Hello from Flat Stanley and the rest of the crew

Hi!  This is Stan, remember me?  Today is our first day at sea and it is so exciting being on the ship.  We are in the North sea off the west coast of Denmark.  This is where the oil rigs are and there is lots of tanker traffic.  We left the fog and rain of Dover England last night and this morning woke up to a pitching and rolling sea with sun and cloud, temp of 14 C and winds of 35 km per hour with gusts.  The sea is described as medium to high and it is really weird walking around.  You walk the corridor and it makes you climb up and run down and bounce against the walls.  Not too many people are out and around.  Pat told me that many people are seasick and staying in bed.  The swimming pool is wavy and splashing its water out.  We skipped the yoga balance class this morning.  I wonder how many people did it right?   The line dancing should be more fun.  We figure that we'll just have to stand there and the ship will do the rest for us.  Dianna says this is the worst she has experienced in rough seas but this is a small older ship and it has no stabilizers.  At lunch (only tea and jello for Pat and me) we met a Japanese couple who through drawings and charades told us they like Canada and the maple tree they saw there and the big castle on the mountain which turned out to be the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.  Tonight we have the Captain's cocktail reception and our first formal night.Thanks for the suit, Nolan.  We will send a picture.  Here is a picture of Pat and me up on the bridge track.  (See me waving?).  She is going to have to do something with that hair!!  Love to all!  Stanley Lambchop.