At Sea – February 25, 2018

My morning started with Hamish’s Coffee Chat with the guests Matilda and Patrick at 9:30.  I arrived 15 minutes early and got one of the last seats.  Usually Coffee Chat lasts about 20 minutes but it ran over (until after 10).  Matilda is very popular and Patrick has been doing his act on ships for over 30 years.

Picked up a donut and pineapple juice (orange was out) and headed to Sit and Stitch. Six of us present.

Our morning trivia score was only 8 while the winners had 13 (out of 15).

1)What is a baby rabbit called?

2)What was the first planet discovered by telescope in 1781?

3)What was B.B. King’s real first name?

4)How many paintings did Vincent Van Gogh sell in his lifetime?

5)What is Indonesia’s national dish?

Returned to my cabin after trivia but my steward was still in my cabin so I spent some time out on my deck.  I was surprised the LRAD machine (Long Range Acoustic Device) was uncovered.  Found out later that there are pirates in the are we are headed for and these machines will help protect us even though the chances of an attack on a ship this size are slim.

I discovered yesterday that the sandwich station makes wraps so I had a BLT wrap for lunch.  In crafts we made a bone bracelet.

Since I had skipped water aerobics for the Coffee Chat I swam after crafts until time for afternoon trivia.

We did much better in afternoon trivia with 14 correct.  The winning team had a perfect 17.

1)What is the most widely eaten cheese in the US?

2)Which city has the largest number of skyscrapers?

3)The three organs that produce the most heat are the heart, liver and ___.

4)What is the English anagram of “relatives”?

5)Who said his face was the third most famous after Jesus Christ and Mickey Mouse?

I was invited to a dinner at Canaletto (the Italian Restaurant) by my travel agency.  I sat with Kathy and Mike (from the dinner table) and Steve, one of the hosts provided by the agency.  We had a set menu rather than the usual one but red or white wine (as much as you could drink) was included.  We had a great time and was the last table to leave.

Skipped the show because I have an early excursion tomorrow and it is 9 hours long and the temperature is supposed to be in the low 80s with 100% humidity (what was I thinking?).

Matilda and Patrick

painting along the front

LRAD ready just in case

dinner menu (I had the Potato Gnocchi and the Cannoli

Morning trivia…

1)kit or kitten

2)Uranus

3)Riley

4)1

5)Nasi Goreng (sp?)

Afternoon trivia…

1)Mozzarella

2)Hong Kong

3)brain

4)versatile

5)Muhammed Ali

Smooth sailing until next time.

At Sea – February 24, 2018

Have you ever wondered what the insides of a ship toilet looks like?  Well, wonder no more.  Here is a picture.

So, how did this happen?  I woke up at 3:02 a.m. expecting to be back asleep by 3:04 but the toilet had other ideas.  When flushed the water would not stop filling.  If I did not flush it again every 20-30 seconds it would fill up and run over.  I called the front office and within 5 minutes someone came and turned off the water.  In about 5 more minutes the plumber came.  He tried a number of things but had to replace a part and was finally finished at 4:30.  I sat and crocheted (finishing a hat) while he was working. The bathroom floor was very wet from the second time the plumber had to remove the toilet (first time did not fix it).

Having lost an hour and half of sleep, I skipped water aerobics and slept until 9:30.  Seven of us at Sit and Stitch.

Today was not one of our best trivia days.  We only had 10 points for morning trivia while the winning team had 12 (out of 15).

1)Who wrote “The Raven”?

2)1024 gigabytes equals what?

3)Which planet spins the fastest?

4)Harry Casey is better known as…?

5)What was the name of the first album released by Bon Jovi?

In arts and crafts we made another jewelry case which was a little different from the first one.  We also finished a possum fur pin which was postponed from New Zealand.

Once again I sat by the Lido pool and read and knitted until afternoon trivia.  We only had 8 correct and the winning team had 14.

1)What did George Everest do to have Mount Everest named after him?

2)What does “GOD” mean in freight transportation?

3)Which continent has the most lightning strikes?

4)What is the only venomous snake to slither through all of the 48 contiguous states?

5)Which Asian country is the world’s largest producer of cashews?

Tonight was a gala night and I listened to Jamm in the Piano Bar before dinner.  He was doing hits of Andrew Lloyd Webber.  The theme in the dining room was “Pan-Asian” and the wait staff was dressed in native patterned shirts.  I had fresh lumpia, land and sea, and leche flan.  We had to say good-bye to our server, Aris who is leaving on Monday.  He has been on the ship since the first cruise after the 2017 world cruise.  He is due back on board at the beginning of the Alaska season (beginning of May).

Skipped the show although I heard it (a musician) in my cabin.  Went out and looked at the stars using the Star Chart app on my iPad.  It is a beautiful evening with a half moon and a sky full of stars.

One more day at sea before Indonesia.

Entrance to the dining room

table decorations

Gala Night menu

Aris (who is leaving), me, and Bakti (assistant server)

Jewelry pouch

possum fur pin

forgot to post a picture of the yarn I bought in Perth

Morning trivia…

1)Poe

2)terabyte

3)Jupiter

4)KC (of KC and the Sunshine Band)

5)Bon Jovi

Evening trivia…

1)measured it

2)guaranteed overnight delivery

3)Africa

4)rattlesnake

5)India

Smooth sailing until next time!

At Sea – February 23, 2018

Spent 55 minutes in the pool before getting a muffin and orange juice.  Temperature in the pool is getting much better.

Six of us at Sit and Stitch.  I finished a scarf (from the yarn I brought from home) and started on my second sock.

All present for morning trivia.  We had 10 correct and two teams tied with 13.

1)2% of the population has what eye color?

2)What is Cuba’s largest agricultural export?

3)Who wrote The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?

4)What was the British flagship during the Falklands War?

5)How many stars on the Australian flag?

In arts and crafts we made a chain link bracelet.  Afterwards I sat at the Lido pool and read some and worked on my Sydney alpaca cowl.

Afternoon trivia was hard.  We only had 10 right and the winners had 14 (out of 17).

1)Which organ uses 25% of the body’s oxygen?

2)Who was Marilyn Monroe’s last husband?

3)In what country did Charlie Chaplin die?

4)What is the scientific name for a rabbit’s tail?

5)”BMX” stands for what sport?

Went to Broadway Musicals Name That Tune at the Piano Bar before dinner.  I had 8 out of 16 correct.

For dinner I had fruit, tomato and mozzarella salad, Salisbury steak, and a blueberry sundae for dessert.

The show tonight was Matilda and Patrick.  Patrick is a ventriloquist and Matilda is his dummy.  They had the best comedy show so far. 

Another sea day tomorrow.

chain mail bracelet

Morning trivia…

1)green

2)sugar

3)C.S. Lewis

4)Invincible

5)6

Afternoon trivia…

1)brain

2)Arthur Miller

3)Switzerland

4)scut

5)bicycle motor cross

Smooth sailing until next time!

Fremantle, Australia – February 22, 2018

My tour this morning was called “Fremantle and Perth Highlights”.  We left just after 8:30.  Renata was the tour guide but was not among the better ones I have had.  There were a number of things that she did not know and had to have the bus driver explain.

Fremantle was founded in 1829 and is the main port of Western Australia where the Swan River empties into the Indian Ocean.  The oldest building is the Round House, which is not round (it is 12-sided) and not a house (it was a jail), and was one of the sights we saw before heading towards Perth.

We drove through some beautiful upscale neighborhoods before a stop at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens.  It has a view of downtown Perth across the Swan River.  Then a ride through the city before heading back with a stop at Cottesloe Beach, one of the most famous Perth beaches.  It was a very warm day and the beach looked inviting.

When we returned to Fremantle (known as Freo by the locals), the driver let a number of us off at the train station.  That saved the time of going back to the ship and taking the free shuttle provided by Fremantle or walking into town.

My main goal was to go to Yarns on Collie for round needles for my next pair of socks.  One of the Judys in Sit and Stitch is going to teach me how to knit socks from the toe up and I needed different needles.  OK, I didn’t get just needles – a couple of balls of yarn called out to me as well as a pattern book for scarves.

I walked around for about 45 minutes before getting the shuttle back to the ship.  Since I hadn’t had any lunch, I had a burger and fries from the Dive-In before 3:30 trivia.  None of my team was present so I played with Dorothy, Rosalie, and Candy.  We had 11 correct while the winning team had 15.

1)Who was the “King of Swing”?

2)What brand of car was seen for the first time in 1901?

3)Annie May Bullock became famous under what name?

4)What was the first charge card?

5)What does “TBH” mean in social media?

After trivia I read while having my afternoon ice cream.

All team members were present for 5:00 trivia (we sailed during trivia).  We were one off of the winning score of 14 (out of 17).

1)What is the sequel to “Little Women”?

2)Which saint’s keys appear on the personal coat of arms of the Pope?

3)How many gigabytes was the first iPod?

4)What is the fourth planet from the sun?

5)Which two classic Monopoly tokens can be worn?

Jeanette, Tom, Rodney, Marilyn, and I watched as we sailed away and passed where Rodney and Marilyn live just outside of Perth. We talked for over an hour and there was no land left in sight.

Worked on my photos before dinner.  All were present and I had fruit, beef brisket and a cherries jubilee sundae for dessert.  Liz brought the different kinds of yarn she purchased in Australia and taught me how to knit in the Continental style.  I have a lot of practicing to do to get proficient at it!

I skipped the show although I could hear the performer who played different instruments.  I believe I have mentioned that my cabin is right over the Queens Lounge.  It would not be good for someone who goes to bed early!

Three sea days coming up.

Sights of Fremantle and Perth...

the front of the railway station

the "Round House"

painting was for a festival but I could not hear the guide mention which one

the old Fremantle Prison

the only black swan I saw (it is the state symbol)

view of Perth from Kings Park

Kangaroos carrying briefcases

not a really good picture but the camels were surprising (they are not native but were brought to Australia because of the desert area)

perspective wall by a railway station

the Old Swan Brewery

lady in the lake

Cottesloe Beach

the town hall

interesting bench

Nice consideration by the city

car carrier from Japan

3:30 trivia…

1)Benny Goodman

2)Mercedes

3)Tina Turner

4)Diner’s Card

5)to be honest

5:00 trivia…

1)Good Wives

2)Saint Peter

3)5

4)Mars

5)top hat and shoe

Smooth sailing until next time!