Buzzing Around The World With Fellette & Doug

Seven days at Sea [day 2]...

Maui to Vancouver - 5 hours.

London to Vancouver - 10 hours.

Madeira to Vancouver - 196 hours.

Not really a true comparison, but when one starts a journey home, it does seem long and time can drag. Onboard Prinsendam is a pretty nice way to kill the hours/days, but thoughts of home are becoming more frequent with each passing day.

We have skads of things to do it seems, the biggest thought on most peoples mind, or soon will be, is packing. We came on board with three cases, we are leaving with five. We didn't really buy two suitcases of goods, Holland America has showered us with little bits and pieces throughout the trip. The winter jackets themselves, given for the time in Antarctica, are rather bulky. Holland America thoughtfully presented us with two cases the other night. My thinking is how to make ours distinctive from the other 700 identical red cases that are going to be on the dock on Thursday!

The ship has a luggage shipping service, the representative is now on board. We are allowed to ship home, independently of ourselves, an unlimited number of cases. [Some passengers shipped as many as 21, that we know of, when boarding.] Our little situation is that we have our friends at Canada Customs to contend with. Our thinking at this time is that we will ship our clothes through the luggage service and arrive at Toronto customs with all of our "bought or acquired goods" with us.

Inasmuch as there are not likely to be any exciting adventures to write about, I will give you some insight into how some of those 196 hours getting home will be spent......

5.30 am this morning, open the doors and check the weather, full moon, off the port bow. [Fellette in bed]

6.00 Knock on the door, room service with coffee. {Serve Fellette coffee in bed]

6.30 Walk my computer down and send and receive mail by deck 10 stairs. [Fellette in bed doing crosswords and journal]

7.00 Tai Chi on the deck, sit-ups and push-ups on the cabin floor. Second coffee. [Fellette reads mail, if any!]

7.15 Doug on computer, Fellette up and fussing about, getting dressed.

7.45 Up on outside deck for breakfast, maybe meet some friends or not.

8.30 Fellette's bible study.

9.00 Doug's Tai Chi.

After this semi-routine, the day has no order at all. Fellette sometimes goes and spends some time on the mother of all jigsaw puzzles, 4000 pieces. It has been out for about six weeks, 1/4 of the puzzle is blue sky, that is all that is left to do. About four serious attendees working on it. We also sometimes walk the deck. I confess that I have given up on the gym dreadmill. I didn't feel comfortable in there for some reason, too many obsessive physical fitness people in there I think.

We keep ourselves busy doing bits and pieces, today for instance we have to go and visit the luggage man and see what the procedure is. We also have to visit the photo department to see which, if any of the 25 to 30? photos we may buy. [Who is going to look at them anyhow?]

Today at 11.00 there is a lecture on Columbus' First Voyage given by a very interesting gentleman who has given about 10 good talks so far. At 2.00 there is a lecture given by, [I remember this man on Vancouver radio several years ago, Dave Abbott]. His subject is She Devils, powerful female personalities in the world. There is also an interesting series given by a psychologist, although she is not on the agenda today.

Other happenings on board, [are you ready for this?]...... water-colour class, dance class, bread baking demo, Mah Jongg, medical professionals get together, daily quiz, golf chipping, quoits, secular humanists meeting [?], bridge, the movie "Syriani", [yesterday it was Harry Potter], arts and crafts, football toss, aerobics, creative writers meeting, [turn in your short story], AA meeting, guest talent show, Catholic Good Friday service, bingo, showtime in the lounge after dinner, [an instrumentalist.] Does anything take your fancy? No, then chat with friends or read your latest book!

Also today is the 'Passenger Talent Show," a misnomer if I ever heard one. Surprise folks, what talent lurks in the hearts and souls of these Prinsendamians. You would not appreciate it unless you had spent three months on board with us, but it was fabulous. One hour of 14 different performances by individuals and groups. Old folks can have fun, mostly poking fun at ourselves. One of the most hilarious acts was by six Tai Chi gents, attired in bathrobes and sunglasses, doing a modified version of "The Full Monty". The average age of the group had to be 65 at least. It was beyond words, that is all I can say, it was also family entertainment!

The Hawaiian Hulu, by a good natured elderly, short, heavy woman was out of this world!

The author played a minor role in the afternoons activities as some of the more adventuresome Tai Chi devotees did a short demonstration of our new pastime. The author's wife sang along with 'The Best Dam Chorus' which opened and closed the show with a couple of medelies. [All of Holland Americas ships end with a 'dam, that is the origin of the name].

Before dinner we had a celebration in our cabin with J and G who booked a September 2007 cruise today,

to Russia, the Orient, Australia and the Pacific, Seattle to San Diego. Later at the dinner table there were some champagne glasses set for us. Do you remember the couple that were put ashore in Sicily with medical problems, but then rejoined us in Rome? Well, today was her 80th birthday! They sit at an adjacent table from us, and there she was, looking lovely, happy and healthy! They later sent some of their cake over to our table to share, a neat feeling seeing her sitting there when at one time it was like we would never see her again. We first met Skip and Lorraine in Romania in 2003, Skip had his 80th three months ago, they are a very young set of Octogenarians.

All of this should be encouraging to you young folks, life does not end at 40! The photo was taken in Antarctica.

I believe it is safe to comment on the weather at this stage of the voyage. Outstanding, is all I can say. We have had a day of fog, two rainy days, a couple of sprinkles and a storm at night. Other than that we have had over 90 days of bright blue skies. The seas have been unbelievably calm.

The atmosphere of the ship is now somewhat more friendly and relaxed, as we get closer to the New World, and, the Real World.

posted by Doug and Fellette @ 1:26 AM