Category: Diary

19th Sept. Tuesday. Awoke, had my shower and now breakfast, surprisingly. The sun is out quite strong and a lot of brave souls are in swimming, finished my crochet on deck, so that’s that, went for lunch and for the first time have gone to the cinema, saw ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ an excellent performance by Burton and Taylor, as usual hadn’t taken any afternoon tea, as I am frantically trying to shed the extra avoirdupoirs I put on in the U.S.A. but unfortunately no results yet, came down, had a bath and changed for dinner, most excellent, there seems to be general excitement on board as tomorrow Wednesday we are coming in to Southampton, saw a good cabaret and had a go at bingo, but my usual luck, nothing, came down to pack And the time is now 1.30am and so to bed.

18th Sept. Monday. Got up, had my shower, then down to breakfast, great excitement on the ship, the Queen Mary is due to pass us at approximately 9.30am, never saw the dining room so quickly emptied, everybody with the same idea, to see the Mary on her last voyage. 9.30am on the dot, she appeared, as regal as her name, both ships exchanged salutes and if anything it was a sad but momentous occasion. Did some crocheting then lunch. Was out on deck for a couple of hours, but it got too cold and blowy, so had to come inside. Came down, changed and went up for dinner which was most delicious, had my picture taken at the table with Stephen Katz who is ordering them and has promised to send me on one, marvellous won 2 dollars at the horses, better luck than bingo, and now the Fancy Hat Parade, some most original and fantastic creations, and now for my cabin, I see all the ropes have been put up again, not too good a sign, the ship is certainly going some now, so hope for the best, good night & bed precisely 1am.

17th Sept Sunday. Had my usual shower, went for breakfast but my table companion didn’t show up, probably is sleeping late. As it is very blowy had a walk round the deck and am now in the library attending to my diary and writing letters. Had lunch and Mr Katz appeared, seemingly he only just got up. Went out for a little while, rather cold, could put on my mink coat but didn’t, went into the library, selected book and am busy both reading and crocheting. Got changed for dinner, my clothes are so tight on me that the Steward had to help me into my frock, went for dinner, then saw a good cabaret, found my usual dish of fruit in my cabin and in to bed.

16th Sept Saturday, had breakfast and glad to say the weather has improved, been out on deck all morning, ordered photos of Mary and I as we entered the ship on Thursday night, had a most wonderful lunch and out on deck again, didn’t bother with the film shows, stayed on deck till almost dinner time and saw a most wonderful sunset, come down, changed and went for dinner which as usual was most excellent. Then went upstairs for bingo, but as usual no luck, saw a splendid cabaret show and then to bed.

15th Sept Friday. Awoke, had shower and noticed a slight sway on the boat, went to the dining room & everywhere where possible were the ship’s ropes, had breakfast solitaire, had the same waiter as my outward trip, he told me that we are going into the tail end of the hurricane. Had boat drill, then tried to go out on deck but was blown away, came down for lunch, lots of the passengers were conspicuous by their absence and we are truly in it. All portholes have been closed & some of the waves are almost as high as the ship. Dinner time & I have company at my table a young man Mr Katz from Jersey is going to Cambridge to study, asked him why he hadn’t appeared before, he told me he was very sick all night and day.