Monday 17 December Day 4 ~ north Atlantic westbound - Continued
Updated in mid north Atlantic ~ Thursday 20 December
Monday mid morning we went forward to the bow to the Illuminations Theatre for a lecture on New York skyscrapers. Learnt quite a bit including the origin of the word 'skyscraper' which was borrowed from the fast trading sailing ships of times gone by. It's a description of a sail used sparingly to be used at the very top of the main mast above the 'top sail'. Must have been fun to set.
As the theatre is in the bow Rosie felt the effect of the ship's movement again, only 10 minutes in she went back to our cabin to lay down. Rosie has good seasickness tablets that work well but is averse to taking any pills she doesn't have to. As we were now 2 days at sea she thought that maybe she had found her sea legs and didn't take any pills, not needing pills didn't arrive until Wednesday.
Next lecture / talk from Dr Seth Gopin the architectural historian is Wednesday. Subject is a continuation of New York skyscrapers concentrating on the Rockefeller Center and the Rockettes. Due to encouragement on this thread we are already booked to visit the first and see a show with the second. Rosie is almost bursting with excitement about both.
Monday light lunch was in the KC buffet, more interesting conversations with the staff about their lives in far off lands. So far our best meetings with people are with the staff. Some of them have amazing stories to tell of what they are prepared to do to look after their families.
Hopefully soon we'll meet fellow passengers who are interested in a world outside of their cabin, and have to be honest the general demeanour of fellow passengers so far creates an atmosphere we are in a floating retirement home that isn't a happy place to be.
But we do believe that things will improve as people start to relax in a day or two. Hope so as the ship and crew are magnificent, just need the guests to perk up a little.
Dinner this evening (less formal day) is again in the Britannia restaurant, the table tonight is full, another Brit couple Diane and David from the south coast have joined us.
Our original conspirators of the previous Britannia meal are turning out to be real characters, that's Hazel and Reggie. He has some original opinions on life, she has immaculate timing to raise an eyebrow and say a few words that brings him back down to earth.
With 6 of us there is always someone talking, but all a little wary still (we are all British after all and there is the Brit reserve to take into account).
That night the weather changes again, severe Gale force 9 with very rough seas. Still not enough to keep us awake though.
Tuesday 18 December Day 5 ~ north Atlantic westbound
Updated in mid north Atlantic ~ Thursday 20 December
Rosie up before me as usual and off to breakfast alone. Before she leaves the cabin Rosie has big news, Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United, that certainly woke me up.
As Rosie had decided to take pills she could return to the library, possibly her favourite place on the ship. Managed to find both a book and a window seat, so she could sit, read and watch the sea. But only for so long as even with pills the bow can travel a long way up and down.
To be continued...
