We are now in Melbourne after two days cruising down the east coast. The weather has been good and the seas calm. Relaxing.

We have been kept extraordinarily busy reading the daily programme of events. Plenty of opportunities to participate in various styles of trivia. Unsuccessful prize wise but we have learnt plenty. Allthego volunteered for the ‘true or moo’ quiz and managed to get two questions correct before failing at the third, despite being assisted by an enthusiastic young lady. Just missed out on P & O key ring!

The Encounter is certainly a party boat. It is inhabited though by a large proportion of people who used to be party animals, trying their best to relive the old days! There has been a wide range of informative seminars to partake of. Among them,’Wrinkle remedies’, ‘Arthritis and back pains solutions’, ‘How to look 10 years younger’ and ‘Guided meditation’. We have not been able to get to any of these due to being trapped in the music lounges listening to hits of the 60s and 70s. The Cruise Director has certainly targeted the market well.

Food has been excellent. Some nice Italian temptations.

We have had a phantom call of the Cup, it was won by Realm of Flowers. So that could well be a good tip for the Big Race on Tuesday. Unfortunately, we did $5 on the wooden horse races. Our horse looked like winning but near the post was pipped when the dice came in with a 5, which moved the winner on past us. Maybe next time.

By the way Allthego just missed the seminar dealing with ‘No more Crows Feet and Puffy Eyes’, this was disappointing. Trapped in a trivia session!

Will now be heading off into Melbourne city to catch the Cup parade.