Tuesday AGM continues in Berlin.

We make breakfast which is surprisingly good. Luckily the sun came out , although chilly we needed coats. We set off on a good walk with the Lorenz’s heading for the Brandenburg Gate. Loving the architecture and stunning buildings. We stop for photos and a quick libation, coffee water and the boys opt for mint tea which was served with honey. We move on to the nearby Holocaust memorial, we over hear a guide explaining after they started painting the memorial stone blocks it was abruptly halted when they discovered the paint was manufactured by a chemical company called Faber who under the Nazis had produced Zyklon B a cyanide based pesticide. This product was notoriously used by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust to murder approximately 1.1 million (of the 6 million) people in the gas chambers installed at Auschwitz- Birkenau, Majdanek and other extermination camps. Very moving experience. We quietly move on toward to the hotel. Carol and I notice a rather splendid glass building with a fabulous rooftop restaurant called the India Club and think how fabulous it would be to go there for dinner! The four of us then strolled back to the hotel to get ready for the AGM & Supper. A super quick shower and change. 40 winks for Mr C. The Boys go off to their meeting, us girls meet in the bar and have a catch up. After the meeting finishes and the Company representatives have finished their presentations we all head a short walk to wards our surprise destination. We seem to be heading back in the same direction as this mornings walk and sure enough arrive at the India Club also housing the China Club. A lift and three flights of stairs takes us to a fabulous glass reception room over looking the Brandenburg gate and several well known rooftops. A champagne reception greets us followed by dinner of the highest standard. A tagliatelle starter followed by Seabass and to finish a fabulous strudel. All accompanied by delicious Italian wines. Feeling tired we shared a taxi back to the hotel with the Lorenzos. Bed by 12.30.

WEDNESDAY….

Arrived late to breakfast but the coffee is so welcome. Bright and sunny today looks like 14c. The lovely Jason & Pip from Peter Graham wines organise a boat ride for anyone wanting to see the city by river. We meet in reception at noon and walk the short 20 min walk past the train station to the river. On the boat are given a radio to listen to commentary. I sit behind the rather gorgeous young Jamie Goose who is showing his tanned legs in shorts. Made my day (must have a little feel of those later I think to myself) someone hands me a small beer and off we go along the Spree on the sunny side which is very pleasant. So much building going on in Berlin, but we pass amazing architecture and stunning buildings both old and new, mostly rebuilt after the war and most replicated. It’s a an hours cruise and we are soon back on land. The Lorenz’s join us for a snack by the river in the sun. We all go for soup, beer and wine. On the way back to the hotel we take a detour to Check Point Charlie. An Iconic little hut in the middle of the road depicting East from West. Crowded with tourist we don’t stay long and make our way back to the hotel for a shower and change. All reconvene in the bar eagerly waiting our surprise for the evening. To my delight and that of other members the Yarmouth gang have dressed in Bavarian costume looking absolutely splendid outshining us all. We are taken by coach to our secret destination. We head west! Is it the Zoo no. Eager beaver Carole Lorenzo was right it is a spiegel tent. We enter gingerly wondering what fate awaits us. We are greeted by hosts carrying drinks and canopies while we all chatter amongst ourselves. Suddenly a very striking tall blonde glamorous leggy person enters the room. She must have been 6ft 5 and only the sight of her Adams Apple gave her away. She wandered around intruding herself as the hostess. Whilst an attractive saxophonist played in the background we were eagerly awaiting our fate. We were then called into the main tent. Typically circular, mirrored, with tables of four. It’s looked beautiful. Our hostess introduced the sax player back and a very attractive young lady singer with legs to die for with great red stilettos and between them entertained us through our starter of Roasted Scallops with red chicory, wild herbs, grapefruit, hazelnut vinegrette & orange hummus. Between this and the main course we were entertained by a talented cappella quintette. Main course consisted of Fillet of Simmental beef with tarragon potato cake, wild herbs & seasonal vegetables. Then we had a spectacular performance by a magician whose name escapes me. He did various tricks including lifting a table with no obvious help then called up a romantic couple – Ian Scot and the gorgeous Gemma, played a watch trick had us all in stitches more from Ian‘s embarrassment than the actual trick itself. Onto another trick everyone in the audience was asked try and keep their hands together whilst the power of suggestion was making them keep them apart. Those are hands went close together were chosen to go on with another trick where the hands were joined together and then were told to try and get them apart which they couldn’t. He then called three of these people on stage – Elizabeth , Dawn and Anton where he hypnotised them to hold up their arms and then proceeded make them sleep and do silly things.. Anton was then asked to be a mathematician. Somehow he managed to pull off the trick where Anton had done a very tricky calculation but still not sure how it was done but it was great fun and no harm was done. The magician did a few more tricks on people in the audience which completely baffled us all. Our hostess came back on stage and introduced the Last act which was a completely mad couple of guys one on guitar and one on double base – I thought for a moment they were going to be country and western which I hate but they ended up being totally mad rock ‘n’ roll guys and got the whole, party dancing, singing and ended up playing funny games with Jason and Pip which highly entertained everybody ? In the end we were all in the floor gyrating and clapping. The presentation of Pratt of the Year trophy went to Mel Pywell who won the coverted trophy because she can’t tell stork from butter ( loo paper from sanitary bags in her case) . Lorenzo did a quick recap on how the trophy came about. How a certain person stole the cricket ball from the end of the Cricketers bar on the Oriana, the 1997 AGM. Our son James was purser in food & beverage on the ship at the time & the captain was not impressed. A Fabulous evening over too soon. Our coach arrived, the trip back to the hotel seemed much quicker than the outward journey and a few nightcaps were sunk in the hotel bar until the early hours.

THURSDAY

Most of the crew go home today so Roger and I have a lie in, missed breakfast again but I did a bit of blogging, then packed our cases, literally just in time remembered to pay the Ribs staff wages then headed out for brunch. We are meeting my family again for early supper at a restaurant called Thüring Stuben in their neighbourhood in Berlin- Pankow area. Anita tells me it’s an hours walk or so from our hotel through great little areas so we take her advice. We sauntered through an area called Kollwitzplatz and visited the farmers market. We meet up with the family for a most enjoyable real German meal in a lovely local restaurant decorated with stag heads, cuckoo clocks, hedgehogs and other antiques. Sadly time to say goodbye we taxi back to the hotel. A night cap then back to our room for 10.00 pm.