June 2017 Crossing Day 9

Jeez!! Another gray and foggy sea day. I can't really complain as the seas are relatively smooth and the ship is swaying a bit but not rocking.

This morning, I attended what began as an extremely educational and entertaining lecture by Philip Birkenstein on the history of Faberge' but declined into a commercial for the company he and Theo Faberge' (grandson of Carl) have founded to promote Theo's line of the famous eggs, watches, and "affordable luxury" jewelry. The company was commissioned to create a sapphire egg to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Sapphire Jubilee this year. This egg will be unveiled for the first time here on QM2 tomorrow at 12:30. I am bemused that the unveiling is not in the presence of Her Majesty as it is her egg! Ah, well, the vagaries of commerce are not my bailiwick! I won't be attended his next two talks, I already have too many "special purchase" opportunities aboard.

I forgot to mention yesterday that the wind was blowing steadily so strongly that the ship required actual tugboats to assist the side-thrusters allowing the ship to make her backward curve into the Southampton shipping channel. The tug nearly disappeared under the cruse of QM2's bow.

I attended a fascinating lecture given by Robert Bayley who in 1992 was in the 7th balloon to cross the Atlantic. I had no idea that more people had been on the moon than successfully crossed the Atlantic in a balloon. Hot air ones only stay aloft for several hours, helium ones for a max of three days and it takes a minimum of five days to cross the Atlantic!  One aspect of the lecture that intrigued me was his use of recorded conversations between he and his fellow pilot and the varied aircraft they encountered, including the exchange between themselves and the Concorde pilot who sonic boom rocked their balloon as the plane broke the sound barrier leaving New York!! Plus It never, ever occurred to me a balloon could be becalmed!! Makes sense, but it's still eerie to consider!  

He included a telling graphic of three famous Atlantic crossing balloons (Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic. the USA Double Eagle and finally his own Chrysler Race balloon with Parliament superimposed to give a size relation. Brave does not even begin to describe this man. 

I lunched with a charming couple (Herbert and Evelyn) from Ontario then went to knitting where more than 23 women showed up. Definitely more British knitters than American. 

After I went to learn how to tie a bow  tie. The incorrect site was posted in the program, so I went down to get Tommi in G32 where he'd mentioned during knitting the class would be. He was annoyed but grateful I made the effort. I though, who wouldn't???You know, just in case the need ever arose! Not the most flattering selfies, but I did accomplish the task!! I've included the handout, so you can practice on your own! Note: I was the only female attendee!!!

I sat with Phyllis from Shropshire at tea and we had a delight chat, which she referred to as a "coze." What a wonderful word!!

I passed on dinner, too full and met Sheila after the show in Kings Court where we ran into Paul and Janet again and made a date to end each day there catching up!