The Gregorian Voyage 2020

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!

SUBJECT: Gregorian Cruise 2020 Status Update.

Dear Gregorians,
As you may be aware, there is this general sense of insecurity globally. Specifically, in Wuhan, China, there has been an outbreak of the Coronavirus epidemic. We do not have all the Information yet about this Coronavirus, as it continues to spread across the globe.
Four passengers on a cruise ship that docked last week Friday morning near New York City were taken to a hospital for further evaluation for the coronavirus.
Also, just last week, citing coronavirus, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian barred travelers with Chinese passports, Hong Kong and Macau passports till further notice.
In addition to the preceding, there was also the issue of inability of many Gregorians to obtain the necessary tourist visas to join the cruise.

Since the safety and well-being of all Gregorians is of utmost importance to us, after due consultation and careful consideration, the Gregorian Voyage 2020 Committee has decided to suspend the Gregorian 2020 Cruise on the Norwegian Sky from Miami to Bahamas till further notice.

In addition to suspending the cruise from Miami to Bahamas, the Cruise Committee will be looking into other opportunities to have a safe and easily accessible cruise for all Gregorians in the foreseeable future.

You may contact Norwegian Cruise Line Booking Specialist Sara Kloor at: +1954-514-4284 with our Group ID # 935936 for a full refund.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact any of the Gregorian contacts listed on the Cruise flyer.

Up Gregs!!!

Don’t miss the Boat!

HEAR WORD!: Ifeoma Fafunwa at a special performance for final year students of her award winning stage production at the Jubilee Hall, St. Gregory's College, Lagos.

Ifeoma grew up on the College grounds as her mother, Mrs. Carol Obianwu worked as Senior Science Teacher then Vice Principal. She is also an Old Girl of Holy Child College.

The school was St Gregory’s College (Lagos-Nigeria) in the early 1970s. In class 1 my friend Paul Alade and myself, Melvin Ukachi Noks, had passion only for music. While other students were doing regular school activities, during which we always secluded ourselves twanging away on our box guitars, Paul on bass, I on rhythm, rehearsing my composed and written songs.

There was the school’s band with electric amplified instruments we would beg to be let into, borrowing their drummer who was bluffy all the time. In one of the times with the musical instruments, a shy, quiet, strange and completely unknown and unseen classmate of ours appeared from nowhere and sat on the drums and played. I was bowled over at the end of the song. I asked him, “Who are you, what’s your name and where have you been?” It was how Mike Meme automatically became the drummer of the ”Hitch Hykers,” a name Paul and I called ourselves. This went on till class 3 in 1973 when I needed a keyboardist and handpicked another classmate, Dapo Olumide, taught him the keyboard and kept him. By this time, we had got to class 4 in 1974 and I had handpicked a junior member in class 3 to make us 5 as the lead guitarist. He was Eelix Ijeh.

At the end of a good rehearsal, I talked to my boys and said, now that we are approaching final year and exit from the school, I would like us to approach a recording studio and appeal to them to record us and wax for us 5 copies they could give us each as souvenirs. At the studios they asked us the name of our band, as ”Hitch Hykers” was old fashioned, what should we tell them? Mike Meme retorted “Ofege.” “Good,” I remarked. From now on, “Ofege” is our name, our game and our way. Recording studio here we come!

“Ofege” meant something in the military called French leave or AWOL. This was coined out of a yoruba word Ofo, meaning he has jumped, then the English word Gate. Ofo-Gate. During lights out in the dormitories, the housemaster on a roll call will demand the whereabouts of an absent student, everyone will announce – “Ofege!”

Of course we did not jump the high school gate,we passed through it and sneaked out one Saturday morning without an EXIAT (permission slip from the housemaster) to meet an Audition appointment with Decca WA Ltd. At the end of which they told us: “Go back to school and read your books, this is not a children’s playground.” We sneaked back solemn and heartbroken, but didn’t give up.

The next Saturday we “Ofeged” out again, this time to EMI Records [Nigeria] to meet another audition. Odion Iruoje was so amused at the souvenir idea. He said, “Don’t you worry boys, I will give you your souvenirs alright and even much more. But let’s have you lot back here next Saturday, you must be TIGHT for the recording.” We went back ecstatic. Finally we got a deal!

More ecstatic at EMI again, on seeing IN SESSION-OFEGE pasted on the door with the red light. Odion drilled us like a sergeant at arms in a military camp until he achieved what he wanted. Bouncing out but weary the next morning from the overnight recording session, Odion Iruoje called us to his office and slapped a contract on his table and said SIGN. When we all did, he ordered us to come back next Saturday again for photo shoots, which we obeyed. At the end of which he said: “See you after your long vacation.” I remember that long vacation in my father’s paint shop, I was glancing through the Daily Times and right on the centre spread, a big advert-OFEGE Try And Love. It took me by surprise.

Back to school at the end of long vacation, it was a sensation, we were already celebrities. Of course at EMI records, we were given our souvenirs, one album each. Many years after we left school, EMI went out of existence, leaving Ofege albums floating without control and free meat for pirates ever since.

MELVIN UKACHI NOKS (Ofege, in his own words - September, 2018)

How A Couple Nigerian Teens Made A Psych-Rock Classic Melvin Ukachi Noks, bandmember, explains how Ofege formed and made 'Try and Love.'

The Gregorian Voyage 2020 Itinerary:

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Thanks and UP GREGS!!!

SOME OF THE DINING OPTIONS ON THE GREGORIAN VOYAGE 2020 ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN SKY!

Room Service

Available 24 hours a day, simply pick up the phone and order breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night munchies. A convenience charge of $7.95 will apply to all orders (Continental Breakfast until 10am excluded, Suite Guests are excluded from the $7.95 charge at all times). A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will be added to all beverages and special occasion menu items.

Price Per Person: Convenience charge of $7.95 USD may apply.

SOME OF THE DINING OPTIONS ON THE GREGORIAN VOYAGE 2020 ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN SKY!

Topsiders Bar and Grill

Enjoy casual dining to suit every taste. From grilled burgers to hot dogs, come as you are and eat as you like after a night out or before your day begins.

Price Per Person: Complimentary

DECK
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SOME OF THE DINING OPTIONS ON THE GREGORIAN VOYAGE 2020 ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN SKY!

Palace Main Dining Room

Sit back, relax and embark on a culinary adventure inside this complimentary Main Dining Room. Palace has something for the foodie in everyone.

Price Per Person: Complimentary
DECK
5

CUISINE
Casual Contemporary

SOME OF THE DINING OPTIONS ON THE GREGORIAN VOYAGE 2020 ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN SKY!

Great Outdoors Café

Come as you are, even in your swimsuit, to this casual, buffet bar serving grilled favorites like burgers, hot dogs and great ocean views.

Price Per Person: Complimentary
DECK
11

CUISINE
Outdoor Buffet

SOME OF THE DINING OPTIONS ON THE GREGORIAN VOYAGE 2020 ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN SKY!

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local offers classic pub fare in a relaxed atmosphere. With popular dishes like the Reuben Sandwich and Fish n’ Chips, The Local has all your favorite comfort foods. So try one of our many beers on tap and catch a game with us!

Price Per Person: Complimentary

DECK
11