I was 9, it was being fitted out in a drydock in my home town.
I had never seen anything so palatial and grand in my life. Nor anything so huge !!
I had a very bad and violent childhood and it stands out as a very magical moment, the stuff dreams were made of.

Afew years ago I met the designer who was in charge of her last refit. He told us that as a boy he used to watch the ship being built in his hometown and vowed one day he would work on her.
He held on to his dream and eventually did in a spectacular fashion. 7 years ago

So glad I did this while it was still possible! 7 years ago

... and now I want to do it again before the old girl heads off to the knackers yard. 8 years ago