04/01/2014

We've arrived in Spain!

Wilson acquitted himself very well at the Formal Dinner last night. Considering that he had never had a silver service meal before, his manners were impeccable. 

Unfortunately we had to leave before I'd finished my dessert as W was anxious to arrive at the theatre early enough to be sure of getting the best seat in the house. 

Once he'd settled down, still in his formal attire, he made excellent (and frequent) use of the Bar Service. So much so that, when he remarked it was strange to be in a theatre that rocked up and down, I'm not entirely certain it was the theatre that was rocking…

Today, though, we have arrived in Spain and we shall soon be leaving on an excursion. 

It's not as warm or as sunny as I'd hoped, but over the next few days we shall be drawing close to the equator…



03/01/2014

Bar Service!

Sea Days are very expensive! Wilson has an unerring sense of what is not included in the cost of our passage… and ordering it. In particular, he is unable to resist waiters seductively calling 'Bar Service!' as they pass him. His charge card still seems to be fully functional.

Still, use of the Table Tennis facilities is free, and it will help him work off some calories. I just hope we don't get charged for all the ping-pong balls we've lost over the side, as it's quite windy on deck!

Tonight is Formal Night in the dining room, then we're off to see a show in the on-board theatre!



02/01/2014

All at sea!

As we boarded the ship we were each handed a Sea Pass card — a combined cabin door key and chargecard for everything we bought on board.

The first thing we did was to locate our cabin, then Wilson headed directly to the Souvenir Shop to try out his card. He did this by buying an expensive model of the ship, and he assured me that the card had worked perfectly. 'However,' he said, 'I'd better keep on testing it, just to make sure it doesn't develop a fault!'

We shall be at sea for the rest of today and tomorrow, then we shall arrive in Gijón in Spain!




01/01/2014

We are ready to depart

At midnight last night Wilson was woken by New Year's celebration fireworks; this morning he was disappointed to learn that Holiday Inn does not operate the same 'A Great Night's Sleep — Guaranteed' policy as Premier Inn so he was unable to claim his (or strictly speaking, my) money back.

Despite his broken night, he ate an extremely hearty breakfast, saying, 'I advise you to do the same, New Dad — a full stomach will protect you against seasickness!' and then we set off to the docks.

When he first saw our ship, its hugeness came as a revelation to Wilson. He said he'd been expecting something about the size of the Jersey Ferry, whereas this was, as he put it, bigger than a very, very big block of flats!



31/12/2013

We're on our way!

Wilson is so excited about his cruise that he hasn't even noticed that HM the Queen has once again failed to ratify his OBE in the New Year's Honours List. 

Halfway to Southampton he clapped a paw to his head and told me that he'd forgotten something important. I was afraid that he'd left the gas on, or not locked the front door, but in fact it was his Grand Charity Garden Open Day — he had forgotten to hold it again last summer! 

Anyway, here we are checking in to The Holiday Inn, Southampton, and enjoying the view over the docks from our room. 

Tomorrow, on New Year's Day, we shall board the liner and begin Wilson's Big Adventure!

Happy New Year, everyone!



30/12/2013

And the lucky winner is...

Wilson has decided who he would like as his travelling companion, and the name of the lucky winner is: Polly-B.

I pointed out that since Polly-B is, when it comes right down to it, a stuffed toy, she wouldn't need a ticket; she could travel as luggage. 

W said that if that's the case, it might as well be me who goes with him. 
Hmmm. That makes me feel so esteemed, so… valued: I am his first choice after a plush toy bee.

Anyway, we'll be setting off for Southampton tomorrow, if W can get all his cases into the car! I shall probably be taking just the clothes I'm wearing, as there won't be room for anything else…


29/12/2013

Wilson prepares to go cruising

When I bought the two tickets for Wilson's Cruise to the Canaries I had sort of assumed that it would be me who accompanied him. It seems this may not now be the case. A number of his friends have offered to chaperone him, and he has drawn up a shortlist. 

He says he will announce the lucky person tomorrow.

In the meantime, he is packing everything he might conceivably need on an extended sea cruise, overlooking the fact that whatever he takes will have to fit in the trunk of the car to be taken to Southampton.