present blog.

I reiterate,

Thanks for reading,

David

So here we are at the end of yet another glorious oddysey, during which I saw the sky over:-San Francisco USA. Long Beach USA, Honolulu USA. Apia, Samoa. Tonga. Auckland, Tauranga, Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth, Australia. Singapore. Dubai UAE. Salalah, Oman. Aqaba, Jordon, with Israel across the water. Wadi Rum, Jordon. Suez Egypt. Limassol, Cyprus. Rome, Italy. Barcelona, Spain. Lisbon, Portugal.

Those of you who kindly followed my blog, I do hope you enjoyed this modest account of my incredible tour. And I thank you for your interest. Hopefully, when I arrive back at home, I shall be able to post these final writings with much better internet availability. My packing is almost complete, but I think I have only just enough space; some things never change!

Most people, although they have enjoyed their cruise, do seem thankful to be disembarking tomorrow. In some ways, I am, too, but not with enormous enthusiasm! Wandering as a stranger to different lands is as agreeable as I anticipated all those years ago. However, these global meanderings will resume at the end of May when I shall revisit familiar cities and explore new countries.

The return from Dubai (UAE) on board QM2 continues to be an attractive voyage, although I did the right thing by reaching the UAE, via a westbound course taking almost eight weeks, rather than the ghastly eastbound overnight flight from the UK. Few people who prefixed their holiday with two or three days on QE2 were happy with their choice. To be fair, I doubt if I would have enjoyed my stay, following an overnight flight and hanging around in Dubai for six hours before being welcomed on board QE2.

My travel agent “did me proud”. Not one of the numerous arrangements went wrong, all the car transfers went to plan, no flights were altered or incorrect, and all the trains and buses ran on schedule. All extremely impressive. Lucy and her colleagues at Fred (Olsen) Cruises deserve the highest praise for their exemplary and imaginative service.

I did become, occasionally, “travel weary”, inevitable considering the numerous time changes involved in a trip to the other side of the world. But, this has been not only a privilege but an enriching experience.

Like last year, I intend writing an illustrated account of this journey after my arrival home. But before all that, a final dinner where reluctantly for her, Virginia’s birthday will no doubt be “trumpeted”. We have all bought presents. Mine, although wrapped beautifully, I’m afraid, falls into the “it’s the thought that counts” category!

After dinner, The Rewind Project take to the stage in the Queens Room for a farewell party. This, I must see.

Today may be the first day I fail to reach my modest steps target. We are now out of the Bay of Biscay and in the choppy and very windy mouth of the English Channel. The ship is as steady as a building. I tried a deck walk, but the head-wind overwhelmed me, and I was reminded of my still slightly fragile condition. But 41 days out of 73, of the benefit of sea air can only be good. Virginia’s diet (from which I strayed just once or twice) has been of enormous help, and hopefully I can defer the introduction of diabetic medication which I have avoided for over 8 years.

We bade our farewells during the final dinner at Table 112. Vicky and I headed for the farewell party in the Queens Room where yesterday’s brilliant band performed an enlarged set for tonight’s gig. The place was packed and the atmosphere joyously noisy. Marvellous, and had a second helping of Nights in White Satin!

For some reason, the pictures won’t upload.

Until the next time, thanks for following my blog.

Best wishes,

David.

Generally, there are two sea days before the final day of disembarkation, and this voyage is no exception. This provides supposedly ample opportunity to pack for the forward journey, wherever that may be, usually home, and that period of “withdrawal symptoms”. Last year, at the same point in the voyage, packing turned out to be chaotic, and my needing to buy “extra capacity” so as to leave nothing behind. I think I have learned from that experience. So, this morning, with just one full day left, I have made an excellent start and am confident that I have more than enough room for everything.

So, how do I look back on my first, and hopefully, not my last global circumnavigation? With absolute pleasure, and the wish that I could do this all the time! That, of course, would be at the expense of a good life I enjoy at home, and seeing friends and family, which I could not give up. Therefore, “all the time” should read once or twice a year, leaving ample time to enjoy being at home.

And now, after 70 days, I do look forward to being met by my neighbour and friend from over the road, and seeing my beloved car again. (Proud to be Peugeot!). St. John’s Church is another place I look forward to re-acquainting myself with, and of course, the infinite surrounding countryside in which to explore.

But now, it’s time for a Captain’s cocktail party…At 11.15. I do feel I should attend.

This event was the Senior Officers’ Party which I remember on QE2 as the Ward Room Party. I did find good company during this event so wasn’t “lost” in a sea of people I didn’t know, as can happen at these popular occasions.

The sea appears calm. However, a slight swell from the North West is hitting the ship at an angle of around 45 degrees, resulting in more movement than usual. I fear a slightly uncomfortable passage across the Bay of Biscay; I “got away with it” both outward and return last year.

In fact, this year there was nothing to worry about as the minor discomforts earlier in the day subsided.

It is now day 72, just after midnight. The penultimate show in the Royal Court Theatre was a proper 60s concert by The Rewind Project (T.R.P.). Rarely do I buy the CD but tonight’s show was probably one of the most enjoyable I remember remember on board a ship. Band members were from The Moody Blues and 10cc. “Nights in White Satin” may have been an inevitable pre-encore finale, but this was a storming and passionate rendition, beyond perfection.

I had intended to look back on the entire world tour, but will do so in a later blog at a more civilised hour. Right now, I am in the Queens Room where the Roaring Twenties Ball has just finished. A handful of people remain dancing to canned music. But, I shall retire so as to be able to make the most of the last full day at sea.

Thanks for reading,

David.

“The Rewind Project”

3115 steps.3123 3136. 3199 (63 ok)

Arrival on a bright sunny spring morning was around an hour late owing to strong headwinds approaching the Straits of Gibraltar, yesterday. I chose the Lisbon by River and Land tour, managing to get a good window seat on the coach, next to the central exit stairs. The trouble is, the coach keeps shutting down; I won’t be so fortunate if we have to change vehicles. Darn it! We are changing vehicles! It seems there is a “high-tech” failure. Never mind. I have just realised, this is tour group 13! We are now awaiting a replacement coach. Three guests have already “abandoned ship”, but I don’t really see the point. This is a nice three hour tour on a gorgeous spring day, and it promises to be a most pleasant final shore excursion.

Contemplating future travel projects, I am beginning to lean towards city visits by rail. It was my visit to Barcelona which “planted this particular seed”.

Oh dear! The tour guide is trying to keep up occupied as we wait for the replacement coach. There was the threat of a song, at which point, I would have bailed out. It’s now 11.30 and we are still waiting here.

The trip was very good, once the replacement coach arrived. The delay was almost two hours, but there was little evidence of discontent to speak of. As in other cities, we had glimpses of the main sights as the coach meandered through the streets of Lisbon. I recognised practically nothing from previous trips, and found Lisbon a most attractive and interesting place. A brief boat trip aboard the Opera, reminiscent of Liverpool’s Royal Iris of the 1970s, showed us the city from a riverside perspective which was extremely pleasant. Now, it’s time to contemplate, seriously, end of cruise packing. Pictures below were taken during today, and are in time order from the morning.

Thanks for reading,

David.

The 2019 QM2 World Voyage begins to draw to a close. People I know started packing a week ago.

Today is the traditional fund raising “Country Fayre” which our Captain tells us originated some 70 years ago when passengers would sell off their excess baggage items to lessen the imposition of last minute packing at the end of a very long cruise. This is the fourth such event I have attended, the first being on the QE2 when I came away with a sugar shaker from its Queens Grill, which I am sure the current owners in Dubai may like me to return to them! In 2007, as far as I remember, I made a donation for a Cunard identification badge with my name printed thereon. That was on board QM2. Last year, I successfully bid for a Bridge chart, which according to Chris the DJ, went for next to nothing, a tenth of its guide price, not knowing it was I who was the “lucky” bidder! As like last year, people were fingering this year’s bridge chart to death…that is how my conversation with Chris began in the first place, this year. I bought $20 of “Fayre Dollars” to support this annual event. And I shall attend the charity auction this year, although there is less that I am interested in this year. Last year, there was also a Cunard 175 pavement flag which attracted little interest. The bridge chart, allegedly worth around $3,000 dollars still awaits glazing and framing. There are the usual “garden fete” stalls dotted around the Queens Room. This year’s guess the total nautical miles QM2 has sailed, is since the start of its maiden voyage. I submitted two estimates between 2 and 5 million nautical miles after rough and probably very inaccurate mental calculations. Needless to say, I didn’t win; my guess of 2.5 million miles was just 400,000 out and a woman came closer to the correct figure, 2.1 million. For some reason, I thought my low end estimate was not nearly enough, submitting stupid guesses of 5.7 million and nearly 8m!

I decided that I would bid for the Bridge chart after all. Having both 2018 and 2019 charts would enhance my collection enormously. This was much less fingered than mine last year, which will need professional attention, unless I decide the marks are part of its history. Just in case the bidding exceeded my budget, I bought a couple of items, several coasters made from QM2 rope ($26.00) and a canvassed framed photograph signed by the ship’s senior officers. The bidding went quiet at $70.00. At that price, I decided to try for the other two, to keep the set intact. However, those went for between two and three times my winning bid for the first image. The room was becoming empty by the time the Bridge chart came up as the auction’s “grand finale”. Oh dear….within a few seconds, bidding was into four figures, and sold eventually for over $2,000, against my bargain of $300 last year, which is still remembered with a degree of tongue in cheek disgust! I was also outbid on an opportunity to sound the ship’s siren (a Royal Navy term) at noon on one of the remaining sea days. A little old lady won that privilege at I think, around $180.00. She came up to me and thanked me for not out-bidding her; she had always wanted to sound the ship’s whistle (my terminology). If I had realised she was so keen, I would have stopped bidding much sooner. This of course, was an annual fund raising event, and, great fun.

Vicky has a dinner appointment with her friend Vivien in the Alternative Dining restaurant tonight. That leaves just me and Nick, and eventually Virginia, an exile from a slightly higher echelon. Virginia’s diet seems to be working well and is straightforward to come to grips with. However, my clothes seem to fit just as they did back in January. But, I would be a little miffed if all this effort had in fact preduced little or disappointing results. We’ll see.

My intention was to write about each individual day and “publish” as I went along. This worked alright until around Aqaba when the internet became far less reliable. Hopefully I shall find an internet cafe in Lisbon and have enough time to bring my blogs up to date.

Thanks for reading.

David

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Gosh and darn it! I forgot to watch as we passed Gibraltar. That rare opportunity won’t present itself too often.

Again, thanks for reading,

David

So, I decided, eventually, on the afternoon Panoramic Rome trip. there was still space available. Jolly good it was too. I doubt it was 18 degrees Celsius in Nottingham this afternoon! And the tour guide was perfect, pointing out all the important and interesting items but with huge periods of no commentary, but an invitation for questions throughout the journey. Perfect! My day went much better than I could have hoped for, and I enjoyed my day in Civitavecchia and Rome. It was a pity there was no time for brief periods at the places we passed by. But, the coach ride from the port into the capital city, and the tour around Rome made for a most pleasant afternoon.

Back on board I watched and filmed as both MSC cruise ships sailed by as their passengers cheered passing QM2. Both ships seemed to exude a joie de vivre, and a loud one at that It’s just a pity sirens were not exchanged as the ships sailed by. There must be a good reason. We too, are now leaving as the setting sun leaves a legacy of a spectacular sky.

Time now to prepare for dinner, and no doubt a comment about not making it to the trivia quiz!

I am posting this in Barcelona, hopefully.

David