Saturday, April 30

It's Saturday morning and we're in the South Solomon Sea which is where a number of serious battles took place during WW2.  I'm surprised there haven't been more lectures about the war because there are some 140 veterans on board and many of them would have naval backgrounds even if they didn't actually take part.  Rob, our Trivia partner, was in the RAN and saw action in Vietnam.  Like me, he was born in 1943.  

We had to put our clocks forward an hour last night but, of course, we forgot.  We were wakened at what we thought was 7.45 by a plumber who wanted to fix our drains.  We didn't realise there was anything wrong but our cabin steward, George from Bulgaria, thought the water was getting away too slowly and reported it.

The work on board is non-stop.  They were laying new carpet yesterday in an empty cabin near us, apparently in readiness for the transfer of the ship to P&O.  It seems the Emerald Princess is coming to take the Dawn's place sailing out of Sydney.  The Emerald is half as big again with more facilities, so we'll look forward to sailing on it.  It's first voyage to Australia will be its arrival from Singapore in October this year.  Sadly, we'll be in the Philippines so it won't suit us.

It's the Captain's Cocktail Party tonight and it's been designated 'Formal'.  That will pose a problem for our more casual cousins from Queensland.  I suspect some didn't even bother to bring a pair of shoes, or long trousers.  

We had very good news this morning that our good friend, Brian from Calgary, will be visiting Tasmania in April next year.  I think we last saw him about 1990 so if will be a happy reunion.