Written in London after the fact, with perspective. I realize how much is lost when I don’t write at the end of the day, or on the next!
1) In fact, this day, Saturday, was my total letharg-a-thon day. I slept through the morning, after breakfast and my four laps, and in the afternoon after lunch. But I still pulled myself together for social hour, which I spent talking to that nice gentleman from Palm Springs.
Who doesn’t want a table with a view?
2) The Secret Royals kept me company at lunch; I would have to return it to the ship’s library by 2 PM the next day. I knew I wouldn’t finish it, but my goodness — what a great read.
2a) Lunch bonus: getting seated at a window table at last.
3) I looked wonderful for the gala, after my fourth and final nap of the day. The theme was Roaring Twenties, which I acknowledged by adding Mother’s chain of silver hearts to my black tie. That nice elderly gentleman at my table observed “You’re wearing your chain of office,” which I thought was clever.
3a) We were actually six this evening, as the single lady at our table reappeared with two pals from the Solo Voyagers group that gathers in the morning, a man and a woman who at first I thought were a couple. Everyone at our table showed up in all black and white. We could have had our own Black and White Ball! Except for a heavy play from the Solo Voyagers to get me to join them, the conversation was light and fun. Overall, a lovely evening.
3b) And chocolate soufflé for dessert!
Queen Mary presides over her eponymous room.
4) After dinner I roamed the ship to see what was really happening on this gala night. The big band was big-banding in the Queen’s Room, with a lot of dancers on the floor, and the G32 disco was discoing. The Chart Room and the Champagne Lounge didn’t have a free table.
5) So three other gentlemen from social hour and I ended up sipping Negronis in the Commodore Club, a fitting end to the day. Relaxed conversation. Two of whom were continuing on to Hamburg after the boat docked in Southampton.