My last ‘sea day’ of the trip, so I’ve splashed out on internet access. Mainly to watch the cricket, although I’ve also just opened 105 web pages from just one work related news site. That’s just two weeks worth of updates too.

Plans for the day were to keep up with the cricket score (looks like the WI are heading for a first wicket lead over England), eat nothing until the gala night this evening, watch the impressionist and go to bed.

I knew it would be exhausting, so I went hunting for coffee (hint: It was on the Lido deck, as always).

A quiet day, spent indoors and online. The cricket didn’t go well, but I avoided food, kept my stomach full through liquid means. 220 metres for a coffee trip, nearly a kilometre walked before dinner.

I’d planned ahead, timed my arrival at the dining room well. A 3-4 minute queue then straight to a table, a group of four that knew each other from previous cruises.

“He’s really white,” affirmed a small bald man, pointing at the man opposite, features showing an obvious tan, skin cancer surely just days away. I assured them that I wasn’t terribly interested in his colour, before or after applying sun.

The meal was meh, a reprise of menus past, delivered less capably. I didn’t take a photograph, it wasn’t even nice to look at.

I was out of the dining room and in the Lido fetching coffee in time to reach the main stage by 7.30. Ten minutes later I was back in my room, joining many others in abandoning any pretence of actually fitting into the stage area. It seats 640 and each act puts on two shows, so with 2400 passengers on board (i.e. not even a full ship) fully half of us wont be able to enjoy tonight’s show.

I’m sure it was good. I hope it wasn’t. Petty perhaps but I’m tired enough to be petty tonight.

Coffee, book, bed.