I woke up at around 7:00 am but stay in bed until around 8 am before getting up & taking a shower. After my shower, I dressed & went to one of the buffets for breakfast.

At sea on MSC Lirica.

I found a table reserved for the disabled & set my notebook down at the table while collecting breakfast. Trying to get food on a tray & struggle back with your other hand holding a walking stick is difficult. Managing it when you are half blind & trying to get through people who care about nothing other than their need for food is very difficult. I managed to get back to the table without anyone colliding with me but I hadn't found a drink. Tomorrow I will try to find a restaurant that serves breakfast at the table.

Once I have finished breakfast I walk to the coffee bar. I had two coffees before wandering to reception to ask for the daily information that is delivered to all rooms, to be in English as I had received it in both Spanish & German but not English. The receptionist quickly made a note of this & I walked to the theatre to attend the safety briefing that all passengers must attend. It basically consisted of being shown how to put your life jacket on before you were shown to your lifeboat. When we got to the door to the deck we were informed that it was too rough to go outside but we were shown our lifeboat directly outside.

After seeing my lifeboat I walk through the Lord Nelson bar & see that yesterday's football match between Leicester & Arsenal is being shown. The bar is not open for a few hours but I sit in a comfy chair in front of the TV & watch the game. I only saw the second half but it looked like an easy win for Arsenal. When the game had finished I found a more comfortable seat & type up some notes on my notepad before going to lunch in the La Bussola restaurant.

I am seated with a nice couple from South Africa, Louise & her husband, Jo. For lunch, I have muscles in crispy baked breadcrumbs, pork in a garlic sauce with rice & apple crumble with ice cream. all washed down with a pint. I enjoyed lunch with my new companions talking about our travels & the fact that we had homes very close to each other in Florida.

After lunch the weather has got a bit rougher, I get a pint & watch the waves cresting & falling outside. The larger waves crashing on the boat cause quite a spray & walking is becoming more difficult. The deck has been closed off to passengers because of the high winds & we have to remain inside, it looks beautiful but I wouldn't want to have to walk against the wind & spray from the sea.

I see the future cruise desk is open & ask about the around-the-world trips. I don't want to pay the huge single supplement but the ship's that go around the world only have double rooms. Unless I can find a really good deal on the price or a great-looking lady to share a cabin with, I won't be going on one.

After speaking to the rep, I go to the theatre to watch an Italian Gala of piano & singing. It is very good & I enjoyed it, much to my relief after yesterday's entertainment. 

At 6 pm I head to dinner via one of the onboard bars where I get a Pina Colada to have with dinner. As I sit at my table I am joined by my Spanish companions. We order dinner & as we wait the table next to ours has six people from my home town of Los Alcazares sitting at it. None of them made dinner yesterday so I hadn't known they were sitting there. John, Adam, Darren, Rob, Kaz & Jayne invited me to join them but I am happily sitting with my new Spanish friends. The gentleman & three Spanish ladies talk in Spanish & English & we all enjoy each other's company.

For dinner, I had an escargot parcel, followed by orange duck & a rice pudding dish. Once I had finished dinner I walked to the Lord Nelson bar for a pint. I had been there a while when John saw me & invited me to join him, Adam, Darren & Rob at another table on the other side of the ship. I moved to join them & we sat drinking, talking & laughing till around 11 pm when they went to the casino. I went with them to the bar but left at midnight leaving them all in the casino.