On board

Another irrelevant lecture about explorers and pirates. One of the lunch-time options, to take place at about the same time as the equator is re-crossed - is the British pub lunch. TSH and Diva heard the rehearsal – none of the singers seemed to have heard most of the songs before and they were often flat. ‘I’m getting married in the morning’, ‘Pack up your troubles’, ‘Knees up mother Brown’ and ‘Oompahpah’ (is that how you spell it?) from ‘Oliver’. Has anybody British ever been to a pub where this happens? And how old do they think we are? We are the ‘We want it all and we want it now’ generation. But they are trying hard to appeal to the Brits.

One intriguing thing is happening on board. There is a boat building competition. Now Diva, being a born and bred Lancashire lass, keeps thinking of Sam, supplier of wood to Noah, who ‘not liking the look of the weather, was thinking of building an Ark’ (http://monologues.co.uk/3Hapence.shtml). So do they know something we don’t? Do we need new lifeboats? Are there enough life boats? Due to lack of interest, the judging never took place.

It turns out that back at Devil’s Island, one woman refused help transferring between ship and tender, fell down the gap and was injured, requiring a helicopter transfer.

The lecture on Wednesday was on Tristan da Cunha, which continues the madness of inappropriateness.  The lecturer has a CV which seemed over-egged to the point of disbelief. A US naval captain, author of a book about the polar regions, several university degrees, explorer leader etc etc etc.