Queen Mary 2 Day 5

Robert Parker died in 2010! How could I not know that? This must have been his last Spenser novel! If so, how fitting his character's final words: "Life is mostly metaphor." I may have to read the novels as a homage to a writer who brought me pleasure. Ah, my first goal for 2017.

I had a coffee with the doctor who is the accupuncturist for the medical center and the salon on the ship. Fascinating man. He's here for three months and takes a big cut in pay to travel with the ship as an official/unofficial crew member, he does not have to stand to crew calls but must adhere to crew regulations. I learned accupuncture helps a lot more than just aches and pains. I was sharing this wwith Marz a fellow knitter and she offered that she has been using this treatment for several years due to complications after her hip replacement.

At the World Club cocktail party, I went up to Aureliano Mazzella at whose table I dined when he was Safety Officer of the Elizabeth in 2014, imtending to congratulated him on his promotion to Deputy Captain. When I began to talk, he surprised me with, "I remember you. I remember those eyes." I was so flabbergasted, I stuttered before finishing my compliment. 

The US is missing something as we do not have small cruise lines like Fred Olsen and P&O who take fewer people in less luxury. The less luxurious American lines take hordes and hordes of folks. Sigh. 

I opened my daily programme and saw David Copperfield was tonight's headliner, then read the small print. He is a British impressionist and musician. Another, sigh. 

Watched another fencing class. It's like a ballet.

Had marvelous Laksa soup from Singapore for lunch. I MUST. Find a recipe; I could eat this every day! Heads up, Letreze and Jean!

My attempt at Potato Chip knitted scarf was an abysmalfailjre as my yarn was too thick and my needles too big! Rip out and try another design.

The Planetarium show was amazing. Still astounds me that the ship can be rocketing along at 25 knots in medium-high seas and I'm watching the Milky Way over my head!

Tea was marvelous, but I cannot do this again until next week. Too many calories!!!

Attended a talk with Nathaniel Lande, author of National Geographic's The 10 Best of Everything.  I am very intrigued by this volume. Lande's dad was Heminway's personal physician in Cuba. Lande lived in Moscow and Lenningrad, married a Bolshoi ballerina, met Lyndon Johnson on a massage table and photographed the Israeli cruise ship Shalom as a passenger on its maiden voyage when it sliced a Swedish ship right in half! Delighftul raconteur! If he speaks again, I won't miss it!

Met Tim and Gail after dinner to hear RADA do Jazz Poetry. And Ronnie and Marge joined us, these women have been friends since they met 43 years ago at NATO HQ in Belgium!!