And just like that, I'm 50! 

Small world eh? Funny who you bump into (figuratively speaking) when you're circumnavigating the globe!

Our journey from Brisbane to Yorkeys Knob was a bit more low key than it has been recently, yep there's the usual business to take care of but generally speaking we're temporarily off the hook. The audits are over and we've been able to morph back into a routine. Sea days gave space for a barbeque organised by our Deck department. Held on our aft mooring deck, we all assembled and grabbed a spot of lunch, BBQ style. 

Some you win and some you lose

This world voyage consists of 30 ports, excluding the start and finish line of Southampton. Sydney is port number 15, so I guess we're officially half way round!! 

As I've eluded to previously, life at sea can be isolating. Or maybe insulating is a better word? It provides an opportunity to almost opt out of the noise that the rest of the world makes. It's almost liberating. I don't really do social media anymore, most news sites sit behind paywalls so keeping on top of current affairs isn't as easy as it might be out there in the real world. You're a little sheltered and I personally welcome it. I avoid the echo chamber of speculation and 24 hour news.

It's been a hectic time on board with numerous commitments and work related issues, so much so that the blog has had to take a backseat!

Auckland was another early start and was set to be a testing day for the ship's company.

Our arrival into New Zealand was via Bay of Islands, an area of some 144 sub tropical islands on the east coast of New Zealands north Island. Another tendering day, delivering our guests across a 25 minute run from ship to shore.

When Lynyrd Skynrd wrote the song it was a nod to the fact that anything resembling a 'normal life' was gone now they'd signed a record contract. I was introduced to the tune when Metallica  recorded it with friends from Primus, Faith No More and Alice in Chains to name a few, on their Garage Days Revisited album. I digress. It's notable because I, like Skynrd, signed a contract and now my Tuesday's Gone. Ok, it's a fragile link but I'm committed now. Plus, having somehow segwayed my favourite movies into this blog, I have now unashamedly squeezed in my favourite bands despite the tenuous connection.

This is a short post, one that will serve as an anecdote and I'll probably be the only person to appreciate it, but that's ok, it won't be the first time or the last time. This will just serve as a reminder to me if/when I look back upon this and in the words of Bob Mortimer it'll be as memorable as picking pollen off a mouses handkerchief.

At the time of typing the Queen Mary 2 and her occupants are continuing their South Westerly course across the South Pacific to New Zealand.