The other thing is this: apparently, part of the deal of us being permitted to stop off at Tripoli, is that we have to be entertained by a Tripolean Folk Band. Not only that - Saga have had to pay for the priviledge!! It's reasonably common knowledge that the reason we're not sailing until 11pm is due to this, and something the crew are well miffed at!

This is all very well, you may be thinking - fantastic even - be entertained by the local culture. One week one; I feel I've been entertained by some of the cream of what Saga can possibly throw at us. We've had Kenny Martyn, a multi-instrumentalist with a professional CV as long as your arm, Will Allen who's a vocalist who's worked in musicals all over the entertainment globe, we've had top-notch Jazz Nights in the Late-night Preview Bar, comedians, dancers and classical recitals to blow your socks off, and in a few days time, we're being joined by Tom O'Connor. So what's wrong with a tripolean Folk Band, you may be asking - well - you weren't there!! The reason I've come down to the computer room to write this is because I simply couldn't stand another minute of it. The thumping and wailing and warbling didn't seem to be going down too well with the rest of the audience either, at the point when I left - in fact, a crew member has just walked past the computer room door asking asking another crew member "have they gone yet?", followed by a humourous impersonation of said entertainers.

Watch this space!!