19th March 2016

We woke to choppy seas this morning, but the stabilisers are still doing their job. Up on deck, the sun is no longer fierce, and a stiff breeze makes it much more pleasant to sit and admire the view of other ships passing in the far distance, going one way or the other. After breakfast, that’s exactly what we did. Among others, through the binoculars, we spotted an aircraft carrier, though its name and nationality were unclear at such a distance. I fancy it might be Saudi Arabian or American, involved in operations around Syria or Yemen.

We thought we did well in the two quizzes this morning, but were thwarted by foreigners getting maximum scores. Highly dubious, we shall have to watch them closely in the future.

We read our books before dining formally in the Botticelli.

The usual routine followed in the afternoon: gym for me, reading and tea for Sue, with a meet-up later for a quiz, this time on Logos. Sue fancied ‘Pictionary’ in the Grand Bar, so while she watched that, I carried on with H.G. Wells’ ‘The Invisible Man’ in one of the side booths, facing a much calmer sea. Watching the sunset in a cloudless sky over the sea must be one of the most relaxing sights on the planet.

Our evening entertainment was a jazz singer. Not my cup of tea. I fear she was enjoying herself more than many of the audience members. We had a very quiet evening meal in a relatively empty restaurant. Where were all the other passengers? Surely not trying to diet, far too late for that!

We took a walk around the deck, noticing that the temperature was getting decidedly un-reptilian. Soon, we’ll have to wear something warmer. After meandering through the decks and checking out the entertainment in the various bars and plazas, we opted for Scrabble in the cabin. I feel a bit of guilt about that, but I’m not sure why.

We have a long day tomorrow.