21st August 2014

A day at sea meant a well-deserved lie-in, so we didn’t stir until 9 a.m., practically decadent by our usual standards.

After breakfast, we shuffled off to a port presentation on Åndalsnes, before rewarding ourselves with coffee in one of the lounges. Suitably fortified, we sat through a surprisingly engaging lecture on the solar system in the forward theatre, always useful to know what’s whizzing about above one’s head.

Feeling virtuous (and perhaps a little guilty after second helpings at breakfast), I braved the blustery weather and completed three laps of deck 7, one mile of fighting against the wind like a man determined not to lose his hat. Not content with that, I then marched off to the gym and rowed 2.3 km, ran 4 km, and cycled 5 km. In contrast, Sue wisely conserved her energy by reading in the lounge, which, on balance, struck me as the more civilised option. We reconvened over lunch in the Conservatory, where I undid all my good work with dessert.

The afternoon was filled with another port presentation, this time on Geiranger, after which I treated myself to a fascinating lecture on Alan Turing. Suitably inspired, I then retreated to the Lord’s Tavern to wrestle with my book. Sue, showing greater sense, went to the cinema.

Evening meant black tie, so after squeezing into our glad rags, we found ourselves at a 60s music quiz. It was not the roaring success I’d imagined, the low turnout being a clue that others already knew how fiendishly difficult it was. We recognised almost every tune but could rarely dredge up the song title or artist, which was maddening.

Fortunately, there were bonus points to be earned by performing assorted ridiculous acts, which helped disguise our lamentable knowledge. Utterly daft, yet oddly enjoyable.

Dinner was, as ever, splendid, and afterwards we were treated to a performance by the international violinist Beverley Davison. She combined dazzling musicianship with quick wit and mischievous humour, delivering a show that was both enchanting and laugh-out-loud funny. Quite magical, and we’re already looking forward to her next appearance.