It's official...we're shellbacks and humiliated!!!!

February 6, 2010

Well, lo and behold…I went through the mess and humiliation. Yep, I got picked!!! Out of 1861 people onboard they picked 8 of us to tell our heinous crimes, stand before the ship’s jury and be judged!!! Needless to say, I ended up a mess and in the pool. I won’t even write what my “heinous crime” was!! I really believe Ken paid someone off to have me selected. He captured it on his movie camera so instead of going through the sordid details and have to relive it, we’ll save it for the “infamous” home movie night he’s planning when we return…don’t fret..you may pass!!!

So, we crossed the equator and are official shellbacks!!! We went from the North Hemisphere to the South Hemisphere and the best thing, from winter to summer!!!
The weather has been wonderful up to today…it is raining but there still is so much to do onboard that one can’t get bored. Today I had my fencing class which I am enjoying and getting a great workout. I met a man that was on a championship fencing team. He is 81 and although he isn’t going through all the fencing moves, he is helping me with my techniques. And wow! one sure does work up a sweat in that uniform…it’s like being in a sauna. Speaking of sauna, they have one in the work out room that is glass on one side where you can look out into the ocean!!!

Ken joined me today for quick step dancing class. The fun never ends!! And the days seem to go by so fast. I can’t believe we have been aboard for 10 days and not on each others nerves yet…although last night we “took the night off” from each other and went our own ways. We decided we shall do that once a week to give one another space which we both cherish. I ended up at the pizza bar where they make your pizza to order. The other day I was there, I noticed the pizza maker’s name was Noel and found out his birthday was on Christmas, I shared with him that my sis-in-law birthday was Carol and her birthday was also on Christmas. Tonight when I ordered he remembered “Carol whose birthday was on Christmas”!! I asked him if you had to have a great memory to work on the ship. It seems anywhere you go and order, the next day they remember what you ordered!!! I can’t even remember what I ordered!!!

Today I attended a Bible study which I was glad to see they have on board. There are about a dozen folks in it and it’s interesting to have the discussions with the English and Australians. They also have Catholic services a few times a week and an interdenominational service on Sunday which the Captain leads.

Laundry has been quite a feat as there is only one laundry room with three washers and dryers per floor and at the other end of the ship. It has turned out to be the chat (rumor) room on the ship. It is free and they do supply soap so that is a good thing. I’ve heard (rumors?) that fights and affairs start there and marriages end!!! One lady told me that on the Queen Mary two couples got kicked off the ship from trouble in the laundry room!!! Haha..

I’ll close now as not to bore y’all too much in one day…more about Pago Pago and Fiji on my next blog….we’re going to try to find an internet café so we don’t have to be paying .45/min for time online.

By the way…thanx for the e-mails to the ship…it really is cool because they print them out and deliver them to our room…that’s real service!! The address once again is
qv@cunard.co.uk …in the subject line put #4152 or our names.

Ni sa moce (that’s goodbye in Figian)

Janet and Ken