Our last 2 sea days of the Atlantic crossing as we approach Ponta Delgada tomorrow morning. Two very lovely sunny days. Breezy but almost flat seas, temperatures about 68F and the sun hot if you got out of the breeze, which we did.

Mornings have been spent at art class on both days, enjoying the challenge, suffering the torment of struggle and failure, coming out with something….. I have signed up for a 14 week art course back in Folkestone in an effort to keep it going and to try and get back to at least the level I was at before covid. Not that that level was that of an artist. But I was capable of doing a decent copy of other people’s creations…. It’s a great pastime and especially for a traveller, another way of conserving memories.

We’ve spent both afternoons lying out on deck. Just sunning, reading, snoozing….. too nice to be inside, especially knowing we have colder weather ahead. Yesterday evening we had a lovely black tie dinner – Beef Wellington and other lovely courses, preceded by a second show from Jennifer Tierney, the lady with the huge voice. I forgot to mention that the night before we had a second show from the uber talented Nate Simpson. He is so outstanding and a sweet man. He’s doing a big UK tour at the moment but sadly has already been to Kent so we shall have to watch and see if future dates come up. Would definitely travel to see him. Just an amazing voice with an incredible range.

Last night we also went up to the Winter Garden after dinner and saw an informal theatrical presentation by the Guildford Shakespeare Company where they did soliloquies and scenes from various Shakespearean works innovatively set amongst us…. really enjoyable and funny.

Tonight we had another special invitation cocktail party this time because we are frequent Cunard cruisers. Although not as frequent as a few of those specially honoured ie one lady who has spent the equivalent of over 10 years on board…. and others who are in excess of 1800 nights…. wowzer…. Anyway, it was fun and we got chatting to a couple of the young hotel officers who are about to have a long holiday and are going to Egypt to learn to dive. Of course we had a massive conversation about that and all the places they will be able to pursue their hobby in afterwards.

Good dinner, chatted to a couple from Florida who live in The Villages. Heard all about this amazing huge over 55 community….. just unbelievable in scale. We bumped into Nate Simpson and Jennifer Tierney after dinner and had such a nice conversation with them – at some length. Nice people. Went to the show which was the resident singers and dancers who were superb as usual. Work so hard and are never less than enjoyable with spectacular costumes. Their energy is just amazing.

Tomorrow at breakfast we arrive in Ponta Delgada for a 2 day visit. We’ve explored a lot of the island on previous visits, so just going to stay in town this time and explore that. Looking forward to walking on the land for a bit…