Day 92 of 102.

The chill of the Southern Hemisphere is gradually giving way to more acceptable climes as we steam ever Northwest towards the Equator, which we shall cross, with due silly ceremony the day after tomorrow. Yesterday, after such a brilliant time in Namibia the day before, I did very little, even getting some much needed shut-eye in the afternoon. Jo joined me for dinner before, as usual, going to the show if only, as Jo suggests, to allow time to digest dinner! The raucous Welsh singer who belted out powerful ballads didn’t really aid the digestion of said dinner! The singer, obviously from somewhere in Wales, told her audience with a degree of triumph that she had recently got married. I assume the husband is issued with noise cancelling headphones! Alas, I’m being very unfair. She tackled her repertoire with fluent authoritative confidence, and her stage manner was impeccable, and for once, few people walked out early, something which does irritate because if seen by the performer, I imagine that can be rather hurtful.

Unbelievably, we are now down to the final ten full days of this incredible World Voyage. I slept so very well last night, waking up at a respectable 9 o’clock! It was now time to revert to wearing shorts, these being put away during our less warm days in parts of South Africa, particularly Cape Town.

Although I have completed my Million Steps to the Other Side of the World and Back challenge, I shall use the remaining sea days to boost the actual end result in support of Christian Aid Week 2023, in May.

I needed to be up quickly if I was to catch Stephen Payne’s fascinating lecture at 10 o’clock, on two one time world famous liners, Lusitania and sister ship Mauretania. I never knew that Queen Mary 2 was originally intended to be named Mauretania. Much as I would have been thrilled at a third Mauretania, I feel Queen Mary 2 or QM2 is a more appropriate name to follow the still revered Queen Elizabeth 2 or QE2. There was much other detail in his talk, which left me coming out knowing more than when I went in.

I was just in time for my usual breakfast of porridge, banana, plain yoghurt and (these days) just one small pancake. I would start writing this particular blog soon after 11 am. Just before noon, on this glorious day, I would continue deck walking including using the stairs from Deck 2 to 12.

I enjoyed vegetable moussaka for lunch with a few French fries and a coffee, before continuing my wanderings around the ship.

I have very mixed feelings as we enter the final ten days of this cruise. Most of the time, the ship is the perfect environment with enough to occupy one, even for over three months. One can join a choir, learn to dance, or enjoy both ballroom and disco dancing nightly in the Queens Room or G32 night club.

Every evening, a movie plays in Illuminations which must be the finest cinema at sea.

Every evening, there is Showtime in the Royal Court Theatre, and classical recitals frequently in the afternoon.

Apart from the gym, forward on Deck 7, there is plenty of opportunity to burn off the calories of excess indulgence. Generally, I walk around the Promenade Deck a few times, then up several flights of stairs to Deck 12, where there is a shorter but still attractive circuit to walk around.

Tonight, Jo and I went one more time to the Alternative Dining area in the Kings Court, where the Coriander menu was on offer.

Jo tried to tell me that the clocks go back tomorrow morning. Annoyingly, she was right! We will be back to U.K. Time in less than two hours. That really confirms that we are on the home run, albeit for 10 more days.

It has been a good and enjoyable day today.

Many thanks for reading, David 00.44 hrs BST + 1, en route for Santa Cruz de Tenerife.