The second week completed and the waves are now our friends, gently lapping at the Invincible and rocking us to sleep. Yes, the waters are calmer and the sun, well it's getting hotter! These are the first signs that a different land awaits us.

The start of week two had felt like we were all in limbo, because Portsmouth was but a distant memory and our destination seemed so far away…

Musically, we rehearse every day apart from the Sabbath and even then some find time the enthusiasm to blow with CSgt Adge Cutler's Volunteer Band who play at the church service held on the Quarterdeck. Adge is doing a wonderful job and seems to be enjoying himself.

The first gig of the week was thanks to the newly promoted BdSgt Dave Prentice RM (congratulations to him) who heard it was one of the Petty Officer's birthday and promptly offered music in return for drinks and a good feed, sweet work David. The 'Leppards' Jazz group swung into action with Musn Mark Upton stepping in for our distant friend BdCpl Russ Young who has been left back in UK. That was on the Friday, Saturday mornings rig up was held on the Quarterdeck to play through some marches, however we didn't actually play 'On the Quarterdeck' which is something that should be brought to the Bosses attention!

Saturday ended with a flight deck bar-b-cue and it was touch and go, due to the weather, whether we would play or not. Eventually we were given the green light and the music was supplied by 'Shes and the Leppards', the ship's Rock Band and 'Catskan' (our Ska band). The Leppards performed their usual mix of jazz standards and funky numbers while the Ship' company tucked into the mountain of meat that was cooked by the officers. By the time Catskan took centre stage, the throng were fed and wanting to dance. Well the 6 or 8 Wrens at the front certainly did, and dance they did to the sounds of Ska. Buster Brown even graced the dance floor and let fly with some scintillating moves until he was felled by 'Ship Roll' his words not mine! He was really trying to keep up with Laura 'the dervish' David but this only left Buster red faced and ultimately 'glutally' bruised.

Sunday 16th saw some of the Band supporting Adge at church again and the Ship's sports day. The events included volleyball for the good looking, cricket for the elderly members of the band, deck hockey for the clinically insane and tug of war for our heavyweights. After our victory last week with the field gun competition our naval companions seemed somewhat intent on not being rolled over again, but we gave them a fright none the less. We were toppled in the second round in the volleyball after some good work by Ian Airlie, Matt Michelle and the superb serving of Jase Walker. A scapegoat was needed and I (JB) was it. Trev Naughton turned to me and spewed 'Serving the ball IN the court does help you know!' I thanked him for his honest criticism….. The deck hockey looked by far the most dangerous of events. It wasn't a case of 'jolly hockey-sticks' more on the lines of ' I'm gonna smack your head with some wood'. That's definitely the best way to describe it. The cricket team had a glorious win against the Wardroom but fell foul to the stewards who had 3 or 4 West Indian players (ringers) in their team. The final event and probably the most competed for was the tug of war. Buster Brown, Mark Upton, Scottie Burton, Rob Sarahs, Gaz Turner and Big Danny Duncum, all big men (average weight 17.5 stone), all proud men and all men's men! With all the opposition obliterated one by one our boys braced themselves for one last tug against a team of strapping Petty Officers. After agonising conflict with no quarter given our lads decided to let these stubborn POs have some glory, but we'll be back!!!

The Band and Ship's Company during Procedure Alpha, the entering harbour routine.
	Left: The Band perfom the Post Horn Galop during one of the functions in America Right: The Captain during a press conference

Tuesday was the night that the A Crew collected their prize for winning the field gun competition that was dinner with the Captain and also the winning ladies team. A young chef provided some luscious food and some delicious grapes provided some glorious wine. A nightcap back in our own mess ended the evening, which also helped alleviate the pain that was inflicted upon us by Ian Airlie's, Stevo Stevenson's and Laura David's merciless phys regimes. Bring back 'Fonda' we love your muscle vests!

Well I'm afraid that's all we have for this week, but don't panic there will be more for you to follow in next week's diary.

John Beckley & Alaine Shakespeare