Thursday 12th February, a sea day 17 degrees

I could feel the ship rolling as I woke up this morning. It was before dawn and still dark but the white tips to the waves could be seen through the window of our cabin. We were already walking when the sun came up. It was going to be a beautiful sea day …

The practice run for the Valentine’s Day ukulele session for family and friends was something of a fiasco. If a poor dress rehearsal is an indicator of a successful performance – it will be first rate! I will never know …

Bridge was a challenge and made me feel very tired somehow. I think it is all that exercise for the brain matter. I think I played my hands correctly, but I genuinely felt like I needed a lie down in a darkened room afterwards!

It is such a glorious day – I thought a couple of sea photographs were in order.

Glorious!

We found out during the Captain’s lunch time ‘address’ that the noise of the engine that kept Keith awake at just after midnight last night was an exercise that took place to test the ship’s compasses. It involved turning the vessel right round through 360 degrees – three times! No wonder he did not know whether he was on foot or horseback!! I was conscious of something going on but maintained my high resistance to being disturbed…..ZZzzzz

I thought today’s talk at 11.15 was an interesting one for this audience – it was billed as being a talk on how to build your confidence. Hmmm! I could not help but feel that this particular ship might well have sailed for the majority of the people who were likely to attend. I might go to the speaker’s next one though – how to manage worry. Now that I could usefully use!

Today has been a lazy day with not too much to report. After a few turns around the deck before lunch, we had our midday snack, a bit of free time, and then I went upstairs to do my crossword. Although the sun shone the temperature is still showing only 18 degrees, but the sunbathers are back with a vengeance! The roof has been removed again from the indoor swimming pool and deck 13 – the main sun deck – was littered with roasting bodies.

I found myself a chair and watched the saunterers pass by whilst I was cross-wording. A couple of spouting whales were sighted not far from the ship but there was no further evidence of wildlife.

At his early evening announcement, the Captain reported that there had been an earthquake in Chile, in the same province that we are going to tomorrow, but further inland. Chile apparently frequently has earthquakes and people take them as a matter of course. Though this one measured 6.5 on the Richter scale, there was no tsunami associated with it and no reported injuries or damage. A mere bagatelle in this neck of the woods, obviously. I fear a 6.5. Earthquake in Manchester would have the red top press reaching for their keyboards!

There was a touch of overheating at dinner. Our table is next to a large window and the sun shone in all evening which theoretically sounds nice but the blind was not working so I was really hot and had to squint all evening. I sat directly in the line of the sun, and Gareth two along from me had to mop his fevered brow several times during our meal. We have reported the problem and will wait to see if it is mended. If not it could be a rather hot remainder of the voyage at dinner times!! Phew!

Tomorrow we arrive in Coquimbo.