What a strange sensation it was to continuously wake during the night to the swaying of the ship. As there is no window in our room we have no idea of what time it may be without checking our phones. Sam has decided that she will attend a morning yoga session at 7.30. She is up and organised much earlier and takes a stroll out on deck. She sends me back a message saying it is drizzling, cold and windy. A great day to stay in bed for a little longer I think.

Eventually I decide it is time to take a stroll up on deck and have a cup of coffee and kick start my day. As I pushed open the door onto the deck it soon became apparent that I would not require coffee to wake me up as I struggled through the icy wind, very thankful that I had worn leggings under my dress as it was immediately lifted to waist height. Straight to the coffee I headed and then once I had my cup securely in my hand I head like a homing pigeon to a secluded little spot on deck where hopefully I am protected from the elements and settle in for some more people watching.

Once again the children are already splashing in the pool. Yes, it is heated but they spend as much time out of the water as in so I wonder how many sniffles will eventuate. Bored and shivering fathers stand around obviously wishing they were still tucked away in their cabins with Mum rather than out here.

The tables start to fill up around me, people dressed in a great variety of layers. Some apparently had no thought of it being cold once they left home, sitting with their beach towels wrapped securely around them. I watch as the brave, dedicated souls stride out on the deck above me. I am told that it is 6 laps around the deck for 1 kilometre and 10 laps for 1 mile. I am not sure how many miles one particularly gentleman walked but he would have a great tale to tell about how he battled the elements for a 5 km walk. I lost count of how many laps he did… to me he looked a little like a mouse on an exercise wheel… going, going, going and getting nowhere. I smiled as a tiny little older couple ventured out in their exercise gear, bracing against the wind. 10 steps later their coats are on. They make it half way around the deck before she convinces him that there is no point in paying all this money just to end up being blown over the edge and ending up as flotsam somewhere out there.

Sam joined me for breakfast and regaled me with stories of how difficult it is to maintain a one legged, outstretched pose while the ship is swaying back and forth. Maybe I can sneak into tomorrow mornings session with my camera.

Breakfast… soooooo much food! Bacon and scambled eggs for me… I won’t tell tales on Sam.

One thing is for certain, we will definitely not starve on this holiday.

The rest of our day was spent below deck. Duty free shopping is one way to fill in a cold and blustery day at sea. We missed the first Bingo session (my aunties would be dreadfully disappointed in me for this!)

Lunch at the Waterfront Restaurant at a table for 10 was quite entertaining. Of course, there was the obligatory one who disliked the food and complained about most everything so far but on the whole it was an enjoyable experience. The resident man hater who was cruising with a female friend kept us amused. Sadly she assumed that all women had the same sentiments as herself, I am sure that the two men at the table along with the rest of us females left feeling quite sympathetic towards her husband still at home in Victoria. I am also sure that said husband would be relishing the alone time!

Sam toddled off to bingo this afternoon, hopeful of bringing home the jackpot. I went in search of the The Orient Bar where a gathering of inspirational writers was to take place. After sitting for some time along with about 20 others we were informed that the even had been cancelled. I then spent a lovely hour and a half or so chatting with a very interesting couple from Minlaton in South Australia. Both retired, he now a writer and she a wonderful artist. Sam joined us after bingo, sadly she was one number off collecting the jackpot… ah well there is always tomorrow.

Dinner this evening at Salt Grill… Luke Mangan restaurant. What superb food and also wonderful service. Highly recommend this to anyone. Of course, it is always interesting going to places like this with a chef. Sam, on the other hand finds it rather frustrating to sit and listen to the commentary of the people at the table next to us. It is worth a giggle when the loudest and most opinionated of the group give his expert explanation of what the dishes are… I hope none of them actually ordered by his descriptions or they could have been dreadfully disappointed.

There was a comedy show on at 10.15 but by the time we rolled out of the Salt Grill we decided that bed was not such a bad place to be as we were too full to do anything but stretch out on our beds.

I was nicely tucked up in bed when Archie or Arwin (the cabin crew for our level) popped in very apologetically with our water package… I can now say I’ve had a man in my cabin at some stage during the cruise!

Sleep calls, lets hope that tomorrow is a nicer day weather wise…

Day 2 done and dusted….