It seems that the heatwave is reserved for most of the northern hemisphere but NOT the North Atlantic!

The temperature outside is a parsimonious 15°C, and, it is wet on the open decks.

We are roughly halfway into this return crossing with just two more full sea days after today.  That went quickly!

Last night, I went to the 10.15 pm Showtime featuring another American comedian I had not heard of.   One rather dubious joke still has me in giggles a day later!  She was funny throughout her 45 minute stint.  Google Cora Kahaney!     She’s on again this tonight in Illuminations.

This morning Captain Hashmi addressed a large audience in the Royal Court Theatre. Rather than take privileged groups on a tour of the Bridge, discouraged since 9-11, and Covid, he gave the most fascinating, informative, and entertaining account of what happens “behind the closed doors of the Bridge” with much historical background, and comparison with the aircraft equivalent.  (He was an airline pilot in a previous career). No recording or photography was allowed.

The same applied to Dr. Stephen Payne’s third of four lectures, today in Illuminations charting the history of Royal Yachts, in particular, Britannia.  Interestingly, teak from a future refit of Royal Yacht Britannia was no longer needed and purchased for part of the construction of Queen Mary 2. I never knew that!  There’s a faint glimmer of hope for a replacement Royal Yacht, powered largely by renewable and “green” energy.  I’ve seen the artist’s impresion.  There’s no need to say who the designer is!    R. Y. Britannia created  £3bn for the Treasury over a five year period in the 1990s.  As ever, politics is the big hurdle to overcome for such projects. 

Despite the rain, a few hardy souls are traipsing around the Promenade Deck as if on a mission. I returned to the Kings Court for lunch rather than turn up at the last minute at the Britannia Restaurant.  While the choice of food is much greater up here, it’s still chaos as people wander in all directions, understandably still confused in these first few short days.  And occasionally, the self-serve hot dishes could be warmer. On numerous other occasions, the food has been piping hot.  Despite the musical chairs and the typical lack of flow, I still like it up here, particularly for a late breakfast.  Having eaten well, various stir-fries and a couple of paninis, I gave Afternoon Tea a miss, and attended news journalist and T.V presenter Kendis Gibson’s second talk in Illuminations. Not many were there.  This was definitely for a U S. audience.  Parts of his second show were of interest, and amusing. However, I wasn’t overly impressed. 

There has been no official insight yet into Queen Mary 2’s extensive multi-million pound refit next year.  That might come on Thursday at Dr. Payne’s final and flagship lecture for which I shall need to be there early for a decent seat.

Here are some pictures taken. during the last almost three weeks.

Maybe some more later. In the meantime, many thanks for reading, David near the Deck 12 pool, 18,18 hrs, 14/7/26