Final full day

Wednesday 12^th December

I was up at 8.30 but could not believe how dark it was! We are certainly due for tonight’s change of time. I remembered that we will be back in the UK in time for the shortest day of the year. I actually managed to get to the dining room in time for breakfast, for only the second time on this cruise. The blueberry pancakes were not as good as memory paints them, but Queen Victoria still produces the best scrambled eggs at sea.

Dance class was early. I had to be in the ballroom by 10.30! By now I have so many steps going around in my brain that it’s hard to remember what we learnt! It was the rumba. The Beginner’s class was the Allemagne turn straight into a turn in the opposite direction. (Two basics, New Yorkers, Allemagne turn and other turn.) In the Intermediate class at 4 we did the fan and hockey stick and were thoroughly confused by the precision of changes of direction!

I spent the rest of the day packing and wandering the ship and chatting to Trevor and Jenny after dance class. I found myself packing 8 bars of uneaten chocolate to take home. I’ve never taken chocolate home before. It gives me energy and I snack on it when I’m tired. When I packed for the ship I was not sure if I’d taken enough bars. I can’t believe I’m taking some home! Taking phenylalanine seems to have made a difference in my chocolate habits. It even tastes different. I’m aware that I packed a lot of clothes that I had never worn. I’d taken away Summer clothes (for Egypt – but we didn’t get there) and Winter clothes (that perhaps I should have worn on a couple of days but I misjudged the conditions).

Suitcases are meant to be put outside the door before 11. (I’m not sure if that’s 11 before or after we turn back the clocks. I’ll go for the one that best suits me.) It’s a bit difficult to do that if I stay dancing until 12.15, as I need to put away my dancing clothes. One case was outside before dinner and the second one is within 5 minutes of being ready, whenever dancing ends.

My weariness (from the cough – only when I talk! – or CFS?) was showing. I only went to the dining room to say goodbye and thank you to everyone. I had a very quick dinner in the Lido instead. I decided against going to the show. I turned up a bit early for the evening dancing and saved seats for everyone (something I hadn’t done for a few days for various reasons) but Chris must have decided she’d rather be with the people she’d sat with for the last three days and walked past the saved seats. I laughed at myself for feeling like Nellie-no-friends but ended up having one of the best evenings of the cruise.

I was once again asked to dance by the Sports Director. Then we discovered it was a rumba and he didn’t know the steps. However, he learnt very quickly! I then arranged for him to rescue Volodomyr who’d been snaffled by Ruth and could have been there for 20 minutes or more if not helped out! As a thank you, Volodomyr waltzed with me. I had a last chat with Sarah and Andy (who I’d ‘met’ on the internet before coming away). They tell me they arrived with seven suitcases and bags between them and had to buy an extra one because of things they’d bought while away. I will never feel guilty about too much luggage again. Jenny and Judith arrived and I sat with them and we laughed the rest of the evening away, between dancing. Poor Trevor, meanwhile, had gone to bed early as he had reached the ill stage of the respiratory infection. The night ended at 11.30. I suppose that was to make sure we got our cases out at a reasonable time.

I have to be careful putting my last suitcase out in the corridor, as by then I’m dressed ready for bed. What if the door locks behind me? I don’t fancy going down to Reception in my night clothes. (Mind you, I’ve heard stories of people who have packed ALL of their clothes, and have had to wander around the customs hall in night clothes the next morning to find their suitcases in order to dress for departure.) I just carry my room key between my teeth so I can get back in if needed!