I am not sure how well the Marine Safety Inspectorate did their job but we had just turned off the lights at 1am and the Captain gave an announcement over the ships PA (including all staterooms) saying that smoke had been discovered in the engine room and all crew should go to their emergency stations. Passengers need take no action. Further announcements were made over the course of the next hour stating that the fire had been discovered and then extinguished. Quite why all these announcements were necessary I am not sure, especially in the early hours when most people were trying to sleep.
Anyway, all is well and we are making good progress down into the Bay of Biscay. The captain has just given his noon report from the bridge advising of bad weather ahead. If it is very bad, there may be a temporary break in the blog!
Whilst heading south and into said tempest there was plenty to keep us entertained. Firstly, we attended the cruise citic meet and greet. A very pleasant hour was spent chatting to like minded cruisers from England, Canada and the US. The meeting culminated with a gift exchange on a lucky dip basis, with all gifts being a token souvenir from the home towns of those participating and we ended up with some delicate Nottingham lace.
Next on the agenda was the inevitable trivia quiz. As we took our places four of the cruise critic group passed by and joined us so as to make up an international team of six. Unfortunately, this alliance could only muster 14 points compared to the winning score of 17. Oh well, there is always tomorrow.
Still, we all continued chatting well after the competition had finished and thus ended a very social afternoon.
For anyone interested in my choices for dinner, I had beef satay to start, followed by a very tasty Caribbean jerk chicken and a vanilla creme brûlée to finish.
Wednesday.
The weather certainly deteriorated last evening and although not rough there has been a heavy swell running ever since. The sky is very grey and there is rain in the air. Hence it is very busy below decks as
people meander (or should I say slightly stagger) around trying to find somewhere to sit.
We have just competed in the morning trivia and having teamed up with two English ladies, managed a very creditable 18 points and claimed a runners-up spot.
As I write, we are awaiting the Captains noon day report, anxiously awaiting a favourable weather forecast although there is no doubt that things will be much improved. As things stand however, I very much doubt that any attempt is going to be made to build the champagne fountain for tonight's formal celebrations lest there be much sweeping up of broken glass!
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