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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,…

This certainly feels like the “home run.” Outside, there’s a bit of a sea mist, and most people seem to be remaining indoors. Few are wearing shorts and t-shirts!  I attended Dr. Stephen Payne’s second presentation on the fascinating subject of Airships, past, present, and, believe it or not, future. Apparently, Spain is about to launch a…

The homeward journey continues.  Today looks like it’s going to be fine again.  Already (08.21 hrs) it’s 16°C outside. Being Sunday, there is the routine Traditional Maritime Church Service, at 10 am in the Royal Court Theatre. Back home, it’s the first of three Buxton International Festival masses at St. John’s Parish Church. I should…

Back to Normal The first of six sea days is bright, partly sunny with dream-like calm seas.  The stateroom T.V. indicates a disappointing 16°C  but we are nowhere near midday yet. Dr. Stephen Payne, designer of Queen Mary 2 is on board and will soon be delivering his updated talk on the Titanic. This clashes nicely…

This is the second of three departures of Queen Mary 2 from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal where I’m on board.  The first one was immediately the Macy’s fireworks came to an end last week.   There is a theory put out that the reason we were anchored so far from the fireworks last week was due…

At 0500 hrs, we sailed under the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge passing the Statue of Liberty c25 minutes later. I was briefly awake as we were drawing along the quayside at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.  I went back into a peaceful contented sleep, slowly getting up from around 08.00hrs.  The buffet breakfast on Deck 7 would be…

This is the penultimate day of the QM2 Sail4th250 or July 4th  cruise.  I’m told that 2,100 boarded at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal six days ago.  380-ish stayed on having boarded at Southampton, around 230 being British.  Some 380 are staying on board for the eastbound crossing back to Southampton and beyond. There’s no doubt about…

I was warned in not quite a nightmare last night to keep my sugar levels down. In the dream, the damage was done, and a bleak future awaited. No more mushroom shaped cheese cakes then! I was slow getting up today.  Last night’s comedian at the Showtime reminded me of an “American Tommy Cooper.”   He…

I had forgotten one of my favourite albeit rare pleasures, looking across from Deck 7 to VIA Rail’s The Ocean stabled at Halifax Station.  Two locomotives (presumably in multiple) today are leading nine heritage cars, including what appears to be a baggage car behind the locomotives and probably similar number of former Nights Star “Renaissance” …

I slept well last night and awoke more refreshed than for some time.  Two days celebrating the quarter milenium anniversary of U.S.A. Independence from the UK can very exhausting, especially the very early arrival at Brooklyn on 3rd July.  I wouldn’t have missed being on board Queen Mary 2 at the time of Sail4th250 for…