01/01

At sea. It's New Year's Day and all's well. Actually, all's quiet, which probably suggests that for many all is not well. Our breakfast room had just three other couples, it services 30 rooms. As we walked there, we saw only a handful of people. On our morning constitution we walked 20 laps and saw very few people indeed, but screaming, running kids were noticeable for the first time this holiday. Maybe some adults had a teeny weeny drink too many last night?

I also attended a cooking demonstration this morning, the head baker Armand was making ensaymada, a bread basically like a cheese straw, delicacy of The Philippines. Because of the continued hygiene alert onboard (just a precaution apparently) there was no tasting available, but I've had these before and they are very nice. I will have to subject our next dinner party victims - I mean guests - to a sample. Armand explained that he and his team work 24/7 to produce over 150 different bread recipes over a seven day cycle, that's more than 20 each day!

We fancied a burger for lunch but left it too late to go to our favourite eatery, so slummed it in the lido instead. There's a hamburger joint in the corner that simulates the traditional Macdonalds / Burger King experience, except the taste and quality are good, and the fries wonderful. Sadly these days they then bugger it all up by serving it in paper on a tray just like the aforementioned - someone should be sacked for that decision! On the positive side we spend a leisurely hour and a nice bottle of Chardonnay watching and speculating on the soap-opera of family life on other nearby tables - highly entertaining.

The afternoon walk was just as quiet, hardly anyone around. We can't really blame the weather, although it's overcast the air temperature is mid twenties and we're in shorts and short-sleeves although we laugh at some people in thick jumpers and padded jackets. We clock up 48 laps worth 12 miles during the day, before its time to change for dinner.

Talking of which, when at home NYD lunch is always at Fischer's Baslow Hall so when we're away it has to be something special so tonight we're ordering lobster as our main. We finish with Encore, a husband and wife duo of pleasing operatic favourites.

 

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