Did it really happen – temperatures above 30°c in Buxton?  37°C driving to Southampton.  Desperation for a hint of a cool breeze? 

Don’t get me wrong – I am so very happy to be heading westbound across the North Atlantic.   My stateroom, although quite a long way back, is very conveniently positioned, just one flight of stairs from the Promenade Deck and the almost all-day buffet where alternatives to the restaurant breakast, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed in a more casual way.  The best seats, next to the bay floor to ceiling windows which look straight out on to the Promenade Deck, are almost always taken.  Today, there is little to see, a grey sea and colourless fog, a far cry from the azure skies of Harpur Hill! 

Already, I’m feeling relaxed.  After a breakfast of oatmeal, plain yoghurt, a banana on steroids, half a grapefruit and a mug of coffee, I ambled to the nearby Carinthia Lounge for a quiet spot inwhich to continue writing this blog. No chance! A trivia quiz was in full progress.

The Commodore Club, forward on Deck 9 is usually a quiet location from which to enjoy wide ranging open views, again, if fortunate enough to sit near a window.  This morning, a couple, John and Shirley from Canada joined me and an hour’s pleasant conversation ensued.

Captain Hashmi has just delivered his noon-day address. We passed Bishop’s Rock at c06.30 hrs this morning and have sailed so far 380 miles, or is that nautical miles?!   Either way, this is just the beginning. 

I have checked the weather in New York. July 3rd, thunder storms, Independence Day, July 4th, rain!  This follows a three day U.K. style heatwave, 37°C!

Lunch in the main (Britannia) restaurant was extremely pleasant. Leek and potato soup was followed by vegetarian shepherd’s pie.  Finally, off menu, I enjoyed a decent plata of freshly cut fruit and plain yoghurt.  I was joined by four others at an excellent window table.

This afternoon, I decided to attend “Journey to Space, a documentary narrated by Patrick Stewart, presented in spectacular 3D for which we were issued with special 3D glasses.  For around 45 minutes, we felt at times as if we were on board various space craft along with the actual astronauts.  I understand that the Planetarium in the same venue is “out of order,” not for the first time.  I then spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around or resting in my room, not yet feeling inclined to walking around the Promenade Deck.  

Feeling unexpectedly in need of further sustinence, I opted for afternoon tea which being exceptionally popular was served specislly laid up section in the Britannia Restaurant (upper).  Cunard emphasises the “sense of special occasion” of its aftenoon teas, and being the first full day at sea, the Queens Room was “packed.”  I also think that there was a reception being set up in the Queens Room. The Queen Mary 2 bell which resides in the Grand Lobby had been moved to crew quaters near the Queens Room, the same bell that I paid to ring officially in 2023!

A shower before dinner revived me, and I chose to revisit the Britannia Restaurant at around 7.30 for my evening meal.  I was shown to a lovely window table facing a slowly setting sun, realising that the previous greyness had given way to a lovely sky and seascape.  I do confess to a slight feeling of conspicuousness, sitting by myself surrounded by numetous “parties” and couples.  But the view is worth it, and will be missed greatly when back in land-locked Buxton. 

We are not far enough south for a rapid sunset. It’s therefore unlikely that I will see the sun go down before dinner finishes.  However, I did enjoy the Cunard version of a chicken curry followed by two scoops of sugar-free ice cream.  Although just after 9 pm, the night still feels young, which of course it is.  But I’m not!  I shall venture to the show which may live up to the hype in the Daily Programne and the Cruise Director during lunch, who announced the show over the ship’s P.A. system – all very “Hi-de-Hi!

Tomrrow, formal dress is required for dinner.  Much to my astonishment, my white jacket which is dry-clean only cannot be laundered on board. It never occurred to me that there were no dry cleaning facilities on QM2.

I went to the show tonight in the Royal Court Theatre.  We were ably entertained by West End singer Jennifer Tierney, whose powerful voice could shatter a chandelier.  The Royal Court Theatre Orchestra with the usual eight musicians, I don’t suppose they would appreciate being referred to as an octet. 

So endeth the first full day of this westboind Transatlantic crossing. 

Msny thanks for reading,

David. 00.24 hrs.  We gain another hour in bed tonight.