Travel.

Siting quietly in the lounge otherwise known as the Commodores club there is time to reflect on our journey so far. We left home soon after Christmas, having just had time to take down the decorations. It would not be good to go home to bedraggled trees and stale mince pies. So clearly my thoughts are homeward bound now. I have reviewed the most urgent things that will have to be tackled fast. I have contemplated the diary and hope there's nothing I've forgotten. And then my mind moves to the journey that looms ahead. There is no escape. Some people who got on in Southampton are going all the way round but quite apart from how long that takes it would mean going back over old ground...some of which we don't want to revisit. David has announced that next time we will fly first and arrive home on the boat. If only they would dock in Falmouth! The fact that David is not giving up is amazing! "We have one more in us "he announced! On the first trip we travelled through the Mediterranean , through the Suez Canal , onto the the Middle East, India and then to Thailand , flying home from Singapore. The second time we we crossed the Atlantic to the USA down to the Caribbean and on to South America, crossing the Southern Atlantic to fly home from Cape town . Both of the other flights were tedious in the extreme! But the journeys like this one were wonderful. We like crossing the great oceans! Update We are now at the airport......last years disaster with the luggage was averted and we are past customs too! Free Wifi! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

At the starting gate

Its a strange business this! We have now been on this ship for over six weeks and have travelled half way around the world! Seen wonderful and exciting things, made friends, witnessed the kindness of strangers as well as the rudeness of others. It's not a microcosm of humanity...we are all fairly well off but the same small differences exist. Last night I found myself counseling the lady who had lost her husband a year ago...then the waitress who was at a cross roads of her life...the habit of nurturing remains strong during all the twists and turns of life! We have to be out of our staterooms by 8.30. But we are able to be comfortable in one of the comfortable lounges whilst we wait for our taxi to take us to the airport. There I may need prayer. We are prepared to pay the excess on our luggage but no too much Lord please! We fly to Hong Kong this afternoon and from there on to Heathrow! I may or may not blog depending. Not sure on what! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bondi

We are sitting on a bus waiting for a missing woman. Her husband has appeared waving a wet swim suit. Bondai beach is very hot. We are told that the lady ran to the beach , stripped off in full view and dived into the sea. As her husband has got the costume we all presume she came out wearing it. Hilarity has not yet dissolved into crossness but it could. Later. She finally turned up fully clothed but with very wet hair! A man muttered something about it being too much to hope for that she had jumped off the gap. This was a local suicide spot! This poster was nearby.


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End in sight.

We have travelled far and seen amazing things but it's all coming to an end and since we live in the most beautiful place in the world it's no hardship to go home! It's getting there that's the problem! One person on this trip died. Several others have had to be taken off by ambulance so we are the survivors. I am told that Father McGuire would like to talk to me but we have only one day left at sea. Tomorrow we have a whole day in Sydney and another sleep on board before disembarking the following morning. A hire car will take us to the airport which has taken a lot of the anxiety out of it! There are so many nationalities on board now that an English accent is rare. And most of the rump are leaving in Sydney. It'll be a totally different ship when it sets sail for Brisbane. All the sights sounds and smells are a great jumble in my head at present. It will be fun sorting them out whilst we are in the air singing Nearer my God to Thee! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Shrine.

We loved Melbourne. It was only a taste, the tiniest soupçon but it was lovely. It was very hot with the temperature in the 90's but a light breeze cooled us nicely! There were lots of parks and immense buildings both old and new and the overall impression was of a city that buzzed with activity and excitement. A visit to their shrine revealed lots that we didn't know. That the Japanese had bombed Sydney for instance. There were frightening posters and some very touching personal stories. I did wonder yet again what on earth the Japanese were making of it all! There were alot of them walking round with us.


It has been a most interesting visit. Apparently they found gold soon after it was settled and the result was some amazing buildings! Of all the cities it was certainly one we would enjoy coming back to! DV - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Migration

It is early morning and we are in the very large bay which leads us to Melbourne. The sun is already very bright and warm and we are looking forward to our tour! Yesterday I noticed that the sun goes the wrong way round here. I set my deck chair to catch the sun as it moved and was astonished to see it going in the opposite direction! I suppose it's logical in the Southern hemisphere but it was still a bit of a shock! Our tour today has the title of Leisurely Melbourne. We can only hope it does what it says on the label! We have not slept too well! We spent some time yesterday checking all our disembarking arrangements in Sydney and were shocked to find we were being taken to the airport at 7.30 in the morning. This for a flight that doesn't set off till three in the afternoon. We failed to get it changed so have now opted for a taxi to pick us up mid morning. The thought of a happy day in an airport did not fill us with joy! Half this boat is leaving in Sydney. It will be a mass migration! Many are changing ships to travel home on the Queen Mary, still most people's favourite. Some are staying in Oz with family and friends but the rest of us are flying back in the next couple of days. Hope a mass migration succeeds! In the meanwhile we still have today and another day at sea before reaching our destination. Better make the most of it! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Don't push.

Ship board friendships are being forged. Several lone travellers have teemed up and one predatory man is still single. His modus is to fall onto step next to another man. He keeps pace until the other man realises and walks swiftly away. Clearly he needs to rethink the strategy! As well as friendships there have been some serious rows. Today all unwittingly we found ourselves in the middle of one. The sun came out and we went to find our place in the sun Our favourite place was occupied by two people who had spread themselves over six chairs. One chair remained empty so I took that and got another one for David from a different place. The little lady literally screamed at us. My chair. My chair. I asked if all the other chairs were hers. "Yes "she said. "My chairs. " The problem was they weren't even German! The Italian lady screamed for about ten minutes. We settled down and ignored her. No one else arrived to take up any of the chairs. I talked to an Italian man close by. It appears that some old English man had pushed her. It could have been David. I told the man very gently that David did not push but during the bad weather he might have stumbled inadvertently. "Old man should stay at home" he said. Just for once I was speechless. He looked all of ninety! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

10 dollar sale.

Another day and another lost blog! Come back the I cloud all is forgiven! I expect since the last one was about a sexual predator it has been rejected by the politically correct brigade! The sea has calmed. We have been to a lecture on aboriginal painting and have had our usual tussle with the Internet. The approach to Melbourne is very interesting. The Tasman sea can be vicious but has relented for the time being. We will pass Tasmania at tea time and eventually arrive in a huge harbour. The harbour is so big it will take 4 hours to cross it. I have listened to the captain today! They are having a ten dollar sale downstairs. I bought a very good pair of sun glasses earlier and we've been told they are pulling new stuff out all the time! Men everywhere are groaning! Us women on the other hand are rejoicing! Got to make the most of it! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Valedictory

We are approaching the end of our journey now. This ship goes on without us soon. We get to Melbourne the day after next and then go on to Sidney. The waves are high right now. We are in the roaring forties and they do not disappoint. It's too windy to sit outside or even take a walk around the deck but there is such beauty to see all around us. Amongst the beauty is the mundane. Last night during the storm there was a loud knock on our balcony window. David sprang to his feet and said politely "Hello, whose there ." Fortunately no one answered! The journey has not been quiet. It has been downright noisy at times but it has been wonderful. We have enjoyed the oceans we have travelled and count ourselves as very lucky. We have passed through Australian immigration right here on the ship. So it's almost a valedictory experience! A Poem by Sir William Davenant Give to me the snorting breeze And white waves heaving high And white waves heaving high my boys The good ship tight and free The world of waters is our home And merry men are we. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wind

It has been blowing hard all night. So hard that the doors on our balcony have been blown inside. We can now walk into our neighbours territory without hindrance! When it started it sounded just like someone knocking on our French windows. After establishing there really was no one there we slept very soundly till 8 this morning. We are now in the Tasman sea going back north again avoiding the ice bergs that float in these parts! There is a lecture this morning on strange Aussie customs. Tumba bloody rumba meets the Sheila from Whykickamoocow. The lecturer is very funny and this morning is entitled. You are what you eat. Or When Mabel laid the table. All good clean fun! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rain

It has been pouring down all day. We were supposed to be doing the botanical gardens but only two on the tour wanted to go. So we are waiting for the bus to take us to the beach! In the meanwhile the driver is setting up as a stand up comedian to keep us amused. Reminds me of last summer when I was in the middle of a wedding and the father of the bride stepped forward to ask for a small intermission. I'd already done the declarations and was just about to start the marriage proper so I was a bit alarmed. What had happened ? The bride had forgotten her flowers. Her brother had been sent back for them. It would only take 15 minutes said her father. It was then that I started my second career as a stand up' I think our driver is doing better than me. He was taking about counting sheep. He just counts the legs and divides by four. For congregations I would divide by two! Mostly


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Dunedin.

Pulling into Dunedin it was apparent why the Scots claimed it for their own. It is very wet and cold. It is also very beautiful. The channel we are following is by a hillside dotted with fir trees and tiny houses. We are booked on a tour and are quietly hoping that yet another visit to a museum is not included! We have done two wonderful museums on the last two trips. Last night we went to a cultural demonstration of Maori dancing and singing. It was interesting and at times good but we felt the spirit of the Maori people had been used in a commercial venture whose success was in getting gullible people up on stage and trying to make Maori warriors of them. It was embarrassing to watch. Today we would rather look at some of the most beautiful places just out of town. Maoris in kilts are not our thing!


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Possums you like.

We are reassured to discover that the New Zealanders and Aussies have a northern sense of humour. It is dry and often very pointed but always funny! The bus driver this morning had two pet hates. Australians and possums. He continually rubbed in the victory over Oz in the rugby world cup. He even got them shouting back. Over their lack of a navy he said If we got attacked we would have to row out and throw possums at em! He had resisted all the hints of his wife to take a holiday abroad so she gave him a passport application for Christmas. There was clearly no love lost between the two islands but he did tell us the south island was very pretty .... If you like possums. There was one place where the homes were perched on small terraces and could only be reached by small lifts. Reminded me and David of our first house in St Mawes! It is very beautiful here. Especially if you like possums! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ash Wednesday.

We have left the tropics far behind. Our arrival in Wellington is marked by cool weather and drizzle. In fact it's just like being at home! It being Ash Wednesday I am wondering how I can best mark the occasion. My usual morning prayer does not quite rise to the occasion. There is a Catholic mass here in the late afternoon and I am considering gate crashing but I would not like to put a fellow priest into a difficult position. As I have not been to any of his other masses he or his congregation could be a little suspicious. And anyway it feels too much like subterfuge for such an important church day! Later God is good. We found a very beautiful old church. Old St Paul's. It's made of wood and is very beautiful. It was possible to pray and mark the occasion with grace! As its just one year since the earthquake in Christchurch we also prayed for those involved. The opportunity was a wonderful coincidence or a gift from God depending on your point of view.


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Preachers.

When God looked down on the earth it wasn't quite right. In fact it was a bit of a failure . He could put it right though and that was the day He invented Australia. Our lecturer this morning started off with that one! It was a brief story of the differences and similarities of the two cultures. The speaker was an Aussy who sang songs, told jokes and recited poems. The best one was entitled. The blithering blathering parson. It described a pompous fussy cleric. Everyone thought it highly amusing! Preachers and missionaries have not come out well from the stories we have heard on this journey. From the one pulled feet first out of his church to the one who was eaten for patting a man on the head they have suffered many indignities. And yet judging by all the churches in Aukland yesterday Christianity is alive and well in these parts. I hope to find a church in Wellington tomorrow that's open. The last time we had Ash Wednesday abroad there was no church open in Majorca. It should be OK here though! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Quarantine

The sea is flat and we are travelling quite close to the New Zealand coast. We took on 300 new passengers yesterday so some hygiene regulations are back in force. A man at our table was rather ill so yesterday they put him into quarantine. We were all a bit shocked but decided that it was sensible really. Last year on the Queen Mary the whole boat suffered. David and I both got flu with all the attendant complications so it is good to see they are taking avoiding action! The poorly man though is of the bloody minded persuasion. It was fortunate that he was feeling too ill to protest. Nothing short of chains would prevent him doing what he wanted to! We have got used to the antiseptic gel being sprayed several times a day. It's a price worth paying! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Young crew

I had a long conversation with a bar steward. Ahem. He doesn't like NZ because there's nothing to do! And that's the exact reason why we like it! He's in his twenties and has already been around the world several times. Cunard gives them a half day off once a week , plus they get a three and half hour break after a shift. So they can often go ashore if they want to! If the bars and shops are close at hand they can slip out and back before their next shift. Several of the crew have told us quite a lot about their working conditions but none have grumbled about Cunard! They all save most of their wage because all the food is provided. Plans range from buying bars or cafes , buying apartments to rent out or doing some buying and selling. One girl broke down what she can earn and save in a year and she knows exactly how long she has to work before she goes home. They are allowed to bring wives and children on board and many do for short spells. The attitude of all the young crew is uniformly healthy and forward looking. A positive attitude will carry them far with a fair wind in their sails! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jade fish hook'

We are back on board ship after a tour of Aukland. We liked it alot. It is clean, green and a lovely city. We woke to find a block of flats outside our balcony to find its actually a Hilton hotel! They built it on a wharf but all the sun beds outside are not getting much sun today! The museum was magnificent. Lots of Maori


artefacts that tell their own story. Having converted to Christianity much of their spirituality has been retained and I found a jade pendant which represents a fish hook that gives safety in travelling to the wearer. Strength and love are also included on the package. I am wearing it! They seem to have forgiven us the European market slap in the face and their economy is in better shape than ours now so it's an ill wind' A very good day. The mix of races seem to work well here! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Captains Wit!

Had the most scary thought yet. This is the last Sunday before Lent! The Captain started off his service by telling us all that it was Ash Wednesday next week and that he expected to see us all dressed in sack cloth and ashes! He nearly got the name right too! It was a lovely ecumenical service ending with a prayer for cruisers. It ended with "Dear God please save my wife from buying bargains she doesn't need. For she knows not what she does! " Followed by. " Dear God please save my husband from eying up all the foreign women. For he knows exactly what he does. " David came with me this week. I think we may have made a convert to ecumenical services! DV - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Quinqagesima

The British actually like queuing. Unlike the Germans for whom it is a strange arcane concept. I waiting behind some elderly guests this morning. All I wanted was a tray. They queued like sheep behind their leader who was a very slow moving lady. The Germans simply went to the front and took what they wanted. When I decided to join in with the Germans I felt dreadful! We Brits simply don't do that sort of thing! To be fair to Cunard there is really no need to queue. They are well organised and will hand you anything you want. People at breakfast tend to chat quite happily but this morning we got suspicious glares from the people at our table so we have a mental note to avoid big tables in future. For most now a small chat is very good. Unfortunately us Brits don't do foreign languages very well. My pigeon French gets us through some moments and even more pigeon Spanish served us quite well in Mexico! As for the Americans we really are two peoples divided by a common language which leads me to wonder what the captain will make of Quinqagesima this morning! He does a very good service and it's well worth a visit! I'm not sure what the non English speaking in his congregation make of it though! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

On to New Zealand

I have lost another scintillating post! Actually it wasn't brilliant so I am wondering if some one up there is editing. Yesterday is now a dull blur. One of our supper companions had her camera stolen by a woman who was helping her along. Others report being asked for huge sums of money by taxi men. It is sad. One of the men we spoke to said that Figi was much like Samoa 20 years ago but the commercial interests have taken over. We are now wondering what Samoa might be like in 20 years time! Another day at sea before arriving in Aukland New Zealand! Today we are 12 hours ahead of the UK. And it is Saturday! It is weird but apparently New Zealand are in their summer time mode and so tonight we advance our clocks by an hour. My poor iPad is not coping too well with all this. The iPhone is just ignoring it! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Figi

Figi is very different from Samoa! We have visited a village which had a beautiful new village hall. A far cry from the huts of Samoa! I spent some time making sure no one knew I was a Rev. In the old days missionaries were eaten! Every bit of them were consumed ! Having survived that we watched a concert in the hall and went on to a orchid garden. By this time it was very hot and humid. Excellent for growing orchids in fact! Our guide was very good and the driver of the bus was Hindi. Both were excellent but were careful not to answer questions about politics. Only after did we discover that this particular island is a military dictatorship with no elections. A police state in fact. Tragic for the indigenous population over run by 7 to one by Indians! They were still a lovely friendly people and the singing was incredible. I watched four ladies singing very loudly in harmony and with obvious joy! The colonels lady and Rosie O 'Grady are still sisters under the skin!


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O2. And Figi.

We passed lots of small islands last night as the sun set . This morning we are approaching Port Denarau in the early dawn..the sun has cast a pink glow over everything......it looks wonderful. We are going to look at another south sea village! I regret that O2 has taken to looking after my money so well that I will be unable to take pics and send them straight away because they have cut me off! I thought I had an agreement with them that I could exceed their limits and have never quibbled at any bill I've had! Since when did a phone company become my mother! I have paid last months bill a week ago and thought to start straight again this month but no....I am still not able to use the 3G! The assumption that I don't know what I'm doing and should be protected from myself is arrogant in the extreme especially as I rang them to talk about it! Got that slight blip off my chest and will now go back to anticipating the joy of Figi which used to be a British colony at one stage..... - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Surreal here.

Life on board ship is getting very surreal. It occurred to me this morning that had we crossed the Date Line a week later it would have cancelled out Ash Wednesday! The iPad is insisting that today is 15 February and the phone tends to agree! As most of us had lost track of the days any way moving from Tuesday to Thursday makes little difference! Tonight is going to be tropical casual night. Gentlemen are not obliged to wear jackets! This is as rare an event since the announcement at Henley to the effect that they could remove their jackets in a heat wave but it should not be taken as a precedent! Everyone is very relaxed now...there are many casual conversations. No one knows what's really happening in the world, apart from football or basket ball scores! The common language is still English but in many accents from the USA and Oz. Our next stop is Figi! If its only half as beautiful as Samoa it will be wonderful ! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day gone missing!

Here is a weird thing....we are not going to have a Wednesday this week! The captain joked that he could promise everyone free champagne on Wednesday 15 of February and get away with it! We are now eleven hours behind GMT so tomorrow we cross the International Date Line! We will go to sleep on Tuesday and wake up on Thursday! Eventually we are told the time sorts itself out again and we are in sync with the rest of the world again. It's very easy to feel as though we've left the planet at this stage we are so far away! There was no mobile signal in Paga Paga....so no mobile phones! Parents everywhere eat your hearts out! In the very tiny town though there was a free Wifi hotspot ! So they do have access to the Internet! The iPad has tried to keep up with the time though sometimes lagging behind by an hour so it will be interesting to see what it does with a missing day! We are in an all new phase here! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Samoan Paradise

We have just come back from paradise. Samoa is quite definitely a garden of Eden. The people are warm and welcoming and so is the small island. At midday we had no shadows and the temperature was around 30 Degrees. We were taken to a traditional village. The people own their own homes and have no need to work. There are fruit trees everywhere. Every other day they have meat as well as breadfruit, baked banana and spinach. The men do the cooking! The women nurture the children. There are several different churches here. All are white and beautiful. In their gardens are their graves. They keep their ancestors close at hand. They never needed to move in life so why should they in death. They gave us native beer cocoa and a small taste of their daily diet. They look after their old who in turn look after the very young The young men did rugby type dances and the girls sang sweetly. We loved every minute of our time in paradise!


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Warm rain!

We are moored in Paga Paga and it's raining! First rain since leaving home. It's warm rain. This is equatorial rain forest all around the harbour and gives us the clue that it rains alot here. It's very lush!


As yet we have not been on shore so I took the pic through the window! Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Traveling!

We are in a train. We are traveling along a wonderful route. From our window we see fields, flowers and then mountains. We travel far, always gazing out and waiting for us to arrive at our destination . Along this particular route there are many stations, all different. We pass rivers, beaches, beautiful buildings, churches, cathedrals in cities and villages. We see the squalid in the cities and the calm beauty of the villages. We are aware of people, pets, wild animals and we are part of the wonderful tapestry of life. The final Station is many miles away but the small stations that will carry us there are landmarks. Our first school, the first job, weddings and children. The train gathers pace and we are often too busy to look out of the windows but we know it's all there. The final station is up ahead but we should not be in a hurry to reach it...it's always going to be there....God willing there's time yet. In our old age we can stop occasionally to look at all the things we have rushed past in our youth. We can read, listen to music, kiss our grandchildren . We can walk barefoot, plant flowers, sing and dance. The final station awaits but en route we can all find the presence of God in the flight of a bird, the scent of a flower and the music of the stars. Our senses are gifts from God. They bring us closer by the grace of the Holy Spirit. We should never forget to thank Him. Or Her. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Aftermath!

The aftermath of yesterday is proving messy! People who had things thrown at them are complaining that the purple stuff really was beet root. The stain is permanent. Apparently the pool was so messy afterwards it had to be drained! Cunard have been working all night to get it all put right! I am not sure they realized just how many Pollywogs they had on board! Back to what is becoming normal now. A walk around the deck after breakfast and then we will go to a lecture later about Samoan life , which will be interesting! Life will then get busy! Not many sea days left now on this wonderful cruise! They seem to be making a very big deal of Valentines Day but the cynical part of me suspects it be a selling ploy to get rid of all the red roses bought in specially. Not to mention the diamonds and the Tanzanite! Coming up is the day we lose! There is an extra day in February this year but we lose a day when we cross the International Date line! I am not sure how that works but it will be explained in due course. At some stage I will have a swim...and a sit on deck, probably in the shade. The sun is very strong here . If it all sounds boring its because it is but we shall love every minute of it! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The British at play!

Its been an interesting day! The deputy Captain took the service this morning. Hamish came from Halifax and had great fun trying to get sexamagesima right! I started a new custom on my row exchanging the peace with anyone in earshot! It caught on ! Hamish told us just before the grace that we had entered the theatre in the northern hemisphere but we would leave in the southern one! After the service we went for our customary lunch time drink and found ring side seats for the crossing the line ceremony! It was chaos and very hot! The crossing of the Equator was duly celebrated and all the Pollywogs magically transformed into Shell backs! But only after they had been punished by having green stuff thrown at them... The British at play are seriously worrying! All this had been done in a 30 degree heat and full sun. I think the medical staff may be needed later with some soothing lotion! David and I escaped before the end....we are now in loungers in the shade watching the sea sparkle. And very much at peace with the world. We have another day at sea tomorrow before arriving in Paga Paga. Which is being pronounced Panga Panga.....is this another bit of British whimsy? Whatever.....it's in Samoa! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Strange customs!

Today we go into one of the more arcane practices on board! It just happens to be Sunday! Apparently in the old days new sailors were tested to see if they could cope with harsh conditions over long periods at sea! All Pollywogs were taken to the court of King Neptune. There they were tried and invariably found guilty of various crimes against the sea God. Punishment was being daubed with horrible things and then thrown into the sea! Now the pool will do! It's just as well since there are sharks in these waters! David and I are now shell backs having already done one line crossing! We are invited to watch but may well pass up on this.... It is hot! The weird thing is that inside the ship it's cool! Within minutes of coming in side we are shivering! Last night at dinner we were all pulling shawls over bare shoulders! So one of us complained. We were told that it's all the computers fault and that it is programmed to relay cool air in all public rooms. We suggested that maybe it should be turned down a notch . This was greeted with a loud gasp of indignation....it is simply too complicated it appears! A balance is achieved then by sitting outside and then coming inside to cool down! In our cabins of course we can control the temperature! In the middle of all today's pagan festivities there is the Captains maritime service.....I'm looking forward to singing "Eternal Father" again. Especially for those in peril from Neptune! Sacred and profane walk hand in hand here! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Soft sift in an hour glass.

We have had breakfast and then walked the deck, finally choosing to sit quietly and just watch the glory go by. The sea is quite simply an amazing sight now. The winds are ruffling the waves and sending the spray which often resolves into a small rainbow of colour. It is easy to find the presence of God in this peace and splendor. It is easy to thank Him for his bounty and to marvel at His creation. Gerard Manley Hopkins has been a firm favourite of mine for many years and I find I am reading his poems again with an increased awareness of their beauty. This small snippet I'd from "The wreck of the Deautchland " is particularly relevant just now. I am soft sift In an hourglass at the wall And it crowds and it combs to the fall. I kiss my hand to the stars , lovely asunder Kiss my hand to dappled with damson West His mystery must be unstressed, stressed? For I greet him the days I meet Him And bless when I understand. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pollywogs.

We have now arrived in the place of the Trade winds....this makes travelling much smoother than it was....the huge swell has given way to a gentle rolling. It is warm but windy....it's not called the Trade winds for nothing! In days of old sailing ships could be certain of their passage around the globe! We are moving south and will cross the Equator soon. This of course means a party and all sorts of jolly customs have grown up around it. People who are doing it for the first time are called Pollywogs and have to cope with being dunked or having things chucked over them.......as its not our first time we think we are safe! I have been able to swim this afternoon.....it was like swimming in the sea at home. Amazing waves on the pool! We go past lots of Polynesian islands on our way to Pago Pago. Everyone on board gives it a different pronunciation. It will be interesting to see how the islanders pronounce it! We are now thoroughly institutionalized here....is there any other way of life? So this week sorting out problems with our home has had a surreal quality. The heating packed up. Could we ring our oil supplier? As we are now about 9 hours behind or in front of the UK it was impossible to ring at a time when anyone was awake! It all seems to have been sorted out via E mail to various people so it's just as well we've got the capability ! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Viva la difference!

This is a community of all shapes and sizes. Every colour, every language has its representative here..so I suppose it's normal to have many differing opinions. We are all the sum total of our life's experience plus our upbringing. The way we deal with vastly different points of view defines our characters I think. We have met a man whose views are fixed.....no one is ever going to change them. He feels that his ways are the right ways...obviously he has a duty then to guide, cajole or even force people into following his right way of doing things....this extends even to what we eat! He has now told me off several times for my poor food intake....I only eat about a tenth of his! As I seem to be surviving I do not regard it as a problem. I try not to respond by showing him any sort of irritation but I do defend my right to eat what I want. I have a pleasant relationship with the young man who makes me an American pancake for breakfast. His boss shouts at him much of the time I tell his boss that the cook is very good at his job. Short of actually snarling at me the boss disregards my observations with disdain. The boss is Japanese. The cook is from the Phillipines. . . . . there is a racist element here I think! I felt very sorry for the Japanese yesterday when many people went off to look at Pearl Harbour...but it evaporated this morning when the young cook got a severe barracking again. Tolerance is a given in any way of life I think...But more too. We should be celebrating all the differences we find. There is a place for all of us. It would be dreadfully boring if we were all the same. God gave us all these wonderful genes to play with...and they throw up the genius as well as the bigot! Viva la difference! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wrong sex.

I had a moment earlier. I returned to my cabin and couldn't get in. The electronic card had failed. The steward helped me in and said the card needed realigning. I had to take it to the pursers office. Off I went. When David lost his card once he was issued with two, one for him and one for me! I explained the situation to the young lady and she said it was no problem. I asked if my husband would need a different card. She looked at my card and said " Oh look, you've got your husband's card" I said it was my card. She sighed. I was obviously sub normal. "Look it says Rev....it's your husbands card." "That is me actually" I said. A look of horror arrived on her face....I was wearing a sun top. "You are? They let you do that in your country?" "They do!" "And you are married......". This last was a sentence of such horror that I cut my losses, took the adjusted card and ran. She has clearly led a very sheltered life bless her. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Back to the womb.

We like Honolulu alot! We had no tour booked and discovered that without the safety blanket of Cunard taking charge we enjoyed doing our own thing, mostly because the dock is near the town and easily reached .we took a taxi to the beach and I paddled! The need to paddle wherever there is water can be traced back to Blackpool holidays which were very bracing. That is code for, too cold to actually go swimming! We walked back some of the way, stopping at the International market where we enjoyed a smoothy called " monkey delight! " We tried hard not to notice the high end shops , a description used by some delightful Americans we met in Waikiki. I did some essential shopping. Ahem! Then a taxi turned up and we re entered the floating womb that has become our home. We were told that the north end of the island was today enjoying 15 feet waves. We know where they came from! We are now sitting by one of the pools, David is asleep and I am planning similar. It's a good life if you don't weaken! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Waikiki

We are gliding softly into Hawaii. The going is smooth now...and it looks lovely. It's still dark and the lights are showing us the way! After the storm of recent days the relief is apparent, even though it's still very early in the morning. We have no tour booked for today. The dock is in a central position and we can walk to most places of interest. David has seen the Pearl Harbour site so we will amble along to Waikiki beach where he can sit in a bar whilst I try to buy things that don't weigh much to take back home. Shopping is always interesting as you try to separate the wheat from the chaff but the main requirement has got to be the weight. I have been out to stand on the balcony and it's warm! Alleluia! I could get to wear the new hat! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Election year USA

We were joined at dinner last night by the bridge partner of one of our new people at the table. She was upset. An American lady , she told us that the other people at her table had been very unpleasant to her. Her story is becoming a familiar one after talking to several people in the same dilemma . She was a Democrat. A rare species on this boat! It is election year in the states and the news is full of it. Also adverts for various candidates are filling up the space nicely. She had listened to them slagging off all Muslims and then Obama and had tried to talk reasonably with them to explain first that he was not a Muslim. But that even if he was , all Muslims are not all evil. After that she stood no chance. They had been aggressively rude for two nights and she had had enough! Another lady leaned in very close at a recent lecture to whisper that she was a Democrat. It all makes our political system looks very civilized. It simply for me reinforces the theory that the country is still in mourning but have moved on to a new phase. They need a scapegoat. Naturally it has to be Obama who is held responsible for the economic depression. too..anyone who stands up to them is tarred by the same brush. Those who plotted the events of 9. 11 have far more to answer for than they could ever have dreamed of! . . - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Where's the albatross?

Tempest, wind, hail, and storm. We have had the lot! A small consolation this morning is that it's warm enough to stand on the balcony in my nightie! Last night trying to get to the watering hole of choice we had to cross an open deck by the pool. I fell over almost immediately. Getting upright again I clung to one of the columns, hair all over the place matching my formal evening clothes. We are having fun! Here is a quote that seems appropriate. Listen stranger A wind and tempest strong For days and weeks it played us freaks Like chaff we drove along. The breezes blew , the white foam flew The furrow followed free We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Coleridge So if we should find the albatross let no one shoot it - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

White horses with wings

We have heard the voice of the captain once again telling us it's going to get worse before it gets better. A look out of the window might have told us that. So here is one bit of poetry I wrote earlier . The white horses have grown wings They are flying now and The spray floats them higher Until they reach our windows It is terrible But beautiful. I am tempted to say like Earnie Wise. This is a poem what I wrote...but please no one out there say it for me! Apparently there is a deep depression over Honolulu. Our planned trip to Waikiki looks decidedly dodgy...we were only planning to get wet by paddling a little. I have realized that blogger does not like my attempts at spacing and squashes everything together. Please then excuse the formatting! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hope with feathers on.

We have been traveling for a month now? In that time we have learned many of the stories of the people travelling with us. Many are old, some are dying. There is a middle aged man who is clearly handicapped in some way and in school he would be described as "Special Needs". He is happy as Larry and copes with everything thrown at him though I have occasionally helped out with a bit of reading! Some have already done the world more than once! The common denominator is not money. It is an eagerness to go on learning, to grow in spirit as well as intellectually. Hope is also a common ingredient even for those who know they are reaching the end of their journey so this morning watching the waves we are all full of hope that by the time we get to Honolulu the sun will be shining again. I bought a large sun hat yesterday with straps to keep it on. As an act of faith it is a small one but it is a signal of hope too! There is a poem by Emily Dickinson that says it well. Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all I've heard it in the chilliest land And on the strangest sea Yet never in extremity It asked a crumb of me. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Big waves

The cruel sea in all it's majesty. This they tell us is another force 10! And we believe them! We went to two lectures this morning and people were falling over as they tried to navigate the steps. One lecture was supposed to be a forensic examination of the death of Julius Caesar. It would have been good if it had come anywhere near the truth. It was 50 percent fiction I'm afraid! The other one told us we are approaching the Polynesian triangle. So that's something to look forward to! I bought a sun hat later as an act of faith and was reassured to be told that I would be able to wear it Tomorrow. . In theory. For now it's batten down the hatches and keep the lunch down! .


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UnPacific

We have had a very rough night. It's the second storm since we started our journey and the Pacifc isn't peaceful at all right now! It's died down a bit this morning but the waves are tall and the white horses prancing! The new people who have not yet got their sea legs were missing from breakfast! Those of us wandering the corridors are falling over frequently! Every time we have an exchange of sea farers we have three days of strict hygiene regulations! We may not help ourselves to anything even the cutlery! We have to be served with everything and my problem is always being given too much! Also the number of British voices on board are very much less.....sign language is needed....my years teaching English as a second language were not wasted. We do not arrive in Honolulu till Thursday so we have many days at sea which is fine even when it's rough! We go to some of the lectures today including one taking a forensic look at the death of Julius Caesar. Might be some closer to hand the way this boat is being tossed around! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The world in a grain of sand.

We are on the Pacific ocean now which is basically foreign. The Atlantic is ours in a way that the Pacific never can be. It doesn't lap our shores and we have never pulled fish out of it. I attended the traditional maritime service taken by the Captain this morning and it was very good. We sang lovely hymns and he used Celtic prayers again. The tranquility, the beauty of everything we are seeing and doing is best expressed in these words of William Blake To see a world in a grain of sand And heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ongoing in the Pacific.

We left San Francisco last night and are now at sea again. The pacific ocean is deceptive. There are no white horses and it appears to be calm. But we are moving about on deck. Looking out to sea there are large rollers that don't break into waves but just hit us as they pass! We don't know the end of yesterday's lost woman story....but if we see any of the dramatic personi involved we will ask! It's a very different ship now. A great number of folk disembarked yesterday to be replaced by a lot more. We now have a lot of Australians! Sadly the people we got to know well have gone and we do actually miss them. The new people on our dining table are all Brits, three from Lancashire and one from Dorset. Three women and one man and two of the women were teachers! It should be OK once we've broken them in! It will take us three days to get to Honolulu so that will be bliss! We both love gazing out to sea sipping something strengthening! I am only half way down my list of new cocktails to try. It being Sunday I will attend the Captains traditional maritime service. He made a very good job of it last week! That's our day sorted! Alleluia! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lost sheep!

San Francisco. We are Waiting for a woman who wanted to walk the Golden Bridge. The coach driver has already asked if she jumped? We sent her husband to find her and then the tour guide went too so we are now three down! The coach driver is not impressed and now the Cunard rep has also gone off waiving his banner. We are aprox half an hour late ! On a lighter note we are in a lovely spot. The huge bridge is very spectacular! The Dunkirk spirit is kicking in and there are so many conspiracy theories being past around its quite funny but the husband is clearly worried. l Later. We have returned home without either man or wife. All are worried. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

San Francisco

Its still very early in the morning here. We had to be up by seven to be checked by immigration. It's scary to find police men with guns in their holsters walking along the corridor outside our cabin! David and I were cleared very quickly but the young man next to us was being grilled by a very determined young woman! Specially when he said he owned a restaurant! He looked more like a sixth former! We are going to look at the city once everyone is cleared. This could take another hour at least. About half the boat is disembarking but we are going on from here. This means getting used to new eating companions. And we'd only just broken the original ones in! Alcatraz is just visible in this pic. Must have been hell when it was a prison!


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Promises to keep

Whilst I've been on this epic journey on the high seas I've had more time than I ever have at home and I've finally written the story of my journey of faith The story of the path that has led me to this point is finally sitting on my iPad! Once I'd started to write I couldn't actually stop..it simply flowed out of me. Everything from my early days of going to chapel with my grandparents to the bishop wanting to ordain me...and finally to the happiness that its brought me. I have no idea who I've written it for but there's 6000 words of it! It needs tidying and amending. But it's done! Phew! Frost The way through the woods is dark and deep. But I have promises to keep And hours to go before I sleep And hours to go before I sleep. Amen. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Connection probs

Having lost various posts I now find this mornings post has been put in the right place but I am unable to tweet it....no idea why not! My American pancakes were wonderful this morning but took a long time with various interruptions from other people in the queue . Got a lot in common with the wifi! I have now lost it whilst writing this! Erm. Arghhhhhh...... Later. I have now tried several times to post the link....nothing is working this morning. Passing Los Angeles as we speak! Perhaps the angels are trying to tell me something! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Approaching San Francisco

I believe it's very cold now in the Uk and it might help to know that since yesterday the temperatures here have dropped rapidly on our journey north. It was 26 degrees yesterday and only 14 today. A massive drop which sent us all rushing for our cardigans! I always imagine San Francisco to be hot but apparently it's not in the winter so all the films were obviously set in summer . There is another day before landfall so none of us is expecting sunshine all the way'. For many on the boat it's the last day. It will be very busy with people disembarking and a lot of others arriving. We are going under the golden gate bridge at around five in the morning so the chances are we might miss it which would be a pity as its one of the sights we had looked forward to! But at least we will see it on the way out ! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cautionary poem

Its cooler this morning.....in fact I am wearing a cardigan for first time since we left New York! We have two days at sea before reaching San Francisco. This morning we went to a lecture on Forensics which was interesting but a little gruesome in places. The saving grace was that the lecturer had a sense of humor so we will go again. Our friend Richard who is leaving the boat at the next stop took a professional interest in it naturally! There are a lot of very large people on this ship. Huge in fact. One couple have almost doubled in size during the last three weeks. And that's the problem of being on a cruise. You can eat for twenty four hours a day and some do! When I was young I had a very good appetite myself but thankfully now my problem is in looking for small portions and then getting through them without having the dog to help me out! This is one of Hilaire Belocs cautionary tales. One which might be put up at various places around the boat! The vulture. The vulture eats between his meals And that's the reason why He very very rarely feels As well as you or I His eye is dull His head is bald His neck is growing thinner Oh what a lesson for us all To only eat at dinner! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Caba San Lucas

A day here was amazing. We saw very ancient churches, hundreds of jewellery shops, a waterfront akin to Blackpool and abundant wild life. A visit to a mission church was an event in itself. Over the door was a large plaque showing native Indians pulling the priest out of the door. Apparently he had disapproved of their consumption of hard liquor and mind bending cacti to the extent that they killed him. It would never happen today! We were taken to a tequila tasting. The ordinary stuff was not too bad until they gave us the bottle that had the worm at the bottom.....to aid digestion! That's what they told us! A visit to a shop selling Mexican fire opals was almost aborted when we translated pesos into dollars and then into pounds. Ordinary opals were cheaper and I ended up with a tiny fiery cross! We saw some wonderful whales. Several were around a small boat, apparently looking for food. One of them was huge and encrusted with debris. We are now back on board and have set sail. The next stop will be San Fransisco. Bliss it is to be alive! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tequila tasting!

We are now almost casual about going ashore in places we'd never heard of previously. We had heard of Mexico of course but not any individual town there. Cabo San Lucas looks lovely from the boat but it is going to be another very hot day and we have been warned not to wear expensive jewellery. David has been given a special invitation to visit the local diamond centre and as it was so close to his birthday they would give him a special gift of 65% off anything he fancied! I thought this a very good idea but he doesn't seem too impressed! We are going to look at some cactus gardens and do some tequila tasting! It won't have to be much alcohol as we then have to negotiate the tender to get back on board. Saint Luke certainly got about the known world in the Middle East but as far we know the New World was not part of his ministry. We shall see what they claim on his behalf! We present day Gringos don't come bearing Bibles. Just good will and cash! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Red hat no?

We went wandering this afternoon as the weather turned very windy. We visited rooms we'd never seen before. On the top deck is a lovely room known as The Commodores Club. It was empty apart from one lady sitting in isolation by a large window. "I'm here " she shouted in great excitement. "Over here. I'm here." Indeed she was. A sheaf of papers lay in front of her and on her head was a red woolly hat decorated with lots of jewellery. I approached with caution whilst David strolled off to gaze out at the sea. She gave me a sheet of paper which had a picture of three red hats. There was a line for my name and under it another name. It read. The Queen mum of the society. "That's me "she announced. "I am the Queen mum of the red hats society. " I asked what it was all about. "Well we pay so much in taxes and to charities this is just a bit of fun we don't ask you for any more once you've joined. It's just for fun." It didn't look much fun to me. David had disappeared by this time. I could not be rude. "So what exactly do you do? " "You wear your red hat of course." An old Lancastrian saying popped into my mind about red hat , no knickers but I did not allow that to go further at that time. She assured me that there were lots of members in the UK but failed to find any in Cornwall. In fact she had no idea where Cornwall was. As well as the red hat she was encrusted with jewels and was a giggly but pleasant little lady clearly entranced by the prospect of making a new convert. Don't say we don't have fun on this boat...... PS. If any of you have any knowledge of this society please let me know and I'll take it all back! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad