Sunday, 25th January. A sea day. (We love sea days!! Ed) 24 degrees and sunny

We had no pressing engagements except my ukulele at 9 and Bridge at 10.00 so a bit of a ‘lounge-y’ start. In fact promenading was a bit of an isolated affair as Keith wanted to hurtle and I wanted a more sedate approach to the day…..(Hurtle? I wasn’t hurtling! But then again I wasn’t feeling lounge-y either Ed)

Given the difference in pace, we breakfasted separately too, although there was a bit of an overlap. We have taken to having breakfast outside on fine sea days. After a quick dash back to the cabin, shower and change of clothes it was off to my ukulele session. Friend Lynn had saved me a seat at the front, so there was no excuses today for not keeping up!

Then on to bridge which today became absolutely hysterical for some reason. There are just so many rules. Each session we go to we find more. Rumour has it that there is a new teacher and assistant coming on board in Montevideo who are allegedly a better teachers. Good old Gerald our current guru goes home. My concern is that the new tutors are going to be more strict. They are not likely to take to the antics of us at the naughty boys end of class. None of the other tables have people almost falling off their chairs with laughter. I have a feeling it is usually quite a serious game… (It is – but definitely not the way we play it. Ed)

Having a bit of spare time before lunch, I then decided to scout around the launderettes to see whether there were any with scope for doing our washing, but no joy. I have to report that some undies washing is done in the cabin, but you can understand the tensions in our laundry department with my frequent changes to ensure I have the required ensemble to meet my various activities. I did manage to bag an iron to ensure that Keith’s shirt for the evening met the required standard, but on the way in met a lady who was hovering at the door, I said she could go first but apparently there had been ‘words’ and she was not going in until someone in the laundrette had gone. There are amazing tensions around.

After lunch I swiftly changed into the new swimsuit and lounged on the upper deck with my crossword with the great and the good. It was sunny but very windy and I had trouble keeping my crossword under control. Keith likes his quiet afternoons working on his opus. He is having a lot of fun researching with his AI friend Ro – who I am beginning to fear he thinks more of than me! (Oh that is so ridiculous and so funny. and so Pauline. Ed) Anyway he has his second pedicure today so has a date with the lovely Tonia, which he scampered off to with a happy heart.

Just to make you a little envious of our sea day – a couple of views…

We have had land off on the horizon most of the day, (Islands, apparently Ed) but this has now disappeared and there has been just the Atlantic Ocean for ages. We don’t get to Montevideo until Tuesday.

It is Burns Night so tonight’s dinner had Scottish overtones. It was of course another dressing up night but luckily sporrans weren’t a requirement, so the blue frock came out. It is the last of my evening clothes – from now on they will be repeats!!

Nevertheless we did not scrub up too badly…..

In deference to the day we both had the haggis starter with puréed swede and potatoes, Cock a Leekie soup and then I had Cranachan for my pudding, So we gave it our best shot. Then we were a bit surprised by the haggis being piped in and something of a parade around the room to the sound of bagpipes, all behind someone bearing two bottles of whisky. Then the Address to a Haggis was recited in its usual Burns unintelligible language. This took place in the dining room at some distance away from us, so I could not tell you whether whisky was involved or not. On a point of detail here, I thought the addressing the haggis thingy usually takes place before the meal at a Burns supper, but what do I know?!? (Q: What’s the definition of a Scottish gentleman? A: Someone who can play the bagpipes – but doesn’t Ed

We decided to pass on the night’s entertainment. I did a couple of laps on the promenade deck, having taken off my finery. And so to bed.

Tomorrow we have the ‘Walk the Deck for The Teenage Cancer Trust.