Jan 4 – Aboard the QM2. Up fairly early to get my full English breakfast in before attending the Interdenominational Church service. Well, not quite ‘full breakfast’ as I just don’t like eating beans for breakfast. Most of you probably know this but a full English breakfast includes eggs, sautéed mushrooms, broiled tomato, Cumberland sausages, English bacon (more like Canadian bacon) and beans. Not just any beans, they are exactly like Campbell’s Pork and Beans without the small bits of pork. Often they are eaten on toast for a quick breakfast. It’s optional to have a small piece of kippers and maybe some black pudding or spotted dick. I’ve had all three at one point or another. Kippers (kippered (brined and smoked) herring) are really good if you like fish for breakfast. Black pudding is some sort of sausage that they slice into little rounds as is spotted dick. I can’t say that either of the latter is exciting, but they are not awful.
The service may be Interdenominational but it doesn’t land very far from the standard Anglican order of service. We like to attend because the message is given by the ship’s captain and he leads the service. They always have a junior officer do the lesson reading. This time it was a Scots engineering cadet. They must choose them carefully because they always do a great job of reading the Scripture. It has a decidedly nautical theme and always closes with the hymn For Those in Peril on the Sea.
There’s always a surprise celebrity on the QM2. Could be an astronaut, the president of the American Film Institute, Carrie Fisher, P. D. James, there’s always someone. This trip it’s Celia Imrie. Many of you may not recognize the name but if you are fans of BBC TV or British movies you will remember her from her role in Calendar Girls. She was the one who wanted ‘bigger buns’. They had a special presentation of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel this afternoon and she gave an introduction and some anecdotes about the film. If you saw it, she’s the woman who joined the club to meet men and wound up meeting another denizen of the Marigold. I hadn’t seen the movie but had wanted to. We were out of the country during its run. It was very enjoyable. If you haven’t seen it I’d suggest that you do. The character of the hotel manager is worth the effort even if you are disinterested in the rest of the movie. It’s hard to imagine that you would be however. Lots of funny moments that seemed to go over most of the audiences’ heads. I’m sure there were quite a few that I missed also. Why is it that editors seem to have the sound track overloaded with extraneous sound when dialog is being presented? Some ambient sound is fine and adds to the feel of the movie but when it masks the dialog it is not helpful.
Everything is very civilized (civilized, for the Brits) on board the QM2. We will lose 5 hours during this crossing and they roll the clocks forward at Noon. Much nicer than 2AM, I really hated getting up to change my clocks.
The evening show was a singer/musician named Zachary Winningham. He performed music from the 50s-70s, played the guitar and piano. Of course, the QM2 orchestra was backing him up. He opened with Roy Orbison’s ‘Pretty Woman’, followed by Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’. Everyone gave his a warm greeting. He sang some Ricky Nelson, Kenny Rogers, among others and closed with James Taylor’s ‘Fire and Rain’. That song has always been one of my favorites. The backstory is very poignant.
Jan 5 – Aboard the QM2. Didn’t get up too early today. I was getting some coffee when Celia Imrie walked past and I complemented her on the movie we saw yesterday and also her performance in ‘Calendar Girls and Star Wars. You may not have caught her in star wars. She was one of the female X-Wing fighter pilots. That may be the first time I ever saw her and at the time I had no idea who she was. All I remember thinking was if the Rebel Alliance has pilots that look that good, I think I’ll enlist in their Air Force. Diana and I were eating in one of the little alcoves they have in the King’s Court when she came around the corner looking for a seat and spotting my friendly face she came and sat across from us. We had a nice chat. While we were talking it occurred to me that she also had a part in Bridget Jones’ Diary.
After breakfast we were scheduled to see the UK Immigration Service. They take three days to see all the passengers while we’re sailing so there’s no immigration hold up in Southampton. I did mention that things are done in a very civilized manner on The Queen.
Celia Imrie was interviewed in the Royal Court at 11AM today. She’s an interesting character, the editor of her book thought she was full on crazy. I think she just didn’t get her sense of humor.
This afternoon pianist Eleanor Hodgkinson gave a classical piano performance. She played it safe by performing Bach, Grieg, Debussy and Rachmaninoff, all well-known and accepted composers. Her one nod to contemporary composers was Nino Rota’s ‘Theme from the Godfather.
The Captain’s Cocktail Party is at 5:15PM and it’s another formal night so we will have to start preparations earlier than usual. It’s a mobbed affair as everyone from early seating is invited. It’s fun to see all the ladies in their evening gowns, or in some cases partly in their evening gowns. The captain gives a little speech and then introduces the major officers. The Head Chef always gets the biggest applause. We have 39 countries represented by the passengers. Only one person from about 10 of them. Brits lead the way with almost 1,500, about 500 Americans, 77 Canadians and so on down the line. He said we started out in a force 8 Gale and today the wind hit force 10, that’s a hurricane. The waves have been about 25 feet with some reaching 30. If we were on any other ship we would really feel it. On the QM2 you hardly realize you are in bad weather. Sure the ship moves a little, but really very little. You get some canapés and a glass of wine or Champaign. It’s fun to see who shows up with the most jewelry. Usually it’s one of the oldest ladies in the group and tonight was no exception.
Dinner was exceptional again. Lamb chops, yum! Yes, I am as God made me, an omnivore. We weren’t given those canine teeth for looks. No one ever complains that their dog or cat is not a Vegan.
Tonight we had a violin concert by Isabella Zebrowska. Yes, she’s as Polish as her name implies. She’s very good indeed. She played some classical, folk and pop music. She closed with a rousing rendition of ‘Hey Jude’. Very well received, as evidenced by the standing ovation at the show’s conclusion.
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