Smurkers1

Whilst on the subject of the use or non use of a knife reminds me of a private dinner reception I went to in a DC restaurant for Lord Adair Turner. Not being accustomed to dining with Lords and senators I took in the surroundings during the evening. Lord Turner and I were the only Brits in the room and I noticed we were the only ones using our knives all of the time. Since moving to America I often have to ask for a knife as I cannot seem to eat anything at all without one, and certainly do not hold the fork in my right hand. At home now I no longer lay the table with all the forks other than desert fork on the left and simply place all the cutlery on the right with napkin. I did read that it is acceptable in Europe to hold the fork in the right hand and turn it over to eat garden peas. That takes me to another story about a friend who was serving peas to the Queen on the Royal yacht Britannia, and asked her majesty if she would care for more peas. Her response was “no thank you Jennings, I seem to have quite enough down my back”. God love her.

I love reading all the comments and seeing how we can differ on attitudes and on what really matters. As regards KUA I would certainly never dine with Onslow and not Hyacinth either but would love to get Richard to open up. My pet beef in a restaurant would be baseball caps, especially when worn back to front. I love wearing very colourful shirts but appreciate that if I was allowed to enter the restaurant in the shirt with no jacket then others would appear in less interesting attire. Maybe the fashion police should be on the door and leave it at that. Please do not take me seriously.

I love reading people's responses on here, such a variety. My only SS cruise so far has been the Galapagos islands so of course the dress code was very casual. However, I am taking a 23 day cruise on SS in May, San Fransisco to New York, and so have been reading up about the dress code on the Silver Shadow. Sure enough it is much more formal dress and strictly enforced they say. As someone who lives in the heat in Palm Springs California I live in shorts and nice shirts, so a challenge. I am happy to rise to the challenge, dust off my sports coats, add my individual flair to each outfit, and enjoy the change.

What an interesting set of conversations, I was laughing out loud at some of the responses, well done. The longest cruise we have had so far was a 20 day Regent and I used the laundry rooms often, mainly for pressing shirts.From even before departure from Sydney the laundry rooms were in use, and I made some good friends there, conversations friendly and lively and we all agreed a glass of champagne would be a good idea whilst working there. Sometimes machines cycles were completed and no one seemed to mind their items being unloaded and folded for them. I look forward to my 23 day Silversea cruise next May, and hope to make good use of the laundry room on my deck. Bon Voyage everyone.