It's Tuesday....

       We had a great Monday afternoon after lunch in the Golden Lion  English Pub where we listened to excellent piano playing of showtunes from "My Fair Lady" and other shows of that era.  I ate a steak and mushroom pie while Sharon had a ploughman's lunch.  Since Cokes cost $ 3.05 each, I've had to limit my consumption to one per day.   Then, we played Monopoly using cards with the Canadian couple Jules and Monica.  We also taught them the card game Manipulation.
       Later we attended the movie "Warhorse" in the Illuminations theater.  It was a really outstanding movie that we would recommend to anyone.  We followed that for dressing up a bit for a "semiformal night" in the Brittainia Restaurant where we once again shared the table with Peter and Trudy, an English couple from Manchester.  Our dinner conversation was very stimulating including a discussion of the English health care system.  My dinner selection was pork medallions wrapped in bacon; Sharon had a huge serving of English roast beef with Yorkshire pudding.  Of course, every dinner comes with choices of appetizers, salads, and desserts in addition to main courses.  All are served by multiple waiters and waitresses.
 
   

Here we are playing cards in the board room on the ninth deck.  This room is used for special meetings like for the Masons or weddings.  We captured the room while it was empty.  It was nicely furnished and had very deep carpeting.

We were in the Queen's room here to meet with Captain Christopher Wells.

There were art posters displayed around the
hallways.  This one is not quite so artistic.

Another example.  Some of these are classic ones from early 20th century.







The hallways were very long - over 1,000 feet from bow to stern.

This is Sharon (OK, you knew that)
here on our balcony just after we had gone to our cabin.  There was an extra hour and a half delay before we left port due to service on a lifeboat.

We didn't have to dress up for breakfast in the main restaurant.  Here I
am enjoying an omelet and a pot of hot chocolate.

Daily life on QM2

              In the afternoon yesterday, we played Mexican train dominos with Jim and Cheryl and the Canadian couple Jules and Monica.  Sharon was the grand winner.  For dinner, we ate at the Kings Court Buffet rather than dressing up for the Brittainia Restaurant.  We were then able to eat earlier and then attend a program in the Royal Court Theater.  The program was a lively group of singers/dancers in a high energy production of show tunes - not some of the best known ones but snappier ones like "Hit the Road, Jack" and others like that.  We were able ti get to bed earlier than when we had to wait for our 8:30 PM seating in the main restaurant.

       Today, we did have another elegant breakfast in the Brittainia and shared a large table with a man from Denmark, an American lady who had married a Brit (with her husband), a couple from Iowa who had ridden the boat both ways to visit a son in Scotland, and a real estate lady from New Jersey on her ninth QM2 trip.  We had a lively, interesting conversation.

      Tonight is a semi-formal night with coat and tie required but not a tux or long dress.  The movie "Warhorse" will be available late afternoon.
      Fred is shown here with Trudy,
our English tablemate.  You saw her husband Peter pictured with Sharon on an earlier post.   We really enjoyed visiting with them at our dinners in the Brittainia Restaurant.

                                                                                                                Jim and Cheryl enjoy their fine dinner.

Jules and Monica, our Canadian friends who just love Mexican train dominos.













      The Commodore Club on the ninth deck was a quiet spot not used by many travelers.                                                                      
                                                                                             

These ladies sang and played classical music at a concert
which Sharon attended.  Fred stayed in the cabin to work on his blog -
a very time consuming action due to slow internet.

Sunday on Queen Mary

     We'll try writing a description first and posting pictures later.  Last night, we had our first formal dinner with tux and long gown.  Our dinners have been really elegant and the wait staff totally attentive to our every want.  We are seated at a table for six but only four of us have shown up at mealtime so far.  As you will see, Sharon has made a new friend on this voyage.
      Before the dinner, we attended the captain's cocktail party.  After our 8:30 PM dinner, we went to a
show featuring Gary Williams.  He says he has been on many TV shows and given performances with noted people, but we had never heard of him before this.  He did Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis songs.  He was pretty good.  Fortunately, we get one additional hour of sleep each night due to adjusting clocks each day.  So, since it was almost midnight by the time we returned to our cabin,  we were able to get a full night's sleep.  The ship is pretty smooth, so sleep is good.  It only seems unsteady sometimes when we are standing in one place.
       Our Sunday began with an elegant breakfast in the Brittainia Restaurant with white table cloths and white coated wait staff alert to our every wish.  This attention could be habit forming, but I'm actually used to being waited upon.......................   Following breakfast, we attended a church service in the Royal Court Theater (very plush) and then 30 minutes later attended a lecture/performance by David Frost of American and British TV fame.  Then, it was back to the Brittainia for lunch with the Carltons and a Canadian couple.  Now, Sharon is off to a classical music concert with the Canadians.  Monica, the lady Canadian, is an opera singer who has been touring Italy.  We will join up at 3:00 PM to play cards and dominos in the lounge.                                                
                                                                                                     

Is this the butler or a waiter?

Glamorous Sharon has a new friend at our Saturday night dinner........

Gary Williams is the performer at the 10:45 PM concert.
He sang songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin,
and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Jim and Cheryl Carlton look stunning!

We attended a lecture given by David Frost of TV fame.  He
gave several lectures during the voyage.

A scene taken from a glass elevator in the center atrium of the ship.

After attending Sunday service in the theater, we took a short walk on the deck.
The service was led by the captain.  The words of some songs were familiar,
but the tunes were different.  "How Great Thou Art" used same tune
and was sung with gusto.

Another view of Gary Williams at his concert.  He was very good.

Sharon poses in our cabin before we go out to our 8;30 PM
sitting for dinner.  This is way later than our usual time to dine.

The Queen at sea

  I am having some trouble with getting the script aligned with the pictures, and it is costing 40 cents per minute to use the computer, plus the pictures won't download as before, plus this internet connection is as slow as molasses, so I may have limited pictures to post.  Sorry.  I'm very frustrated!!!

Sharon doesn't look frustrated at all!

Fred sits in our cabin.  There is a balcony behind those drapes.

Sunset on the ocean.  A smaller boat is following.

The lower level of the Brittainia featured this huge painting
of its launching.

Cruising before sundown on the open sea.

Who is this glamorous movie star?

On the Queen Mary at last.....

After we left Margaret, we drove to Southampton where
we had considerable difficulty in locating a gas
station and the Alamo/Europcar rental office.
We were dismayed to learn that had no shuttle to
the harbor.  A young British fellow told us it was only
a 10 minute walk, but Brits say that for walks of
5 to 10 miles.  So, we dropped Sharon and Cheryl at
the dock and returned 1.6 miles to Alamo.
There, we were able to share a cab with
an American couple.  

Cheryl and Margaret say goodbye as we
leave her house in South Wonston, a village by
Winchester.

The view from the top deck looking over the stern.

Once we were aboard, we soon headed for the buffet area for drinks.

At last we are aboard!

      I am having some trouble with getting the script aligned with the pictures, and it is costing 40 cents per minute to use the computer, plus the pictures won't download as before, plus this internet connection is as slow as molasses, so I may have limited pictures to post and their order

is all messed up.  Sorry!  This is very frustrating!

The hallway outside our cabin is very narrow and very long.

Fresh flowers were on display every day/

This hot tub and nearby pool were in a covered area so fun
 need not be interrupted by bad weather.

This is one of the hot tubs on board.  There were also several pools.

We went to a garden party.....

            After spending a quiet afternoon relaxing at Margaret's house, we went with her garden club this evening on a tour of an estate at Itchen Abbas, a small village on the River Itchen.  Our hosts Mark and Jackie Porter have created magnificent gardens on seven acres of their land.  Mark also grows grapes and makes his own wine which he served with cake and other sweets in his separate tea room building.  Sharon's pictures will tell the rest of the story.