NSG Memoir
The World Tour 1956
From NSG’s Diary
Monday
12 March “Alas how are the mighty fallen – laid low by
mal de mer. In spite of good resolutions
and sundry pills the travellers missed their breakfast this morning. Most of the day was spent in quiet
contemplation – flat on our backs. The
sea has a nasty jobble and the ship will persist in rolling from side to
side. We felt it would really be much
nicer to have lunch in our cabin so had it brought. The steward suggested consommé and sandwiches
– we languidly agreed. The stewardess
soon appeared with the viands. The soup
was lovely – hot and almost like beef tea.
The sandwiches were a disappointment.
As Doris will know the Continental idea of a sandwich is not ours. It consists of a slab of thick bread and
butter with another slab of German sausage or cheese on the top. We ate a couple of the less (sic) innocuous
looking ones. The butter here takes a
little getting used to also. It is like
farm butter, a bit greasy and strong.
However all the cooked meals are excellent.
“We
recovered a little, sufficient to enable us to attend boat drill in the afternoon
and also afternoon tea which is served in the lounge. The tea is good as is the
coffee. We had to go to our assembly
stations with our lifebelts properly tied.
G E B(ond) will be pleased to hear that we all have lifebelts. We retired pretty early after a strenuous day
and slept pretty well….”
Wednesday
14 March “Awakened early to a lovely day. We are feeling like real sailors and hardly
notice the motion of the boat. It is
very hot this morning. Most of the young
people are on the boat deck sunbathing in various stages of undress and my
visits there are not viewed with enthusiasm by the controlling authority. How easy it is to do nothing all day. We just sit and talk and sleep, even reading
is an effort. We are getting to know a
few folks; all are very friendly….”
Friday
16 March “…We are told we arrive at Cairns tomorrow
morning early and will probably have most of the day there…. We have changed a
couple of NZ pounds into Australian but the ship only pays us L1-2-0 [$AUS2.20
for $NZ2.00] it will save time trying to find a bank tomorrow at Cairns….”
[North of Australia en route to Singapore] “….It is interesting to watch the sea – numbers of small flying fish who seem to force themselves out of the water with a corkscrew motion of their tails and then skim for about twenty yards along the top of the water with their wings out and then dive with a plop into the sea. Some have yellow and some have green wings. They are quite small. We also saw a school of porpoises gambolling though one man reckoned they were bonito whatever they are….”
Thursday
22 March “Awakened about six to find ourselves covered
with perspiration which is quite normal these days. The pillows get soaked and so do our
pyjamas. I have got Mary to cut off the
legs and arms of mine so now I sleep more comfortable and look quite
chick. I only need a little lace around
the ends! On looking out saw a number of
islands and just before breakfast passed Timor….”
Friday
23 March “They can’t make salad on this boat. They cut up tomato and cucumber in large
slices with caraway seeds and it is all floating in some oily concoction. (Noel
did not like tomato unless it was cooked)
We were all tremendously excited today to notice on the menu for dinner
“Almond Pudding”. ‘Ah’, we said,
‘Something different – a steamed pudding!’ All the people were licking their
lips when what arrived was a slice of blancmange – groans and sarcastic
comments from all the tables around us….”
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