Saturday, April 12, 2014

Miniature Entry: Life at Sea

hemispheres

At present I am aboard the Cunard liner Queen Victoria, sailing from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal.

If you've been reading for a long time you know I love Cunard ships, past and present. I am supposed to be having (on doctor's orders) a complete rest from work but of course you know I wasn’t going to climb aboard without any knitting.

So I've taken to doing a little in the Winter Garden, in the mornings. As you would expect, it's a surefire conversation starter. The passengers are in the main fairly elderly. I wouldn't be surprised if a few of them knew Queen Victoria personally. When she was a little girl. I couldn't be happier–this is my crowd. We tend to like the same music and the same movies.

I was clicking away a few mornings ago as we headed for Costa Rica and a flurry of tropical print hove into view. The person in the print stopped, then dropped into the next chair. She was English, ambiguously eighty-ish, artfully preserved.

"That," she said, pointing at my knitting, "is very impressive work. My father was a knitter, so I know."

Whereupon we started chatting.

She is doing the World Cruise, Southampton to Southampton. This is something like her forty-fourth Cunard voyage. (The brand breeds loyalty.)

"Of course my favorite is and forever shall be the QE2," she said. "They'll never build another like her."

I nodded. I never sailed in her, mind you. I only saw her, once, back when I was on the Minerva II and she docked beside us in Malta. I remember that seeing C-U-N-A-R-D on the side of ship for the first time gave me chills.

"But may I say something? I'm going to say something."

She leant toward me and through her dark round sunglasses I could feel her glare. "You young* people," she said firmly, "have absolutely no stamina and no idea how to have a good time. No. Idea."

I raised my eyebrows.

She pointed towards the windows above us, which belong to Hemispheres–the ship's disco. "They will close that bar tonight at one o'clock and you will all go to sleep. Ridiculous. Ridiculous! On the QE2 we never dreamt of bed before sunrise. A party every night. Until sunrise. We knew how to have a good time. You young people, I don't know what's wrong with you."

"Well," I said, "the seventies were different, weren’t they? All that cocaine would keep anybody awake."

This time her eyebrows went up. She leant even closer.

"You'd better believe it, kid," she whispered. "You'd better believe it."

 *Yes, on this ship I'm young. I'm quite possibly the youngest person aboard not scrubbing pots or being looked after by the Cunard nannies.

Note: The lady in the photograph is not the lady in the story. She's another lady, with whom I danced rather madly one evening.

66 comments:

Lou said...

Sigh. I dream of the life you live.

Barb Matijevich said...

Love this so much. Thank you for posting it--it is perfect. Now get some rest!

Allison Mosley said...

Brilliant! Happy sailing and knitting!

Blonde said...

I want to be like her when I grow up! ;-)

Anonymous said...

What a delightful post. Glad that you met such a marvelous person and shared her with us. - Joe-in Wyoming

Ms. B said...

Love it! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

What a stunning photo! I can't stop looking at it. But then I think, can she really walk in those heels? Did she dance with you in them?

RubyC said...

I hope you are relaxed and taking it easy. And like someone said, I want to be like her when I grow up. I would like to be like you when I grow up. Please take the time to de-stress and enjoy some recoup time. We love you, but want you to be healthy and take care of yourself first and foremost.

RubyC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kmkat said...

What a great story!

Adrienne Martini said...

I kinda love this.

Kelly H. said...

Please do share more miniature entries of your life at sea!! What a wonderful tale you've told!

Kate said...

I love reading about your cruising, waiting for the next post.

Idiosyncratic Eye said...

Ah, the people one meets ... and the stories they have to tell. :)

Pam Sykes (aka Pretty Knitty) said...

I love your miniature entries. And I hope you are getting the rest you need. :)

Anonymous said...

Pls don't tell us you took a cruise and managed to get on without Dolores and Harry!!!

Lee in iowa

Anonymous said...

That. Is. Awesome.

Enjoy!

poodletail said...

That's it. "The Greatest Story Ever Told". Thx, Franklin.

Anonymous said...

Take care of yourself and feel better soon. We need you.

janetcc said...

like

Anonymous said...

I don't know if there could be anything to top that story, with that picture, but keep the stories coming, Franklin. You do have the best encounters.
-- stashdragon

Emily (MLE) said...

More! More!

You brighten my life.

Beth V. said...

I have never been on a cruise, never wanted to go, really. But you are making me change my mind. Bon Voyage!

Anonymous said...

So sorry to read that you have not been well, but what a great way to put the zing back in your step. What a great itinerary! With knitting! More cruising posts please
Liz

Sandy said...

Dear Franklin, I do love you! From one old soul to another I would fit right in with you and the elderlies! I am forever the youngest (at 48) in knitting clubs, quilting clubs and church gatherings. And I love being around all the old broads with their knowledge and stories and no nonsense ways!

I hope you are feeling better soon (doctor's orders indeed!) and that you have no need to return to the doctor for a follow up. Rest, knit, and dance wildly. It sounds like a brilliant cure all.

Stephanie said...

Sounds like you are having a lot of fun! At 30, we were definitely "young" for a Princess cruise out of Rome that traveled to Egypt, Turkey, and Greece, but a moving hotel is a great idea. (sjn821 on Rav)

soxanne said...

Wow. Have you seen the movie, "The Great Beauty"? I think you just met someone from that movie.

Linda said...

More news, more cruise snippets (hear my glass banging on the bar?)!

Mary Jane said...

I love the photo. She is just as i imagine Dolores would be if Dolores were human. I love how her collar shape mirrors the shape of the chair.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Have you already passed through the canal?
I´m a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama and I currently live quite close to the canal. Perhaps I can wave to you as you pass through the locks in Panama city. :)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kat Knits said...

Ooo, I love, love, LOVE her heels! Probably wouldn't be able to wear them (twisted ankle from several years ago that likes acting up), but damn! Love.

Nancy said...

you are so good.

Nicky said...

Im jealous ! hat a fantastic time you must be having.Pls show us what you are knitting on this wonderful cruise.

Anonymous said...

What a really, really cool story - thank you!
(Hmmm...I wonder if you have any more Cunard stories?)

Lindawd said...

Franklin - Reading your stories make my heart happy!
But please rest, relax and take it easy.

Kathleen Lawton-Trask said...

I sailed on the QE2 once, the last summer she did the transatlantic voyage. We went NYC --> Southampton and met many, many doing the world cruise. Like you, I get along with that generation. It was a fabulous time.

Sharon in Surrey said...

Sounds like you're having a blast!! Knitting & old Broads! My kind of holiday. Mind you don't hurt yourself trying to keep up now . . . .

Anonymous said...

Everyone has a story. Thanks for sharing this one, and I can't wait for the next... Do take care, and enjoy.
jill in Ontario

K-Mac said...

Are you ABSOLUTELY sure that you and David Blomenberg were not separated at conception? (This is a great compliment to you both, should you not be aware.)
-Ken McCamish

suntik putih said...

cool sir

Sean Passean said...

I love that you dropped the coke comment on her...most of us whippersnappers would just be "respectful" hahahahaha
What a great story :)

Anonymous said...

This is, without any shadow of a doubt, the GREATEST blog entry I have ever seen. :)

Obat Alami Meningkatkan Kecerdasan Otak Anak said...

Matahari boleh-boleh saja berhenti bersinar, tukang bapaw bisa saja berhenti berjualan, tapi tidak dengan cintaku padamu.

Rosie said...

It's like you are living in Doctor Who...

obat herbal kanker hati said...

pengobatan herbal alami untuk mengatasi berbagai macam penyakit tanpa efek samping

Obat Herbal Tulang Keropos Ampuh Obat Herbal Kanker Kandung Kemih Obat Herbal Amandel Kronis Obat Herbal Vertigo Akut Obat Herbal Glaukoma Tanpa Operasi Obat Herbal Disentri Obat Herbal Varises Obat Herbal Kanker Usus Halus Obat Herbal Alzheimer Ampuh Obat Herbal Epilepsi Obat Herbal Sipilis Obat Herbal Pasca Stroke Obat Herbal Kanker Hati Obat Herbal Meningitis Obat Herbal Untuk Penyakit Faringitis Suplemen Pemutih Wajah Obat Herbal Bopeng

World Goverment said...

Obat sipilis
Obat kutil kelamin
Cara mengobati wasir stadium 4 tanpa perlu operasi
Obat wasir untuk ibu hamil dan menyusui
Obat Wasir Bentuk Peluru
Obat Wasir Boraginol
Obat Wasir Bagus
Obat Wasir Bagi Ibu Menyusui
Obat Wasir Bawang Putih
Obat Wasir Bandung
Obat Sipilis herbal untuk pria Yang Bisa Di Beli Di Apotik
Obat Sipilis Di Balikpapan
Obat Sipilis Yg Bisa Dibeli Di Apotik
Obat Sipilis Paling Bagus
Jual Obat Sipilis Bandung
Obat Sipilis Yang Bisa Di Beli Di Apotek
Obat Sipilis Di Banjarmasin
Obat Sipilis Yg Bagus
cara mengatasi kencing nanah pada wanita
contoh obat tradisional kencing nanah
cara mengobati kencing nanah tanpa obat
obat cefixime untuk kencing nanah
obat kencing nanah di apotik kimia farma
obat kencing nanah dari tumbuhan

obat herbal benjolan di ketiak ampuh said...

pengobatan untuk benjolan di ketiak secara alami
Obat Herbal Benjolan Di Ketiak Ampuh

fnaf3 said...

Very great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts
----
five nights at freddy's | fnaf 3 | five nights at freddy's game

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this. I wish it was able to be translated, but for some reason Google toolbar isn't working. I copy pasted it into essay writer
another application and read the post. 

Obiuser said...

very interesting information, I really like it because it can add insight for me more broadly, thank you very much for this
extraordinary information
agen resmi qnc jelly gamat pangkal pinang bangka belitung, cara menghilangkan benjolan di kelopak mata atas (kalazion), obat uci-uci tradisional

Sharon Wood said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
cheap essays online said...

Thank you for these posts and links, I will definitely look at your site.

seralabs cbd oil said...

Keto fit proabout. bodyweight in just eleven days! The best point about this diet strategy strategy system is that you do not have to buy pre-packaged meals that are sold in stores. You will only have to eat clean vegetables and fruits and clean vegetables daily. A very common mistake that people create is that they tend to if you wish to lessen nine protein. tip to think
https://newsletterforhealth.com/keto-fit-pro/

do my homework for me said...

I really liked your article and the photo is super. Thanks you.

keto max shred said...

k shred thinner, substantial and long-term changes to what you eat strategy strategy are needed. Fat and calories can be controlled by starting to lessen serving sizes, which immediately offers a pain-free way to limit the calories eaten on a consistent base. Adding more nutritious and low vitamin clean vegetables
https://newsletterforhealth.com/k-shred/

seralabs cbd oil said...

slim quick keto
route to spend the lowest volume of the store and keep you away from those tempting meals. Third the way to get rid of fat is to observe and observe weight-loss progress through a journal. This is one the way to observe your progress and keeping weight-loss motivation. You should start your journal by
https://newsletterforhealth.com/slim-quick-keto

xinh said...

iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet
iphongthuynet

المثالي سوبر جديد said...

شركة المراكز الاولي للخدمات المنزلية


شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام



بنقدملك كل ماهو جديد في عالم اليوتيوب واحدث الفيديوهات العالمية من خلال فريق العمل
قناة لمتنا الحلوة مع شيماء وشيرين



Jacke don said...


satta free results paid results satta game matka game mumbai main kalyan results gali dishwar delhi game ratan khatri kalyan chart milan chart old satta chart top guess matka links live satta results matka number satta king apps satta software satta chart satta news

satta king
Satta

boy said...

This is my blog. Click here.
สูตรบาคาร่าออนไลน์ สูตรไหนดีทำเงินได้จริง
Support me
iphonemodxx2

หวยเด็ดหวยดัง said...

I will be looking forward to your next post. Thank you

Horoscope
Huay Ded
Dara
Update News

มโน เอาเอง said...


ข่าวฟุตบอล/ผลบอล
ไลฟ์สกอร์ข่าวฟุตบอล
ติดตามข่าวแมานฯยู
ข่าวแมนยู
อัพเดทข่าวกีฬา
ข่าวกีฬา
ข่าวฟุตบอล/ทีเด็ด
ทีเด็ดฟุตบอล

thank you

Lillian J. Turner said...

Nice Blog. Thanks for sharing with us. Such amazing information.

Tips for Earning Money from Online Platforms

MyBlogger Club

Guest Posting Site

Best Guest Blogging Site

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogging Site

casinocommunity said...

Your article has answered the question I was wondering about! I would like to write a thesis on this subject, but I would like you to give your opinion once :D casinocommunity