Blogpost 7 1st to 3rd Feb 2016

Monday 1^st February

A day at sea which is quite welcome after our busy 3 days in Cape Town in hot temperature.  In the evening there is the Captain’s Farewell Cocktail Party. He leaves in Durban along with a fair number (about 100) of the passengers. He will be missed for his great interpersonal skills and he has run a happy and efficient ship. He gives awards to the crew members of the month. Later in the evening the crew put on their own show and we are given a favour of Thai, Philippine, Indian dancing and song.

Tuesday 2^nd February

We arrive at Port Elizabeth at 0800 and after breakfast we join another couple from the ship on an independent day tour to Addo Elephant Park.  Luke is our driver and guide. It’s a sunny day and before too long we arrive at the entrance to the reserve.  After a quiet start, we begin to spot some game, starting with the warthog, then zebra, red hartebeest and a close up of two elephants. We are very lucky to have a good view of 3 lionesses with a kill and also a lion.  At midday we arrive at a major watering hole for the elephants – there are a great number there, including a huge bull imported from Kruger and some young calves.  Amongst other sightings are buffalo, a secretary bird, different kinds of deer….and tortoises! We stop for lunch at the restaurant within the park and then gradually make our way back to the dock in good time before Boudicca’s departure at 1800. By now it is overcast – in fact during the afternoon there were even a few drops of rain.

3^rd February

Modest Jan has not mentioned her part in the Choir Recital today. She was a clear leader in the “look up at the audience and look as though you are enjoying it” requirement. A jolly good recital enjoyed by all. Miles better than the preceding talk by Edwina Currie who spoke about GOD – Growing old disgracefully. Overflowing with enthusiasm mainly about herself and not as old as me! Hopefully a lot more disgraceful but she didn’t mention the obvious even though she clearly thinks little blue pills for men quite important.