Queen Mary 2 Last Sea Day

Harry Strong's lecture on sea turtles was stimulating, though I had several moments of silent internal weeping as I thought of Mom and her interest in the creatures. One of the regrets of my time at UF is that I never tracked down Archie Carr and gave him hello from her. She spoke of him with such reverence and humor, I should have done that for her...and me.

I'm intrigued by the number of people using those Alpine walking sticks I usually see with hikers. I would never have thought of them as balance devices for use on a rolling ship! Ingenious! Pat wants to offer a Seg-way service for this ship. She says her knees are tired by the end of the day and she'd love to just roll along the corridors and deck spaces. 

For the second night in a row, this Spanish speaking couple have had their children in the Commodore Club while we're there before dinner! Now, I'm not a small child hater, but they are out of place in an upscale bar, and that's before they began a game of "how fast can you run down the hallway?" Parents need to suck up and discipline.

Rob was a CSI in Reno for a couple of decades and after listening to his stories, I will never use a hotel room coffee pot again. Even the microwave and mini-fridge will give me pause. When people are away from home and not required to clean up after themselves, they can revert to animal behavior. 

What a difference a day and 650 miles makes in sea conditions! It's almost flat!

Sheila stuffed my door stocking with a bag of her trademark candies! What a treat she is!

Rob and Craig want to cruise again with this group. How complimentary! I am going to ask Audrey to investigate a Hawaii roundtrip cruise. That idea really appeals to me. 

I meant to ask Dr. Crowe the difference between a wormhole and a black hole. Most Trek and Wars weapons are based on light: photon torpedos, lasers, even Death Star! Huh, I wonder if Spielberg and Lucas know something we do not? Of course, Asimov, Heinlein and Dick thought of them decades ago! Dr. Crowe is one of Stephen Hawkings students! Odd. I never think of Hawking as a teacher!

My IT angel is Graham Mitchell, Guest Computer Manager! I wish him joy and fortune in 2017!

Arran sweaters have diverse cabling for a reason. Back in the day, each village had a pattern for itself, so when sailors/fishermen were washed ashore, the bodies could be sent home for burial. How cool is that?!

I heard a presentation on Christmas music in movies. Not quite what I expected. I had no idea how many Christmas songs are melancholy! The pleasant surprise was Deanna Durbin singing Silent Night during a telephone call. I must remember to find the movie.

Folks to remember: Sergii, waiter in Commodore Club; Venus, steward of 4201; Michael, Jelenda and Scott waiters in Carinthia; Daniel, sommelier for Britannia table 46; Tommi, social host fron Cornwall; Anton, balding head of guest services; Tarran, head waiter for Britannia Lower; Denawatha Gupta, waiter extraordinaire table 46. 

Dr. Crowe was in Commodore Club with his girlfriend tonight and I got a diffetent view. His boots had holes in the bottom and part of a heel was missing! Then Rob and Craig said he's worn the same pants all week! I never noticed! How the interesting have fallen.

Queen Mary 2 Day 12

Too much going on! I fell asleep before I posted yesterday! 

There is something wonderful about eating a fresh waffle while sitting in a sumptuous dining room looking out a window at the Atlantic rolling by. I kept hoping a whale would breach. No such luck. I had to make do with stimulating conversation! 

Finished tne green textured chevron scarf and gave it to Professor Crowe since he admired it. He says he'll wear it in NYC. I choose to believe him. 

Excellent lecture on the astrophysics of Star Wars and Star Trek. I was astounded to learn a particle had been teleported in 1998. The experiment has been repeated 4 times since with increasing distances; the most recent being from an observatory on Tenerife to one 150 miles away! Also, the US Army has tanks equipped with large bore lasers. 

What have I realized or re-affirmed on this crossing? I am incapable of playing bridge. I have no patience for children in bars. I still have not acquired a discerning wine pallet. Inside cabins are like sensory deprivation chambers. I require daylight to be happy. I loathe crowded hordes. Eevery man looks good in a tux. I don't like eel. I feel a degree of pity for those who take cruise after cruise after cruise because home does not appeal to them. The apple slices garnish on a Sydney Apple are made ro resemble the city's iconic Opera House.

The garlic escargot at dinner were so delicious that I had them for dessert as well. Not even tempted by the Chocolate Assortment! Our waiter didn't even bat an eye! 

High winds and dense clouds meant no stargazing again. Sigh. 😒

Queen Mary 2 Day 11

Mostly calm seas this morning and only a few clouds, so I hoped Dr. Crowe's telescope offer comes into play tonight, but the wind kicked up again and the decks are losed. No stargazing tonight. 

Breakfast with Sheila in Carinthia. Actually, I ate breakfast while she sipped a watered down cranberry juice. No wonder she's a twig. Several folks stopped by to comment on the scarf I'm knitting, including Thomas and his partner, Neal, who mde an incredible rag rug mimicking Warhol's Marilyn. Turns out they know Shirley Ferrari, former ballerina, with whom Sheila and I shared coffee the other afternoon. 

Tried again to capture seas as they hit the windows of Deck 2. 

Heard Robert Cave speak about his years on the MI-5 Protection Service Teams, guarding the Royals and personalities. I never knew how isolated a Royal was/is. He spoke about Diana as he was part of her initial team. She had to surrender her passport, driving license, bank and checkbooks, car keys, cell phone and most of her freedoms. She was never allowed anywhere alone, Team member even waited outside the stall during a bathroom visit. Why would anyone strive for a position that would require such protection? Perhaps they believe they're bulletproof!?

Thomas and Neal turn out to be old hand Cunarders who have stories about everyone. They chose to sit with me again during Dr. Crowe's lecture on the Life Cycle of Stars. Speaking Dr. C, he complimented my scarf while he was standing by me during Cave's lecture. When his turn came, I didn't recognize the dapper, suited man with the t-shirted and jeaned guy who had chatted with me earlier. When he noted the scarf was longer, I quipped he could hve it and he said yes! He needed one for NYC anyway. He works at Rayleigh Observatory and teaches at the Cambridge Prep School! 

His lecture prompted questions. I wish Mom were still here to enjoy finding the snawers with me! 

Do the colors in the Canis Majoris photograph indicate element, temperature, density? How does gravity work in space? Why does gravity beat every other force in nature? 

I'm uncertain who has the coolest quote: Sagan or Tyson.

Sagan - "We're all made of starstuff."

Tyson -  "When I look up at the night sky and I know that yes we are a part of this universe, we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts is that the universe is in us," When I reflect on that fact, I look up, many people feel small cause they're small and the universe is big, but I feel big because my atoms came from those stars. There's a level of connectivity."

Knitting was good. Dinner was excellent. Post-dinner was bummed by high winds, so no star watching! Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Queen Mary 2 Day 10

Breakfasted with Sheila in Britannia. Met Andrew and his Dad who are going to Maine skiing! Chatted about Ametican football's draw in UK. Andrew's dad noted he was confused by defense play and I suggested he YouTube for examples. Well received.

Saw a rainbow!!!

 

The seas are high today,  about 25 foot swells. I wish I could capture them on film!!

 I'm sitting at the window in Queen's Room, knitting and watching mini rainbows appear at the swells crest and spume in the sunlight. I can't get to my camera fast enough! Some things just have to stay in my memory.

I was blessed this morning by the guy in charge of Internet aboard ship. Last night I totally forgot to turn off my wi-fi and lost 260 minutes. The IT angel aboard gave them all back to me, noting we all make mistakes! I hope he has a wonderful day!

Attended a really good lecture on Busby Berkeley and movie musicals. Until speaker pointed it out, I had no idea BB's dance extravaganzas were based on military marching patterns! 

Tea with Sheila, Pat and 2014 John. Scrapped attending showing of Ben Hur . I had no idea there even was an updated version of the movie! Going was forgotten after several people told how awful it was. 

Went to Sequence Dancing. Still enamored of it. I wish the YMCA offered such a course! Revelation at dinner - only three sea days left, then NYC and home!

Queen Mary 2 Day 9

MRide much smoother as seas mellow. Then Captain announces at mid-day location speech that the will get much bigger during the afternoon and evening as the winds from the storm increase. 

I am bemused by the woman Sheila met who is writing a book on art galleries. She chooses to do this sitting at a high top in the loud, noisy, full-of-movement Carinthia Lounge. More power to her! 

Dr Crowe presented on the wonders of the Solar System. The planetarium presented Stars over the Atlantic. I wish today had not been foggy so I could have looked through Dr. C's telescope. 

A bit of Christmas appeared in my cabin after lunch: 

 

It inspired me to hang my Christmas stocking!! 

 At dinner, Sheila mentioned this couple she met from Jacksonville. After dinner, we're walking out as they exit and I recognize Tenika Hughes the news anchor from Jax! How cool is that!

Then kareoke in Golden Lion as Robert sings and Pat, Sheila ans I are the women in the midst of a herd of guys!? What a tough life!!!

Queen Mary 2 Days 7 and 8

Yesterday Pat and I roamed Southampton. We explore the updated West Quay Mall, viewed the sailing museum and Carnival UK headquarters, pondered the happenings in the Players Club for Gentlemen as we strolled past, agreed that the ancient city fortification wall remnants scattered around the city center would have been bulldozed a long time ago if this were most US cities, not incorporated into the current architecture as they have been here.

Pat bought her Boots and Marks and Spencer supplies. She buys a big boquet of fresh cut flowers at each port to given color to her stateroom! When we returned to ship, we celebrated with a drink in Chart Room. Ginger beer is not for me, too sweet, but Pat adores it. 

 It's odd to watch new people come aboard. I am so tempted to help them locate themselves but all the old hands assure me that can lead to unanticipated problems. Let well enough alone. I'm finding my rural/suburban openness at odds with the isolationist walls of my urbanite friends. 

Tea in the Queen's Room. Drinks before dinner in the Commodore Club. No dressing up, informal attire. Ron joined our table for dinner but managed to tick off Sheila as he vacillated between remaining or returning to his original table. She argued in private that he "upset the dynamics of the group." I am uncertain why she is so annoyed. She surprised us all by bringing her small Cunard Bear to the table and setting him up as a dinner guest, complete with water and roll. Sometimes the sprite in her erupts! 

After dinner, Tim shared his nightmare about his ex and the new husband. Tim looks Teutonic but is one of the most emotionally fragile humans I know. Selfishly, I am very glad he does not live near me nor is into electronic communication. I was kind of harsh but I believe what I said when I told him to move on, that after 5 years, he needs to accept no emotional recociliation will occur, though a social one seems likely.

Sheila captured me for drinks before bed to talk about her day at Windsor. I was exhausted and happy to have the extra hour as we set the clocks back. 

Today is Friday, December 16. We have a new captain, actually he came aboard yesterday. Kevin Oprey was captain during my Quebec/St. Lawrence cruise in October. His rule is very different from Wells's. He seldom leaves the bridge, nor consorts with passengers unless they're seated at his dinner table. The seas seemed calm today, yet the ship is rolling like in a big storm. My conclusion is that he does not have stabilizers out, thus increasing speed and lessening fuel use. Sheila opined he just wants to get from A to B, believeing if you've chosen sailing the North Atlantic in winter, you deserve the experience, not to be coddled with a smooth ride. I don't know. What I have seen today are multiple wrists and arms in casts and passengers puking in the stairways. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I can't help but recall that Wells is the last remianing Cunard-trained captain in the fleet; all the others come from some other Carnival line. 

Attended two excellent lectures. Dr. Chris Crowe (Royal Naval Observatory) spoke on Big Bang theories. He brought his telescope and on every clear day at noon has invited us to see the sun using the special lens, then at 10:30 PM on Deck 12 to see the stars. Today is cloudy but clearing, so I won't join him until tomorrow. Then George McGhee spoke on Errol Flynn. Marvelous! Pat sat next to me and we were entranced. 

Knitting went well. Nancy Sheck liked the Alpaca wool I got her at John Lewis, though she paid me in pounds!! Met and chatted with Karen, Matthew (son) and Jerry from Liverpool, trading stories about the city and the Dance of the Qeens last year. 

Dinner was interesting. Sheila has table set up for 7: our original 4 plus Ron and Robert and Craig from Reno. Charming and fun. Looks like I won't be missing any evening meals!

I found the curry bar, so had that instead of cakes and scones for tea!!

Queen Mary 2 Day 6

Last sea day before Southampton. Calm ocean. Gray day. Dry, finally, no Snow, wind or rain. All decks are open! 

Malcolm gave his final presentation today on "Excuses smugglers offer." The entire audince laughed, gasped and giggled for 50 minutes!

I sang Christmas carols round the tree. The woman next to me noted, "You don't have a lot of talent, but you are overflowing with enthusiasm!" I took it as a compliment.

I'm meeting Pat at 10:00 AM to hit West Quay and Boots. 

I missed the Astrology seminar as I was talking with lunch companions.

Proof positive that I need to slow down when writing a note to self!! 

Niel was stunned when I handed him his White Star card. I told him how much I appreciated that he never looked down on me for not prticipating!

RADA did Christmas Ghost Stories. I am pooped and going to bed. I know I've forgotten things. Too bd!