Just got into Athens but amazingly it is freezing, 6 degrees, which is quite a shock after the weather of the last few days. Mind you I should have known something was amiss as it had started to get cold yesterday. It has been quite a few days, one with the shock news that the Costa Concorde has sunk after they hit a reef off the coast of Western Italy. It makes you realise just how vulnerable you are. I so feel for the passengers and I am waiting to hear how it happened as it was apparently well documented that the rocks and reef is there. I was gobsmacked by the hole it ripped in the bottom. Reeling from that news I was even more perturbed to be told that we are embarking the protection of an International Task Force, including the Royal Navy, who have been assigned to protect the vessel from pirate attack. Between the 19th January and the 2nd February Arcadia is sailing between the Red Sea and Colombo and this involves transiting the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, an area well documented in the world's media for piracy.
There are armed guards on the promenade decks which are now closed between dusk and dawn with no passengers or crew allowed access during these times for the duration of the transit. During the hours of darkness, only essential deck lights will be on . We have been told to turn our cabin lights off and close the curtains of the cabin.
We are having a drill to prepare us in case of pirate activity, where we have to proceed to our cabin but sit outside the door on the floor, let me tell you that if there is something I am bloody hiding under the bed, not waiting like a sitting duck for them to burst through the balcony. I suppose it make for a dramatic story.
I met up with the West End singer Paul Baker yesterday and he asked me for dinner, what a gentleman and we have become best mates with promises to stay in touch. I hope that happens. Bless him if he didn't buy the book and ask me to sign it. I went to see Peter's show last night and nearly weed myself, he really is a wonderful raconteur and we have promised not to leave it so many years again. Clem Curtis gets on today, of the Foundations, another friend of more than 30 years so a good time looks likely.
I have to say the ship is growing on me as I find certain areas more familiar now. I have joined the camera club and am entering some of my shots into the competition that is running. We have assignments every day so that is good fun. I have booked myself into the Spa tomorrow and having a pampering day (well I have talked to myself and decided I deserve it!!!)
Actually I might have to start using the gym as I am eating far more than I normally do and I have enough excess luggage as it is. Would you believe Arcadia left each passenger a present in their cabin. A beautiful tea set.... which is in a box that is BIGGER than my hand luggage case. I tell you, there are only 500 passengers doing the entire world cruise, that means the other 2000+ have to fly home with it, you'd think they would have thought of something more travel worthy.
I have sent a few photos to Richard who is going to attach them if he receives the emails. I have to say the uploads are soooooooooooooooo slow on here and then the screen goes blank so you're not even sure whether they have actually gone into cyberspace or not. But chin up, I am hoping for a bit more Bloggie today so fingers crossed.
I hope everyone is keeping well and I am chuffed to see our Marian on line. Hope you are feeling stronger each day and hopefully you'll be back to full form soon. Until next time
Michele
x
Anyway if the worst happens hit them as hard as you can!
just lob one of them, it would crack any skull, 
