Wednesday, 7th January 16 degrees

I woke after a good night’s sleep with my mood low. I still have had no response to my attempt to contact my sister Jo, although I was somewhat reassured by hearing that Jen her friend had seen her yesterday…..

I got up early so as to be ready to go to my ukulele session at 9.00, had no time for breakfast. I found the Masquerade location and was amazed to find so many fellow ukulele players. Most had acquired their ukulele skills on previous cruises, but had turned up on the Aurora with their ukuleles ready to go! There was no teacher or leader but two enthusiasts ran the session and it was fun,

I realised how rusty I had become after my protracted period of absence but soon got into it again and came away with some useful shortcutting tips to share with chums when I return home.

Given the timing, I could still get to the Bridge session and we spent another hour of mystery for me, but with different partners (now Marie and Matthew) as our previous pair have given up on it already – not us stalwarts though, we are hanging on in there waiting for the penny to drop.

It was then time for me to catch up with my walking – Keith had already done half an hour while I was strumming. Unfortunately the hour before lunch is a busy one for promenading – today’s learning point. There is a promenading ‘rush hour’ before lunch to be avoided. What was interesting was the number of people taking up deck space by the rails – to sunbathe! For goodness sake – where do they think they are? On holiday?

Like many of the others, we went straight for lunch from the promenade deck – which basically means that you go from deck 7 to deck 12. A workout in itself tackling the stairs!

Back to our cabin for an apres lunch pit stop and then it was out again for me to get some more walking in and then a bit of a read while Keith went back to his whale watching – both activities taking place back up on the 12th floor.

Another indication of the difference a day can make. The deck had been empty when we were there just a day ago……today it was a hive of activity! There were deck quoits, cricket, a sort of standing up shove halfpenny played with long sticks (I am sure it has a name but I don’t know it!), golf practice and the sun bathers, Yes, the temperature has reached 17 degrees and us heat starved English were out in their droves! It was quite lovely up there, but there was quite a breeze – enough to have my Mum send Dad for a windbreak anyway had it happened on holiday in Westgate all those years ago!

While up there I found a young chap taking the air and took the opportunity to carry out a brief ‘interview’ as is my way to find out what a young person was doing on this ship of old fogies….. As I suspected he was working. He is part of the on board band and currently, on his own admission, living his best life. Today was his day off and he was making the most of the sun. He has all port days off so he gets to see the world and he was loving it. ,,,, until of course this elderly lady comes along and interrupts his day off, I thanked him for his time and left him to it.

It was then time to descend back to deck 7 for some serious laps to increase my mileage on the the usual promenading circuit. In so doing found a new ‘friend’ – a very nice lady from Ilkeston, Derbyshire no less. Once again a serious cruise goer, she is called Lynn and is also a ukulele player so I will look her up at my next ukulele session which will be in two days time as tomorrow we hit land for the first time! We are due to dock in Grand Canaria at 8,30 and don’t leave until 11.30 in the evening. The weather is due to be good so all is set fair for a great day out.

Having wished Lyn a bientot, it was back to Keith to report on my findings and get ready for dinner.

We decided against the evenings entertainment, so after a final promenade (in the dark) it was back to the cabin and my diary and then a bit of a read……

Goodnight!

As I haven’t taken any photographs today, I will share some of the ship taken when we first boarded it on Saturday…..