I regret to report that ‘bigjohn’ has returned from his cruise as an even bigger John.
Blimey ! … I have never seen so much food consumed in all my life, although I must say that I stuck to just three meals a day, avoiding the afternoon cream teas, midnight supper club and 24 hour room service.
The breakfast menu offered everything from kippers to black pudding, and if you were not happy with that you could help yourself from the buffet to a ‘full English’ and a glass of ‘buck’s fizz’. You would not believe just how much food some people can pile on one plate !
Lunch followed a similar pattern with a cold buffet, a hot buffet or prepared to order dishes from the menu: and for those still a bit peckish at around four o’clock there was ’traditional’ English afternoon tea. This I imagined to be rather like a visit to the famous Savoy Hotel in The Strand, all silver trays, fine china and white gloved waiters, so I couldn’t resist a peek, only to find this …
I call this picture “bun fight on board”. (Did you spot the cake ?)
Dinner was a far more dignified five course affair, especially on ‘formal nights’ when ‘black tie’ and posh frocks were the required ‘dress code’. Not my usual attire, but then I’d dress up for Lobster Thermidor and Chateaubriand steak every night of the week if I had the chance.
( click on images to enlarge )
The wine list was good and drinks were reasonably priced. In fact they were cheaper than at my local pub, and if you couldn’t wait until “the sun is over the yardarm”, there was always …
‘Happy Hour’ !
