Heading East Day Five – Surprise Drill and Regatta

This morning, after breakfast, heading back towards the cabin, we were a little worried. One thing we often do is to stop off at Peter (The Wood) Counsell’s class and say good morning. We’ll just chat about any gossip or just check how sessions are going, and generally pass the time of day for a few minutes before continuing on our way.

This morning, however, there was no sign of Peter or Jean, and the tables hadn’t been set up for his class. This set us wondering if everything was okay, so we stopped off at the entertainments office to enquire after him – but nobody was there.

No worries; we figured we’d catch up with him later in the day, and continued on towards our cabin.

As we approached out cabin on Deck 4, some people walked past us in the opposite direction carrying their life jackets, and I asked them, jokingly, if there was something we should know about…

As it turns out… there was.

It turns out that a lifeboat drill for all the passengers was scheduled for this morning. Had Tracey or I taken the time to read our daily program (which I usually do, but it seems on this occasion that I apparently hadn’t – not properly, at least), we would have known about it.

Lifeboat drills are compulsory on all cruise ships, and must take place on the first day, after embarkation, before the ship has travelled anywhere. Generally speaking, once that drill has taken place, it doesn’t happen again. Having done this trip six times before, and having only ever had to attend one drill at the start of any cruise, this came as a bit of a surprise, to say the least.

It turns out that there has been some sort of change in the regulations, for cruises over a certain length. This one is six weeks long, so it warranted a top-up drill. The captain thanked everyone for their patience in having to repeat the drill… one couldn’t help feeling that even the captain could have done without the disruption…

So, Peter Counsell lost a class because of the surprise drill.

Unfortunately, there was also a knock-on effect for my classes. Because of the drill, a popular event was rescheduled for 4pm; right in the middle of my second class. I was already up against a photography lecture by Ian, who has also been very popular, but the Regatta (which I would like to have seen) made a real dent in my attendance.

Over the past few weeks, people have been building boats of all shapes and sizes, from anything they can get their hands on. On one occasion, when we were in the pub, someone asked me if they could have my empty beer can. When I asked what they needed it for, they simply said that needed to build a boat.

What an excellent idea it was. I would love to have seen it, but I was otherwise engaged with my class. Prior to the ‘Regatta’, we’d seen folks wandering around carrying some of the most amazing contraptions, and some fine ‘ships’ that actually looked like ships.

During Morgan-lee James’ show this evening, certificates were handed out by Tony the Cruise Director, and a few remaining ships that managed to remain afloat and not sink were on show. What an excellent idea indeed… it’s just a shame the timing couldn’t have been different…