Bye bye Summer

10/10/10




The summer has passed by so quickly. Thank you to all of your Birthday messages, I had a wonderful day in Southampton with my friends and then I had a lovely meal on board Artemis. The Cruise Director also ask the audience to sing Happy Birthday to me after our show (which was slightly embarrassing but lovely. So what have I been up to. Well I finished my time in the Baltic (just as it was starting to turn cold). One of my favourite visits in the last cruise was to Brugge in Belgium. I am determined to go back there, such a beautiful place. In Germany I went on a moli steam train and visited one of the best hotels in the world, where I took tea and lots of cake.

During the last 6 weeks we have come down to the Med, and out came the Bikini. In Sicily I took a tour to Taomina, saw Mt Etna in the background. In a little shop I was surprised to see a deck of my mums tarot cards. I bought an oil painting at an amazing price from an artist in the main square. This town has redeemed Sicily for me after my first disastrous visit to Messina. Croatia I had high hopes for, as I have learnt a little of the language, and I wasn't disappointed, Dubrovnik and Split were both stunning and the locals seemed to really appreciate my efforts with their language. Also went to Montenegro, Greece and Turkey. Istanbul, well there was an experience. I sampled my first Waterpipe, fell in love with apple tea, made friends with some local teenagers and danced in the street. Learnt how to say hello 'Meh ha bah' (that's not how to spell it just how it sounds). Also learnt that its not wise to accept an invitation to drink tea with a strange man in his shop no matter how persuasive and feminine he seems, cos he may just lock you in and try to kiss you. I did lots of bartering for goods and bought a number of pretty things in the grand baazar. In the last few days we crossed the Black sea and visited the Ukraine, saw were little Anastasia Romanov spent her summers in the Livadia Place in Yalta.

On the ship, I am running lots, trying run the distance of a marathon a week. We lost a dancer for this cruise – She has been sent home for some physio on her hip, but is back now. Tonight I am having a cheese and wine night in my cabin.

Hope everyone at home is well and happy xxx

Hello All,
Well I have spent the last few months in the colder parts of the world, but still enjoyed good weather.  I have been to beautiful Iceland, where I bathed in the Blue lagoon, a naturally heated outdoor spa.  I have been to russia during their crazy heat wave, sweden, finland and norway.  I swam in the freezing glacial waters in Eidfjord, my favourite port.  I have seen more dolphins, in the shetland isles.  Partied all night in Dublin (AMAZING CITY).  Seen numerous wonderful sites. Life on board is up and down like the sea.  It's very intense always being with the same people, living, working and breathing with them day in, day out.  We do have some fabulous parties and the social can be good fun.  Soon we change to Med and canary cruising so I can finally get on top of my tan again. Sorry this is short.

Topping up the tan

29th June 2010




It has been a while since my last blog. All our shows are up now and have been received well by the passengers. So much has been happening. A passenger died on board last week from a heart attack. One of our dancers, Cara, fell on stage and has seriously bruised her ankle, most of her leg is green and she has been signed off for the remainder of the cruise. I have seen dolphins and a whale today, which I was exceptionally excited about. Now that the rehearsals have eased off a bit I have had more time to get off the ship and see different places. So for the last two weeks I have been in the Mediterranean and the weather has been amazing. I got third degree burns on my bottom...oppps. I have swam in the sea in Palma, Mallorca and again in Crete. I have seen the original Olympic stadium and the Acropolis in Athens and I rode in a Gondola in Venice. I have now trained as a tour escort so I should get to do a few more exciting things. :-)

Have you seen my sea legs?

May 23^rd 2010

 One week at sea and the adjustment has been easier than I expected.

When I first boarded the boat (I mean Ship...I keep making that mistake) I was all tears, a little frightened of the unknown and not liking leaving loved ones behind. There are lots of rules and dress codes to follow, which was a touch imprisoning at first because I didn't know where I was allowed to go and what I was allowed to wear etc. Now however I am getting to grips with it all and especially enjoying dressing up in my posh frocks to eat dinner as the sun sets over the sea.

There are a few things I didn't expect On-board. TV, we have TV's in our cabins – which play film, documentaries and BBC world news. Plus we have recycling, so along my corridor I have a number of different bins. I am struggling at nights to sleep. The constant drone of the air conditioning which cannot be switched off, and on Port days, the early morning tremble and blare of the thrusters don't mix well with my light sleeping habits. Last night I achieved 4 hours sleep. Up here also the days stay lighter for longer – so it's still light at 10pm. Very strange.

The food is good mostly and I have a cabin steward who comes in to my cabin every day to make my bed and clean my room. It's a life of luxury. At the moment we're docked over night in Russia. So far we've been to Norway, Sweden and Finland. And from the boat they have looked so beautiful. Unfortunately we're not allowed off until we have finished all rehearsals and all the shows have gone up – so another 3 weeks yet. The shows are fabulous, the costumes are to die for. I shall get photos up as soon as I can. I have managed to use the satellite phone to call home but there is a delay, and I have occasional access to internet. My Mobile phone has virtually been in signal the whole time so I have never been completely cut off. A few days ago, in the middle of the Baltic sea we had such a thick fog, you could barely see the water at the foot of the ship, I was feeling so claustrophobic that day. Luckily though so far, no sea sickness. I hope all is well back home, I hear England is having a heat wave. Typical! The week I leave. Lol.

All paced and ready to go!

   

So here I am, with enough luggage to sink a ship (oh uh!) and my two travel companions DF the bear and Rocky.  

Now I can receive post whilst Im on the ship - so if you would like to send me letters or pictures (which I would love) then here is the address:  Anna Tyrie (production singer),

     Headliners Theatre Company,

MV Artemis,

P & O Cruises,

Carnival House,

100 Harbour Parade,

Southampton,

SO15 1ST

Keep your fingers crossed for me. xxx

One week to go!

Slightly shell shocked... I am now one week off setting sail.  Rehearsals have been a mixed bag, I have laughed, cried, ached, made some wonderful friends, lost my voice, slowly regained my voice and eaten like a horse.  Eventful to say the least.

3 days till rehearsals start

Finally, the sailing day is in sight.  This will be my first time on a cruise ship.  I begin the gruelling rehearsal schedual on Monday, 6 weeks, 9 shows, and more shows to learn once on board.  I am visiting an array of different countries, from Iceland to China and I am very excited.   So my life is packed and I am saying my goodbyes to friends and family; although I'll still have internet and phone on occassion, communication will be limited - please feel free to email and text me...just dont expect a quick response.  I shall also have an address you can post to, if the mood takes you to write a letter or send gifts, lol.  At this point I am nervous, excited and scared.  Lets hope I find my sea legs quickly. :-)