Anticipating Cobh (Cork)

Saturday 22nd August – Yesterday was another cold day with wind, rain and high seas and today is much the same. No-one out on the deck much – wrapped up warmly if they are. The temperature about 14 degrees. Lovely to talk to family, on Skype, yesterday morning and pleased to see photos posted by Karyn on facebook, today. We love to see any news from family and home – please keep it coming allof you! Everyone is taking it easy, reading and sleeping. We did however have choir practice as usual which was a rehearsal in the theatre then our concert was at 2.15pm – a great success by all accounts. Thought we would be let off today, but no, we had to practice the songs we will sing as we leave Cobh (Cork). We attended Bob Arno’s lecture at 10.30am yesterday – did not learn too much we did not know but very interesting how he can identify the people who will steal from him – he surprises them by taking something of theirs and confronting them with it!! Thought of Peter W who had his wallet stolen on the train in Italy, he thought – Bob said that it is generally carried out as you are boarding the train then the criminal will not actually get on – makes sense. Seems the best form of insurance is to put credit cards, money and passports in one of those little carriers down your front. ID fraud sounds the scariest. It was a formal night again last night and the boys had to dress up in their suits – Mason is not too keen but he looks really good I think!! Afterward we went to see a comedian – actually he must have been about 70, was the father of the girl who sang and played jazz and classical the other night – he was great and could also play the piano and sing very well. Slept in this morning – our time clocks are playing up a bit and we were awake in the middle of the night. Mason has gone to the gym this afternoon while I try and do this and then pay some GST to IRD!!! and other bills. Joined Alice and Glen for coffee in the atrium on deck 5 then they both went off to the gym – I should have gone as well but have things to do and lazy today, swimming not an option at the moment as the pool is swirling like a washing machine and out of bounds – I have actually lost weight but am having to watch the amount of food I put in my mouth – apparently they have cooked 10,000 meals a day so far and 200 tons of food!!! Can you imagine it!!! After dinner tonight we watched the film “The Reader”in our cabin. Looking forward to our first visit to Ireland tomorrow.