At sea (clocks forward)

Sunday 27th November

I got the time slightly mixed up and got up an hour earlier than I needed to. I’d forgotten that I still had not put my iPod back an hour from Tangier, and was mentally trying to put it forward another hour when it was actually correct. However, this gave me time for breakfast before the dance class. I looked for Jenny, in case she was at breakfast but instead I ran into the solo travellers group and was given no choice except to sit with them. This was not what I wanted when I was still trying to wake up!

The dance class was quickstep. I took a few photos from the floor above of the dance class and the shops. I joined the class and ended up dancing the man’s part with both Jenny and Sarah. Jenny told me I actually danced it better (without any of the practice) than any of the Hosts! I haven’t really taken the men’s part since I was in my twenties, but I’ve learnt a lot about proper hold from my dance lessons.

Jenny and I chatted over lunch until I got tired, so I retired to my room to write my diary and access the internet.

I had taken my knitting along so that I could join in with the knitting group. One visit was enough. I sat in silence, knitting one long row of the baby’s shawl. The only person who spoke to me did so to tell me I was sitting in someone else’s seat and to suggest that I go to the seat she had recently vacated, the one with her bag on it. I finished one row and decided there was not enough time to knit a second, so I left.

I paid a quick visit to afternoon tea, hoping to find battenberg cakes, but with no luck. I enjoyed the selection they had.

The cocktail party was due to start at 5.15 so after a bit of quiet reading I rushed to get ready. Jenny collected me from my room. This time I decided to try a Cosmopolitan while Jenny tried the rum punch that was on the tray. My Cosmopolitan was too strong and I could not finish it. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri to take to dinner. Meanwhile Jenny dropped her straw and asked for a new one. She was given a new rum punch! I wondered if they would do the same for me if I dropped the lime segment from my daiquiri. I think I only go to the cocktail parties for the fun of trying out the free cocktails.

Once again there were only four of us at dinner. The other two had been alone the night before, as the third couple has still not returned.

Because of the cocktail party for the second dinner sitting, the dancing was upstairs in the Yacht Club. Afterwards we went down to the ballroom to stake our claim to a good seat, ready for the Elizabethan Ball. There were only about six people in Elizabethan costume. Most looked cheap but one woman had a wonderful ‘Mistress Dread’ version with bustier and frothy skirts forming a bustle. I left shortly before 11. By that time I had had 3 dances with Dennis (more than my fair share), one with David, one with Joachim and none with Louis.

I read until about 1am.