Mareblu

44 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Oh no! I’ve now got that in my head…. Thanks and no thanks…

 

…mist rolling in from the sea…

My desire is always to be there, oh Mull of Kintyre (cue massed pipes and drums). I’m totally ruined for the evening too, now🤣🤣

12 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

I am distantly related to her late father - I've only met her once as far as I can recall, and she was on best behaviour then - but I can only apologise for this outburst.

 

In case it's not obvious, Ms. Imrie is a relative of Liverpool's Imrie family that partly owned White Star Line. Unlike me she is a relatively close relative, her father was born in 1892, was a great nephew of William Imrie (deceased in 1906) and would have met him as a child. 

My thank you vote is for your interesting background information, and not for your apology.  There is absolutely no need for you to apologise, nor for you to feel associated with another’s very poor form in any way.  I can easily dismiss such behaviour as perhaps a streak of eccentricity, or feeling exhausted, any number of causes, really.  I can neither dismiss nor excuse the appalling treatment of our exemplary staff.  

10 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

I wonder Mareblu , where this person was seated. On our cruise, the celebrity speakers were seated at the same tables/next to each other as you entered the restaurant left, consecutively obviously, and the table/s were sort of out of the way.

In fact I only really noticed Val McD and didn't notice the tie less one until folk started stopping by the table to talk.

If the same tables, maybe 'out of the way' was too, out of the way.

 

Either way, the staff go above and beyond in their care and attentiveness and to subject any to an even minute tirade, is unforgivable.

Yes, that thought had occurred to me.  We are seated to the far right of the restaurant, a short distance past what I now refer to as “the diner-milkbar”, and it’s really  a lovely area, spacious, yet with tables near enough for a chat if desired.  We’ve had the pleasure and the privilege of the company of all our celebrity guests.  We respect their right to privacy, so never engage without being spoken to first.  Perhaps the glare of the accustomed spotlight was missing. We’re not sure whether the demand to be moved has been met, but I sincerely hope no guest has been moved to accommodate.  I’m just relieved we weren’t there, otherwise I’d be convinced we hadn’t measured up.

5 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I was on deck 9 enjoying some peace and quiet enjoying the fresh air despite the stuff breeze and decided or the first time this voyage I to have afternoon tea as it's the tea dance with the Orchestra.  Imagine my surprise when the lift doors opened on deck 8 to reveal  ... the covid twins smiling happily. No they didn't join me but I did see them wander in here shortly after me. 

I’m sure they’re exceedingly happy now.

43 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Well the mood on here is very down.  Virtually everyone I've spoken to today is moaning about something!  Very tiring after the long day and night just past.

 

After being up from 5.00am yesterday to see the sail in, wandering the steets of Liverpool, being escorted round a fascinating vessel called The Danny and then standing through the ceremony and back onboard at 8.25pm I'm not really in the mood for all the doom and gloom so have retired with a good book to a chair away from everyone after watching the lovely Celia Imrie In the theatre.

 

My opinion only. The send-off was lovely, the people of Liverpool very welcoming and I didn’t go to bed until 2.00am so the party must have been good.

 

A large number were enjoying the Pavillion, still going strong at 11.30pm when I decanted to The Bright Lights with my table companions.  We enjoyed the day enormously and no matter what you make of some of the decisions it was a unique and memorable occasion that I for one am very glad I had the opportunity to enjoy. 

 

I've even made a new friend, a lady I met ashore last night who does three jobs as a cleaner and bar person who wanted to know all about cruise ships and travelling around the world seeing sites she said she could only dream of.  She's 73 and our conversations made me appreciate even more how very lucky I am to be travelling on this lovely ship no matter who her Godparent is or how she compares to her predecessors. It very humbling to receive profuse thanks for something as simple as a handful of photographs of the occasion.

 

 

We were looking forward very much, after learning before embarkation that Ms Imrie would be appearing “in conversation” (an excellent format for career insights) to attending her event.  Now, the reason we definitely did not attend today needs to be couched in somewhat delicate terms:

Our section of the QG restaurant was treated last night to quite the diva performance, apparently.  
 

We’ve grown to respect and enjoy our dining companions at tables nearby, so we don’t doubt for a moment the exact same tale they all related both last night as we bumped into one lovely lady returning to her cabin as we did, nor the other couples today.  It was the first evening dining we’ve missed, as we realised the fireworks pontoon was to be positioned only yards from our aft balcony.  We opted for a quick bite in Artisan, which was very pleasant, and back to the balcony with a wee after-dinner dram.  I digress to say we feel we had the best view in Liverpool or on The Mersey itself.  We felt so lucky as the sky and water merged so spectacularly before our eyes.

Demanding to be moved to a window table and addressing, in a prolonged tirade, our wonderful, caring QG staff in a loud and rude manner can only be ascribed to delusions of grandeur, and renders the offending perpetrator not worthy of an audience, we decided by joint agreement this morning.  As you would all expect, they attempted to diffuse the situation and manage it with the utmost discretion and respect, and if this we have absolutely no doubt.
 

I haven’t been as delicate ad I initially intended, but my illusion of this incredibly talented actress has been shattered, and I am incredibly disappointed.  An unworthy performance indeed.

9 hours ago, NE John said:

Apologies if I came across as judgmental towards the youth performers (as I was a member of both my high school and college marching bands and orchestra) this event must have been thrilling for them and they surely had a great time. 
I do question the adults in charge for dressing them in baggy jeans presenting them with a sloppy look for a Cunard ship naming celebration with Andrea Boccelli as a headliner. 

Andrea always has enough dress sense to cover for everyone.  

If only I’d been awake🤣

56 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

As long as he didn’t sing!

 

Oh please, no!   Pretty adept at composing though.  Mull of Kintyre still brings me to tears

1 minute ago, NE John said:

I knew there was a second CC’er who also mastered the Illy!

And didn’t you mention your Italian DW would also be able to converse with the machine?

An afterthought @WantedOnVoyage:  perhaps you simply need a good Italian caffe, to restore the positivity and happy disposition I’m convinced lurks neglected within😊

39 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

Then again, you claim to be the only one who can work the Illy coffee machine in Grills cabins so we bow to your boundless optimism.  Me, I am wondering if they will get to no. 250 if this is any indication....  I am stopping at nos. 246-248 thanks very much. 

No, my Italian husband has always used the machines, both in QE and QA.

Just now, david63 said:

Good job she doesn't have wheels😂

Well she’s about Gulliver’s size

BTW, the screen shows our Captain seated in the front row ashore.  Who’s steering?🤣

Just now, Host Hattie said:

I should probably declare an interest at this point as I was born in Liverpool!

That’s lovely to know.  Congratulations then, Host Hattie!

Just now, molecrochip said:

cough.. google....

Oh well, Liverpudlians will love it, snd I don’t hate it.  Conversely, I’m beginning to loathe the DJ elevator music😤

A couple of screenshots 

Just now, Mareblu said:

Only on our tv screen🫣

Huge crowds on the foreshore. DJ currently entertaining them.  No “official appearances” yet

4 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

And can you see anything?

Only on our tv screen🫣

14 minutes ago, MylesS said:

Seems Queen Anne has moved off her berth according to the tracker!

Yes, we are sitting in the middle of the Mersey

30 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

This is the stage and screen in relation to the ship. If, as I suspect, we reverse back so that the bow of the ship is by the stage, those at the front, starboard side will have the best view. Those towards the aft may have their view obscured by the Mersey Ferries building. 50/50 for us as we are midships. 
 

As for Godparent, still no news? With all the secrecy and Godparent term I’m wondering - The King?

Any helicopters landing for a pick-up at Gatcombe Park?

6 minutes ago, david63 said:

It sounds to me more a case of not allowing any bad press get in the way of today's proceedings.

 

I was always of the impression that a ship's Captain had the last word and if he/she said you are to be confined to your cabin then you are confined to your cabin - end of.

It’s beyond belief.  They are indeed idiots, but the Officers making this decision should be held accountable for endangering the ship’s community.  There are many frail and elderly aboard, and so many in Grills.  How irresponsible (and weak) to capitulate in this disgraceful way.

30 minutes ago, buchhalm said:

Meh. Old, but ever so boring.

Same sort of stuff in the Orkneys, near Kirkwall.

You drag yourself through a paddock and ho-hum. A few stones.

 

You haven’t travelled much?  Stenness stones are in The Orkneys.  The rich cultural and archeological history of these sites is so fascinating.  You need a modicum of cerebral material, of course, in order to appreciate their significance in our evolution.  In order to know where we’re going, we need to understand where we’ve been.

My husband just made an observation I fear is correct.  He believes we are looking at the rear of the stage.  The large area where onlookers are now milling about is where the audience would be accommodated.  Say it isn’t so!!!

Could we have a general description, because I don’t think anyone as irresponsible and obviously unhinged (from their conduct and behaviour) would be wearing a mask.

55 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Standing stones of Stenness

Correct, Mic.  Older than Stonehenge.  Unfortunately the farmer who had the rights to the land grew tired of mowing around them and brought in equipment and had a few stones flattened.  Local outrage ensued and UNESCO stepped in.  It’s now, rightfully, a protected site.

Your turn.