I spent a very lazy morning again – on deck dozing and reading. I went in late to the Travelline Alone, before having a coffee and then lunch in the MDR before heading back on deck until 2.30. The Artemis book signing was from 3 – 4. It was bit nerve-wracking sitting in the very middle of the atrium with two announcements made over the tannoy but we sold a few so it could have been worse.
The late afternoon was interesting as we sailed between lots of Greek islands. Not too warm out although still bright and sunny. It's the wind that is cold. I got some US $ for Israel so that is sorted. It's now the lull before pre-dinner drinks and the early show - the Headliners or Bobby Knut's last performance.
Wednesday 30 November – Kusadasi, Turkey
It has been a wonderful day here in Kusadasi – bright sunshine and a cloudless blue sky, although chilly to start with. By mid-afternoon it was sunbathing weather – perfect. It is my fourth time here so I set off to explore more of the town than I had seen before. I first walked round to Pigeon Island and the lovely old wooden sailing boats moored along the causeway there. The castle on the end is now a nightclub and was closed. Then back into the bazaar area. There are some fascinating backstreets and flights of steep steps up to rundown white-wash houses where old ladies in traditional peasant dress were about their morning business. Everywhere were stray cats – so around midday I went back to the ship for a snack and went back ashore carrying crab sticks and shrimps from the buffet! 
Back on board at sailaway it was announced that Captain Alastair Clark had to fly home due to a health problem so Oceana is currently under the command of Steve Howarth and we are heading for Limassol. Tomorrow is a sea day and then we have three very heavy port days of Cyprus (I am doing an all-day tour to Northern Cyprus) and two days in Israel.
After staying out on deck until sunset, I came in for a shower and a snooze before dinner. I went to Steve Larkins’ early show, which was again, very good, although his voice seemed to be suffering a little. Then we all went in to dinner – it was Jane’s birthday today so we organised the waiters to sing, although we found out too late for balloons! Sadly, a man from the table behind us chose to complain to Stuart about the noise we were making. Stuart was not happy that he addressed it to him, rather than to the whole table and it briefly put a damper on the evening until we decided to make even more noise. After dinner we looked in on the Christmas Market before going our separate ways – I walked out on deck and it was absolutely beautiful. A golden crescent moon low on the horizon, no wind, a lighthouse blinking on the starboard beam and gentle wash from our 12knt speed.
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