Celtic Cool

In Belfast, TSH and Diva went into the city on the shuttle bus and had a short walk around the shopping area. In the evening, a local group of musicians and dancers entertained the US guests, whilst being vey lukewarm in their welcome to the English. Maybe times have not changed as much as everybody hoped. Dinner was taken in the outdoor (but covered and heated) pizza restaurant. The pizzas were excellent as usual but TSH and Diva had under-estimated quite how cold and windy it was and they were glad to be back indoors. Non-UK guests are divided. Some think that British summers are always like this and others are totally shocked at the cold and wet. The seas remain smooth.

Silversea IT systems are as bad as ever. TSH and Diva always check the TV in their suite for any messages about dinner reservations etc. So far, there had been none. Until 17 messages, some of them days old, all appeared at once.

TSH and Diva received a letter from the hotel Director in response to their mid-cruise questionnaire. It was both apologetic and constructive, so full marks to him for that one.

There was never any plan to go ashore in Greenock and the grey drizzly weather confirmed this as the right choice. Tai Chi ‘under the life boats’ was going well until Diva spotted a pair of dolphins. By the time TSH had prepared his camera and the dolphins had vanished, they had both lost their place in the sequence and the session was abandoned.

 

The crew make a run for it

In Falmouth, TSH and Diva made it to the beach and promenade area and took a good look at the Brend hotel for future reference. This is their favourite UK hotel chain – like a cruise on land – but they have not stayed at the Falmouth one yet.

The days on the ship have been filled with Tai Chi, development of TSH’s steam engine website and Diva’s work on her astronomy course. She has already upset the course director by asking too many questions (she made constructive suggestions about how to improve the presentation of the maths) and has been told to spend some time improving her maths and IT skills. For those readers who are not aware, Diva has a BSc in Mathematics and had a long career in IT. War has been declared.

The prettiest view of Fishguard is from the ship, so TSH and Diva remained on board to enjoy it. However, some of the crew, who have not been allowed off the Silver Spirit for months, were treated to a short excursion to climb a hill and look down at the sea and the ship. As one put it: ‘We were so happy to breathe fresh air’. They have access to very little outside space. One of the older waiters (25 years with Silversea) at dinner was complaining about aching legs from the climb.

The spectacular sail-in to Greenock was enhanced by the lone piper at the quayside – a feature of most of the Scottish ports so far. Someone from the US asked where the pipers were – he could not believe that so much noise came from one person and one instrument.

On their 20^th wedding anniversary, Diva and TSH had pink champagne, a chocolate cake and a lot of fuss from the waiters.