We both wake (late, didn't even have the opportunity to greet the Pandas) feeling sluggish and fat, resolve to reign it in a little bit after our excesses to this point. Liz promises to only have fruit Spanish night, Rupert wonders wherever 'Atkins' would be a suitable one day debloating technique; both decide to omit bread, cake & pastries.
Fairly uneventful day as we arrive in Sweden's Capital; the port is about five miles from the city centre, so once again we hop on one of the complimentary shuttle buses provided by P&O to take us to where the action is. We explore the centre on foot, before catching another bus tour. For two hours it pootled round the city, but I must admit I know little more about Sweden and it's capital than I did when I got on.
Stop to grab a drink, I secure a seat and Liz purchases the coffee from the counter. I am disappointed to report that she returned to me not just with two mugs of coffee but also two very large muffins (one chocolate & one banana) I often feel that 'cause I am the fatty of are relationship blame is frequently left at my feet in regard to bad behaviour and inappropriate influence. Perhaps often it is; in many ways I am completely lacking in will-power and restraint ... but not today. Today Liz's resolve crumbled in a mere few hours and in the face of a muffin with a foam (marshmallow) banana on the top.
Again Rupert's Record Store Radar crackles into life, but on this day of topsy-turvy events it is not Mr. Todd who buys something but Mrs! Taking a liking to the soulful music playing over the shops PA. Only at the till does Rupert spot a Record Store Day Exclusive picture disc of David Bowie's "Starman" but sadly not the elusive Ryan Adams 7" or Flaming Lips 12". He is hopeful that every Baltic stop reveals further gems.
Reigning in excesses is easier said than done, arriving back on the boat after our exploration we are both hungry for just a little snack to keep the wolf from the door for the remaining four and a half hours until tea time. It is with a heavy heart and an even heavier waist to report that the only available snacks at 3pm on a Thursday would be afternoon tea, yes we were restrained to the point we avoided cake (having only had one les than three hours previously) and pastries but both ingested a fair amount of the deadly dough in the form of delicate sandwiches.
Must do better tomorrow as we head to the (as Rupert perceives) Über-cool Helsinki.
But now a battery charge prior to Spanish night and a visit to the casino, with tonights 25p stakes they must have known we were coming, far to mean to risk the £2 minimal bets of previous nights.
Any attempts to sleep for me are curtailed by the Captains announcements as we depart Stockholm and the entertainment teams 'Sail away sing-a-longs' I fairly sure our old friend Daz (Mr. Robin Redbreast) is the major instigator in this aberrant activity, consequently I bet the Swedes cheer as we depart? Liz sleeps through the horror, but has requested that she is woken as we sail away as it is meant to particularly pretty and she was in the land of nod earlier at 5.30am when we arrived.
Another fine and low-key evening in the Conservatory, a very passable Spanish meal ably assisted by a bottle of Rioja. As Liz frequently points out "What's not to like?" and I'm in complete agreement.
Following we headed down to the casino to take advantage of the reduced 25p stakes (honestly we are so tight when the wind blows in the right direction we whistle), neither of us could be described as seasoned gamblers or casino visitors. My only previous visits could be counted on the fingers of one hand and Liz reports to even less. Anyway never ones to be held back by inexperience, deep pockets or fear of humiliation we stepped up to the roulette wheel with our budget previously set and all other currencies and methods of payment locked away in the safe in our room (just in case we discovered a previously hidden vice, Liz's addictive personality is well documented) I'm not quite sure how Liz got £20 worth of chips to play with whilst I received a mere £10? Yet we played for an hour whilst receiving guidance and tutorship from those who shared the table, only leaving once Liz had secured her initial outlay and I found myself £5 up. Cashing our chips we look forward to returning for a second go in a couple of days time.
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