D&N

It's been great, but we really love where we live. It's first we've left it for this long in over 6 years. And our cats await!

This morning on the Solent passing Netley. Sunday 12 June 2022. From Queen Mary 2, Deck 12 Starboard side balcony.

These are probably the last pictures to be posted from onboard. The dress is an old faithful that fits beautifully now but also looked good with another 30+ kilos under it. And it can be thrown in a bag and come out perfect.

I carefully walk down a stair ahead of Nora with a solidly braced right arm extended in case she stumbles on her heels. My left arm ready to grab left bannister.

The niece who is currently living with them gave them some 'Hazel Ham' this morning. So they might not want us back! Hazel will only eat the soft fat edge of certain types of thin sliced boiled ham. As a treat of course, they do eat catfood.

And we were tested at Nice Airport on 28th May, a full 8 days earlier. I'd be surprised if that was acceptable.

We think there has been a slight but noticeable increase in mask wearing on QM2 since beginning of week. We rarely use lifts, preferring our 191 stairs in each direction. Have only shared a lift once with last week's table companions. With a severely disabled immunocompromised relative we are acutely aware of risks of being asymptomatic and passing it on. And last week's street party and the UK immigration queue were potential super-spreader events.

We were not required to test before disembarking at Brooklyn on Sunday 5th June. Immigration only looked at and machine read our passports and took fingerprints. They weren't interested in anything else.

And these were today's after lunch photos. We're nearly packed for Fast Track disembarkation, flights checked in and lady at Pursers desk printed our boarding cards. After 14 nights away we are really looking forward to getting back to our cats.

Just catching up now. Weather been good for a while now. Ocean often looks stunning in sun. There's a lot of stunning on this ship of course. There's not been much in way of unpredictable movement for a few days so dancing has not been affected. The couple that fell last night were carrying on and not paying attention to what they were doing. Although windy it gets quite hot outside in direct sun.

Had they actually been dancing I would have danced close to them and discretely alerted them to it. I think there was one other couple on floor dancing Tango, the others including her were sort of throwing themselves around. I strongly suspect she knew and couldn't care less. Likewise the couple falling was result of them carrying on and tripping over each others feet. But you may have a valid point.

Oh what a night! We've seen things tonight we certainly didn't expect to see in the Queens Room! Started off at 9 pm with combined bands and Brian Moore's first number. To illustrate to Brian Moore what I was talking about last night we foxtroted around sticking closely to perimeter. Soon became obvious we were on another solo. A bit in I led Nora over to centre and did a bit of ballroom jive. We're not jive specialists. Then some jive walks back to edge and finished the number in foxtrot. The rest of set wasn't too bad. We managed a reasonable number of dances without non dancers getting in road. There was one point where someone snapping veterans walked right across floor in front of us and not while he was taking photos. Moved on to Exxile in G32 and danced their set. Back to QR to catch end of a foxtrot. Half way round floor the number finishes and the couple a few metres ahead fall on top of each other. Rushed to help but they didn't hit anything and thankfully appeared unharmed. Next number is a tango. We stay up for that and various others get up. Some of them do tango and others various weird things. I noticed something odd about a lady ahead of us so started dancing Nora in a series of on the spot reverse turns. The lady's lace topped hold-up stocking had lost it's grip and was hovering just above her ankle. A couple in the audience had spotted this too and caught our eye. We had to restart several times before end of dance due to our uncontrollable mirth! Good Night.

And Nora on her own. I don't get in way of dress.

And here are our Roaring 20s outfits. We'll Nora's, I just wear a matching tie. This might be a slightly more difficult venue to find; staircase C decks 9 and 10 have mainly blue versions of the starburst carpet and decent wall backgrounds. We found it by accident last time Nora was wearing blue.

And the real reason I came on just now: The penultimate lunch outfit...

The old boys are quite active in ballroom and disco!

I typed something there had to refresh and lost it. Introduce yourself if you see us and I'll explain. Too much to do to include culture.

In an earlier post I described being thrown about on the G32 dance floor, and being near bow. It is of course near stern. I dare say there might have been a completely different type of motion had it been in bow.

Quite pleasant today, and although conscious of movement overnight it was always more soothing than anything else. Sea is probably 1 to 2 metres with nice white peaks, which sun catches from time to time. Wind very low but must have been higher overnight as deck 14 closed off.

As I edited in at end; I did get a friendly word with Brian Moore at his next break. Asked if he could find a way of suggesting in his intros, which were concise but informative on the song coming up, that static dancers stay away from perimeter and allow others space to pass. He was very good and his playlist was varied. I often guessed what song was coming up from his comments about it, he didn't normally give the actual title in his intro. Whether he takes up the suggestion, one can only wait and see. I don't think we're scheduled to see him again before we disembark.

I usually get up early and go to Pavilion for wi-fi, sunrise photos and weather screen while my wife sleeps a bit longer. Breakfast after 8. Gym, walk, run or pool until coffee time. Prepare for and go to lunch. Short Siesta to ensure we last night. Afternoon coffee. Prepare for dinner. Take aperitifs in lounges. + Photos of wife's stunning outfits. Dinner. Several hours of dancing. Lounge for nightcap. Few hours sleep. Start again. Is there a theatre and all sorts of other things on the Queen Mary 2? I don't know. I've no time to look!

On QM2 we wear masks whenever we move from one apparatus to another in the gym, as we do in France. And as in France we are very much in the minority.

Photo between dinner and dancing. There is a slight problem. 2nd night in row that Queens Room not offering Ballroom and Latin. Party night last night. Rock n' Roll tonight. Singer guitarist leading orchestra doesn't suggested static to centre and traveling around edges. Not had chance to speak to him yet. And folk walking straight across floor when others are dancing! uuggg Got him at end of set. In a polite and friendly way of course.

This outfit was last worn for a Black & White night on Arcadia in January 2006. It fits even better now. We were joined by our favourite photographer on that trip, who was also wearing a stunning dress. And just for the mask thread folk, we don't wear for portraits but moving around we're like the little photo.

We're on drinks package, which is working well for us, but on 2 occasions I've felt the mains we were having at dinner needed something with a bit more structure than what you get by the glass. On night 6 we had the Pomerol listed at $68 + 15%, we've been charged $62.56. We made big mistake there. Having had prosecco in Chart Room then another complimentary on arrival in Britannia Club we then drank the whole bottle with the meal. Then on to Queens Room and had rosé and water. We didn't crash into anyone but we did not have our usual control. Went round all the regulars to explain next night in case they had noticed. Monday again needed something good. Chose a Paulliac at $72 + 15% charged at $66.24. The Pomerol was good but the Paulliac was stunning, well worth the extra few $$. This time we only had a glass each with the meat dish and had remains kept. Had lesser wines with rest of meal. Had another glass each next night, pre ordering lamb and duck from à la carte. Still about as good. Drank dregs at start of 3rd night and it was ok but had begun to lose flavour. I think this hybrid approach works for us.