I don’t know what happened but my Sydney post was not complete so I had to do over and since I don’t do well editing (don’t know how to do it) I had to delete but when I did so my photos went too. Thus the photos were posted again separately as I didn’t discover they were deleted until I reposted my message. I know it makes no sense but it is now all there but in different posts.

I did forget to tell you all that Wayne and Pat did leave the ship the second day in Sydney and they will be missed. Pat will come back on the ship in Cairns as a visitor.

On formal nights an officer is assigned to our table as a host and our last host was the chief engineer with 40 plus years with HAL. The beard certainly makes him look the part.

Stein Kruse the CEO of HAL is on board and he is having all the lunches for the President’s Club (I believe 1200 days or more ) and the 500 plus group. I will be a 4 star mariner shortly but that means only 200 plus days. My friends Barbie and Joan are part of the 500 plus group.

One of the members of the Presidents club is named Dolly. Actually those that know her do not love her. She was sitting with three others at specially arranged tables at the very front of the dance floor. I was dancing with James when the band struck up “Hello Dolly” I told James to dance with her to the song and I got to sit in her special place until the song was complete. She was very happy and thanked me profusely.

When we were in Sydney I noticed all these casks being brought on board and I figured it had something to do with our special Mariners Appreciation night. I was right. The theme was a Taste of Australia and you will note how the casks were utilized.

I finally have a better photo of my neighbor. Please note the jewelry and blouse and he is making progress with the hormones. I took this photo of Big Matt and little Matt. Little Matt is Assistant Cruise Director and Big Matt is part of the cruise staff. Our Cruise Director is the guy on the right supposedly stomping grapes . His name is Bruce. Last year he had white hair and this year he has orange-red hair.

The night was not quite as good as it was last year when we had a spectacular African Safari Night. I am not one for going from here to there to get my food. The Australian Gold was a good beer and as it was quite hot and humid I was drawn to it quite naturally.