The Mini suite B424 was a lovely suite, as soon as you open the doors the history seems to grab you, l did my usual and just spent some time looking round, opening drawers and the like before unpacking.
The cabin overlooked the dockside, which didn't bother me, and the portholes could be opened.
Having quickly unpacked (heck l was only going to be one night) but it seemed a shame not to use the wardrobes l then headed back and went outside to meet my cousin. He lives in Whittier and has always enjoyed his brunch visits to Queen Mary, with his perhaps exocentric cousin, but this was going to be different this was New Years eve, and thoughts of The Poseidon Adventure (the original) were somewhere at the back of my mind.
Time seemed to be against us as we headed of on a very quick tour of QM, down to B deck to drop of his overnight bag and then a brisk walk round the decks, Sir Winstons was where my parents went many years ago with my cousin and his mother for Dinner and they left with a plate as a souvenir of the meal, my cousin still remarks on the fact that it must have been the tip at the end that allowed such a request to be granted. Plate collecting from ships followed me and my years onboard QE2, but as we know that's another story..
The warm afternoon on deck (its still winter in my mind) seemed strange to me being so far away from the cold that l associate with New Year the lobby was busy with guests checking in, a stand had been set up beside there for you to collect the party hats, blowers etc for the overnight guests.
The Observation bar enroute seemed the ideal place to stop for a drink.With the time passing 4pm and various texts were coming from friends and family back home in the UK, gosh it was already New year with them, It was of course much to soon to return the greetings to them, heck l still had 8 hours of 2011 left and to be in this location, half way round the world was still a unique experience. with that we both sat ordered drinks and began to reminisce of past years, suddenly a QE2 bag appeared from behind one of the pillars, and lo and behold appeared a face from QE2 final crossing, the same guy who l bumped into onboard last visit as well, as fate would have it, and this floored everyone, that during the conversation it dawned on him that my cousin who was a teacher, actually taught him at school, perhaps more years ago that anyone cares to remember, and as it happened only stays a few streets away. Of all the places in all the world, QE2 does indeed reunite the world. and what a small world it is. One of the rare times lv seen my cousin lost for words.
The Grand Salon Dinner buffet was starting at 6pm and would end at 9pm, and right now it didn't leave a great deal of time to get changed, but back to our cabin to get changed and get ready for 2011 New Years Eve aboard The Queen Mary.