Not much happening

 We’re heading for Jan Mayen and  it’s two days away. Two days on the boat with lectures about birds, whales, glaciers and how to take photographs with a mobile.

Looking out of my balcony window all I can see is water and sky except the sky is gray and the visibility is very poor. During the talk on whales we were told to look out for these huge sea creatures. The trouble is the ocean we’re floating on in very big, so big that even these massive mammals are difficult to come upon.

Also, I have no clear idea where we are in relation to our destination. The map that has in the past helpfully shown us where we were in relation to Scotland, the Orkneys and the Faroes, has failed miserably. Here we are according to the map.

On board life is predictable and and very  good. Each  day there is posted a programme of events. That’s really exciting when you’re able to land in a Zodiac and explore new worlds, new civilizations. When, however, all that surrounds you is sea and more sea you’re opportunities for exploration are rather limited.

In fact life revolves around meal times. Breakfast at 7 or 8, lunch at 12:30 or 13:00 and dinner at 19:00. And the choice and volume of food is staggering. You can, even encouraged to, overeat. Breakfast is fruits and yoghurts, any combination of the full English with added fried bread, hash brownies, and pork slices.     Tea and coffee poured ‘til it flows out of your gills and toast, muffins or pancakes with marmalade, jam and honey.

Lunch a few hours later repeats the trick. You start at one end of the serving counter and load up with salad, move on to cheese and fruit, next hot food - fish, pork or lamb chops curried this or that, potatoes, greens, rice  rounded off with a sweet. Dinner, which is table service is ample- seconds or thirds are provided without any trouble. Wine at dinner is free flowing. Such bounty is difficult to resist as are the drinks and canapés at 18:00 and the bar which is open all hours. 

Two of my fellow table guests are already using the gym and others are threatening to use the sauna and jacuzzi which is on deck 8 and exposed to the elements. I happened on a couple of pensioners frolicking in one of the two tubs - butt naked their clothes scattered across the deck.

Each “stateroom”,nothing so vulgar as a cabin, has a massive TV on the wall facing a king size bed. The programmes are mainly American news channels with one or two other foreign networks. Luckily my TV is not working so I’m not tempted to watch FoxNews. I have a mini bar which I do not intend to use. 

Now what should I do next? Feel the sea spray on my face on deck 8, go to the library or catch the educational film on something or other. Or maybe have an afternoon nap to prepare myself for dinner!