The day
began well with an early start and into our exercise gear. We dd 5000 steps
around deck 3 and were surprised that there were only a handful of others
taking in the opportunity for some exercise. On one of the turns around the
deck we caught sight of a pod of dolphins that were keeping us company.
Overnight, we had made our way deep into Bass Strait and the sea had developed
some swells that sent the ship into a rocking motion. The movement of the ship
was not spectacular, but it kicked off some sea sickness in me. This called a
halt to the walk and when we got back to the cabin, all i wanted to do was to
lie down. Johnny went up to the Lido for breakfast but I lay in bed and could
only face a sweet roll that Johnny brought back for me. Johnny tracked down
dome sea sickness pills and I started on them. I wasn’t up to much for the rest
of the day. I got up for a bit of lunch and then we popped into the big theatre
to watch a great move, Green Book. I didn’t want to spoil Johnny’s fun, so we
went back to the Lido in time for scones and tea. We were just in time as I
overheard an old hand at this sailing lark complaining that this was the first
time she had ever seen the kitchen run out of scones. By this time, the room
was again starting to spin, so it was back to the cabin for a lie down.
We both
decided that the Lido was the best option for dinner as I didn’t feel I could
do all the dressing up thing required in the Britannia. We had a lovely dinner
and happened to be sitting at the table next to the Captain of the ship and his
entourage. They and their partners were all spivved up in the formal gear as it
was Gala Night.
After
dinner we took a walk around the ship and chanced on the dancing in the Queen’s
Lounge. There was a whole big band and glittering couples gliding across the
floor. We were certainly not dressed for it, but we found a couple of seats and
sat down to watch the show, They were all dances that Johnny and I could have
managed...Cha Cha, Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep...In the end we were seduced by
the atmosphere and ordered some drinks. Johnny had a Ginny Hendricks and I had
a very powerful Irish Coffee. People had planned ahead for this event. The men
looked very swish in tuxedos and the women sparked in black and white ball
gowns. There was also an appearance by a couple of professional dancers (who
Johnny tells me were a lot better than the ham-fisted efforts of the passengers
taking dancing lessons earlier in the day, while i was resting in the cabin).
It seemed very late when we got back to our cabin.
We woke
quite late the next morning as the clocks kept getting put forward as the ship
progressed along the great circle route. I took a precautionary travel sickness
pill and we ventured out for breakfast. At home i usually skip breakfast but on
the ship it was too tempting. We sat next to an older couple, Lorraine and Ray,
from out Caroline Springs way and enjoyed their company over breakfast. Then we
took a few turns around the deck and got back in time to attend a talk on the
Christchurch Earthquake. The presenter, Sir Robert Parker, (who oversaw the
aftermath of the earthquakes) was very engaging and at times funny. He was a
public servant involved in the recovery effort and his wife was the Mayor at
the time. It was really interesting.
The talk
finished just in time for lunch. The
lido put on another magnificent and varied spread. There was no point thinking
about modest sandwich with all that wonderful variety spread before us. We gave
in and enjoyed it, before decamping to the theatre for the showing of Downton
Abbey. You could see echoes of that past grandeur in the outfitting of our
ship. Everywhere you look there are gleaming surfaces and echoes of art deco
glamour. Every activity on board is supervised by an army of smiling “help”
there to ensure that you want for nothing.
Dinner was
in the Britannia room and again it was very nice. Both John and I has plaice
with chips and vegetables. The desserts were warm Bakewell tart and chocolate
crème brulee. We decided not to go on to any entertainment afterwards as we
planned an early rise for the passage through Milford Sound.
