Dining delights

Consequently we approach dining with great trepidation, do really want to make friends and sit on a table of four, six or eight. Perhaps we'd be better on a table for two ... far away from people ... to reduce potential 'torrets' outbursts by Mr. Todd?

By some error we are late for the first meal, obviously we're not the only ones as 20% of seats remain unoccupied. But significant anxiety grows as we are paraded through to table 56p (cheap at half the price) we survey every gap at every table with growing concern, will we be punished for our 7minute lateness? 

Dribbling women with crochet hair / Bad tempered looking man with mousey wife / A vision in leisure wear /Team blotchy.

Thankfully we are seated on a table for two, towards the back, out of harms way, away from the nice people ... and those with "needs"

They are already aware of Liz's allergies, but need further clarification. Artificial sweeteners certainly causes consternation ...

 "SUGAR???"

"No ... artificial sweeteners ... Aspartame ... like in diet coke?!?"

"We certainly won't be serving you diet coke madam!"

Our waiter goes to discuss his problematic clients with the chef, a few minutes later the head waiter comes over and the same conversation takes place. Eventually a solution is agreed, Liz will chose what she wants for the following day and the chef will ensure he doesn't toss in any artificial sweeteners.

But for tonight ...

"May I suggest melon ... but perhaps hold off on the mixed berry coulee?" 

At this point RT loses his sh*t (as the young people say) and nearly falls off his chair. Liz dicing with danger opts for a Prawn Marie Rose and will approach with caution ... they hold the rose. I guess the problem is that they hear allergy and think anathalaxis, which no doubt it could progress into if she bathed in pure aspartame, but with Liz's early warning mouth tingling and oral ulceration this is currently unlikely.

We are interested to see what tomorrow will bring ... Smoked salmon followed by lobster and mash potato (?) We decide to re-evaluate our dining choices for the remaining twelve nights.

Tonight the only option is to drink. There are nine bars and lounges on board, now all we have to do is find one that is suitably "us"

Andersons (too refined).The Crow's Nest. Harlequins (ballroom dancing). Lord's Tavern (sports bar) Pacific Lounge. Riviera Bar (closes at 7pm). Sunset Bar (closes at 6pm. False advertising, that's pre-sunset. Terrace Bar and Tiffany's (disco)

Hear it's been a super Saturday in the Olympics, we wouldn't know it's standing room only in the Lords Tavern and everytime I turn on the television in the room there's a program on about Pandas. Even so it appears that both Sky International and BBC World don't have the rights to show actual Olympic footage, so we have to trust the ticker tape (real) timeline that scrolls across the screen. I think it may have been more exciting to watch Jessica & Mo race than merely read about it?!?