10th June

Sea Day Temp 32c Smooth Sea in fact the calmest we have had so far as we approach the Straits of Hormuz.

We decided to try out at carpet bowls this morning. We have not done so before because it appeared to us that the teams had been chosen early on and it was hard to break in. In the Princess Patter today unlike other days they did not say blue team is playing red team etc. so down we went to deck 5 and joined in. We were divided into two teams of equal number and each player had one turn. I am pleased to say my team won and Betty’s lost. Actually Betty bowled better than me but I managed to hit the Jack and they give your team a point for that. We enjoyed it and will go again. At 11am I went to a lecture in the Princess Theatre given by George Weston entitled ‘Overview of Ancient Greece” which was very good. I am not sure where Greece went wrong considering they led the world in ancient times. George leaves us in Dubai so I hope we get someone as good to replace him. For about 250 this is their last day of the cruise we are glad it is not us. It was the final of “Dancing with the Stripes” this afternoon. The 6 finalists did a great job and the Drummer out of the band and his dancing partner won. They were actually both Betty & my second choice. Our first choice was a nurse from the Medical Centre who obviously had some ballet training in an earlier life. They danced a story of a letter being received advising of the death of her soldier husband. She then dreams he comes back and they dance together. It was quite touching.

Tonight was our last dinner before Dubai and we said goodbye to 2 of our dinner companions Di & Joan. Actually we did not say goodbye to Joan direstly because she has come down with gasro and did not come to dinner. We all hope she improves overnight because they are spending 2 nights in Dubai before flying home via Singapore. We will miss them. As usual on the last night of a sector we had the Baked Alaska parade by all the waiters and kitchen staff. Before dinner we went to the Vista Lounge to listen to the band give another concert of Glen Miller music. They seemed better this time. After dinner there was the “The International Crew Talent Show”, where members of the crew strut their talents on the stage. Not only do they do such a good job of looking after us but some of them are quite talented entertainers. This show was so popular that it was in the Princess Theatre and simulcast into the Vista Lounge. Rather than queue up to get into the Theatre we decided to go to the Vista. It was a very enjoyable show and included a cruise ship favourite “If I were not upon the Sea” done by the Cruise Directors staff.