Saturday, February 18. More bits and pieces.

Hot. A day at sea on the way to Recife, Brazil.

Water temperature 82 F, air temperature 84 F.

Day 46 of 67.  Three weeks till home.

- We watched VP Spence speak to the EU this morning. He actually mentioned the word CANADA in his talk to them in regards to bolstering NATO forces in Europe to counter the Russian presence in the Ukraine. 

Maybe finally Canada will start paying its share, as agreed upon, in spending on defence. Since WWII, the government has done nothing but cut, cut, cut defence spending. Now Trumpy Dumpy is insisting that those laggard countries pay their fair share of the load. We have been hiding behind the USA for too long.

- Health issues. When we boarded the ship almost seven weeks ago I could hardly walk up the stairs to the cabin, I had skin rashes, restless foot syndrome, my GERD had reappeared and so had my mild case of psoriasis. 

I have gradually eliminated medications and some of my supplements because I felt that I was getting inter reactions on pills. Now my rashes have gone and so has my restless feet and the GERD issue. I still have the Psoriasis but that takes a few months to come, as a result of the stress I was under the last nine months and will take that long to subside. All good news to me.

Fellette is, as usual, doing just fine except once in a while when sitting in a certain position her hip is an issue until she works it out.

All four of us have had 'the cold' that seems to hang around like a bad smell.

Mary. Mary is a 90 year old widow that we met and had dinner with the other night. This is her first long cruise and after we get to Fort Lauderdale in three weeks she is staying on for another 54 day trip to the Mediterranean and back to Fort Lauderdale. She lives in the San Francisco area where they ran a bookstore, her husband died some seven years ago. 

She has had most of her friends die off in that time. She has three daughters all in their late sixties with grandchildren and great grandchildren. She obviously lives alone and uses a walker on the ship for fear of falling. Mary figures that she has enough money to 'last' 10 years. 

The spirit of the lady is an inspiration to us, full of life and accepting of her lot with life and she laughs a lot. Her best line last night was that she has the smallest cabin in the ship, [a single only cabin], but she said it was great because whenever she falls, she falls on the bed!

- N.I.C. Nic is an acronym for 'Nothing in Common' that Fellette and I have created. A Nic is a person or persons travelling on the ship whom we have absolutely nothing in common with other than we are elderly and on the ship!

Once in a while we are at a table or have a brief conversation with a Nic, after which we both come to the conclusion that it is better to avoid them rather than endure another such encounter.

On the other hand there are many, many people, and couples, that we seem to have more in common and enjoy the conversations together and who we will seek out for some more pleasurable moments.

Then there are those that we get along with but really don't push the issue of socializing with beyond polite pleasantries because it's not too stimulating. 

This is true at home as well, and likely for anybody reading this. Do you socialize with people at home who, in reality, live in a different world than you do? On a ship, you learn by trial and error while at home, you have already learned who you want to go out to dinner with. Get it?

I believe that most people subconsciously categorize people but they are not stupid enough to write it down and put it in a blog. Not that anybody other than my beloved faithful few are reading this thing.

- The Captain. The captain is a young very tall Dutchman who has his girlfriend, a slim very attractive Asian lady living with him on board. He is very pleasant, good looking and  friendly. One morning when we were having our light breakfast in the little Neptune Lounge that they have for the use of for 'suite people', [thats us?], we were chatting with the female attendant in a small dining area and the captain poked his head around the corner from the food preparation area and said "Your toast is ready" 

Such is life on a friendly ship, and it starts at the top.

Last night was Philippine and Indonesian food night in the Lido restaurant. Here is the suckling pig before he was consumed with great gusto.

Two Indonesian wait-staff and Fellette in her very colourful newly purchased Brazilian shirt.

I am going to miss the fresh fruit, [grapes especially], each day in our cabin.



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