You couldn’t make it up. I was woken up by next-door’s T.V. at the ungodly hour of 06.43 hrs.  Diplomacy is going to have to be exercised here.  The stewards store room separates my cabin from the one next door.  I wouldn’t have thought that the sound of the T.V would have carried enough to disturb me.  No effective sound proofing then.  Does that mean that the sound of me yawning and chuntering to myself carries also? 

For the first time, but perhaps not surprisingly, I felt ill when I went to bed last night.  Had mal de mer caught up at long last, indigestion, or both?  I felt lousy and couldn’t get off to sleep.  I spent some of those nocturnal waking hours filling out a Cunard survey which in general was complimentary.  I do wish that I had waited before waxing lyrical how lovely and quiet my cabin was! (07.39 hrs, Tuesday 6/1/26) 

I opened my curtains at around 08.45 hrs to be greeted by calmer seas and a risen sun streaming through my window.  This is where we are now.

The sky and slate coloured sea with no white froth, indicate a fine day to come, but probably no promise of warmth quite yet.  However, I’m going to have to battle sleep deprivation and make sure of an early night.  This is the second of three sea days between Southampton and Madeira, where, if my indigestion kicks in again, I give revisiting the Reid’s Palace Hotel a miss.  But right now, I feel far better than I did at 3 am!  This evening is the first gala night.  For a few hours, I’m expected to walk around in formal attire (tuxedo and almost black tie).  The white tuxedo, for warmer climes, makes me look like the ice cream man.  Today, I shall chill out like I did yesterday. My table companions are meeting in the Chart Room for pre-dinner drinks.

Before lunch, I attempted some deck walking in weather that now is noticeably warmer. The sea is calmer and the air temperature 11°C.

  15°C is promised for our stay in Madeira, down from the 21°C of last week.  Frustratingly, my energy levels are alarmingly low and, getting up from chairs and other seating areas, as well as walking is unexpectedly challenging. I assume that a good night’s sleep should rejuvenate me somewhat.

Many thanks for reading, David 16.55 hrs in his stateroom, with the curtains closed.