There's a tangible frisson of anticipation in the air today. It's a sea-day, which finds us heading towards tomorrow's destination, Catania in Sicily. Actually, Sicily has been visible on our starboard side for most of the morning, since we're sailing North of the island, past Palermo, towards the Menai Straits, where we will make a right turn for Catania. Before then, however, today has been billed as 'Cruising the Aeolian Islands', a whole bunch of small islands to the North of Sicily, several of which are actively volcanic. In particular, we are told to be watching out for Strombolli (which I thought was an Italinan dish), which sports an active volcano, and which we're all hoping is going to, at least, dutifully cough up a belch of smoke for us, at best; erupt in a spectacular display of molten lava and ash for us, when we pass it at about 6 o'clock this evening (only joking; I suspect the former, if anything, but am not holding my breath).

Being a sea-day, of course, means I have to give another workshop this afternoon. Today's session has been billed as 'An Eye for Perspective', where I will be giving them the low-down on how to get linear perspective right; eye-levels and vanishing points and all that. I was a little worried that our cruising through the islands might keep a few people away, or worse; we be passing Strombolli at the same time as my workshop, 3 o'clock. I have been assured that this shouldn't be the case, which I believe to be true as long as the Captain maintains he slow, relaxed cruising speed.

I've done my 5 laps this morning and have prepared this afternoon's workshop - I'm definitely finding things falling into a set pattern, which suits me fine...

I thought I would tell you about my evening routine, which also has falling into a bit of a pattern. The evening usually starts around 6:30pm, whether it's been a sea-day or a port-day. This is the time I usually retire to my cabin to chill out a bit, shower and change for the evening. There are different dress codes applied to each day; 'Formal' means dinner suit and dress shirt or kilts (for them wot have 'em) for the men, ball-gown or formal evening dress for the ladies. 'Informal' means jacket or tie for the men (I tend to wear a light jacket with open-necked shirt), 'Elegant Casual' is a bit of a grey area, I find, since it just means smart, but not dressed up to the nines. Most people still wear their jackets and smart evening wear, but without the extra 'formal' frills. Shorts and Sandals are not permitted in the inside dining areas at any time. Finally there's 'Casual', which means pretty much anything goes. I expect there to be about 4 or 5 formal nights throughout the duration of the trip, and slotted in amongst these categories are occasional 'themed' nights. Tonight, it's 'Country and Western' night, for which I've brought my El Bandido necker-chiefs from previous cruises, and a shirt that is vaguely 'country-ish'. I also expect it means there'll be lots of line-dancing and yee-hah-ing throughout the evening...

I usually aim to eat my dinner at about 7:30pm. Being a tutor means I have to dine in the informal buffet-style 'Secret Garden Cafe', which suits me fine; I'm happy to leave the posh restaurants (The Heligan and the Four Seasons) to the fee-paying passengers... You never know who you'll be sharing a table with; I often find myself sat with the Dance hosts or the Dance Instructors.

I'm normally done by 8pm, which is the time when I'll probably take a bit of a strole around the deck or check emails in the Internet Room before the main showtime starts in the Neptune Lounge at 8:45pm. Being a ship of 900passengers means that mealtimes (in the restaurants) and showtimes are split into two; early- and late-sittings. People on late-sittings don't eat until 8:30 (which would just be too late for me), and their showtime starts at 10:30pm. Showtime, whatever it may be, usually lasts 45 minutes. So far, we've been entertained by a comedian, a magician and a couple of singers. Every third night or so there is a production by the Boudicca Show Company, a group of singers and dancers; we've had 'Broadway Rythms' and an Elvis night from them so far; I think tonight will be something country-and-western-related.

At 9:30pm, when the main show has finished, I've been wandering up to the Lido Lounge, where the Obsession Duo perform (very under-appreciated I reckon; a bit like live musak), until 10pm, when the 30-minute quiz kicks off. After that, I'm usually ready for bed (activities go on until 1am in the morning and beyond I believe, but I haven't drummed up enough stamina for that yet...)

Last night, I finally cracked the quiz-thing...

I've taken to perching on a bar stool in the Lido Lounge and sort of surruptitiously taking part; offering answers to nearby quiz teams, in the hope that one of them might ask me to join them (sad huh?). Last night, however, I teamed up with a couple who also sat at the bar and played the 'What was the year?' quiz. Guess what.... WE WON!!!!! Wooo Hooooooooo!!! Out of 20 questions, we came joint first with another team on 18 points. Our tie-break question was: what year did Abba have a hit with 'Dancing Queen'? The other team said 1970; we said 1977; the answer... da da da daaaaah was; 1976, so we were the closest.

As a tutor, I'm strictly-speaking not allowed to benefit from the prizes in the quizes, unless I'm in a team such as this one.... we won a bottle of bubbly, which my two teammates said they'd share with me tonight (we didn't drink it there and then because they had to dash off to catch the show - they are on late sitting), when we will take on the might of the Lido Quiz Lounge again.....