Today is the first of two sea days on our way north to the UK. Although we are currently sailing past Lisbon on the West Coast of Portugal the weather has got considerably cooler. The outside temperature is now only 16 degrees c. Shipboard activities continue of course although mostly inside. Some passengers decided they didn’t fancy sailing through the Bay of Biscay again due to the rough seas encountered on the way out from the UK. Several of them got off the ship in Malaga in order to fly home. Bloody wimps – the Bay of Biscay is half the fun of these cruises and there are plenty of sick bags stationed in all of the public and crew areas. This is picture of Aileen whom we have met before on another cruise. Aileen comes from the Philippines and her mother looks after her 10 month old son called Joshua. Her husband works on another ship. Aileen’s current contract runs until November when she will return home to the Philippines to see her son for the first time in 6 months. And below is a picture of Melissa who some of you will know from various ships and cruises. We first met Melissa almost two years ago when she was a bar steward on the Aurora. Melissa is now a wine steward in the Cinnamon Restaurant and is still the same bubbly and cheeky girl with a fantastic memory for faces, names and your favourite drinks orders. This picture was taken in Marco Pierre White’s speciality restaurant on board last night. (It’s called The White Room). Melissa was there with two of her colleagues as part of the prize for winning her part in the P&O C.R.U.IS.E programme. C.R.U.I.S.E stands for Courtesy Respect Unfailing In Service Excellence. Last night Melissa and her two friends were dressed in their finest clothes and this time, they were waited on hand and foot by the restaurant staff. We were delighted to see Melissa there and enjoy our own meal on a nearby table. Well done Melissa.