Retirement may only be just over the horizon but I don't think a wheelchair is beckoning at the moment.

As I prepared to board the 90,000 ton mega cruiseship, Celebrity Constellation, four miles off the port, the pilot boat Arrow kept station off the ship's side.

When the shell door opened and crew members lowered the small pilot ladder I spotted a folded wheelchair close to the ladder.

"Is that for me?" I shouted. Back came the reply: "If you need it, pilot."

On a better note a young Filipino sailor thought I looked 45. My hopes were dashed when the pilot boat crew suggested that he was talking about my waist measurement.