Monday - We had an uneventful drive down to Portsmouth and stopped in a Travelodge overnight. The only thing worth mentioning was our McDonalds, mostly cos we missed the first one we should have gone to and drove an extra 14 miles to get one.
Tuesday - A very late (11.30) breakfast at Dunelm, (good choice, bacon and sausage baps were excellent), before arriving at the port at about 12.30. The gearbox on the car can occasionally play up, but it's been good for the last two days, and we happily handed over keys to the car parking service before getting on board. Embarkation was very easy and before we knew it, we were in out cabin. We've been given a cabin on Deck 10 this time, right at the very back of the ship. No sticky out bit beyond the balcony to spoil our view, like we had last time, so we are very happy.
It was very grey as we sailed out, passing HMS Victory and old Portsmouth amongst other things on our way.
Lunch and dinner were pretty uneventful. As usual, we were seated with another couple each time, which we quite enjoy sometimes. Everyone has their own stories and backgrounds, which can be really interesting.
Today is Wednesday, our first sea day. Peter's first class was a bit chaotic, while we sorted ourselves out, but all went well, and the second one was much easier. 26 in the first class, and we had to turn a couple away for the 2nd one. The sea has been flat as a pancake, although the weather has been nothing but mist and drizzle. The captain has warned us on the noon announcement that this is likely to change tomorrow afternoon/evening though.
Looking out from out balcony at lunchtime, we saw a couple of weird looking platforms that made odd alarm type noises.... three short beeps and then a long one, which we could hear from quite a distance away. They didn't look like oil or gas platforms, more like lookouts. At the time we had no idea what they were, but one of Peter's artist followers was able to tell us that they were unmanned gas platforms.
At 6.30 we were catching our breath in the cabin after the 2nd class, thinking about getting ready for dinner, and the captain has just announced over the tannoy system that he has to change the cruise itinerary already. A nasty storm ahead means that we won't make our first Norwegian port of Alesund. The ship is going to go to Bergen instead, which is closer.
We went to watch the show tonight, which was a young ventriliquist called Max Fulham. He was absolutely brilliant! It's a long time we have laughed so much over 45 minutes.
Tomorrow is a sea day, so Peter will be running his classes again, and tomorrow night is formal night - which means posh frock for me, dress suit and tie for Peter. Fun, fun, fun.
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