Day 52 of 102, 3rd March, at sea, between Darwin and Airlie Beach, Queensland.

I awoke this morning feeling as if I had slept well. But, for some reason, during the day, I would become momentarily overwhelmed with fatigue.  It is always difficult travelling eastbound, and we still have just one more time zone to contend with when we leave Brisbane.  I was “caught out” in 2019, travelling by bus between Casino, N.S.W. and Brisbane, Queensland, on my 70th birthday.  Although travelling north, for whatever reason, Queensland is one hour behind New South Wales.  I thought the bus was running an hour late! Sydney is 11 hours ahead of G.M.T. and this should be the last time we advance our watches and timepieces one hour.

Yesterday, Darwin was coming out of days of heavy rain, and we were fortunate to dodge the majority of the wet weather for the two days we were there. Today and tomorrow at sea is forecast to be windy, rough, wet at times, but thankfully warm. It’s never anything else in these parts. We have three sea days, the third of which is expected to be quite pleasant.

Not too much happened today. I did some chasing around mainly this morning to try and clear up an administrative error on my part, and this enabled me to get some unscheduled steps in for my charity challenge.

I had lunch in the Britannia Restaurant as well as afternoon tea, minus cakes, and sandwiches. It’s a small world. At Afternoon Tea, I was seated next to a couple now living in or near Nottingham. I remarked that I used to be a regular DJ at the George Hotel. The lady knew that hotel well as I understand that is where her wedding reception was. She remembered Margaret Finbury, who was Banqueting Manageress during my time there in the early 1980s.

Tonight, there was a Captain’s Cocktail Party in the Queens Room, presumably for those on the full World Voyage. There was finger food available and plenty of drink. I was still a tad under the weather and didn’t partake of either! Jo, in a lovely green dress made by her daughter, caught up with me at the reception, and we both went for dinner in the Britannia Restaurant afterwards. She then went to the show, I for a lie down, followed by a walk around the Promenade Deck. If nothing else, I have walked further today than at any time since the start of the voyage in January.

Many thanks for reading, David 23.50 hrs