The one where the focus stopped

 It was to be the first night away from home since the return from being transported to Australia. The Focus was out of the garage and packed with all the luggage and many face masks and gloves. The house was secured and Diva sat hopefully in the passenger seat whilst TSH started the engine. Nothing but an error message. Repeat. Repeat. 

So Diva rang the AA. 15 minutes for them to answer the phone but then an engineer appeared within the hour and within another hour had been away to acquire the correct battery and had fitted it. They were both very grateful that this happened at home and not by the roadside. But they never made the booked Bents breakfast. 

The journey was hot and uncomfortable with many stretches of slow traffic. But the Victoria at Sidmouth was as clean and welcoming as ever. The young man who helped with the luggage asked if they had visited before. Diva said it was a few years ago and he said ruefully 'Nothing has changed'. 'Isn't that the whole point?' replied Diva. A passing guest remarked on the large volume of luggage (light for TSH and Diva). 'We are just here for dinner' replied TSH.

Dinner was excellent and wine on the balcony with the sea view rounded off the day. 

Without let or hindrance?

The Silver Spirit continues to sail into the Southern Hemisphere - the equator has now been crossed. Diva has worked out that the distance from Singapore to Darwen is almost the same as the distance from Singapore to London, where they would be obliged to take in British citizens eventually. The last lot of Britons taken to Australia against their will were left there forever.

It seems likely that there will be a quarantine period of at least a few days in Darwen. Hopefully on the Silver Spirit. Qatar airways have announced that some flights are cancelled - can the others be far behind? So it is unclear how TSH and Diva will be able to return to self-isolation in the UK.

The daily entertainment on the ship consists of a demonstration of towel folding, a Ceremony for Crossing the Equator which TSH and Diva did not want to cross and a demonstration of Australian cooking just to rub it in.

TSH and Diva attended a class on pizza making which is something that TSH is interested in. He learnt that he does not need to use strong flour, should use semolina flour when stretching the dough and it is best to prove the dough in the fridge.

Last night's meal in Indochine was excellent but there is no longer any salad and the display of fresh fruit at breakfast was tragic by Silversea standards. No-one is starving and levels of alcoholism are increasing steadily. Fortunately the 'Friends of Bill W' meet every day.

The crew on Silver Spirit are very uncertain about their future but are still being extremely professional in the way they are looking after the guests.

What next?

There are times in the day when the Captain makes routine announcements. Any announcement at another time is either bad news or grist for the mill of uncertainty. 14:50 is not a routine time.

14:50 - Captain announced that the Australian Government has just banned all cruise ships. There are, however 'special arrangements' for ships already en route there. This is the situation for the Silver Spirit. The guests are assured that the senior executive who failed to influence the Philippine authorities is currently abandoning the flesh-pots of Sydney and making his way to Darwen.

'Special arrangements' might mean quarantine. The hope is that this will be on the ship, that the 12 days for which there has been no contact with the outside world will count and that there will be a delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Plenty of food, but nothing much fresh.

Activity on pool deck to keep guests happy - 'Building a Boat'. Could be useful for the breakout party. One guest has declared his favourite film to be 'Titanic'.

Pizza-making tuition later.

Day 15 on the Silver Spirit

Since Singapore, there has been one scheduled port, three unexpected ports and the rest of the time either at sea or docked with nowhere to go. The cruise director has scheduled bingo and a guest talent show. There were no berries at breakfast and grilled tomatoes were by special request only. Even if Australia will not let the Silver Spirit disembark, everyone is hoping that they will allow to refuel and restock. The shore concierge informed TSH and Diva that flights have been obtained for March 18th, the expected day of arrival in Darwin.

No flight details yet, but the best option Diva found online was 2 stops, 18 hours flying and 24 hours elapsed. Not a good prospect!!

Seas have been calm throughout but some days the wind has been so strong that Tai Chi has been done on deck 5 under the lifeboats, instead of on deck 10.

Flying fish and a juvenile gannet have been sighted but no whales, dolphins or sharks yet. The navigation is not straight because there are many wrecks and reefs to be avoided. A point of interest is that somewhere in this region is the Darwin line, which marks the evolutionary difference between the fauna of SE Asia and that of Australasia. The Silver Spirit must pass it at some point.

Minor panic in the suite when a contact lens slipped out of TSH's grasp but a torch and a finger-tip search eventually located it. He does have a spare set.

Kidnapped

The flights back from Manila were confirmed and TSH had chosen the seats. 17 hours flying instead of the planned 4 or 5 from Athens. Diva had written to the car service for the Manchester airport pick-up.

When the captain's voice was heard at 9:30, it was inevitably going to be more bad news. And indeed it was. Manila is closed and the Silver Spirit is heading for Darwin, Australia. Into the southern hemisphere and further away from Athens, Europe and home. This will involve another 4 days at sea.

There is more than enough fuel for the ship and champagne for the guests. But the Silver Spirit has exhausted its vegetable garden and fresh food will be in short supply. No strawberries, raspberries or blackberries at breakfast.

The Australians - and there are many on this cruise because they were offered cheap deals to fill the ship - are delighted. The European guests are not happy. Diva is in melt-down.

The upside is that this is a luxury ship and TSH and Diva have brought their work and their electronic entertainment. Many guests, with no resources of any kind, are very bored. And this might be the safest place in the world to avoid the virus. Everybody had their temperatures taken again and there is no suggestion that anybody is ill.