January 7th.

Last evening’s Ball, which followed our exceptional dining experience in the Queens Grill, was most enjoyable because there was also a dancing demonstration by two professionals. The ocean was quite rough again over night but by Sunday morning, January 7th, it had calmed, although there were strong winds. We are currently heading south west toward New York at 24.3 knots and have received our immigration cards to complete for arrival. Apparently, everyone, including crew, will have to disembark for immigration inspection regardless of nationality. We have purchased tickets on the shuttle bus to Midtown Manhattan ($15 each) for our shopping and sightseeing day because we were informed that the city taxi drivers do not pick up fares for journeys to our mooring at the Brooklyn cruise terminal on East River. This morning we had a lazy morning with breakfast in our suite then Alan went to a lecture by Captain Les Evans, who flew Concorde between 1999 – 2003. I watched it on the TV channel after my film, King Kong, had ended. (All lectures are repeated on the TV so we don’t miss any). Unfortunately, on his way back the lift doors trapped him on his scooter as he was leaving, so much so that another passenger had to prize them open! Alan’s arms were badly bruised and he was taken to the medical centre where he was checked over and given Ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation. I had to tighten up screws on the scooter arm rests and polish scratches to the base - is this the beginning of our holiday? He was quite shaken (or shaking actually) but gradually settled down over lunch when we and our fellow passengers made light of it. He then went to another lecture, the second by Ted Scull on the history of New York, which I later viewed on TV. I went to a ‘hot spot’ to log on for my emails and then we met to watch the Talent Competition!! (The first variety show of our cruise - and it was fun!) Alan had invited two couples from near by tables to have pre-dinner champagne with us in the Queens Grill lounge because Dick and Joann Hemp, from Reno, Nevada, were to disembark the next morning. Here we are before our parting…. After dinner I caught the late showing of Superman Returns at the cinema and Alan went to the variety show to see Jeri Sager, JC Fisher, Vincenzo Gentile and Suzanne Godfrey before we retired to prepare for our early start in New York.