All at Sea (again)

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The weather forecast from the night before did predict rough seas and certainly we had them in the night. I take my last remaining seasickness pill even before I get up. My friend, on the other hand, has other problems. She is sneezing a lot this morning and yes, she does have my cold! Boy is she going to make me suffer!

Today is really about riding out the miserable weather and accompanying waves. The only productive thing I manage to do all morning is a little origami and writing up my diary. Hence it is now up to date. People are generally feeling pretty rough. My friend and I go along to the show lounge to hear the onboard harpist. She has also been affected and is pretty off colour. She keeps loosing her place as she introduces each piece of music. However her playing is faultless, despite the constant movement.

All on cue, we cheer and demand an encore.

Again the afternoon is pretty lazy. I spend most of my time reading, whilst my friend gets a few hours kip. In the early evening I head down to the Majestic Lounge for a musical extravaganza, probably the highlight of the trip – it’s the cruise choir, featuring my friend! Despite having her own cold, she does brilliantly! I remember my MP3 player at the last moment and manage to record the event for prosperity. I’m not the only fan there, the rest of our friends from dinner have come along to lend their support. All on cue, we cheer and demand an encore. Luckily they have an extra number ready to perform, just in case.

Before we go for dinner I am nagged, bullied and generally harassed into packing up my bags. I know this has to be done tonight, but I’m shattered and it really doesn’t help. Still this is the closest we’ve come to falling out in two weeks, so that’s not bad. In an effort to help me move my bag, she gives it a hefty shove. Unfortunately she didn’t realise it has wheels and it shoots back into my shin. Ooh did I swear! Finally we’ve finished fiddling about and head off for a final dinner. It’s a casual affair tonight and we take along the table 43 photograph we bought earlier from the photo shop. We offer to get it copied and send it on to anyone who wants it. We end up with a collection of addresses and wish each other well (although we probably will bump into each other before we leave).

During the meal I surprise our waiter, Lito, by remembering the phrase he taught me yesterday. Mind you his surprise is nothing to Arnold’s, when I try it on him. Although tips are not necessary as it is included in the price of the holiday, we do give Arnold and Lito something. They’ve done a wonderful job during this trip and always with a genuine desire to help. Sometimes it makes you feel uncomfortable, are we exploiting them or enabling them to improve life for their families?

This evening’s concert features all of the artists who have performed throughout the trip. To be honest it’s one of the best, probably because the comic and magician don’t have that much time to annoy me. My favourite though is the thoroughly professional singer, Andrew Robley. He works the audience perfectly, performing beautiful ballads one minute and encouraging a sing-song the next. At the end of his set he thanks everyone for making the trip so enjoyable. In particular he mentions the extraordinary experience of learning some of the dances at the deck party. A certain person sitting next to me seems to be responsible for this!!!