The wonderful,wonderful Christmas day 2014, on the Queen Victoria.

At ten in the morning there was an interdenominational festival of carols. The captain sang, his crew sang,the Cunard choir sang,the Royal Court Theatre chorus sang,every-one sang, except myself.I forgot my reading glasses and without them all I could do, was to hum. At 11 Santa came to the majestically embellished Queen's room.What a picture, what a morning for the children!Every-one of them got a present from Cunard and, of course many parents added their own. I truly never expected such a do. It was glorious,utterly enchanting, more so because it was so very unexpected. Thank you Cunard, thank you Queen Victoria, you have done yourself proud.I can't wait to be celebrating Christmas on board again. After super lunch of tomato soup,salmon ceviche (yes,I had two entrees, because I could not make up my mind, which one of them to settle for) and massive prawns, served with plain rice and macadamia nuts, spicy sauce the likes of I have never had before, and hope to have many times yet. Why no pudding, you may ask.For that I went upstairs. From the day I had set a foot on the ship I, have been looking forward to my first mince pie and Christmas cake.To date they both have eluded me, but the longed for moment was finally here. The cake looked scrumptious, but was difficult to pick up, it should have been a warning. The mince pie I couldn't decipher-it resembled a little pudding -a massive dollop of cream with some strange holy resplendent upon it. Is this a mince pie,I asked the lovely server behind the counter,incredulously.Yes madam. So on the plate it went.Never have I expected so much from so little on a plate, and got even less.The cake was too wet, too sloppy with too much crystalized fruit and too little substance.I took one bite, but couldn't soldier on.So far,so bad. I still had the mince pie.I do not know who the supplier of those horrible little anaemic pies was, but I hope they will either go out of business well before next Christmas, or Cunard gets the sense and finds someone who can bake! Disappointed and still smarting, I went to the Library.There is nothing not to like about the Queen Victoria, but the Library I love.In the middle of the ship,the most beautiful staircase joins two floors upon which this resplendent beauty is allocated.It is comfortable and well thought-out,the seats by the windows are the best idea of all.Perfection. I love spending time there,reading, or just listing through the English dictionary. Christmas dinner. Malcolm looked resplendent, smart suit, red bow tie and a matching kerchief,the shoes spick and span.Pamela's lovely, kind face, immaculately made up. With every passing day I like them more and more.I hate to be impinged upon.They never do.I hate the intrusion of incessant questions,of a nose being poked through the armour I have built about myself. They understand in their down to earth way.They always seem to say the right thing. We talk yet say nothing and it all is done in the most pleasant way both parties have found enjoyable.The waiters got their YSL after shave.I hope I chose well, it is new, delicately scented,pure class. I have been approached by 2 waiters, who remember me from the Queen Mary.Regretfully I do not recall having met either,they both seem very nice and charming, so we must have exchanged many pleasantries in the past.One of them came up to me and asked jokingly if he was also going to get a present.He had obviously noticed the lovely little bags I had handed to my waiters.I know every one of them deserves a present at least at Christmas. Dinner was lobster termidore,roast turkey and the works,cheesecake.All very workmanlike, not the best.