A Pleasant Surprise

On our Mediterranean cruise one evening last month we went to dinner in our allocated dining room for anytime dining. We didn't eat there every night, there was sometimes quite a queue, in fact the first night it was a huge line and the second night it was not as bad but both times we went to the buffet instead where there was always a table available and the food was good there as well.

But this night we chose our dining room and to avoid a wait we were happy to share a table with others. The tables were various sizes, seating two, four, six or eight but this night the waiter led us to one of eight seats. We were the first to be seated and soon we were joined by Howard and Suzie from Manly in Sydney, Nick and Anne from Phillip Island Victoria, and shortly after the remaining places were taken by a young couple from Los Angeles, whose names I do not recall. Both were professional and this cruise was a gift from her parents for her graduating from college a couple of years earlier, I think the young lady had a position in market research and the young man was in IT. The were both quiet and polite and the man in particular seemed shy and reserved and had little to say initially. Lib was on my right, then the lady and her man was to her right. So there were two people between myself and he and I was happy not to try to engage him in conversation acroos the two ladies.

Suzie was to my left, and she consulted me about which wine she should choose. I told her that a particular Californian merlot was a delight, although Lib and I were enjoying a Chilean wine that day. A bottle of wine on the boat was anything from $27-50+US, so it needed to be a good choice.(You were only allowed to bring one bottle of wine per person onto the boat, to be consumed in your stateroom, and you were not permitted to bring grog on board from the shore excursions. No point trying to hide it either as bags were ex rayed when you came back on as part of the security system).

The wine came for Suzie and she loved it, much to my relief. I didn't start the conversation on politics but it went there. Howard, who owns a marketing/advertising company in Sydney, said he had talked to many Australians on board and asked them why Tony Abbott was not popular and they couldn't give him a valid reason.

"He's our local MP and we think he's terrific. He's always done a great job for his electorate. Why is that you don't like him?" He was talking directly to me.

"Probably the best way I can answer you," I said, "to be brief, is that I vote Green."

He looked at me with his mouth partly dropped open, then said, "Well, you don't have to say anymore. That means your vote is effectively for Labour."

"Only if I select them as second preference, which I do usually by the way. I do understand that my first vote is virtually meaningless, but I do it because I dislike both the major parties, the Libs are an environment wrecking ball and Labour is Union controlled but is the lesser of two evils. If more people continue to vote green my hope is that momentum will grow and one day they will be a serious contender to the major parties."

At this point the previously quiet young American fellow began to agree with me. He compared our situation to US politics and was a Bernie Saunders fan. It was like a motorbike that was kick started and took off. He dominated the following discussion and obviously was a political enthusiast. Nick was a retired plumber and no fan of unions and Labour but neither he nor Howard could compete with this young man.

That was an interesting part of the cruise for us, our first. Many of the passengers had cruised many times before. There were 2100+ passengers, I'd say USA, followed by Australia then Canada were the countries with most representation, then New Zealand and the UK and of course a smattering of many other nationalities. Most people at meals or on the tours were congenial and polite, in fact I can't recall anything untoward in the 12 days.

The night after our dinner discussion about Tony Abbott Lib and I were at a table for two enjoying our meal when Howard and Suzie were led past to another table close by.

"Did you hear the news," Howard said, "We have a new Prime Minister."

"Your pulling my leg," I replied.

No, I'm not, it's Malcolm Turnbull, I don't know any circumstances, just heard the news break on the cabin TV."

In no way did I want to offend Howard with my reaction but I could not conceal my happiness. It was indeed a pleasant surprise.