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Embarkation

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Tuesday 28th November Travelling is so much easier when I drive to Southampton rather than taking the train. I was all ready by 11am, my planned time, and set off. With no traffic delays, I was at the port, luggage dropped off, car delivered to the parking company (with many laughing remarks from them about the bird shit on my car and statements saying they could not promise it would all be there on my return) and heading for the terminal by 12.30. It seemed to be a day of technology fails. My credit card failed to register in their machine. (They said that several had failed that day) and then I could not open my stateroom door (the door key had demagnetised through sitting on top of my ipad as I went through security). Both of these were fixed via a quick trip to the reception desk. Then I signed up for the wrong internet package. I have 8 free hours as a Diamond member but clicked on the platinum package for 4 free hours instead. That necessitated a couple of visi...
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At sea (clocks forward)

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Wednesday 29th November I did not sleep well at all in the early part of the evening, in spite of taking a sleeping tablet. I woke at 9 but decided there was no reason to get up and managed to get back to sleep until nearly 11. I knew from the past that breakfast was served in one half of the Lido until 11.30. I went along and discovered that things have changed and both sides close at 11 to prepare for lunch at 11.30. Fortunately a friendly waiter saw my confusion and brought me a huge plate of fruit. It was a bit of a slow day, just rediscovering the ship, settling in, trying afternoon tea and so on. The dance class was at 5pm, so that meant I needed to get ready for the evening at 4.30 as I wanted to go to watch the class and talk to Dan. Vi turned up to watch the class and I went through the steps with her on the carpet. At dinner there were two people missing. When I saw them in the ballroom later I discovered that they had both changed table...
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A Coruna

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Thursday 30th November I had arranged to explore A Coruna with Hazel and Vi. It took a few phone calls to make sure we were all awake and ready but we finally met up at 11.10. I have been to A Coruna twice before. It's a lovely spot and only a short walk from the ship to the shops. The first time I explored and walked part of the promenade on a lovely sunny day. The second time we spent in a coffee shop sheltering from the rain. This time we wandered the general area around the shops. Vi did some shopping while Hazel and I walked around and looked at the sights. A stop in a coffee shop allowed me to catch up on my emails and facebook while Vi and Hazel went back to the ship. A Coruna is well-known for these glassed-in balconies - a way of enjoying the sunshine without the wind and the rain. I paid for my wandering that night in the dancing sessions. Somehow the steps for the sequence dances were not working and my memory got...
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At sea

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Friday 1st December Friday – at sea I took things very slowly in the morning as I still felt weary, having done too much the day before. However, as the day wore on I got more and more strong. I watched the dance lesson at midday and then had lunch with Hazel. I read, went to afternoon tea and looked at the shops. By 4.30 it was time to get dressed for the Captain’s cocktail party. I managed to snag two strawberry daiquiris as usual. I had determined to be sensible and not dance too much. I skipped the early session, staying on chatting at the table until 8pm, and only went to the 9.15 ball. Dan and Alyona danced the Viennese Waltz beautifully. I danced twice with Roy (Slow Foxtrot and White City Waltz) and once with Mike, one of the passengers. I wore the beaded and fringed jacket and decided it was not suitable for dancing. I had to take it off for the dances after the fringe got caught in buttons on both Roy’s and Mike’s jackets and also in the fingers ...
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