Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my blog readers! It has been a busy time on board over the festive season. Christmas Day started with the Purser's Department 'Secret Santa' - anonymous present giving-out in my cabin at 'silly o'clock' in the morning. Breakfast was sausage panini - my favourite and a little bucks fizz to wash it down with! Not a bad start to any morning really. The morning just flew by and included the festival of lessons and carols in the Palladium Theatre and it was then time to serve the crew their Christmas lunch. Platehouse duties for me - it's hot work in there and just doing it for one lunchtime makes you appreciate even more the job of the guys who have to do it all day.


I wasn't alone though - the Technical department donned their boiler suits too and we had a great time!

I must confess to wanting a little snooze in the afternoon - it wouldn't be a traditional Christmas without one - nodding off in front of the Queen's Speech...... I am fortunate to have my neighbours on board for their first cruise. They are really enjoying it and I managed to spend some time with them - exchanging presents. They have recently become doting grandparents so I gave them a digital photo frame and managed to get an image of the grandaughter sent to the ship so I could get it downloaded onto the frame. Well, typical 'new toy' that it was we didn't bother reading the instructions of course. Nope. Why bother actually reading things that will make your life easier? t was a little frustrating but we got there in the end.

Pre-dinner parties (x 2) to go to and then my turn to eat turkey. The thing is though you never actually want to eat it when you have seen so much of it at lunchtime.... It's like working in a chocolate factory when they say you can eat as much of it as you like knowing that you'll get sick of it very soon. Diane Cousins was the main entertainment on offer. A fabulously witty Welsh lady with one of those 'cracking voices' - she picked on the audience something terrible. She also made the mistake of picking on me - although she didn't realise that it was me in the beginning. Apparently I was too near the door, I had come late and I should've found a seat. All she saw was a white jacket - until I stepped further into the light and she sussed out it was me. I got a public apology, although I don't know why - I was too near the door, I was late and I couldn't find a seat!!!

We are now alongside in Palma and most of it is shut. Football is on the telly and it's time to nod off in front of that I think!

Keep well.

Ian

Current Thought: In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Thomas Jefferson, 1743 - 1826, President of the USA