Cruising again - Almeria and onwards

It’s Saturday 29th September, about 11:30 Mediterranean time, and I’m on the Black Watch in the Mediterranean Sea, travelling east and heading for the island of Malta. Yippee!
It all started yesterday, at 11.55 am, I was looking at the clock and asking the team of people who had turned up for a briefing if there was anything else they needed me for? Then it was straight out the door heading for home. Peter was waiting, with his good friend Simon.
First, we had to get us and our many suitcases to Newcastle Airport. Peter’s car was the only one big enough to carry everything, and this is why Simon was waiting, Peter drove us all to Newcastle in the Astra, and Simon drove it back to our house for us. (Thank you Simon).
From Newcastle Airport we flew to Murcia, Spain. Just before the flight we had learnt there was a problem with flooding in Murcia, although our flight seemed unaffected. However, about 30 mins before arriving, we were still above 30,000 ft, flying through cloud and we hit quite a jittery spell of turbulence. This continued for a few minutes before suddenly, we broke out of the clouds into the most fantastic, almost alien, panorama of a cloud landscape. Lower levels of cloud below us seemed almost like a smooth lake, reflecting the images of the enormously high storm clouds we had just burst from and which were now on our left. On our right, layers of clouds, different colours, with rainbows underneath. The moon, slightly higher, hung ghostly white in the blue sky. There was even another plane speeding across the sky in the opposite direction. Quite awesome. Weren’t we lucky that the only seats available when we booked were two window seats in separate rows. We would never have both been able to see such a wonderful sight otherwise.
We landed in Murcia and left the baggage area looking for my parents who were due to collect us. We couldn’t see them, so I rang their mobile. Mum told us that they were struggling to get to the airport due to the floods, bits of road had been washed away and there was all sorts of chaos in the area. We sat in the cafe to wait, and it was there that we looked up to see the Spanish news. The images on screen showed waist deep muddy brown water everywhere , whole stretches of motorway destroyed and water rushing through town centres, flooding cars, houses and businesses. Apparently seven people died. The British floods looked relatively tame in comparison. We also worked out that the storm clouds we’d flown through earlier were probably responsible.
Mum n Dad showed up shortly after. Due to the floods, it had taken 3 hours to complete a 1 ½ hour journey, and now they were going to do it again to take us to their home in Los Gallardos. A coffee was required before Dad got back in the driving seat! There were still diversions on the flooded motorways, but thanks to the sat nav, and a series of guesses where mum was right (as usual), we finallly got to theirs about 10:30. The effect of the floods was not complete however. Ironically, despite the fact the region had just had so much rain after a bit of a drought, the water had been cut off at my parents’ apartment!
We all got a good night’s sleep, and this morning we set off again for Almeria. This trip went much smoother, with Dad managing to pull his camper van right up next to the ship ready for us to unload. We were expected (Phew!), and were able to get our bags on board and into our room with the minimum of fuss.
So we’ve had our first day on board. We’re unpacked, and Peter has sorted out his classes
We’ve spent a little time on deck, and a little time walking around the ship to see where everything is. We’ve had lunch and dinner in the delightful Garden Cafe and this evening listened to Johnathan Johnson play the flute. We’re just about settled and ready for our first “Sea Day”. I’m beginning to get that holiday feeling. Finally, I have to give a heartfelt thanks to me Mum n Dad who have really put themselves out by getting us from Murcia to Almeria. It was beyond the call of parenting and really really appreciated. Thank you.

Some photo's of the ship for those who are interested.

The Garden Cafe where we'll eat most of our meals

Just to prove we've been inside the gym

The rear pool deck.  We eat out here during the day, lovely in the warm sun.

And our cabin.  Very nice and comfortable, if a little noisy!

Will we, won't we, will we, won't we, will we get to the Black Watch?

For all of you checking this blog wondering "Where's Peter?"

It all started at teatime yesterday.  We'd just about finished packing and Peter was feeling a little dizzy.  We thought it was because he hadn't eaten.  Hearty supper of chicken drumsticks, wedges and veggies followed.

An hour later, Peter was worse.  In fact, he was beginning to feel so dizzy he had to lie down and close his eyes.  If he opened them, the room spun, with subsequent bathroom visits to resolve the nausea.

I let him doze and finished the packing.  Naturally I Googled it to see if we could work out what was going on.   You should never try to diagnose from the internet.  It seemed it could be anything from meningitus to a heart attack with likely dire consequences!! 

However, both my daughter and I have suffered from vertigo, and I know it's usually an imbalance in the ear, caused by a virus.  Thing is, Peter was worse than either of us had been.  The room spun when he opened his eyes, whether he moved or not. I was getting worried. 

We went to bed with the hope he could sleep it off.  The alarm was set for 6 am.  After a fitful night and despite my reservations, Peter got up, determined that he was going to make the drive to Dover to board the Black Watch.  10 mins later he got back to bed, with that waxy white look that you know means really ill.

So, we phoned the agency to tell them he wasn't going to make it, I got him into the vets, and after an injection and a prescription to ease the dizziness and nausea, he was back in bed.  I had to leave him there for a while whilst I drove through floods to get to work, but I was back by lunchtime, when finally he started to slowly feel better.  By tea time, he could walk with only slight dizziness, and the prognosis is good.  He should feel fine in a couple of days. 

So we aren't going to go on the cruise after all.......  Or are we?  As it happens, Fred Olsen were understanding, and since Peter isn't contagious, he can join the ship in Almeria, just as I was going to do anyway.  So all is well.  Next blog should be Almeria.  Keep your fingers crossed.