Wednesday – Misty Sea Day
Today was our second sea-day, and the second of my watercolour workshops; a Tonal Study. Getting a group to paint a picture using only a single colour is the best way to learn about the importance of contrasting tonal values, and an exercise that always seems to go down well. Everybody seemed pleased, and the group seems to be settling in very nicely.
The Lookout Lounge, which is where I hold the classes, is a lovely lounge, with extensive views across the bow, and to the front of the ship. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a great deal to see since leaving Portsmouth, as its been quite misty the whole way. Every now and then, the mist would lift slightly, and the horizon would come into view, but then the mist would come down again, and the view would disappear.
The only way into the Lookout Lounge is through the larger Darwin Lounge, where all the lectures take place. This shouldn’t be a problem except for when a lecture is in progress; a note was even put in the daily programme politely asking guests not to walk through the Darwin Lounge to the Lookout when a talk is on, so as not to disturb those listening to the lecture. Which is fine… except… my class was scheduled to start at 10:15am today, and a lecture was scheduled to start at 9:30, finishing at approximately 10:15… which meant people wanting to get to to the Lookout had no other option but to traipse through the Darwin Lounge to get there on time…. I had a word with the Derek, the Cruise Director, about this, and we think it might be put back to 10:30am for Friday (which would be better anyway because there’s the small matter of a solar eclipse that’s scheduled to take place between 7am and 10:15am on Friday morning… I hope it’s prompt…).
Most of my afternoon was spent working in the cabin, before joining Tracey up on deck for some fresh air later on. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been feeling too well – possibly a hint of sea-sickness – and has spent the rest of the day and evening trying to sleep it off. The sea hasn’t been particularly rough, but there has definitely been a consistent, if slight, swell, which can get to you when you’re not expecting it. We’re hoping she’ll be feeling better by the morning, as we’re due to arrive at our first port-of-call, Torshavn, in the Faroe Islands, where we’re down for tour escort duties… that’ll be an early night, then…
