Azores behind

We have left the Azores and are off again it is still pretty rough and 4 days until Antigua it's like watching the "Ministry of Silly Walks" & beginners Rumba lessons rolled into one, my self included. The funniest crowd participation game is to be in a lift and when it gets to your floor the door opens the ship lurches and everyone goes out at a 100 miles an hour like extras in the parachute drop over Arnhem in a Bridge too Far, woe betide anyone waiting to get on the lift they are mowed down in the rush, you learn very quickly when waiting for a lift stand off to one side.

Just off to the talk by ex copper Bob Ferris he is quite humorous very 80s and reinforces all your ideas of police from that time, slightly more law abiding than the people they were catching but only just, has some very funny stories many at his own expense.

Not a lot of characters on this cruise a bit like gods waiting room some people are a bit bland the most adventurous decision they will make is to pick meat or fish from the menu. Must have struck really lucky on my previous cruises, and been spoilt for choice & characters. Just spotted an old boy wearing a Popeye the Sailor type cap or it could be a very large Jewish skull cap, excuse me I am off to investigate. Will report back later.

Things that go bump in the night

Well here we are in the sunny Azores, Punta del Garda to be precise, the Captain made a midnight dash to get into port before a particularly nasty weather front came in a prevented us from docking at our original time of 7am as yet no signs of this evil threat. Personally I think it was "boys and their toys syndrome" just an excuse to see what she could do flat out and beat the school record. Fast asleep in your cabin off in the land of fantasy and suddenly the Bing Bong of a ship wide announcement at 3-15am goes to every cabin and public area on ship this  goes out to raise you from your sleep. "alpha bravo deck D cabin 123 (made up) all report" now for those more observant among you might remember we have had a fairly rough crossing up to now, this is just what the more nervous traveller needs to hear at that time of the morning. Any bets how many got back to sleep and if they did dreamt about the Costa Concordia and the Titanic having a head on collision. Nobody is saying what happened but based on previous cruises it was a call for the "Crash Team" and a difribrillator for a cardiac incident, I am quite surprised it did not lead to multiple cardiac events. I was disappointed that no one was wearing their life jacket for breakfast. Now for a trip a shore and a beer at a well appointed bar and some people watching. I shall report back later.

So it starts

This has been a strange trip so far, because of roadworks in and around the Southampton area causing major traffic delays there was not the usual queuing to register, go through security and get on board ship. Although it was appreciated I was robbed of the opportunity of studying my fellow passengers under pressure, those that have low tolerance thresholds, in short the characters that populate my blogs, it just means more cups of latte in "Costa" and observe the rich tapestry life that passes by the heart of the ship. This time I have dinner companions, they have put a table of single travellers together, from conversations so far I am the youngest,a callow youth of 63 summers!!
We have, three charming sisters from Penarth in Wales, a spiritely 84 year old from Manchester, a guy from Shropshire, a lady from Basingstoke and a gentleman called Barry, I secretly wished he was connected with the Welsh ladies as he could of become Garry from Barry.
It is a cruise where average age is mid 70s at a guess and it is noticeable how many blokes have got Jeremy Clarkson itis, inappropriate wearing of jeans with saggy bums and silly tops, perhaps they are determined to grow old disgracefully, if that is the reason and not a fashion statement I am all for it.
I was lucky enough to have a cabin upgrade bestowed on me I went from D deck up to A deck, as an ex work colleague observed next stop the crows nest!! The upgrade does come at a price apparently I am on iceberg watch every other night 11pm -1-00am.
As always the staff are unbelievably happy, I think they must put something in the food, and as the cruise proceeds hopefully some of that attitude will rub off on some of the passengers. It might be in short supply over the next couple of days as the weather forecast for mid Atlantic does not look good with a lot of low depressions forecast and high swells given as the sea state. I will strap myself into a bar stool to ride out the storms and I should have some fodder for the blog as a result. Just as I finish this blog the rain has started lashing down and you can't see 20 yards and the foghorn has just started to cut in, time to head for the bar, happy days.