Azura
The 7th April 2010 saw the start of three brand new vessels being based in Southampton with P&O's latest Grand class, and slightly modified sister to Ventura, Azura.  Generally the two are the same but there are a few differences such as the tail at the base of the stern and the Movies Under The Stars screen which is very popular on their Princess sisters.  Originally, the arrival was 7am which was ridiculous.  I moaned for a week on Twitter and on the 6th it was announced it would be the 9am I'd asked for (Arcadia and Ventura were that time).  Their Twitter person also told me so I was very happy.  Due to the late change, many didn't know about it.  We headed out for the 6.55am bus so we could grab a drink and some breakfast for me from Martin's then get a good spot before the fairweather's descended.  It was quite mild with a little light drizzle at that time and even the sun tried to come out through the clouds.  That didn't last long!
Several fairweather's gave up and left but as the time drew near for her to put an appearance off Calshot, the prepared ship nuts arrived!  Also the wind whipped up, rain came down and it strongly reminded me of Arcadia's arrival five years earlier!  At 8.07am there was a moving something atop one of the buildings at Calshot.  Was it???  YES!!!!!!!!!!!  Ship nuts forward!!!!  We heard her go blast mad down the end and also past Fawley.  The tugs Surrey and Sussex went down for her as well.
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		(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 7th April 2010 Not to be reproduced without permission