En route off Newfoundland

Last night, prior to dinner,  we attended the concert of Kym Purling, a performer,  musical director and conductor for Broadway shows and later imbibed an aperatif at the Commodore,  one of the ship's many bars. The Charter  Bar was full as was the Golden Lion Pub, where you can get draught English ales and fish 'n chips  for lunch! After dinner, we retired to the Queen's Room for jazz. However, it appeared the night club band were playing! It was ear splitting so we debunked to the Charter Bar to hear an indifferent string quartet. 

 

We're making good progress. It appears that the hurricane closed a lot of the beaches on the east coast of the US, last week-end - Labour Day week-end. As I went for my walk on deck this morning, the power of the  wind would almost send one off deck, but the sea was calmer. 

Unlike yesterday the pools were open but it is too cold to swim except in the enclosed  pool on deck 12. 

At 11.00 hrs, the Royal Court Theatre was packed to capacity to hear Jon Sopel lecture on his interview with President Obama and the Presidential election.  

There were questions on American politics particularly on Trump and Clinton. Two members of the audience, one pro Trump and the other pro Clinton, gave their views. Even among this calibre of American a divide exists, which leads one to believe Trump may win. It was interesting that when the pro Trump supporter was asked how he felt about Trump being Commander in Chief, he hesitated but they do buy into the slogan 'to make  America great again'. The Germans are the most numerous but they did not take part in the debate, unlike the British, who expressed resentment at Obama's interference in the Brexit vote. However, speaking to a German couple a few days ago, they expressed the opinion that Britain was too close to America!!  

I was sorry to miss the Royal College of Art's Tomorrow Today fashion show. This  cruise is the first of Cunard's fashion cruises and we sail into NYC on the day NY Fashion Week commences! The organiser Fern Mallis and Zandra Rhodes, an alumni of the RCA are on board. 

Lunch  followed. We shared a table with an American couple, though he was born in Heidelberg, Germany. They had crossed the Atlantic on QM2, had then left the ship and travelled through Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the U.K., reboarding at Southampton on their return to Cinncinatti. The other lady was travelling alone. She was from Texas and we had lunched with her earlier in the week! She has been on board since August 8th. We reach NYC on September 8th !!!

After lunch, I adjourned to The Royal Theatre to hear the fantastic classical pianist Hiroaki Takenouchi play. It was his second concert and I enjoyed it as much as the first.

Afternoon tea followed by a rest before dinner. Afterwards we went to the Queen's Room for a Big Band evening.