I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL,
PUT ANOTHER BAR ON THE WIND
CHART, BABY!
January 3rd
January 4th
January 5th
January 6th, morning and afternoon
The posts for this trip have been difficult to
load because the computer system has been very overloaded, even at
midnight. This is probably because
everyone with a computer and/or smart phone has been relaying the news about
the weather.
The intense cold which North America is
experiencing has produced storms on almost the entire North and Mid-Atlantic,
with torrential rains in Britain, and probably Germany but we see British
news. We have rocked and rolled and
bounced for days, with winds gusting up to 60 knots and waves up to 10 meters. The dining room has had many empty tables
most nights.
We (my Main Man, hereafter referred to MM or MH –
my Honey) and I have danced through most of it, only sorry that the promenade
deck has been closed until today. But
today, the wind is still so strong that it was impossible to open the door.
Last night, at the same time, you could hear
Dixieland jazz in the pub, a Rock and Roll night in the ballroom or an Abba
night in the disco. The pub was too
crowded so that was out but we managed the rest. The new singer is rather full of herself and
always lets us know where she studied music or where she first heard or learned
a song. It is somewhat wearing. Last night she did not sing a rock and roll
song – torch ballads from the 20’s - and the band had a bit of trouble with the
syncopation so it was on to the disco.
No smoking allowed!! Unlike QM2,
where we reeked after 30 seconds in the disco, the air only smelled liked
dancers having fun.
My midnight “snack” is now that – a snack! Fresh fruit, chopped and ready to eat and
decaf tea end the evening.
Many of us were disappointed not to be able to
stop at the Azores. Friends from last
year said they had been booked 3 times on cruises which included the Azores and
had not landed once. And, it was the
same captain each time!! He will get off
in South America, we will get a female captain and the Commodore will be back
for the end of the World Voyage.
The storm held us up so that we would have been
days late and then even later in Florida, the next port. I feel very sorry for those who booked the
Southampton-Fort Lauderdale segment and have been sick since Southampton.
The crew seems less manic than on MARY and I would
have said friendlier except for a bitch in the shop. Two days ago, I bought
what I thought was the facial soap I used in Germany. When I looked closely, I saw that it was for
oily skin – something I last had when I was about 16. As I attempted to exchange, she got quite
huffy, saying I has specifically asked for soap for oily skin. She continued to argue with me and insisted that I had to wait for a refund from the manager. Duh!!
So, she, the manager and I will have a talk later. Unfortunately, I think my skin color confused
her – I do not work here! And, even if I did ........
However, tonight will be party night in the
ballroom and I had calf liver for lunch.
Of course it’s not included in the average vegetarian/pescatarian diet, one must make
allowances, especially now that I do not eat spare ribs at midnight.
MS QUEEN VICTORIA seems to
be about ¾’s the size of RMS QUEEN MARY 2.
The ship and the public rooms are just that bit smaller – more intimate
according to some crew members – more crowded for line dancing, according to
me. But, the stateroom seems to be the
same size.
Difference?? Now that I am not travelling alone, I have to
share the closet
