Tuesday 27 December 1983 – New York

Tuesday 27 December 1983 – New York City

Well, all is fine now. No problems. We slept for over eleven hours – lights out at 20.15 and were awake at 07.30. that was much needed rest which put a new light on everything. We had a light breakfast and finished our packing for our short trip to NY. We took two flight bags and a minimum of clothes.

Nora got us to the bus stop about half an hour before it was due. It was still about – 7°C so we sat in the car with Nora, chatting with her until the bus was due. We got out and then had a freezing wait until it turned up about 20 minutes late. There was quite an assortment of people waiting with us including a real Al Jaffee character with the most incredible set of whiskers. He was hawking away furiously to Matt’s disgust.

We clambered aboard the big silver NJ bus with it’s darkened windows, paying the driver $11.35 for the three of us – very reasonable, we thought. We sat right at the back where we could all sit together and had a good, comfortable trip into the city. We found the bus very hot, but could open our window a little, which kept us cool. We got to Manhattan via one of the tunnels – not sure which one, but that was quite an experience.

The bus station is vast – hope we can find our way back there! It is in a very ropey area – E42 I think – where all the porn shops etc are. Nora had told us that the NY Information Centre was in Times Square at 47^th, so we made our way there but couldn’t find it. Turns out that, for a change, Nora, our usually reliable guide, was wrong – it was further down.

No problems though – we had a simple map which guided us and we had an interesting walk. Some of the shops are fascinating and there are some great T-Shirts, although everything is very expensive there. (I was a great buyer of T-Shirts at this time – mainly as souvenirs. When we moved from South Africa I had over 85, some of which I was told would have to go. I still have a couple from this trip!) We walked all the way to our hotel which is at 49^th and Lexington. Quite a long way, but fascinating – the people you see!! Matt was nearly bowled over by a Humpty Dumpty lookalike who must have been about seven foot tall and about 160 kilograms and was muttering to himself as he strode by. So many people we have seen converse with themselves – some actually shouting rather than just muttering.

The hotel is very nice and is much better than we thought it might be. And it is right behind the Waldorf! Many very nice places in the area too. As far as I remember we are paying about $280 for the three nights and it seems very reasonable. The room is not very big – smaller than our cabin on the QE2 I think – and there were only two beds. They brought in a cot for Matt and managed to get it into the room somehow. Colour TV of course (which is distracting me right now), nice bathroom but too warm for us as most American places are.

We dumped our goods and were off on foot for the heliport. On the way we made our first mistake. We stopped for lunch at a “Bun ‘n’ Burger” which was awful and expensive. If we had only waited a few minutes we could have had one of Matt’s favourites – a Burger King. I had a chicken burger which consisted of a piece of fried chicken about two inches by four inches on a dry roll with a thimbleful of coleslaw.

We  enjoyed the walk down to the heliport – down Lexington to 34^th. The area changed a good deal as we walked and became quite scruffy at one stage. (Some years later, a dyed in the wool New Yorker told me that one of the aspects of the city that visitors didn’t appreciate was how quickly they could move from ‘safe’ areas to ‘dangerous’ areas. Perhaps we had the luck of the innocents. There were parts he would never go into – ironically, he was mugged in one such no-go area when he took a short cut.)

We had noticed, both going to the hotel and now how many ambulances and fire engines there are, hurtling around lights flashing, sirens howling and they seemed to be getting thicker on the ground as we got closer to 34^th. The reason was quite simple – there was an Emergency Hospital there.

 

It was somewhat overcast, but still thrilling to be over the city

The weather had changed a little by the time we got to the heliport just before 14.00. It was a bit overcast, but we felt we should still go because the weather forecast is for rain tomorrow turning to sleet and followed by snow the day after. They say it should clear by Thursday – but we didn’t want to rely on that. We had to wait for about an hour -  it was a strange little organisation called Island Helicopters. They operated out of prefabricated cabins and are all very casual. We finally got into our chopper which, to our amusement, was piloted by a black man. We laughed to think of the reaction from some of our reactionary friends back in Zimbabwe.

Liberty

And then off we went! What an experience!! Absolutely marvellous despite the conditions. I sat up front next to the pilot, so I could see through the floor as well as out of the windscreen. We went up the river, over Central Park, over the docks and out to the Statue of Liberty, then back to the Empire State Building and the heliport. About twenty minutes for $40 each and absolutely well worth it.

After buying a couple of souvenirs, we narrowly avoided being run over and then caught a cab back to Times Square to see if we could get any cheap tickets at TKTS. The ride wasn’t expensive at $3.80 and was quite quick. Rab was fascinated going up 47^th Street between Madison and Sixth because so many jewellery shops were concentrated there.

It was a little before 16.00 when we got to Times Square only to find that the line was about one hour and forty five minutes long. None of the shows which were available was one that we really wanted to see. Standing for almost two hours and then paying $22 each for a ticket was not on, especially as it was still very cold – 4°C. so we just wandered through the shops again and bought another suitcase – a wheeled Samsonite at half price; we haven’t been able to find out why it was so cheap yet.

We walked all the way back to the hotel carrying the case and dropped it off there, watching TV for a while (Channel 7 was the New York Station and was very good I must say). I called Uli to see if he had been able to cancel our bookings for Denver. (We had planned to go there in case there was no snow in Europe or New Jersey) The temperatures are still – 20°C and colder and we feel that since we have seen snow everywhere we don’t need to go to Aspen to see more.

All was well, according to Uli so we set out for another trip up 47^th street to admire the jewellery, but of course it had all been taken inside for the night. While we were in the area we thought we might as well check on availability of tickets for Radio City. On the way we were diverted by coming across a fascinating book store with discounted books!! (There was very tight control on the selling price of books in Southern Africa, resulting in very expensive books!) We managed to find several very good books at amazingly cheap prices. Hope it will not cost too much to get them home!

What a tree!!

Laden down we trudged on to Radio City to find that they are fully booked until the end of the season. On the way back to the hotel we stopped off at the Rockefeller Center to watch the skating. It was a cold crisp evening and there were Christmas lights everywhere – what a spectacular experience. We toyed with the idea of heading back to the hotel in a horse drawn carriage, but they wanted $22.00 so that was not on. By a majority vote (i.e. excluding one - me) we decided to dine at the Burger King near the hotel. So we walked back there and had our junk food – very reasonable but not my idea of a dinner.

We were back in our room just after 21.00 and watched TV until the 23.00 news. Big news was a helicopter crash at Newark Airport and an enormous explosion in Buffalo. And so to bed, happy that it wasn’t our helicopter that went down.

1983 - Snow and the QE2 - Christmas Blues!!

Sunday 25 December 1983 – Xmas Day – Ringwood NJ

We slept very well indeed and were woken at about 07.30 when Jennie Lee phoned from Johannesburg. It was very sweet of her. She had just had the family – Dad and Lucy: Steve and Judy – for lunch. The whole house was awake by then so we had coffee and cookies in the kitchen. It was terrific looking out on the frozen world – the temperature had dropped about ten degrees during the night and the thermometer now showed – 16°C although it was a bright sunny day.

 

Clearing the drive - what fun!

Matt was wise enough to grab a bowl of cereal and a couple

Around the lake

of slices of toast before Uli took us up to Skylands Manor for a walk – just Rab and me with Vicki and Matt. It was lovely strolling in the sun although it was bitterly cold. We had dressed up in our warmest clothing but the exposed parts – ears and nose in particular bore the brunt. My moustache froze up! Matt and Rab again had a disagreement – how I wish they could both be more tolerant. The only time they have not been squabbling so far is when they felt sick on the ship.

 

Terry Nora Uli and Rocky

Uli took us back via a couple of residential areas so we could see something of the countryside which looked like a picture book under the snow. Preparations for Christmas Dinner were well under way when we got home – turkey with boiled potatoes and red cabbage followed by pumpkin pie. While Rab was helping Uli make some thick, thick gravy, the rest of us played cards.

Mrs Rosenthal disappeared from the scene with the same symptoms as Michael had last night, but we all tucked into our meal with gusto and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. None of us really ate too much but I started feeling a bit bloated so we went for a walk with Rocky – Uli, Vicki, Matt and me. The lake was frozen solid so we walked across and Matt had great fun sliding on the ice and doing his “stunts”. He said that this was the highlight of his trip so far.

When we got back, Rab wasn’t feeling too good and was lying down. She developed the trots and was feeling worse and worse. I wasn’t feeling much better and we both got violently sick at about 20.00 and then had one of the worst nights of our lives. Rab was losing everything from both ends – I was just losing by mouth. I thought of that old joke about seasickness – you’re worried you might die, but equally worried you might not. At one stage during the long night I seriously wondered how the Travel Insurers would get our bodies back – and how Matt would travel.

Happy Christmas indeed.

Monday 26 December 1983 – Boxing Day – Ringwood NJ

Came the morning and we had survived only to find that both Nora and Vicki had succumbed and that only Matt and Uli escaped the bug – at least so far! Hope they continue to do so.

As a result of all the nocturnal activity we had a very quiet day. Uli took Matt off to the toyshops and Michael and I went along too. It was very good of him to take us. We left at about 11.15 and Matt managed to get some more of his Star Wars stuff. The three of them had lunch at a Burger King (to Matt’s delight) but I abstained.

It was a beautiful sunny day but the temperature was still below zero and there was a lot of snow and ice around. The shops were all doing great business despite it being a public holiday. (No shops opened on public holidays in South Africa or Zimbabwe at that time.) we stoped off at the Grand Union down in Ringwood to get a few bits and pieces that Rab wanted. What a selection there is of everything!!

We got back at about 15.15 and watched Dallas Cowboys being beaten by LA Rams until about 18.00. a very light supper of toast for all of us and then we went below to prepare for our trip to New York tomorrow. Hope it goes off OK this trip seems to be taking a turn for the worse.

1983 - Snow and the QE2 - White Christmas Eve!!

Saturday 24 December 1983 – Christmas Eve – Ringwood NJ

 

The pristine driveway on Christmas Eve

When we woke up this morning the whole world was white!! – so we have our White Christmas after all despite so many people saying we wouldn’t.

Vicki with Rocky the pup

We only got up at about 09.00 and then went for a walk around the lake – Uli, Vicki, Matt, me and Rocky – setting off in what seemed to us to be quite a heavy snowstorm. Marvellous fun! We walked across a corner of the lake which was all iced up – very gingerly on my part as there were sundry creaks and cracking sounds. Matt and Vicki had great fun sliding on the ice.

Matt out on the ice

The wind came up while we were out which dropped the temperature considerably and it stopped snowing. When we got home the thermometer showed -5°C and with the wind chill it was a deal colder than that. I helped Uli clear his driveway using a blower and a snow shovel. Rocky had a great time dancing around in the snow. We got it done quite quickly and it was fun, but I did realise that, like mowing a lawn it would not be quite so much fun to have to do it every time you came in or out of the house.

 

Matt, Vicki, Rocky and Uli out on the ice

Just as we finished, Michael’s bus driver, Margaret turned up with a Christmas present for him. He was still asleep having been sick during the night – too much rubbish to eat being the consensus of opinion (incorrect as things turned out!) She seemed a very nice person, but took a long time to get going, joining us for breakfast which we had at about 11.15 – boiled eggs and cold cuts with toast and rye bread.

We took Rab and Nora for a walk after we had eaten and Margaret had gone on her way. The kids stayed behind and played computer games. The wind was blowing quite hard by now which dropped the chill factor even more and it was pretty darned cold out there, but I enjoyed it. When we got back a football game was starting, so Uli and I watched that. It was the Sun Bowl final being played in El Paso and although the sun was shining down there in Texas, it was -4°C with a 13 mph wind blowing. Must have been darned cold for the spectators.

I enjoyed the game very much although of course it lasted three hours, so I was not very popular. As soon as the game was over, we congregated around the tree and opened the presents. It seemed a bit odd to us to get our presents on Christmas Eve but that is the German custom apparently. (It is odd to read this remark, since all three of us believe that we ALWAYS opened our presents on Christmas Eve – a practice we continue to this day!) Anyway there was great excitement all around and everyone was very happy with their presents. Matt got some Star Wars items (how surprising) and Rab seemed quite happy with the pair of diamonds which I had bought in the Amsterdam duty free.

The present opening ceremony was followed by what Uli said was a typical North German Christmas feast – herring salad followed by grilled sausage. We all enjoyed it but Rab and I thought it a little silly for Michael to eat what was rather rich food. He turned a little green half way through the meal and was taken off to bed. We played a game of Malifig at Uli’s request which seemed to go on and on and on and so finished off with a much quicker game – Salute The King, which was somewhat marred by Matt’s sulking. He is not behaving too well at the moment – perhaps too many late nights and too much rich food. Anyway we called it a night at about 22.00 and were soon fast asleep.

1983 - Snow and the QE2 - Ringwood NJ

Friday 23 December 1983 – Ringwood NJ

We all slept very well, although I am finding it difficult to get used to the ‘non-movement’. I still feel as if I am on the ship and my head feels as if it is still rocking around.

Decisiveness is not a feature of our relationship with the Schafers. It seems to me that everyone is so concerned about ‘making’ others do something they might not have chosen that in the end …. Well, plans get made and undone and re-made. I stay out of it on the basis that there is one less view – and I’m pretty well happy to do anything.

In the end there was a bit of confusion. Uli took Matt and me on a drive of about half an hour to pick up a turkey and visit a couple of toy shops. Rab and Nora turned up at the same place shortly after we had got there!! Matt was not particularly impressed by the two toyshops, which seemed to me to contain a good deal of interest, while Rab didn’t have much of a chance to look around as Nora had to be back by 11.15 and they had only left home after 09.00. Not a very auspicious start.

We bought some Dunkin’ Donuts on the way home, which served as lunch, to our surprise. Feeling a little peckish, Matt, Vicki, Rab and I went for a walk down to the local store and had a pizza between us. The plan was that we would leave Uli to follow us once Nora and her mother, Mrs Rosenthal, got back from Michael’s Christmas Party. (Michael was Nora and Uli’s son.)

Uli's lockout!!

Matt was last one out of the house and as he closed the door behind him, we realised that there was an automatic lock and Uli was outside with us! Poor Uli! Fortunately it was not too cold and he had Rocky the pup for company. We left him there and Nora turned up about ten minutes later.

Uli picked us up at the pizzeria as arranged and the five of us went bowling. It was good fun although none of us was particularly good – and in fact that darned German beat me. Matt didn’t behave spectacularly well, being a bit sulky and disinclined to listen to any advice. When we got home Nora had been roasting a beef roll and we had a very pleasant meal at about 19.30, Rather glad we had our pizza snack.

We had a hilarious evening playing our old card games – Salute The King and Seven Of Hearts. As we played it started to snow! Marvellous to watch. When we went to bed at about 23.00 it was still drifting down, so maybe we will have our White Christmas after all.

1983 - Snow and the QE2 - Calm seas and landfall New York

Wednesday 21 December 1983 – New York

(Details of our last day on the ship and our first day in the USA are a little thin on the ground as I didn’t have a chance to write up my journal for a couple of days – how quickly we forget those details!)

We woke up to a very different ship this morning – calm seas, no wind but still freezing cold. To Matt’s delight it was Space Day on the ship with, amongst other delights, all three parts of Star Wars being shown. I watched a couple of very interesting videos in the morning and then we went down to start packing before lunch as we had to have our bags ready by 18.00.

We had a very good lunch and then back down to the cabin to finish off the packing. How we managed to fit everything in, I just don’t know. Back upstairs for Bingo which attracted a very large crowd indeed. The snowball finally went at $1,103 – and Rab had only two numbers to go.

Up on deck at about 19.00, the lights of Manhattan were starting to appear. It was a crystal clear night but bitterly cold and we could see the lights clearly. What an amazing sight. We watched for about ten minutes and then went below to get ready for dinner. By the time back on deck it was after 20.00 and we had passed through the Narrows Bridge and were approaching the Statue of Liberty. I had my binoculars and we could see the details clearly. Rab says the approach was the highlight of the trip so far and it was certainly very beautiful.

There was quite a crowd on deck including some of the ‘posh’ people just wearing light clothes and suits – how they stood the cold I don’t know. American John, who claimed to be a frequent Atlantic crosser, said that never, on any of his previous voyages had he been privileged to  sail in after dark and see the sights we saw.

We finally docked at about 21.00 while we were having dinner. After eating we went through to the Double Down Room, now quite warm for the first time on the voyage, and watched the beginning of the cabaret. Matt was very tired as was I so we went to bed quite early at about 22.30. strange to sleep on a stable platform!

Thursday 22 December 1983 – Arrival New York

We slept solidly until 07.00 when the alarm woke us up. It was a drizzly, cold day with not much to see so we went through for our early breakfast. Our two stewards had been out on the town, only getting back to the ship at 04.45, so they said, but they managed to cope pretty well.

We had a substantial breakfast and then went through to complete the landing formalities with some trepidation because when we checked before breakfast there was an enormous line. By the time we got there, though, there was hardly anyone. We found ourselves behind the two entertainers whose performances we had enjoyed – Samantha Jones and Paul, the comedian. So we had some interesting company while we waited.

 

QEII docked at New York - difficult to envisage white water crashing over the bows.

We were in no particular hurry because we had received a telex from Uli on Tuesday saying that he would meet us after 10.30. we got through Customs and Immigration with no problems and nipped down to our cabin to pick up our hand baggage. Getting ashore presented no difficulty and with the system used in New York finding our baggage was dead simple.

Again we went through Customs with no issues and we were through by about 10.10. Nora and Uli turned up about ten minutes later, stopping right outside the main doors, so we loaded up the station wagon and were off through the waterlogged streets of New York with Nora and Rab talking nineteen to the dozen.

There had been quite a heavy snowfall overnight and the countryside was very pretty as we drove through to Ringwood, NJ. We got to the Schafers at about 11.30, much earlier than expected.

After a cup of coffee and some basic unpacking we set off for lunch. We thought we were going to the local pizzeria but instead drove for about forty minutes to another one called Chuck E Cheese. (We didn’t realise this was a franchise operation and in fact thought the name a little odd at Chuck & Cheese. What did you chuck? The cheese?) Matt was in his element when he found that there were hundreds of arcade games so a good time was had by all. I had a very nice pizza and Matt had a Giant Hotdog – with a ¼ lb frank – which we washed down with root beer. All very satisfactory and very American.

Vicki, Rab and Matt in the woods

Since we only finally ate lunch at about 15.30 we decided to give Nora a break from cooking and just had cheese and cold cuts for supper. We had popped in to the local supermarket to pick up some beers and snacks and had a very pleasant evening, chatting and drinking while Matt and Vicki (Nora and Uli’s daughter) watched TV and played computer games.

We were all in bed by about 22.00. Rab and Matt were very happy to be in beds that weren’t moving – I had the impression that mine was still swaying.

Tranquility looking across the lake from the Schafers

1983 - Snow and the QE2 - At Sea - Very high seas and snow: Gale Force 10

Tuesday 20 December 1983 – At Sea Day #4

It was quite a night with the waves bigger than ever. It seemed to me that we hit every seventh wave with a boom that sounded right through the ship. Despite that we all had a good night’s sleep and only woke about 07.45. everyone felt fine despite the very significant movement. Not surprising since the wind was now Gale Force 10.

I tried to look our of our porthole when I got up but found I could not. The outside was iced up from the bow spray – and the inside was too, which gives some idea of the temperature in our cabin. When we turned on the radio we heard the disc jockey mention that there was snow on the decks, so we washed and put on our winter gear and shot off up to the boat deck. Sure enough there was a thin layer of snow all around and an icy wind. 

 

White water over the bows - unbelievable!

Enough snow for a snowball

We made our way towards  the bow against the howling gale to see the fascinating site of white water breaking over the bows – not something we expected to see in such a large vessel. After hanging around long enough to take a couple of photos, we went off for a hearty breakfast. Soon after that the captain announced that passengers were forbidden to go out on the decks.

Matt and Rab almost blown away

I don’t think I have mentioned before now that the Moaner left us – can’t recall just when it was, but either Sunday or Monday – for better and greener fields. The general consensus at our table is that she is after a man but is having conspicuously little luck. We have bumped into Dorothy Adams a few times lately. It turns out that she is Tourist Officer for the State of Florida.

After breakfast we each went our separate ways: Rab to a lecture in the Queens Room by the dancer on how she designed and made her costumes; Matt to the ice box that was the Teen Room to play video games, fully fitted out with scarf, woolly hat, anorak and gloves so he could survive; me to the Theatre Bar Lounge to catch up with this journal, write some postcards and to watch the passing parade. I always find that of interest, but it is especially fascinating on board.

The noon report was that the wind was still Gale Force 10 (occasionally dropping to Force 9); very heavy seas (we’d seen those!); occasional snow flurries. The ship was still moving a lot but no-one seems to notice it much now unless something (or someone) falls over. How some of the poor old ducks keep their footing I just don’t know. Most of them have one foot in the grave and that is a distinct handicap on a ship bouncing about in a gale force storm.

We all ate a hearty lunch to celebrate our return to health and Matt distinguished himself by have four desserts. That feat even impressed English John who has been munching his way right through the menu at every meal. Matt really enjoys the John’s company, especially, I think, American John and his phrases such as (with a Virginian drawl) “she hasn’t a snowflakes chance in hell”.

After lunch we saw a very interesting film about the Ritz and then went through to the Double Down Room for afternoon tea (and delicious éclairs) and then Bingo. Rab won a house of $129 but the snowball went up to $640 when nobody won it. We had a couple of celebratory cocktails before dinner and then had a very good meal.

Unfortunately a leak had developed in the dining room so some tables had been moved. Cunard don’t seem to be too lucky with this trip. The only effect of the icy weather in our vicinity in the dining room was a small leak of water at the top of the window which had run down and then frozen. It was pretty chilly in that room and yet women who still dressed for dinner were coming in backless frocks accompanied by men in their dinner jackets. We stuck to our anoraks.

After dinner we went to watch the cabaret – two Latin American dancers and a faded pop star whose name has eluded me already. It was amazing that they could even try to dance on a surface that was moving to the extent that the deck was, but they persevered. They had done the cabaret last night in the Queens Room and English John saw them there. He said, rather waspishly, that the best part of the whole show was when the male dancer fell flat on his face as he took his opening bow and then when the pop star was singing his finale and going around the perimeter of the dance floor, shaking hands, one old duck was fast asleep.

1983 - Snow and the QE2 - At Sea - Very rough seas: Gale Force 9

Monday 19 December 1983 – At Sea Day #3

The seas really got up during the night and we were crashing around. I was very worried about Rab who had been feeling very cold and who woke up at about 02.00 to go to the toilet. I was waking up every hour or so to check on her and Matt. Not really necessary actually since the two of them slept like logs until about 06.00. Matt said he felt OK but Rab wasn’t sure so we decided to go up to the boat deck despite the weather.

We made our way up (by lift) and forced our way out on the leeward side dressed in our heavy weather gear – my goodness, what conditions we faced. Even though we were protected by the bulk of the ship there was a tremendous wind and spray from the bow was being whipped past us. It turned out that it was a Force 9 wind so that with the forward speed of the ship the combined wind speed was about 85 mph. It was as cold as charity – it felt about -4 C. (The ‘Force 9’ is a reference to what is known as the Beaufort Scale which measures wind strength. Technically 9 is a “Strong  Gale”. The highest grade is a 12 – Hurricane Force.”).

We walked the length of the deck and back again and then went to the Lido for coffee. Well, Matt and I did but Rab was feeling bad again. I gave her another pill and we went below to wash and change. There was no water for the basin, although the shower still worked. The movement down in the cabin got to Rab again so we took her up to the Queens Room and left her there while Matt and I went in to breakfast. When we got back to her we found that Cliff (the odious Welshman we met the first night) of all people had persuaded her to get the injection – something I had been suggesting for days! The ships company says it is a sure cure and Cliff said he was evidence of this.

So I took Rab down to the hospital while Matt watched a video on Hollywood. She had a long sleep, as prescribed by the doctor and when she woke was feeling better, although not a hundred per cent. The captain apologised for the lousy weather this morning and said that although it might get better during the day, there was another storm which seemed to be building up. He also said that our ETA New York is now 20.00 – 12 hours late! – and it might get later, depending on the weather. There is no sign of the storm abating yet, so who knows what time we will get in finally. I’ve enjoyed the incredible experience so far – and Matt has, by and large. It is such a pity that Rab hasn’t been well.

Not very fit!

Matt watched the end of the video and then stayed on for the movie quiz with the Two Johns from the dining table.  I came in half way through and believe if they had played as a team they might have won! From there Matt went on to play his arcade games, which have now been repaired, while I had my caricature done. I went down to wake Rab, who felt a little groggy but was much better despite the wind which was up to Force 9-10 now with the sea being described as “very rough” – and they weren’t joking.

Rab had an adequate lunch and after that we went through to the Double Down Room to find a seat slightly more warm than the others. There is something radically wrong with the way the cooling/heating system is working at the moment. It is absolutely freezing in the DD Room so much so that after lunch I had to put on my thermal long johns! The seas were still very rough and  all afternoon tea cups would fly off  tables with a loud crash.

We watched the rehearsal for tomorrow night’s show which needs a good deal of work to be done before it is any good. Bingo after that – shades of the Reina del Mar cruise –with the snowball opening at $250 and closing, unwon, at $460. No doubt we’ll be back there. The ETA was changed again from that given us earlier in the day with the new time being given as 08.00 on Thursday – a full 24 hours late. So clearly the gales haven’t just been a figment of our imagination.

We read for a bit after Bingo then went below to to get even more warmly dressed for dinner and the evening entertainment. Rab has taken to wearing an anorak everywhere and to hell with elegance in favour of warmth. The dinner was good as usual although Matt didn’t eat much. Turned out he was feeling a little queasy but didn’t want to say so as he wanted to watch the movie – Blue Thunder – at 22.15. he did this while we watched the cabaret and the fancy dress parade – there had been a child’s fancy dress in the afternoon. The main singer in the cabaret was a young lady from Liverpool who was very good and we enjoyed the show although I was nodding off from time to time. Hyperthermia I think it was. The fancy dress was a bit disappointing with only eleven entries and only one of those any good. I must say the entertainment is non-stop on the ship. There is always something on and I still haven’t finished reading my book.

We collected Matt after the movie and off we went to bed in our bounding cabin.