Got up at 8:20 AM, had a good
breakfast. Packed & now we’re waiting for a call to confirm embarkation time.
Come morning we decided to
have breakfast in spite of how we felt. I had to leave the table & Chas.
soon followed. We were both very ill. The doctor called, fixed us up with med.
& he called again & again & by dinner we were OK. We were assigned
our tables in the dining room & we are on the good Dr. Smith‘s table #3. I still
haven‘t figured out how to get on #1 table with the cap’t. A few more trips may do it.
I have only one thing to
add, the service on this ship is the best we‘ve ever had. But a small ship like
this can sure make it rough for a poor sailor. One feels all the bumps &
rocks & rolls. All in all it‘s pretty rough sailing! So far anyway my needs
are attended to by a stewardess & Charlie‘s needs by a steward, some class!
Our cabin is lovely, twin beds & the lot. Fruit every nite is left on the
dressing table etc. Table #3 - Our table
- Mr. & Mrs. McArthur, Dr. Smith, Mrs. Colledge. Mr. & Mrs. Manclark. Had a good breakfast, still lots of sick
people on board ship. The sea is very rough. Still haven‘t been on deck for
wind, rain & heave ho! At lunch Dr.
Smith invited us to his cabin for eve. cocktails. We went & so did the
McArthur’s. Later a movie in the lounge & after this we had several beers
with the good Dr. Smith.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER
15, 1961 - S.S. LAURENTIA
The wind blew like H___ all
nite, don‘t suppose we made any time since it blew the wrong way. We still have
not been on deck a rough cruel sea it is. Had breakfast, sat in the lounge
& had a “singsong”. At 11 AM
everyone had tea & we took a walk along deck under shelter that is. I understand we are one day behind time
already. Hope we can make it up. I also understand that this ship was made by Kaiser in California (small world). It’s been redone somewhat. I’ve
been working on my list for the customs. We also ordered some cigarettes, 200
each & some liquor to take along. We‘re allowed 10 bottles but I think we‘re
going to settle for & right now anyhoo.
I do have the distinction of being the only American on board. Dad too,
but he’s nor Amer. born. The rest are Canadian or Scot etc. either going home
to Canada or on a trip. In fact, the largest percent is Scot including the
staff stewards, and so on, most of who all are from Glasgow. Today we had a short gander around the deck.
Nice day, but windy. We lost another 100 miles app. or one day in all so far.
Sure a wild sea. Dad tried raw oyster & didn’t like them. I do but find
them very rich. We’re off course so as to miss the hurricane,Carla‘s tail end. Another evening
& it was beginning to look dull when after 11 PM and everyone but a few had
gone to bed. A Mrs. Mary McCallum started to play the piano. She & her
hubby, Mr. & Mrs. Campbell, Dr.
Smith, Chas. & I & a Mr. O‘Hagen & Mrs. Quinn sat in the
background. So we were off to a singsong & drink. One thing led into another
& suddenly Mary played “O You GreatBig Beautiful Doll” & the Dr. & Mrs.
Quinn got up to dance and laugh. I never had so much fun. Mrs. O’Hagen must
tilt the scales at 300 lb. & the doc is no lightweight. Words can‘t explain
the laughs this led from one thing to another & as usual we put the ship to
bed about 1 AM. But the payoff came about ½ hour later. The sea got wild, the
wildest I’ve ever seen it. We rocked & bumped & rolled. I thought we’d
never see daylight again. The wild, cruel sea, cold & weird. The word rough
couldn‘t half explain it. No one slept this night, not even the help.
Every one showed up at breakfast
with headaches. No wonder, no one slept but Charlie that is, he really did
sleep (the beer). It’s a bright morning & the sun‘s out. We did twice
around the deck. It was cold so we came in. I‘ve done my hair & Chas. is in
the lounge. Played bingo tonite & I won the first game. 35/app. $5.00. Not
bad? Later more singsong at the piano.
After most everyone went on to bed, Mary McCallum played again. Lots of fun,
song, drinks & jokes nor to mention dancing by a few just for fun. Had several
nice long visits with Mrs. Colledge. She‘s confined because of an injury &
since the sea is rough, Dr. thinks it best for her to stay down. She’s on her
way to sons in Montreal who’s a Dr. Nice lady, age 70, does not look 60. Really
intelligent too. The McCallum’s are Scots on the way to Australia to visit
their son, nice folks.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER
17, 1961 - S.S. LAURENTIA
9:00 AM - Breakfast
10:30 AM - Church service.
Rev Moffett, a passenger
11:30 AM - A run or two
around the deck really cold, quite a bit of wind, some sun, but not for long.
It’s raining now, we‘ve had no need for deck chairs on this trip. If all goes
well we should spot land by noon tomorrow. We’re about one day late.
1:00 AM - Good luncheon.
Chas. having a siesta. I’m writing as usual
Eve. - Sunday was a quiet
eve, in the lounge. We met with our friends, had a few drinks, but no song and
dance because of the rough sea. Everyone was tired & the lack of sleep the
night before sent us all to bed early. Isabel & Gen. Campbell, Mary & Hugh
McCallum, Dr. Smith, we 2 Mary and Chas., GeorgeImeric, a few others.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER
18, 1961 - S.S. LAURENTIA
Monday nite was somewhat
better. We slept for 3 hours in the afternoon. We ordered 8 bottles of liquor
& cigarettes. Had a great time again. More of “O You GreatBig Beautiful Doll” etc.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER
19, 1961 - S.S. LAURENTIA
Saw a tremendous
iceberg& not too far out, just about breakfast time. Everyone was out with
the cameras. We played shuffleboard with the McArthur’s. All I got was a sore shoulder
& Dad got a sore hip. ole age! Took some pictures on deck, nice day, but
very cold. Had another wonderful evening. First farewell dinner & then the
usual gang in the lounge.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER
20, 1961 - S.S. LAURENTIA
Lots of packing to do,
lots of good-byes to say. Our gang met on deck after everyone else was gone to
bed. No songs today, but lots of fun, jokes, beer, Scotch & what have you.
The captain blew his whistle at us flashed the lights off & on. No offense
here, we just kept on. Lots of ships passed in the nite, a lovely sight this.
More good nights. Lots of kissing, and what have you.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER
21, 1961 - S.S. LAURENTIA & MONTREAL,CANADA
Breakfast at 7:20 AM.
Customs at 9:00 AM etc. We said many good-byes again & left the ship. We
were a while getting our car but were on our way by 10:30 AM. We got a motel then called Ed Wilkie, made a
date to meet him for dinner. Again we ate at “Mother Martins“ in the Carlton hotel & very good too. Ed treated. He‘s a nice boy, quite
wrapped up in himself, somewhat like his dad, but a good kid.
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