Day 2, Mon 31st Jan, Sea Day with dolphins

 Today is a sea day.  All day on ship, taking it easy and enjoying whatever entertainment is laid on.  So we started leisurely, with a late breakfast and then a walk on deck.  If you walk round the ship five times, you’ve walked a mile.   Peter brought his video camera, because as usual, he is filming everything, including our walk around the ship. Good job he did, because on our second lap, we spotted the dolphins .  I don’t know what type they were, because they were quite small really, with brown backs I think, 

and light underneath  (That information is for those who want to look them up for us and tell us what type of dolphins they were). hey were lovely to see and there seemed to be quite a school of them. Our ship seemed to be crossing their path, and they all sort of crossed in front of us, in groups of 3 or 4.  Mums and babies together it seemed, leaping out of the water and as Peter puts it, “doing what dolphins do”.  We stood for a good 5 or 10 minutes watching them, and Peter managed to film a few (difficult, because 

they would insist on appearing all over the place.)  Anyway, he provided the stills. 
This afternoon was taken up mostly with Peter’s first watercolour class.  It started a bit chaotic to be honest, because a lot more people than expected turned  up and we just weren’t ready for them.  Still, with a bit of help from one of the dance staff who actually wanted to paint but never got the chance, everybody was looked after.  From what I can tell they all enjoyed the class.

We are now in the cabin preparing to go out for the first formal night. The captains cocktail party is going on and everyone is dressed for the occasion.  To be honest, we won’t join them, but we will dress to match.  Peter looks good in a tux, if a little out of place.

Day 1, Sun 30th Jan, Southampton

Well, we set of at 7 exactly, and we got to Southampton at about 12.30.  Everything was going really really well.  We found the dock or “Gate”, and the guys took our suitcases without us getting out of the car.  Peter drove the car round to the terminal entrance and the valet person checked it over, said “sign here”, and drove it off to the car park.

Because we are not passengers, we were able to get on the ship before everyone else and have a good look round. So we walked into the terminal and asked the guy where we check in?

In the “Pass Office” my nightmare came true.  Peter was on the list to get on as crew, but I wasn’t.  The security guard said I would have to queue with the passengers.  I pointed out I didn’t have a ticket.  Stress levels are beginning to rise.

Hmmmmmmmmm..................

Fortunately, a quick radio call and someone on the Boudicca said it was alright to let me through. At the Security Check In on board, I WAS on the list and my onboard pass was ready.  Phew!

Our cabin is brilliant.  Don’t get me wrong, the last cabin we had was absolutely fine.  It had a porthole and I was delighted with it.  But it was very cramped and I expected this to be the same.  But we have more room this time, it feels quite luxurious.  We’ve worked out why we’ve got it tho.  It is very noisy.  We reckon we are right over the propeller engine or something.  It’s no bother to us, we quickly got used to the background noise and the comfort of the cabin more than makes up for it.

When it came down to it, it was Peter that wasn’t on the list.  A check from our cabin showed the schedule of events didn’t include him.  Maybe he doesn’t have to do all those workshops after all?   Another minor problem is that one of our cases hasn’t shown up - the one with all my clothes in! 

Every ship has to run a passengers life boat drill before they set sail, ours was at 4 o’clock, and I felt like an old hand cos I had done it once before (feeling dead smug!)  Then we joined the rest of the entertainments team for introductions and a quick run down of the rules. ( Still feeling smug)

Peter sorted out his scheduling problems, and we bought our first set of Wi-Fi minutes this cruise.  Back to the cabin, still no suitcase...... the ship is gonna set sail soon?  It must be somewhere.

We went out on deck to see the Southampton lights drift away from us, because of course, it’s dark now.   And still no suitcase?    So we go to reception to see if they have a lost and found.  Maybe the suitcase tag came off?  Maybe they took it to the wrong room? 

We are going that way

And Hey Presto, there it is right in front of reception, looking unloved and waiting for an owner.  Admittedly I was beginning to have visions of a shopping spree, but luckily, (or maybe unluckily) this wasn’t so. 

So we grabbed it and a list of tours to check out the ones we want to go on and then came back to the cabin to get changed for dinner.   Casual tonight, so that everyone can get used to the ship.

 I really really like the “Secret Garden Cafe” where we are going to eat all our meals, it has an intimate feel about it, and is laid out like a restaurant.  I assume they call it a cafe because it is self service.  I should point out that by now (7 ish), me and Peter were absolutely starving.  We’d been up since 6 this morning, and only eaten a couple of scones each all day.  The food was really lovely, but I think it was even more so because of our hunger.

Finally a coffee in the Iceni Lounge, where we sank into the comfy sofas and just about fell asleep.   So we “retired to our cabin” where we really could fall asleep.   It feels we are poised at the start of our adventure.  I am dead excited.   Lets hope the sea stays calm.  The odd wave reminds me of how bad I felt at the beginning of our Canary Cruise last October.   

Fuss & cafuffle

Poor Peter.  First they said he had to have a British Seamans registration - 2 x countersigned photo's, nice long form, and £40 cheque.

Then they said  that the British seamans association won't register him (or colleagues of similar ilk), therefore he has to be registered with the Bahama Seamans Association.  The photo's don't have to be countersigned this time, but he did have to make a a trip to Middlesborough for a once over  with a doctor registered to carry out Naval medicals (£80), fill in another long form, and hand over another cheque for £35.    This is so that he can do his art tutorials in Brazilian waters!

And then, to cap it all, the British lot cashed his cheque for £40 even though we have been told they won't register him.

I'd better make sure I have a fantastic time on this cruise.  Get his money's worth so to speak.    We leave at 7 on Sunday morning.  And before you ask...... No, I haven't packed yet!

Getting excited.

Peter has collected the Malarone, (£94....  I think they must be gold plated!)  I've got me haircut booked, and the suitcases have appeared in Peter's studio.  The paperwork has arrived and we've got our cabin number.  It's all beginning to come together.  All I have to do now is work out what we need to take...........  Clothes and money I think.  That should do it.  Oh, and a couple of jars of coffee.  I sort of know what I need from the last cruise we went on, and yes, the coffee is important.

I've been reading blogs of people who went on similar cruises before us, and I am getting so excited.   I can't believe we will be able to do this, and I am still waiting for something to stop us. I was even checking the paperwork that Peter got, making sure my name was included, that they hadn't forgotten me or decided I shouldn't be able to go.  (He doesn't know that bit, but he will when he reads the blog)!  Like the last cruise we went on, I don't think I will believe it until we are safely on the ship as it sails out of Southampton.  Even then I will be half expecting someone to tap me on the shoulder and politely tell me it's time to get off.

So, I am getting excited, in a scared, can't believe it sort of way. Only 9 days to go!

Ship refurbishment.

Peter sort of knew, but I have just found out that our ship, the Boudicca, is currently in dock being refurbished.  We are not sure if Fred Olsen is gonna do the "cut n shut" trick that makes the ship bigger, but we are pleased that we get  the new set up.  I wonder how much they change?  Do they go as far as redoing bathroom and cabin interiors, or will they stick to the main rooms and resturants?  Will we get a decent wi-fi system?  We shall see.

Not Doxycycline!

I had a chat with the pharm techs today. Apparently this stuff really does make your skin photo-sensitive and you need factor 50 sunscreen to go out in the sun.  Looks like we are gonna pay a lot of money for the malarone then.

Ho hum.

Travel insurance

I just remembered I had to sort this out!!   I knew I needed to make sure it covered a cruise, and make sure it cover a trip over 35 days, but when I googled for travel insurance and got all the comparison websites, they weren't coming up with the right answers.  So I googled for  "cruise travel insurance".  Ahhhhh. Much better.    But what a shock some of the prices were.  I think the Post Office came up with something like £90!.  I didn't pay anywhere near that much last time for a full years cover.
Shopping around paid off, and I managed to sort it out for £34.  It was as cheap for the full year as it was for a single trip, so I can dash off and visit mother if I choose, or maybe  can jump on a cruise around the Med.

Peter has had to sort a couple of things out too, membership of the British Seamans Assocation??  (Yeh, we think it's weird too, but them's the rules.) And he needs 6 months left on his passport AFTER the cruise.  Again, we think it's wierd, but we worked out he can get kidnapped or put in jail for a bit and still have time left on his passport to come home.

All good fun eh?  But it's done now.  I still have to make sure I've had a haircut and stuff before I go, so that I can look good on board.  LOL

Anti-malarials and other stuff

Well..........  I haven't updated for a while, so what news?  

Protecting against Malaria

We've been to Boots and bought  TROPICAL strength mosquito repellent,  We have some Avon Skin So Soft, which is well known amongst the walking fraternity and anyone that has spent summer in the Highlands as a brilliant mossie repellent.  Sadly the mosquitoes in Scotland are a different entity to those in Brazil, and we are not expecting Avon to meet the challenge, hence the 50% Deet tropical stuff.

We now have to decide on the anti-malarial drugs.  We've basically been offered either:

Doxycycline - It's actually an antibiotic.  One of the side effects is that it can make skin light sensitive, but using high factor sunscreen sorts it temporarily.  Cost = prescription cost.  I'm a bit worried about the light sensitive thing, because I already suffer from prickly heat.  

Malarone -   Side effects are mild and the usual:- dizziness, headaches etc.  Cost=about £110 for both of us!.

Mefloquine - was included in the list of options, but apparently the virus has become resistant to this drug and it would probably be a complete waste of time.

I'lll have a chat with some folks at work and make a decision from there.  I will then have to leave a message for the nurse so that she can produce the prescription.  Obviously we don't want to spend £110 unless we have to.

Other stuff

Moving on, we've been up to all sorts getting ready for this trip.  We went for our Yellow Fever shots on 7 Dec.  £110 for the pair of us but we got the certificates.  A painless enough experience and no side effects.  Peter will be sort of crew,  and they insist that he's had it. I am not sure what would happen for passengers if they haven't had the vaccination.  Would they be permitted to go on the cruise but not be allowed to get off in Brazil?
Peter bought a gleaming pair of plastic cowboy guns and holster.  He also got a union jack t-shirt as a Christmas present.  He needs these to dress appropriately when required.  I bought a couple of pairs of pumps because I found on my last cruise that I couldn't wear sandals all the time, and trainers were to hot and heavy.  Peter also  bought me a Kindle for Christmas.  Absolutely ideal on ship, because books are heavy, and I reckon I can very easily read 8 or more depending on how the cruise pans out.  (I won't mention the fact that as I'm getting older I'm also getting blinder and the fact you can make the text bigger on the Kindle makes it a bit of  godsend!)

Its less than four weeks away now.  We are sailing with Fred Olsen on the Boudicca.  Hopefully all will go to plan and I can abandon work for 5 weeks as we go up the Amazon and around the Carribean.  We pop in on Maderia, Sao Vicente, and the Azores too.  Brilliant eh?

Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Blank

Super 8 Film

Open Days, Battery Camps and L1 Hohne   I collected together all the bits of film that weren't about horses.  Bits and pieces of us, but things like Penny,  (awwww, Penny),  Montgomery School and L1 Flat 2 included.  

Horse stuff    This includes a couple of bits of Mum and Robit, but also us at the airfield, (Polo), bit of Dad, and even a bit of me on Pluto. 

There is a lot more Super 8 film, but it is all Mum on Robi.  So not uploaded

Photo's

 Some of Mum and Dad's Photo's and Slides   Old photo's scanned in, slides photographed, and photo's from CD's/ Dad's computer etc. 

VHS-C film

Mum and Dad short video clips   For everyone

Terris 4th Birthday   Tracey's Family,   Belinda's Family

1994 Joanna Chrissie Birthday Party   Tracey's Family,  Belinda's Family

1994 Salou  David's Family, Belinda's Family, Johnnie's Family

1995 Salou  Vincent's Family, Belinda's Family, Johnnie's Family

1996 c Albert Street Christmas  Belinda's Family

Germany Visit   Johnnie's Family,  David's Family

Germany Visit inc Harz Mountain Train  Ride on train with David's Family to highest mountain in Harz, Brocken.  Meet up with Vincent at David's house at the end. 

Germany visit - meet up with Vincent only  Same as above, with train journey cut out.  Davi's Family, Vincent's Family

There is a lot more VHS-C film, but mostly of the scenery when mum n dad went on tours in places like Florida, Tunisia and Paris, so not uploaded.