Sunday 12^th April 2015 – Day at Sea.

Another sunny sea day which we spent quietly. Ian has a bit of a cold (finally succumbing to the Cunard Cough, which has been in evidence on the ship since day one).

We went to the church service at 11am, run by the deputy Captain. He was marginally more enthusiastic than the Captain last week – but only just

We spent the afternoon sitting out on our balcony. There was no choir practise (although we sorely need it!) because Lee has a concert tonight and, with a new singer, their need for rehearsals is greater than ours!

The concert was an hour of songs from the four singers backed by a 20 piece orchestra. It was an excellent show and we were pleased that we went!

 

Monday 13^th April – Durban, South Africa.

The clocks went back yet again last night so we are now on GMT + 2 (BST + 1)

Here we are in South Africa! No problems clearing immigration and we were off on our trip to see the “Scenes of Durban” Our guide was a white woman in her sixties and throughout the tour she was making outrageously racist comments that, to her, were normal thinking and speaking patterns. There is 25% unemployment here, no social security, no public transport and interest rates of over 10% (and they wonder why there are muggings and a high crime rate)

It was an interesting tour – but it is a place that we don’t wish to come back to.

The ship was running a shuttle to the very far end of South Beach where there is a “safe” shopping mall and beach area. We were told it was safe to walk on the promenade but not to go further than 100 metres! After seeing the scores of homeless people sleeping rough during the morning tour – we heeded their advice!

Our first stop was to a hairdresser for a trim and then onto a bar on the beachfront where we watched the (mainly white) world go by. The South African rand is very low at the moment so the drinks and cigarettes were cheap (£1-25 for a packet of 20 Benson & Hedges – what a pity they didn’t stock Nesta’s brand!)

We got back to the ship at about 4pm and watched the “sail away” from deck six, aft. A flotilla of small craft escorted us out of the harbour and we waved to the hundreds of people lining the shores.

We had some cheese and biscuits (as we couldn’t face a full meal) and then sat chatting with the smokers until it was time to go and watch the late show with Jon Courtenay. We thought he was very funny again and really enjoyed his show.

By the time the show had finished and we got back to the cabin it was after midnight - which, on this ship, is very late indeed! It was like walking through the Marie Celeste

Friday 10^th April 2015 – Day at Sea.

The weather was hot and sunny with quite a nice breeze so we sat in the sun for an hour before going to see a presentation by David Campese. Ian quite enjoyed it but Nesta took her book into the theatre and finished her “murder mystery” during the talk!

After choir rehearsal, we decided we would sit on our balcony and watch the sea go by. We ordered beef fajitas from room service and sat out until it was dark. (We did get some lovely sunset pictures, though)

Didn’t fancy any of the evening entertainment so went to the pub for a couple of pints, whilst putting in another mediocre quiz performance.

We then ate in the restaurant – as we had some wine to finish off - and then back to the cabin to try and stay awake long enough to go to sleep at a reasonable hour, as the clocks go back yet again tonight!

 

Saturday 11^th April 2015 – Day at Sea.

We were invited by the Captain, Deputy Captain, Chief Engineer and Hotel Manager to join them for cocktails at 11am… We felt this was a bit early, as we hadn’t had breakfast, but we gave it a go! Ian managed a glass of champagne and Nesta excelled with a Bloody Mary and a Bucks Fizz!

We just had time for a bit of brunch before the last choir rehearsal prior to our performance…I know we’ve said it before but this time (without Katherine’s expertise) we are not ready – so who knows what the concert will sound like.

We collected our passports after the rehearsal, which we’ll need for the one-to-one South African immigration procedure, and then spent a quiet afternoon on our balcony before more free wine and cheese at a “fine arts” reception.

We’re not sure how our names got on their list although we do quite like a painting that is a “snip” at only $5000 (plus postage)!

When the wine ran out we headed up to the Winter gardens for another quiz. Once again, we were nowhere near winning so we shot through to watch “Jon Courtenay, The Comedy, The Show”… He was actually funny – although a lot of his surreal “British” type humour was lost on a large number of the audience.

Nothing else took our fancy – not even another “Roaring Twenties Ball” (yes, people do dress up for these things) and we didn’t even want any food - so it was back to the cabin where Ian watched day three of the US Masters and Nesta played Lego Harry Potter on her DS

Thursday 9^th April 2015 – Port Louis, Mauritius.

Happy Birthday Dee and Graeme.

The clocks went back another hour last night so we are now on GMT + 4 (BST + 3)

As the port authorities wouldn’t let the Captain turn the ship around in the harbour, he had to reverse the final one and a half miles before we could park. We weren’t intending to be watching - but the regular time changes have finally caught up with Nesta and she was up getting her first cup of tea at 5-30am!

Clearing immigration was easier than elsewhere and soon we were off on our bus (i.e. not a coach). It did have basic air conditioning but had a faulty clutch which meant the driver could only use two gears. It was fun roaring along at about 40 mph with trucks, busses and all the other coaches zooming past us. There are fields and fields of sugar cane on Mauritius, which is a very green island. Obviously the mountain roads were no good for our bus, so we took the long way across the island. Eventually, though, we arrived at the Long Beach complex. It was very attractive and there was (thankfully) a fresh, cooling breeze. We enjoyed a couple of complimentary soft drinks and a good lunch as part of our trip. Nesta swam in the Indian Ocean and it was so hot that even Ian went into the beautiful Infinity Pool. (Yes, Rebecca, he did have waterproof sun cream on!)

All too soon it was time to return to the ship. We sat on deck 7 and enjoyed the “sail away” and then went into the Chef’s galley for a very nice pasta.

In the evening we gave the entertainment a go… This time it was “Airbourne” an American husband and wife juggling act… They are obviously used to American audiences as their jokes were very American orientated and were received, unfortunately, in near silence by the mainly Australian and British passengers. They also (coincidentally) did almost exactly the same act as the previous juggler who was on board on the first leg - but with one difference…the previous juggler caught everything! These poor unfortunates dropped the ball/club at least four times during their 45 minute show. Still, it made us laugh!

Three more sea days lay ahead now until we arrive in South Africa!

Tuesday 7^th April – Day at Sea.

We are now at GMT + 5 (BST + 4)

It is a hot, sunny day and the sea is calm… We went to a cooking demonstration in the Grand Lobby at 11am – which was entertaining - and then went on deck to sit (in the shade) and watch the world go by. Nesta went into the Kings Court and made cheese and ham rolls and brought them out on deck so we could have a picnic (some of the other passengers didn’t half give us some strange looks but we’re on our hols!)

There is a cocktail party tonight (to which we weren’t invited) and we were going to gate-crash but the film we went to see in the afternoon (Noah, starring Russell Crowe) wasn’t just bad – it was too long - so we couldn’t make the party…

Instead, we went up to the Winter Gardens to support Lee (our choir master) who was giving his first solo show. He was quite good!

We eventually went into the restaurant for dinner and Garry, Jenny, Dianne and some German man they had picked up somewhere arrived late from the cocktail party and were extremely raucous on the table behind us!

 

Wednesday 8^th April 2015 – Day at Sea.

Editor’s note:

We hope you’re still reading these posts – but we can only tell if you are from the comments you make – so please feel free to comment!

Good news – the tropical cyclone that was heading for Mauritius has changed direction and we are therefore promised more warm days and only moderate seas…

We actually sat in the sun this morning (from 8am to 9am!!) until it got too hot - so we then made ourselves comfortable on our balcony.

We decided to have a cinema day. We watched “Chef” starring, amongst others Robert Downie Jr and Dustin Hoffman. It was funny and enjoyable but watching all the food being cooked made us hungry so we went for lunch at 3pm!

We spent the rest of the afternoon back on our balcony until 8pm when we went to see “Paddington” with Hugh Bonneville and Julie Walters. – It, too, was a good, funny “feel good” film and we enjoyed it.

We weren’t feeling hungry so didn’t have dinner but had a drink in our cabin instead and an early night – early start tomorrow!

 

Sunday 5^th April – Easter Sunday - Day at Sea.

Happy Easter everybody!

Our first stop was the Royal Court Theatre at 9-30am for communion with the Rev. Goodheart. It was an uplifting service, so we decided to go to the Captain’s Sunday service as well. He hasn’t actually done a service since he got on at Darwin and now we know why! No joy of Easter (or life, for that matter) in his voice – it all seemed a bit of a chore. Come back Capt. Chris!!

Not saying Nesta has been on too long – but she decided to go to the 1pm origami class (yes, really) She made some Easter chicks! - then it was off to support Adam in his first solo show. The theatre was packed and his hour long show was brilliant. He is such a talented pianist – but he admitted that he has never been able to read music properly; he plays it all by ear and memory!

In the afternoon we went to see the film “The Expendables 3” starring Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren and Jason Statham. Colin had said that it was a very funny film, so we gave it a go… our sense of humour differs from Colin’s! It wasn’t a funny film at all, so we were disappointed - and Harrison Ford isn’t the handsome Hans Solo anymore! (We’ve aged so much better!!)

It was yet another formal night so we ate in the restaurant. The Captain’s cocktail party was for the “newbies” who had got on this leg and when it finished all the passengers streamed through the restaurant, causing chaos. Oh well – they’ll soon learn their way around the ship!

The final stop of our busy day was back in the Theatre for the singers and dancers show. The costumes and stage choreography was amazing but the songs were from the musicals and, once again, were from way before our time!

 

Monday 6^th April 2015 – Easter Monday – Day at Sea.

Once again the clocks went back this morning (and yet again, tonight). We are presently on GMT + 6 (BST + 5).

We tried sitting out on the deck in the morning – but it rained on us, so we went back to our cabin.

Elizabeth and Tom are ill – so we sent them a get well card. Hope they are feeling better soon.

At choir, we started to learn a Beatles/Abba medley specially arranged by Lee and Adam. Well, I think John and George will be turning in their graves when we perform it!

After choir we gave the posh, white-gloved “Afternoon Tea” another go. It turned out to be an Easter Monday special and all the ship’s decorations were displayed. (Lots of photos!) Robert, our waiter, was working so at least we had good service and no spilled tea this time!

Not saying the entertainment offered is getting worse – but Nesta, Lewanne and Irene (another “all the way rounder” from two doors down) went to a picture making class - using beads! They were allowed to bring what they made “home” so we now own a bead coaster (suitable for a rather large cup!)

We dined in Kings Court in the evening and then afterwards there was a choice of activities – based on gender. The ladies could choose to pay $75 to be “pampered” in the spa for three hours from 8pm onwards, whilst the gentlemen could purchase cheap(er) beer in the pub and watch a show by Timothy Hyde (a “mentalist”) followed by a karaoke joke-telling session.

Guess which one Nesta went to?

Friday 3rd April 2015 – Good Friday - Day at Sea.

Went to the Good Friday church service led by the Rev Goodheart… what a brilliant name for a vicar! Yes – you’ve guessed it, he’s American.

There is a three day Easter Egg hunt starting today and Nesta has decided we’re participating. (Ian was asked his opinion, which was then ignored!)

We decided to support Lee, so registered for the choir again. Catherine is recovering well and hopes to fly out to re-join us in Madeira.

It was a sunny afternoon and a pleasant temperature so we actually joined the sun-worshippers and sat out reading for over an hour!! (Yes, Ian did wear his hat!)

We went to a lecture about Burke and Wills, who led a disastrous expedition to cross Australia for the first time from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Although they both died during the return journey they showed it could be done - and the first telegraph link across Australia eventually followed their route. The content of Peter G Drake MBE. FRGS. presentation was interesting, but his delivery style wasn’t up to much. We might give his lectures on Africa a miss!

We went back to our cabin and managed to skype Martin – which was good.

After this it was time to scrub up once again and don our formal gear – this time for the World Voyagers Cocktail Party. As the queue wasn’t too long we decided to let the Captain be introduced to us!

We actually ate some lovely food prepared in the Queens Room by four chefs – but we drank a bit too much… Festivities continued in G32 (the nightclub) with us all singing (loudly) to Vibz and even resulted in us strutting our stuff on the dancefloor!

We had no plans to attend the Carnival Ball which was in full steam in The Queens Room - but when we left G32, the Carnival Parade had just started - so we ended up, wrapped in streamers, joining it and parading around the floor.

Thank goodness the clocks go back yet another hour tonight – more time to recover and sleep!

 

Saturday 4^th April – Easter Saturday - Day at Sea.

We are now at GMT + 7 (BST + 6)

We went to the crew’s tug of war competition - in aid of the three charities supported by Cunard. It was a bit of fun – if a farce! The rules stipulated six people on each team – but this meant that the six little cabin stewards and the six girls from the children’s entertainment team were no match for the six burly men who formed the teams from the restaurants and bars! In the end the better technique of the restaurant team meant they won the overall trophy (for the fifth successive year, apparently).

Ian went to choir at 2pm but Nesta had to miss the first 30 minutes as she had to go to Bingo (yes, they honestly have daily bingo aboard QM2) as it was one of the clues in her great Easter Egg hunt… Immediately after choir, we went to our free wine tasting (due to us now being Platinum Members of the Cunard Travel Club). They were Italian wines and though were ok - weren’t really to our taste. (There were however some nice complementary and complimentary cheeses to go with the reds!)

In the evening we went into the restaurant for dinner. It’s a strange coincidence that just like on our trip on Voyager - there is a new Executive Chef on board, who is German, and the choice and standard of food presented has dipped noticeably since he got on.

Finally we went to see the crew talent show but were disappointed once again to find that this time there was only one member of what we regard as crew taking part. The Entertainments team and Photographers made up the rest of the acts. Shame, really as we enjoyed the crew shows on Voyager.

 

Tuesday 31^st March 2015 – Day at Sea.

The clocks went back by half an hour overnight to GMT + 10. (BST + 9)

Overcast, raining part of the day and the south westerly swell continuing - which means the ship is still rocking (although, not rolling). None of the entertainment interested us so we watched TV in our room and went for the odd walk. We did manage to skype Rebecca – only Martin and Ellie left now – but all in all, we had a quiet day.

We went down to the trivia quiz (scored 16 out of 20 but were nowhere near winning) and then went into the restaurant for dinner.

 

Wednesday 1^st April – Day at Sea.

The clocks went back again, this time by an hour, so we are now GMT + 9 (BST + 8).

Well – the sandman finally cometh!!

After the farce of the other day, sand artist Marcus Winter finally performed at 10am. He creates works of art out of sand and is well worth seeing. He is also a talented “paint” artist and Russell Harrison (you remember him – the star of “Bring the sing”!) came on during the show and sang a song, as one of the pictures was being drawn. Marcus and Russell are actually cousins and Marcus may make a “special appearance” tonight in Russell’s show by way of thanks! How exciting! …

In the Daily Programme, received last night, there was an important announcement about a special event celebrating the 175 years of Cunard. This morning at 11-45am the three Queens will link up with Head Office in Southampton to attempt to break the world record for synchronised movement across the largest distance. Passengers were asked to stand and turn around slowly three times. As QM2 is in the southern hemisphere - our guests have to turn clockwise, of course. Crew members would record participation and report to the independent adjudicators…

We, strangely, looked at today’s date – but went along to the Queens Room at the appointed time, to be met with the sight of well over 100 passengers slowly turning to the right and shouting “we love Cunard” before being told they were April Fools… Oh, what fun we have!

In the afternoon, Ian went to a lecture about the life of the QE2 which was interesting. Because of her being transformed into a troop ship during the Falkland war and then having to have new diesel electric engines after her original steam powered ones failed, the QE2 actually made three maiden voyages following extensive refits. It’s a bit sad that the plan to retire it to be a floating hotel in Dubai was put on indefinite hold during the economic downturn in 2008.

 

Thursday 2^nd April 2015 – Fremantle, Australia.

Happy birthday Dominic (and Nesta’s Dad)

The clocks were put back another hour last night so we are now on GMT + 8 (BST + 7)

We had booked the “leisurely” Fremantle tour but wow – it was full-on! Our driver/guide, John, was brilliant. He drove around Fremantle and regaled us with humorous stories including when he saw a ghost at the prison. When were at the prison, we noticed an advert for a youth hostel opening there on April 1^st… another April Fool’s joke??

We then went up the coast and had a 20 minute stop at Cottesloe Beach where we watched school children learning to swim and surf (very strange letting kids go in the sea as they do have sharks here)

Then it was into Perth and a trip around the city, including a visit to the WACA (that’s the cricket ground!) before spending an hour in King’s Park enjoying the views and the sunshine.

We then returned to the dockside and got straight onto the ship’s shuttle (which was actually a vintage tram) back into the centre of Fremantle - where we walked around for a while before heading across the esplanade to Fishing Boat harbour and more specifically to “Little Creatures” (a pub). Here we enjoyed a beer and met up with Joy (who had been hospitalised in Dubai) and Tom & Hannah who had left the ship in Singapore. Lots of beer drunk and catching up done. Gary, Jenny & Dianne arrived too - so even more beer was drunk!

We all made it back on board after a second lot of farewells to Joy, Tom & Hannah and continued drinking beer at the sail away party…

We had planned to go into the restaurant for dinner and then watch the show in the theatre but in the end decided on a quick pasta in the Chef’s galley and had an early night instead!!