Day Nine: Cruise Control

Like it? Thought I might put a Speed 2 reference in there, since the ending scene of the film was shot on one of the islands we were passing !



Today was the second day of our second week on the ship, so we were well used to all the ships little nuances, and by this time we even knew what kind of ocean was good or bad (Carib Sea = Good, Atlantic Ocean = Very Bad!), as we'd had a couple of really rough nights coming into and out of Barbados. We were also one of the old hands at this ocean lark, as the newbies who came on got used to it, we gladly strolled round like we owned the place, having fully blown conversations with people we'd met on our first week, as if to say 'Hey there, newbie-white-skins, this is our ship, and you'll be just as chilled out and relaxed as we are in a week!' I don't know why we did that, but everyone else from the first week did, and they seemed to enjoy it, so we did it too. It must be a British thing!



Anyway we had a lie in and a leisurely brekkie as we had nowhere to go, then after our stroll round the decks we headed to the main auditorium, as in our first week, to see what delights were awaiting us on the various islands we were about to visit. We hadn't got anything booked up for Isla Margarita, so we had a look at the new trips they had put on and booked one up, now theres an adventure for another day!

Today also saw my aunts birthday, and to start the day off, we had bought her a nice sponge cake, a few balloons (which, I developed a new game for, how long can you balance a balloon on your nose?.......ok I admit I had drank quite alot by then!), a big bottle of champagne and a couple of bubble-blowing things, which was sent direct to her room.

The day was spent lounging around, reading our books and watching the world float by, which ain't a bad way to spent any hot day, now is it!?

Our evening meal was at James Martins' restaraunt, and what an experience that was! We dolled ourselves up, as it was an really nice place, and wandered in. Now, before we move on, I must explain that I had said nothing about a birthday when I booked the table, however when we got in, the whole table was decked out as if it were for a birthday party, complete with party hats, and the chap on the desk knew exactly whose birthday it was.

It turns out that the chap who was the host for the restaraunt also doubled up as the chap who organises all the celebratory cakes, events and the like, so he had obviously noticed the same name on 2 lists and worked it out from there. We even had a happy birthday song in an army-style ('I don't know what I've been told......'). It was an amazing evening, and the food was just to die for, and so we headed back to our rooms to polish off the champagne.

'I Wanna Hold Your Haaaaaaaand'!

This week has been a busy old week for the beagle, not only did I go out for 2 nights in the past week (I know, 2 nights, woweee!), but its also been really busy at work.

Firstly, Friday saw us go to Hall Green Dogs (all beagle/greyhound-related puns to the usual address), and after getting pretty lucky for the first couple of races, I noticed the form guide and the bookies predictions, and before you know it, out of the 11 of 13 races I bet on, 9 races won me some spondulas! I actually came home with more money than I went out with. God I love those nights!

Saturday was a funny old night. Me, Gaz, Mark, Ben and Jay went out for Gemma's leaving 'do' up to the Beer Keller, or to give its correct name 'Mr Bills Beer Keller'. Well lord knows who Mr Bill was, or even what he did, but when we got in there, the room reminded me or a Torchwood episode where they go to the Brecon Beacons and find a village where the inhabitants eat the tourists and store the bodies in an abandoned barn.....this barn to be exact! The smell of damp was only beaten by the smell of impending death, but I don't know whether it was to infuse our Dunkirk spirit, or whether our British attitude of 'lets have a great time, or die trying', but we had a brilliant night. The music was really good, and yours truly bopped his ass off all night.

Finally, in other news this week has been that I've finally got my hospital appointment for my big op, so clear your diaries, I am going under the knife on the 22nd August, which is a friday, unusually for an op. However that is the day and I'm grateful I've got it, as theres nothing worse than waiting to hear about something for ages.