Tuesday, 13th January, 24 degrees and steamy

We woke up early again so got going pretty promptly. I managed to promenade and have breakfast – something of a breakthrough!

Ukulele went well, I found my friend Lynn and we sat near the front, so we could see the screen but far enough back to not get picked on. I think the E minor chord is even getting better – and then came my downfall.

I am really trying hard with bridge even though to say I am not a ‘natural’ would be an understatement! When I arrived my playmates had already dealt the cards and I picked up my hand and started my bid confidently calling clubs …… everyone was very impressed, if a little mystified that I was so confident – and it then became clear that what I had in my hand was actually spades. Cue hysterical laughter! The hand had to be abandoned and if I’d had a tail it would be been between my legs. In the event it was just hilarious – I am trying to play bridge – a serious grown up game and i can’t even differentiate between the suits!

After this embarrassment I took off to join the Purls of Friendship gathering in the Crows Nest. I arrived to find only one or two chairs vacant and I soon realised I was in the presence of knitting superiority, These ladies can knit and crotchet. I am in awe. There were advanced Aran sweaters and very fine exotic socks (with cables!) and they were only the ones in my nearest vicinity. I furtively got out my ribbed cardigan with the occasional cable panel and started to knit. Then disaster struck again! I found I had manufactured a cable pattern a few rows down THE WRONG WAY. It had to be undone. In this company. These women probably never have to undo anything. So I sunk into the depths of my armchair and undid an inch or so. By the time it was 12 noon and time to go to lunch I had not even made up the amount I had undone…… so much for knitting progress.

At the 12 noon bell we learnt that we had travelled 1000 miles on the journey so far.

After lunch I decided to download a bridge app that we had been recommended. I have to do something to redeem myself! It is called Tricky Bridge and is an idiots guide in words of one syllable. I felt I owed it to my bridge buddies to do better…..we shall see.

After a few basic lessons on the app I felt i had made a start. As the sun was out, I once again decided to don my shorts. I ascended to the top deck, got myself a beer and settled down to do my crossword. Seems a good thing to do and pretty harmless. You would have thought so and so did I, So at what stage did I sit in something soot like and get it all over my shorts, arm and hands? Of course I did not realise this until I had got back to our cabin and sat on our white bed – which has now got black streaks on it! How embarrassing! How do I explain to Arun in the morning how his beautiful white linen got black streaks,,,,,,

Changing back into my morning clothes I took another turn or two around the deck (Keith had ascended to the Crows Nest after yet another Orca session), did another few sessions on the bridge app and then broke off to shower and get ready for supper. Outfit three of the day.

All seemed set fair until we realised as the cabin door closed behind us that we had both left our key card, perhaps the most vital piece of equipment on a cruise we have come to realise, on the other side of the door, in the cabin. Aaaargh! This card not only opens the door, it pays for anything we purchase on board, and checks us in and out when we go ashore. As I said = a pretty important bit of kit, And two bits of the said kit have been left behind.

We felt like two delinquents when we went to the ship’s reception to tell them what had happened. However. in no time at all a new card had been generated and we were back in business. And not a rolled eye to be seen……We won’t do that again!

So off to dinner, once again without the adult supervision of the third couple on our table who had gone tot yet another function. They are gadabouts!

It is now 27 degrees

Tomorrow the equator……

Keith writes I am in complete awe of the chefs/cooks on this trip. The food has been outstanding. I genuinely can’t understand how they are producing such high quality meals for nearly 2000 people every day. It’s incredible. There are normally two parts to the menu – choices where the options are free and an option called ‘Signature Selection’. The normal free part of the menu is excellent, very very good indeed…but the Signature Selection is as good as anything you’d find in the top gastropubs in the UK. I’m genuinely in awe …