Day 40 and a bit of 41 of 102

Melissa, who is on her sixth QM2 World Voyage, tells me that the real Phu My is, in fact, a considerable distance from where we shall dock after three sea days.  You should be able to see from the maps that, after two days at Singapore, 1°N, we steamed for Laem Chabang, 13°N and it became ever so slightly cooler.  This morning (and I missed it), H.M.S. Spey accompanied us for perhaps a couple of hours as we doubled back on ourselves on the first day of our sailing to Phu My.  Boats from H.M.S. Spey circled QM2 for the purpose of taking photographs, which will not be available to the public.  However, they were displayed on the stateroom T.V. but I believe, remain Copyright.  From what I understand, photographs were also taken from the Spey.  Had I not worshipped God this morning, perhaps I might have seen HMS Spey off our starboard-side.  By the time the congregation had disappeared, so had the Spey! 

Who would have thought in the 1950s that satellites would adjust a watch to the correct time  zone, right to the exact second, or the versatility of a cell phone would be taken for granted.  If I was tech-savvy, I could check who had visited my house, adjusted the central heating from somewhere in the Far East, and maybe accessed telephone messages at home from onboard an ocean liner almost as far away as it’s possible to be.  Yes! At long last, the satellites actually do set my posh new watch to the appropriate time zone, and exactly the correct time, sometimes automatically, but usually, at the press of a button. 

Campbell Simpson accompanied the congregation on the piano for the hymn singing, as well as providing the pre – and post service incidental music at the interdemoninational Church Service this morning.   He seems to have mastered Nimrod rather well, as well as Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.   While I am almost over the QM2 cough, my singing voice remained next to non-existent, and was no match for the couple seated next to me, he who sang with the booming voice of God, she as a very accomplished and powerful soprano and who did nothing for my tinnitus!  I was envious!  Once upon a time, not so long ago, I, too, could sing loud enough to bring Lazarus back to life. 

I have decided to celebrate my birthday after all on March 1st, a sea day.  Jo appears very approving of the lunch that I shall invite a few people to in The Verandah.  I have requested official Cunard decorated invitations.

Today, the sea is calm, and a welcome breeze once again caresses the open decks.  It’s 18.00 hrs. Time for a little walk before changing for dinner.

Written the following morning over breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant.

Day 41 of 102 continued from yesterday, Day 40..

I tried hard to hit 500,000 steps before the end of last night, but that final less than a mile was too much late in the evening. It was Gala Night, and yet again, I had to don formal attire. In lieu of show night in the Royal Court Theatre, where the lady who deafened me a few days ago was belting out James Bond melodies, my tinnitus didn’t need further assistance from her! Jo assures me that the tinnitus has every chance of disappearing. Hers did. As we steamed south along the Cambodian shore line, numerous vessels could be seen, only evidenced at that time of night by their bright Illuminations.

Despite best efforts, I still wake up rather too frequently during the night. Today, I have been awake since 05.40 hrs, which is useful in that is the kind of silly hour I shall need to be up and about when I start my Australian rail trips.

I have had a little bit of pasta in the Kings Court Buffet for lunch today. Delicious it was, too, and, nice and hot. The sea is slightly more choppy today, although the ship remains as steady as if on a millpond. Outside, it’s a glorious 81°F.

Many thanks for reading, David, Kings Court Buffet (aft) 12.37 hrs.