Today we crossed the Equator! A big step along our way. We will cross and re-cross it before we get home and also cross and re-cross the International Date Line, losing a day and then gaining another one back.

Anyway, a hot day (27C) but overcast at times and with drizzly rain for a period too. After bridge we sat out under cover with our Kindles and watched the flat calm sea go past. About lunchtime, the sun came out and we sunbathed for a while before art class.

Quite pleased with the art today!!! The subject seemed to suit us better perhaps because it was more curvy lines and less precision straight drawing. Anyway, not unhappy with our efforts. Not a patch on some other people's which are simply brilliant, but for two club-fisted beginners, not so bad.

We have reached the point with bridge now where we have to go away and practice the bidding and then the playing out of the contract. It's pretty complicated still: so many points rules and bidding conventions to learn and put into play but I think we are getting there. We're definitely better than the couple who we are partnered with anyway. At least, we're better at the bidding, not necessarily the playing.

Also listened to a most interesting lecture on how the ancient Silk Route has now turned into one of the major drugs routes into the West.

So, to crossing the Equator. We passed over it around 3pm and in the tradition of the sea, we had to ask King Neptune's permission. This involved various crew members dressing up as Neptune and his attendants and making demands for appeasement from the passengers which mainly involved being "slimed" or thrown into the swimming pool. Eventually the King was appeased and we sailed on….

Tonight we were invited to a drinks party with the Captain and Officers. Along with everyone else, so not for any special reason. The parties were split between two venues and two timings. We could have gone to both for double free drinks - LOL - because we are not on a set dining time, but Bob told me that would be wrong, so we went to the later one.

After dinner we saw the resident theatre company perform a musical based on 60s love stories and Tamla Motown music. Fabulous. They are sooo good. I love the music and it always gets me clapping and singing along. Poor Bob got the resident ancient mad woman sitting next to him (not ME!!!!) who talked all the way through about her failed love affairs amidst semi drunken sobbing!!! A man several seats down leaned over to me and said "Your husband deserves a medal". Well, I think we all know that.