Monday, 9th February, at sea. Very calm water. 17 degrees

We are half way through The Voyage! It is now all up hill on the map and down hill going home. What do I think so far? It has been amazing and has far exceeded our expectations!

And so to today. It was still dark when we got up and it was also very cloudy, but now as I write it is brightening. The damp deck showed that it had been raining over night.

Ukulele was a bit ‘raggy’ this morning and a new person joined the group. Apparently she bought a ukulele in Southampton before she boarded the ship and has only just plucked up the courage to come along to a session. They are a very nice bunch so she has been gathered up and will be fine I am sure, but she has missed so many days of fun before now. A bit of a shame for her. She has a very vibrant purple ukulele though which my teacher John would not approve of!

Bridge was a bit bumpy too, but no lesson today i.e. no more new rules thank goodness. We were just playing the hands and practising bidding. I didn’t know these things existed. However, I have to mention that I was given a new responsibility today – that of pencil monitor!! (Many are called but few are chosen….) This occurred because we had not brought a writing implement to record our scores, so I went up to teacher to see if I could get some for the table and I was asked to pass them round. Teachers pet or what!?!

When we went up on the deck after Bridge we saw whales spouting! The first time we have seen this so far on this trip. One came close enough for us to see his body under the water. Keith, my guide on these things confirmed it was a humpback whale. If only I hadn’t snoozed through that Orca training at the beginning of the trip! (And yesterday’s albatrosses were finally confirmed as Antipodean Albatross, which is a very special sighting…one of my favourites on the trip so far, I think. A wonderful bird. Ed)

At the 12:00 noon bell the Captain gave his usual review of the ship’s then current position, depth of the ocean etc. but then also announced that we were to make an unplanned stop to allow a sick passenger off the ship. This has given rise to all sorts of speculation as to the nature of the ill health issue that could not wait until tomorrow when it is likely that Santiago will have bigger or better medical facilities. Let us hope that his symptoms improve and that he can rejoin us later. In any event we are heading for the coast now to drop the patient and his wife off as I write.

The diversion allowed us to come within the sight of land unexpectedly. The poor chap and his wife were taken off by tender to an awaiting ambulance and lets hope a satisfactory outcome. Meanwhile we had a nice view, the sun came out and the birds were very evident if a bit low key on the variety stakes. (The bird variety stakes that is.)

Eventually it was time to turn away from our unplanned stop and get back on course for San Antonio our next port of call.

It was such a lovely evening we took the opportunity for a picture overlooking the sea while we waited to get into the dining room. Thank goodness Keith found the orange earring!

The debut of the new haircut!

Our dinner corner was bathed in sunlight and was so hot there is a danger of sunstroke while dining! The sun streamed in (at last) and it got quite hot by the end of the meal.

Tomorrow we arrive in San Antonio the main port for Santiago. We have a day tour planned and have to leave at 7.30. Something of an early start. We need our beauty sleep so it’s over and out until tomorrow.