DAY 40 - AT SEA MARCH 8, 2010

TODAY WAS A DO NOTHING DAY. GEORGIA WENT TO A TALK ON OPALS AND I WORKED ON THE BLOG. WE HAD A BIG LATE LUNCH AND SKIPPED DINNER IN THE DINING HALL. BILL HYDE WAS THE ONLY ONE AT THE DINNER TABLE.

OUR COURSE TO PICTON WAS ALTERED BY THE CAPTAIN WHEN WE LEFT AUCKLAND YESTERDAY. TO AVOID ANOTHER ROUGH DAY AT SEA HE HEADED NORTH AND AROUND THE BAY OF ISLANDS AND THEN PROCEEDED DOWN THE WEST COAST OF NEW ZEALAND. THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO CONTINUE SOUTH, ONLY 250 MILE, AT A MODERATE PACE TO PICTON FOR ARRIVAL AT 7:00 TOMORROW MORNING. WE TRAVELED MUCH FASTER ON THE NEW COURSE BUT STILL DOCKED AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. WE REALLY NEEDED SOME SMOOTH WATER FOR A CHANGE.

WE DID MANAGE TO MAKE THE EVENING SHOW. THE SINGER. BOBBY BROOKES HAMILTON, SANG SONGS FROM THE 50’S AND 60’S. HIS CLOSING NUMBERS WERE A TRIBUTE TO JACKIE WILSON, A 50’S GUY. TURNS OUT JACKIE WILSON WAS HIS FATHER. HE DID REAL GOOD WITH AFEW PLATTER, TEMPTATION, STEVE WONDER AND SAMMY DAVIS TUNES.

AS HAS BEEN THE CUSTOM OF MANY OF THE ENTERTAINERS, THEY FIND A WAY TO SHAKE HANDS WITH PEOPLE IN THE FRONT ROW DURING ONE OF THE NUMBERS. SO IT WAS TODAY, AND GUESS WHO IS SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW, IT WAS GOOD OLD IRRITATING BOB, THE GUY WHO COULDN’T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT THE OTHER NIGHT WITH THE COMEDIAN. WELL, BOB, WITHOUT TO MUCH EFFORT WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN ASS OF HIMSELF AGAIN TONIGHT WHEN HE REFUSED TO SHAKE HANDS WITH BOBBY BROOKES HAMILTON. TWO SONGS LATER BOB GOT UP AND EXITED THE LOUNGE. I THINK HE HAS A THING AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE...BUT THEN AGAIN HE HAS THE PERSONALITY OF A LEMON SCENTED FART.

TOMORROW PROMISES TO BE A BUSY DAY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN PORT UNTIL 5:00. WE HIT THE SACK A LITTLE LATE FOR AS EARLY AS WE NEEDED TO GET UP.