At Sea enroute to Mumbai - April 1, 2012

It’s Palm Sunday.  Since we are not in a port, we are able to attend the ship’s Traditional Maritime Service.  Today’s service is conducted by Captain Julian Burgess.  Some favorite hymns are sung, prayers and then the Captain said after the final blessing, we should all sing the British National Anthem.  We could only hum this tune. 

The ship’s daily programme had an important notice.  The notice reported that we had taken delivery of bad fuel in Singapore and “fortunately due to the engines ecologically sound design” there are items that could be used as potential fuel sources.  The notice went on to say that if everyone onboard donates a squirt of suntan lotion, they have calculated that they will have enough ‘lotic gas’ to power the gas turbines and get to Mumbai on time.  The programme is delivered the previous evening so we read this last night after getting back to our room after the evening’s entertainment. It seemed rather odd – not even realizing until we woke up this morning looked at the calendar that we were being played an April Fools’ Joke.

The best part was when I was in the launderette early this morning. Two men in there were discussing this strange notice and then one said to the other, “Well, I don’t have any suntan lotion to donate.”  J  April Fools!

(We are continuing to have weak satellite services.....few pictures.....today none.)