THE BRIDGE, THE BOW, THE CAPTAIN AND HIS CREW

Ahoy, it's the Captain and Tennille is nowhere in sight.

Wait, that's another blog.

Our exclusive and exciting tour of the bridge on the Queen Victoria was spectacular.

Who wouldn't feel safe with Captain Christopher at the helm. No, not Christian...Christopher. Besides, Christopher is his first name, like Columbus.

We were on the Queen Victoria, not, The Bounty.

I kid, but navigating a vessel such as this Cunard beauty is serious business. Make no mistake, there is no kidding around on the bridge.

Unlike me, Gaz is an attentive tour participant and is taking it all in. See, it is because of behavior such as that he was always an honor student, and I was fortunate to make the B Honor Roll!

Well, for scholars or silly-bloggers, it was pretty fabulous up there in the lofty-regions of the Queen V.

And, even though quite tempted, I did not ask those guys at the controls if they felt like they were sitting on thrones or if the bridge reminded them of the Enterprise...you know, Star Trek.


Surprisingly, the bridge area is a rather large area. Guess I imagined it all cramped and stuffy. I was wrong.


One amazing feature was this glass portion in the floor. Peering downward, many floors below you see the churning ocean and feel slightly dizzy from the height.

Adventurer, Gaz, tested it first, then I was good to go. Not only could you see straight down to the water, the window placement allowed for absolutely clear viewing alongside the entire length of the ship.

Um, you could also see many passenger terraces. Hope they didn't forget to wear their bathrobes in the early morning hours!



It really does look like Star Trek.


For some strange reason, I could not get the song, Sail on Sailor, out of my head while prancing around the bridge watching the buttoned-down crew look for the Panama Canal. No, they weren't, they were looking for the SS Minnow. Come ON, you gotta make at least one joke about that, right?



The view from the bridge of the bow. The bow? Hm, I wonder why they call it that? See, a real scholar would have asked that question.

Although this tour is a very rare opportunity, everyone sailing with Cunard should rest easy. The Captain and his crew have it all under control. So, eat, drink and be merry.

Yes, it is far below and I hope this glass holds!!

CHEF MARKY-MARK HANDLES TALL-ORDERS AND A REALLY TALL HAT

Salud, Kids!

Lift that ladle to an extraordinary Chef, Mark.

Chef Mark, and here's hoping he can take my little joke-the Marky-Mark thing, keeps hot things hot and cold things cold as the Queen Victoria trolled along from Fort Lauderdale to Panama.

Being a huge foodie, I was enraptured by this head chef, and if you don't believe he's the top-banana, just take another look at his hat.

Yep, rank and hat size go hand-in-hand. In other words, the taller the hat, the higher the rank. Hold on, I think we should start something like that in regular life.

Kids, I'm telling you a ranking system such as this would work like a diamond-encrusted fedora in my neck of the peninsula.

I can picture it now, all over the Palm Beaches, hats of all sizes. Wow, it would make things so easy, socially speaking. Think I will run this by the new mayor.
But, let us get back to our tour of all things caviar and pudding in the shimmering stainless steel world of cooking for thousands.

It was thrilling to see the innermost workings of the food prep. Overwhelming, actually. But, not to this efficient staff. Nope, it was just another day at the fantastic smelling office.


Things in the enormous galley areas were running as smoothly as Chief Engineer Ronnie's, engine room and that is saying a lot.


Oh, don't forget to twirl the whisk at Chef Sarah. A female, one, is among their ranks and working her way up, hat-wise. Most excellent to hear!

Think I previously mentioned how I had extended an invitation to Chef Mark to come visit us in West Palm.

Hey, he lives in Florida, so why not?

I think Cheez-Whiz and Ritz would be a nice change for this guy. I mean how much caviar can one ingest?



We are coming up on the Panama Canal, so stay with me.

BEES, BRITISH-BRIAN, VIC AND TORI

Salud, Kids!

Tip your stylish hat to Brian Wilson. It had better be stylish-this man could show GQ a thing or two.

And, yes, you heard me. Brian Wilson is his name. He sings, keeps bees and much more. I had the pleasure of being seated next to Brian at our dining table in the Britannia on the Queen Victoria from Fort Lauderdale to Panama and back.

Go ahead, I know what you are thinking..."that poor, unsuspecting man."

Well, you are probably correct in that thinking, but let's get past it and just pretend he enjoyed my company and that of Gaz, one seat over.

Mo, his wonderful wife, got a break as she was seated across the table from all of us and next to the dearest man, Alfonso from Miami.

You gotta love a man that not only wears cufflinks, but BEE cufflinks. Those crazy things were, well, crazy beautiful.

Seriously, and I can be serious from time-to-time, getting to know Brian and Mo, was a genuine pleasure. Plus, being the huge Anglophile that I have always been, I got to bother them with constant questions and unasked for comments.

There is much to say about both Brian and Mo, but for today, read on as Brian has contributed some highly informative tidbits for our consideration.

He is responding to something I referenced in a prior blog...calling the Cunard ship, Queen Victoria, Queen Tori (you know, as in Spelling...just go with it).


Contributed by, Brian Wilson
United Kingdom

Victoria/Tori, etc.

#Use the words "Queen Tori" by all means - but most people in the UK would use the words "Queen Vic."

#There is a soap series in the UK called "Eastenders" - about happenings in the Eastend of London; centred around a pub (public house or bar) called the Queen Victoria and the name is shortened to the "Queen Vic."

#The phrase "Queen Vic" has been used for many years.

#In the UK girls called Victoria may use their full name, but also use the diminutive "Vicky" or "Tori."

#But, "Tori" also sounds like "Tory" - and this is another name for the Conservative Party - hence "Vicky" tends to be more widely used.

#Just to confuse matters men called "Victor" use the diminutive "Vic."

##_______________

Thanks, Brian.

Kids, couldn't you just hear his fabulous accent while reading his words?

Now, if we are very, very nice perhaps he will send along his comments (maybe he will get Mo to chime in) on croquet and how it is done across the pond or send along the shenanigans of his bad-bees (I had to call them that for dramatic effect).

Cheerio!...just indulge me, okay?

HELLO, BEAUTIFUL BONAIRE AND JEWELRY

Salud, Kids!

Tuesday and it is very warm and humid in the Palm Beaches. Rain expected later today, but who cares about that when I have beautiful Bonaire to show you. If you haven't been there, my snaps will give you a little peek. It was our first time to drop anchor and cash in this Dutch paradise.Say, good-day to the arid vista of, Bonaire. The place is as flat as the peninsula where we reside and the water is even more azure than the waves of the Atlantic crashing all over the shores of South Florida.
Zipping into this port en route to Panama was a lovely bonus.

Naturally, Gaz and I had to check it out, so we got to it with abandon. Fun!
With glee I discovered, and purchased, some gorgeous handmade jewelry. The difficult part was making my selections between all of the pieces.

I managed, but not before I had a bag full. It was a SMALL bag, so don't you dare judge me for adding even more to my jumbo-luggage situation.

It was quite warm as we explored, but we enjoyed every minute of it. Why not? Who knows when there will be another opportunity for such a treat?

Of course, there are always those who would rather rant than rave. You know the type.
At dinner that evening we heard some grumbling about this unusual spot, but it didn't come from us.

Nah, you wouldn't really call us grumblers. Wait, on Sunday evening, possibly. Yes, for sure, I am a grumbler on Sunday. However, we didn't fault this warm locale like some QV peeps.

Guess you can't please all the people all the time, huh? Makes me wonder though, what do people expect at a place such as this? Opera houses and museums?

Kids, I would simply save my money and all the bother if I couldn't open my heart and mind to what is different about the world around us. Just sayin'.


I am not the only with something to say about, Bonaire. Their license plate, shown above, says it all...Divers Paradise. The water is so clear you could see through it down to the sand and beyond. Okay, not beyond the sand, I'm getting carried away.
After shopping and hanging out, we hopped back on the Queen V and prepared ourselves for the sail-away and I wondered if I had time to hop off ship and grab a few dozen more necklaces. Hm.
Until next time...beautiful, Bonaire.

Yes, until next time!

VIRTUALLY STROLLING THE QUEEN VICTORIA

Salud, Kids! Here we are at another Monday and I am still yakking 'bout Queenie V. It is dunzo. Over. Yet, there was so much about it I want to share. So, take a virtual stroll here with me.
Stop and tip your chapeau to Mo and Brian. Remember they shared a dining table with us in the Britannia dining room and I have now labeled them our best friends. Fortunately, they can take a joke and are still communicating with us. Truly, they were super fun and we had the best time with them.
Next, join us at the Senior Officers Party. Great food, great drink and just all around fun. Too bad we had just completed dinner back at the Britannia. Still, we were honored to be invited and tried our best to look like we belonged at such a soiree. They didn't make us walk the plank, so guess it worked.
What is it about an ice sculpture that just beckons for a closer gander and reeks of grandeur? Who thought of this anyway? Take a hunk of frozen water and create a vision in ice. I can't put my finger on why we adore them so much, but I thought if I stared long enough something would come to me. It didn't, but I did appreciate the work and artistry of it.
Heck, maybe two drinks will give me insight into how random and common food is transformed into sheer elegance. Nah, only one was for me. Honest.
Getting all glam for the evening never gets tiresome to me. Remember how I told you in an earlier post that I lugged fifteen pairs of shoes on board? Evenings such as this justified not only the shoes, but the excessive wardrobe tossed into my luggage. Well, for me it was. Now, don't go and ask Gaz his opinion.
Of course, I was only going to hold those flutes so long before I tossed 'em back. Now, an action such as that could get me taken for a stroll on that plank, so I kept it classy. Honest.
Stop here and say hello to Lucia. Originally from Cuba, she and her husband of many years have resided in Miami for many years! This lady was a real, well, lady. She saved my neck when I was shopping and needed to make a hasty retreat to join Gaz on a private tour with Head-Chef, Mark. I would have missed it without her helping me get checked out, ASAP!
Naturally, my on-going shopping had Gaz looking for that plank. Either for himself or me. Think we know the answer to that.


Zipping 'round the ship the staff greets you like you are old friends.
Kids, not to be harsh, but I have never seen so many men wearing socks with sandals as I did on Queenie V. I don't get that look, but then these guys didn't ask for my opinion.

Our waltz lesson opened my eyes to not only the dance moves, but fashion footwear statements for men. Guess it must be more comfy or maybe they don't want to get a pedicure. Toenails or no, I refuse to let Gaz wear black or even white socks with his sandals. Not that he would.
The British are so polite. This sign really means, KEEP OUT you regular tarts and, whatever men tarts are called. We didn't heed this message and sashayed all over that rarefied cruising section. It was sanctioned, so no worries about that plank. First Class is just so...classy, isn't it?
Let's stop our virtual stroll here and relax.

Now, I am not finished yet. More to come on our antics to Panama.

So, stay with me!

MOPPING FEET AND PET LABOR

Salud, Kids!

Damnit and then, damn IT!

Here I have been working my fingers and toes to the bone, don't go throwing me the old squint-eye at that claim, trying to bring order to Casa-Condo-Barker when all the time I should have been wearing these things. Who knew clean up could be THIS easy?



Hold ON, I am about to be brilliant (see above squint-eye reference)I have to go...look for mop shoes for my Cavi-Girl. It is high time she earned her treats around here. Same thing goes for that kitties down in Miami.

Yep, kitty-feet-mop-mittens and dog-paw-pick-up-pads! Like those names? Quite marketable, huh?

Hm, never mind you kids, I think the mutt just tossed me a squint-eye!

Ta-ta, kiddies!!!

IN WAR AND PEACE, COOL CATS IN BED TOGETHER

Salud, Kids!
Thursday, April 7th, and the sun is shining down on another gorgeous day in West Palm.

More than the sun, these snaps of Crookshanks and Mowgli, those cool-cats down in Miami, are making me smile. Really big.

They haven't a care in the world as they tussle to be the Alpha-Kitty for the dominant position in that little bed.

Nah, they don't care that we toss out a big Happy Birthday to James Garner today. Love that man in, The Americanization of Emily, with Julie Andrews. Truly a brilliant screenplay all about the harsh reality that is war. It is not a war movie exactly. Well, you should see it if you haven't because the dialogue is timeless.

Julie Andrews is also at her very best in this film, I would like to add.



Given the world situation today, war remains a hot topic, sadly. If only the people of the world could iron out difficulties like these kitties. A little pushing and shoving, but in the end...in bed...together. The way nature intended, creatures sharing world peace.



Yes, what a wonderful world it would be!