Saturday, 14th February, at sea, dull and 19 degrees

As I am not attending the ukulele ‘love songs for friends’ session (thank goodness!) we had a slow start to the day. After a few rounds of the deck, we breakfasted and then were overwhelmed by the ‘towelography’ is that a word?!?) by the pool on the way out….

Bridge was its usual trauma. I sometimes think they talk in tongues. Every day more rules are imparted. It seems a game made up of secret codes, every day more mystifying. (And yet you made Three Spades Doubled this morning. So you’re learning more than you think. Ed)

There was something of an added ‘frisson’ of excitement today as, something (I omitted to mention it in yesterday’s report) occurred last night that involved our esteemed Bridge teachers. Keith and I had gone to Andersons Bar, somewhere we have never been before, for a drink after our snack supper. The bar was pretty empty when we arrived, except for the aforesaid Bridge tutors. The thing was she was veritably lounging across him in a very public place. Well. I have to say that Miss I Know All About Bridge had really fallen off her perch in my eyes. So are the mighty fallen!! (Consenting adults? Ed)

We had a couple of turns around the deck between Bridge and lunch (We walked for an hour. Ed) but there was something of a sea fret, which upset the sunbathing bodies on the top deck.

During the Captain’s lunch time address, he made reference to the Atacama Trench which is a deep ditch in the ocean (well that is the way I visualised it!) which we were just passing over which was 21,000 feet deep. Truly awesome! And well above my requirement for putting my toe down every nine swimming strokes … Glad we are likely to be in slightly shallower waters by teatime. (I didn’t realise you were planning on going for a swim! Ed)

We joined the Smarts (an excellent name for our Bridge partners) for lunch. And then – after finding a free washing machine when I descended to iron Keith’s posh shirt for this evening’s dressing up night – I succumbed. And I took advantage of the opportunity to do some laundry. What a hero! Well, it was a dull day and the alternative was Sue Pollard performing in the theatre. I fear she was on this afternoon because she might fall asleep during an evening performance … Why don’t some of these people retire gracefully?

A bit of a disaster occurred during the washing process in that, as I took my shorts from the washing machine, I kept coming across soggy paper – it was my Chilean Affidavit that has to be carried about one’s person whenever you are out and about in Chile. Ooops! As we have one more outing in Chile I am going to have to confess my sins to reception and get another one. I am hopeless!

We dutifully dressed up this evening and had a photo taken at the table as we were all dressed up on Valentines Day. Herewith –

With thanks to Gareth for having the photo taken. Penny and Michael weren’t toasting as they had been awarded half a bottle of Champagne as premier P and O Cruise goers, but they hadn’t been provided with a glass to drink it from at this stage……

Tomorrow is another day at sea. (And we just love sea days…I’ll definitely miss them when they’re gone. I’ve made three short videos walking round the deck so, when I begin to miss the experience, I can play them back and revel in the memories. Ed)