Megabear2

Well she is dating Queen Camilla's ex so it would be keeping it in the family almost ...

Just a quick note. Off in 2 minutes, now on my coach. I left at 08.08!

Half Term Report! I too was a little bemused by the supposed commentary accompanying the "scenic cruising" the day before yesterday. We were a considerable way off any land with rather unidentifiable blobs in the distance but having no experience of a so called scenic cruise I and no doubt others had no clue what we were actually meant to be looking at. Unfortunately this sort of experience is not unusual, I can recall a Caribbean cruise on P&O where we actually spent most of the time in the Atlantic miles from anything Caribbean. The answer to those who complained (I wasn't one of them) was "Captain's discretion" and I'll hazard a guess this sort of platitude may well be the reply on this occasion. Unlike many others on this voyage I'm on a bargain basement fare, the lowest I've had on Cunard in very a long time. I booked fully expecting to be on a slightly disorganised cruise where the very unreliable weather we are experiencing in the UK would most likely impact. Much as I am a total Cunard devotee I had low expectations for this particular trip. I have however been pleasantly surprised. My main comments: "Disappointment" with the waiting staff in the Britannia restaurant and the overall attitude in there. Whilst I appreciate they appsrehad an extremely difficult time with the guests on the previous two cruises I do feel if they relaxed and smiled more we'd all feel a little better. It's not bad service but it is functional rather than normal Cunard service. Not a deal breaker but could do better 7/10. Entertainment has been outstanding, excellent speakers and top acts to date. I find the "normal" onboard offerings irritating with computer backing tracks and instrument playing along completely out of line with all previous Cunard voyages. I miss things like the jazz band in the pub, the harp at teatime and in the Britannia on gala nights, but overall.due to the guest acts and speakers 8/10 (10/10 for the guests though). My cabin and it's maintenance is far better than I anticipated, even with the missing tissue holder! Glenn my steward is friendly, helpful and very accommodating. My towels are changed even when I don't request them to be, the bathroom is spotless and he has even learnt I like the temperature at a different level.of an evening and adjusts it accordingly. 10/10 Disembarking at ports. Apart from the tender situation I gave not encountered problems personally. I'm aware many others have, both on tour and leaving independently. I may, without tempting fate, Encounter them today as my tour is the second departure at 8.15am. We will.see and I'll report back later! So far however for me 6/10. The tenders hard to forgive. General facilities. These are extremely good as far as I've done. The swimming pools - a very important aspect a cruise for me - are however not fit to swim in as the water isn't filled properly. A big disappointment for me. I actually sprained my wrist yesterday after catching the bottom with my hand. 8/10. I will continue later as we've just been told we may leave and I have to head to disembarkation for my trip.

Well it's planned to show The Derby in The Pavillion ... Just one small problem the race is run at 4.30pm and the Daily Programme is proudly showing 1.30pm so now I gave to gamble(!) are they broadcasting the whole Epsom card or is this a misprint? Decisions, decisions ...

One of my dinner companions has been in conversation with the WC leader onboard today. He has been told the bottle will not break in the traditional manner rather from a series of swings from the funnel. Apparently this is due to glass in the river not being environmentally correct. As to whether that is correct only time will tell but it does tie in with the recent Carnival and P&O launches that broke with tradition.

This is the official letter sent to enable your decision. It does say people can come and go up until 3.45pm.

The horse I have shares in didn't do much better, finishing 8th in the 2.35pm.

Any idea how far out she will be, assumedly tide related? The stage seems to be facing inward from the Liverpool Echo photograph. I assume large screens will relay to various points?

Thank you. No its tennis, I've been in here since about 3.45pm hoping it might come on. How did the King's horse do?

Now I'm totally 😕 I'll try on and off!

I'm on a tour. The race is off at 4.30pm so depends on all onboard time. Hopefully. I'm a huge horse racing fan so I'm very keen to watch.

Yes, do you mean turn it off?

Well my first "official" disappointment. Cunard Internet apparently bars access to all horse racing sites, including the Racing Post and Sporting Life. As it's Oaks day and tomorrow's the Derby I'd hoped to access my account to follow along but it's not to be.

And more announcements from the Captain about staying indoors and no filming. What on earth is wrong with people who can't follow a simple instruction.

Afternoon evening. I can confirm no price change on my cruise today.

Totally agree, and many get honours for nothing more than making money. The standing room only seems to indicate a great many do think highly of the man and as you say their choice.

The guy I spoke to who asked me to leave the deck has his hands rather full.back there. Hopefully all will be well for the poorly person.

Rather stupidly there is no security at the doors to the rear and a large crowd is there. The announcement is a little too late to help the staff trying to sort it.

It's a medical evacuation by helicopter in next hour. Heading towards Ireland as a result.

I was told this morning more information will be given on Sunday but we shall see.

Presumably everyone else knows he's the patron saint of archers but just in case ...

Well I do love a nice garden .. the plastic olive trees here in the Pavillion are truly spectacular... I'm typing on my phone which with my arthritic fingers is interesting, basically I'm too lazy to swap to tablet.

He is indeed MBE. The tax man comment was a joke, no more no less than many others amongst us might make when we see our own bills.

Back to general reporting!! I was extremely tired yesterday after two full days of excursions - I'll speak about those separately - so decided that after my archery at 11.00am it would be a day of enjoying scenic cruising, taking in a swim followed by reading. There was a call out from the bridge and I had the good fortune to see a couple of whales as a result which was an unexpected surprise You may recall I mentioned sign up for archery taking place on day 2 and it being very popular. A date and time was allocated, you could not choose, and a piece of paper was handed to you with meeting instructions. Typically me I noted the date and time but not the meeting place. That was rather stupid of me as I knew it was at a swimming pool but rather stupidly along with 2 others picked the wrong one. At 11.05am we realised our error and scurried off tail between our legs to the archery court. This was on the rather cold side of the ship nut I'd hazard a guess in warm weather it will be very nice. Groups of 6 with one set firing 3 arrows while the second set sit.on nice chairs awaiting their turn. Us being the late arrivals had.missed the equipment demonstration.but when our turn came things were quickly explained and we donned the necessary equipment fairly quickly. At the briefing at sign up we had been measured for arrow length and also leading eye. Interestingly although right handed naturally I was to fire left handed. This led to an interesting situation that being cackhanded I kept dropping my arrows when i went to load them. Our guide had the patio a saint and kindly picked them up and loaded for me. This isn't going to go too well I thought... well.im delighted to say I hit the red with my first arrow ... on my neighbour's board! The next two went in under the target thankfully this time my own. I did improve on the second set, at least hitting own target. My neighbour, a keen golfer was a natural as she hit the bullseye perfectly on each occasion after the first three arrows. So all you golfers are going to be great archers it seems. The session was 30 minutes and very good fun. Definitely a winner going forward I'd say. As Selbourne mentioned the scenic cruising was rather disappointing so I retired after lunch to the Pavillion where it was extremely pleasant with the roof open. A lazy afternoon spent swimming and then reading with a couple of ice cold Peroni to accompany it. Lovely relaxing afternoon which I thoroughly enjoyed. I went back via deck 1 as I wanted s coffee and it's a nice calm relaxed setting. There is an interest set up with call.buttons for service if the area is quiet. I pressed and as if by magic a lady appeared and took my order. Very impressive although as the call.buttons are loose and not fixed I.do wonder how long they will last before being accidentally taken away! Roaring twenties night beckoned so off to prepare for that. There were various themed events around the ship, even the evening quiz was 1920's themed so off I wandered to check out the scene. Most people had taken this one very much to heart with flapper dresses, boas etc highly prominent. I had donned my beaded 1920's style dress complete with a rather complex headgear which drapes and drops sparkling loops rather flatteringly over your head - I'd had it made by a local maker for a bit of fun for my world cruise in 2019. I had no idea how popular this thing would make me! Everywhere I went waiters and staff came zooming over to speak about it and I most certainly had no invisible difficulties last night! I'm thinking I should wear it every night, but the over indulgence of the repeat g&t and cocktails I enjoyed last night due to all.ghd attention would probably finish me off!! Dinner. Well what can I say? The dinner menu for me was a main course disaster waiting to explode. I have very many eating quirks including no fish that looks like fish(!), no skin.on any food and no bones anywhere in sight and that's just for starters! There's a menu offering me Beef Wellington (too rich), duck and sea bass was a personal nightmare. I therefore asked for always available which was salmon or steak.. I'd chosen gravalax starter and reasoned the salmon would have skin so steak it was. A few odd.moments with the waiters as to why I didn't want the menu items and we were off. The steak arrived, a rather sorry looking piece - my fault I'd asked for medium to well done - with a single broccoli piece and the same of cauliflower with twelve (yes I counted them just for you Selbourne!) green beans. On cutting into the steak rather gingerly I hit a long run.of gristle and after trying in a couple of places decided to.put it aside and not eat it. To be honest the chewy meat rather curtailed my appetite. Within seconds the waiter was there wanting to change it, no I said I'm fine. He seemed upset, went away and came back with his head waiter. Again I explained all.is well, thank you for your concern.but I'm fine. They disappeared, ah I though thank goodness that's over ... err maybe not! They're back and this time I have the MD and restaurant manager to contend with. Thankfully finally accepted a no thanks I.really don't need another meal. Goodness, I don't think I'll ever dare not to eat every scrap.in future. Joking apart I got the distinct impression they were expecting me to.kick.up a fuss and make a complaint. It certainly would explain the anxiety and desperate attempts to.bring more food. I actually felt sorry for them that I did not eat it. Marvin our waiter had been telling us that on the last cruise the waiting staff had gone through a very difficult time, and I felt the anxiety radiating from them when I chose not to eat the steak.

He does have an MBE and I would have thought that his mental health work is more than enough to qualify for proper recognition. Any tax problems were very many years ago, cleared and a major part of his complete mental breakdown - unlike the aforementioned Ken Dodd he did not go to court or get charged by HMRC. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/minister-visits-frank-bruno-foundation-mental-health-initiative