| We had a band on the quayside to send us on our way while a Portuguese passenger was called, while the horn blown once a couple of times saying, "Oi, missus, get on this bloody ship or we'll leave you behind!". We went anyway with three blasts just before 7pm without a pre-departure speech so I have no idea if she turned up or not. After we turned and were passing the terminal, we gave six blasts goodbye then headed out to open sea, fog curtain closing again and horn blasting beautifully. At dinner, the lovely Rahul got me some hot honey, lemon and ginger to help my cold. Bless! Gold Anchor Service! I have no idea what he used for ginger but it wasn't the usual sort you buy in jars. It was quite strong though so many broken biscuits? I should have asked really. I could feel it working but I still went on deck to hear the beautiful horn in the fog. She was spoiling me on what was possibly my penultimate cruise. |
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| Thank goodness for a sea day! While the concoction at dinner had worked, the air con and draught from the window was keeping me ill. Why on earth is it impossible to 1) get PROPER heat circulating around the room instead of something pathetic with a cold edge by the time it reaches you, 2) turn the bloody thing off and 3) stop the draughts from windows and balcony doors??? Can't modern technology stretch to that? It was still foggy when I got up and went to the Windjammer. Dorota got me hot honey and lemon which was most welcome then I went wandering, bumping into Topi coming out of the forward doors on deck 10 with Anthony, the cruise director from Lisbon. We chatted about the refit, Anthony telling me those doors were going, replaced by the screen the rest have, as well as the statue by the pool. Neither he or Topi knew about the ducktail which Rhapsody had added but Grandeur didn't. I'm hoping not. She won't be Ducky if they put one on because, as well as her shape changing, she won't waddle any longer Trust me, she does, but you need to be on an aft balcony to see it, as we were on 2008 when we gave her the nickname. also, Anthony said the acrobatics show will be towards the end of the crossing. |
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| A text from Oskar telling me the ferries Armorique and Pont Aven (which I'd seen in Cobh) were around got me onto the Prom deck, where I decided to stay for the sunset. The weather was a complete contrast to when we'd last been that way a few days earlier as we'd headed to Scotland. It was unbelievable too now the fog had cleared. That wasn't to last long, however, as no sooner had the sun set than the mist appeared on the water. You just knew it was going to be a noisy night! Patricia, my cabin steward, had left a box of tissues by the bed. More Gold Anchor Service! Dinner and more hot honey and lemon. It was our second formal night and once again, the piano player was wearing his usual brown jacket with no tie while men were let in with cardigans instead of jackets (even at the Captain's table during first sitting apparently), tatty blue jeans or tracksuit bottoms! It really is time to make the think optional. I was done quickly then I went up to get the fog horn. It was very wet up there but fun! I went to bed but the fog horn kept me awake though was back on the Prom deck at 3am when it was quiet and it was practically clear. |
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