We are now at the end of our first week alongside in Scotland and unusually for Scotland the weather has been wonderful. The last few days have all been in the 20's which has been great. Friday was really pleasant as the bridge team decided to have a run ashore, we went into Limekilns for a couple of beers and from there into Dunfermlin. Dunfirmlin is a very pleasant town with plenty of variety and some imposing buildings. I had a great afternoon with everyone and managed to let my hair down for once. The only problem was, as usual I was worrying about money and how much I would have for the month. I hate going ashore and having to watch the money. Everyone goes into rounds and I have to stay dutch. The guys were good though they did buy me the odd beer even though they knew I couldn't buy one back. All in all with the meal and a few drinks I think I spent about £30. I know it doesn't sound alot but when I was onboard yesterday I worked out what I had in the bank and what I had to come out in the way of bills etc and basically I have about £10 more coming out than I have in this month. Well looks like I will have to stay onboard this month. It's not that bad though as I can go down the Gym, the bar has a WII and I have a few books that I want to read. Anyway I will be 1 in 3 duties so that helps. I don't think July will be any better, I just hope I have £30 or so that I can find so I can go up the road if we get to France.
Although I was stuck onboard yesterday I did have a pleasent day, one of the chaps has an XBOX so we had a bit of a play on that and I managed to stay off the alcohol so for once I slept really well. I haven't done so well today as I fell off the wagon for the normal Sunday Pub Lunch onboard but hey ho.
Three months to go and I will be home again, I am looking forward to getting home as I do worry about Debbie and the little one. I know it isn't easy for Debbie trying to look after Beth by herself especially when number two is on the way and I am really worried about when the SPD kicks in and how Debbie will cope whilst I am at sea.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
LIFE AFTER OST
OST is finally over and has been for 11 days. The second and final see week was reasonably tame compared to the first couple of weeks. For Navigation we received a Satisfactory for our final assessment, which I was pleased about, as the whole team had put in a lot of work. I think it has helped put what happened with SJ behind me.
We escaped from the clutches of FOST on the Thursday and made a fast passage around to Portland. The weekend went too quickly but of note was the Christening of little Elizabeth. It was a wonderful day and she was so well behaved.
As mentioned the weekend went far too quickly and we were straight into our ISM audit on the Tuesday. This seemed to go quite smoothly which was a relief. Debbie stayed onboard for the week, which was really nice. I know it can’t have been much fun stuck in the cabin all day when I was working. It was nice being able to spend the lunchtimes and evenings with them. We did get ashore for a brief wander on the Wednesday and had some not so nice fish and chips in Weymouth.
Thursday saw Debbie departing to honalee to spend a couple of days with my Mummy before heading back to Devon on Sunday. In the meantime I went to RM Poole for a meeting on Thursday afternoon. After the meeting I headed back to Portland arriving back in time to join the Bridge team and Terry ashore where we had an enjoyable BBQ on Chesil beach near the Cove. It was quite civilised with Venison burgers and Fizzy wine. Needless to say I had a little bit too much to drink and I felt a little shabby on Friday morning when we came to sail from Portland for Scotland.
The passage up over the weekend was really pleasant. The weather was gorgeous and it was lovely just standing out on the bridge wings watching the world go by. As we were ahead of time we spent Sunday anchored of Holy Island.
We are now back alongside for three weeks or so, it will be quite nice having the chance to read my book again at smoko or lunch.
We escaped from the clutches of FOST on the Thursday and made a fast passage around to Portland. The weekend went too quickly but of note was the Christening of little Elizabeth. It was a wonderful day and she was so well behaved.
The RFA Chaplin Bernard Clarke, who is also a Chaplin to the Queen, conducted the christening. It was a lovely service moving and light hearted. Elizabeth is the first to be christened onboard since Fort Rosalie became Fort Rosalie. We will be getting the bell engraved with her name. The christening was followed by fizzy wine on the Bridge, then down to the bar for a pub lunch. It was nice to see everyone that managed to come down to the ship on he day.
As mentioned the weekend went far too quickly and we were straight into our ISM audit on the Tuesday. This seemed to go quite smoothly which was a relief. Debbie stayed onboard for the week, which was really nice. I know it can’t have been much fun stuck in the cabin all day when I was working. It was nice being able to spend the lunchtimes and evenings with them. We did get ashore for a brief wander on the Wednesday and had some not so nice fish and chips in Weymouth.
Thursday saw Debbie departing to honalee to spend a couple of days with my Mummy before heading back to Devon on Sunday. In the meantime I went to RM Poole for a meeting on Thursday afternoon. After the meeting I headed back to Portland arriving back in time to join the Bridge team and Terry ashore where we had an enjoyable BBQ on Chesil beach near the Cove. It was quite civilised with Venison burgers and Fizzy wine. Needless to say I had a little bit too much to drink and I felt a little shabby on Friday morning when we came to sail from Portland for Scotland.
The passage up over the weekend was really pleasant. The weather was gorgeous and it was lovely just standing out on the bridge wings watching the world go by. As we were ahead of time we spent Sunday anchored of Holy Island.
We are now back alongside for three weeks or so, it will be quite nice having the chance to read my book again at smoko or lunch.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
OST WEEK TWO
We have now completed our first sea week at OST, I can't say it was particularly enjoyable but we got to the end of the first week with reasonable reports. It was bloody knackering as I was pulling 18/19 hour days all week trying to keep ahead of the game. Needless to say that come Friday I was a walking zombie. As always at FOST some members of the FOST team were a bit pedantic and didn't give credit where credit was due. Especially on the Thursday when they came up to the bridge and suddenly decided that we could do the mine swept channel. Luckily we had a chart prepared for it so we coped OK.
The weekend has been enjoyable, if, as ever, too short. Friday night I got rather discombobulated in the bar and Saturday Debbie and the little one came down to see me. It was so great to see them both as I do miss them when I am away. Little Beth was as smiley as usual and when we were in the Cider Press the little tyke kept trying to get to my pint.
I found out this week that I have had my extension approved, which is good news as it should help tie things together later in the year. I do worry though as Debbie may get SPD again which will make it very hard for her to cope with the little one. I just hope we have things timed right so that I get home before the SPD really kicks in.
Well today has been the normal Sunday at FOST preparing everything for the coming week. I think this is going to be a very hectic and unpleasant week. At the end of the day it is really only three and a half days of exercises and then it is all over and we can prepare for our ISM audit the following week.
I think the only thing that will get me through this week is looking forward to next weekend and the little ones christening. I really hope all goes smoothly on the day.
The weekend has been enjoyable, if, as ever, too short. Friday night I got rather discombobulated in the bar and Saturday Debbie and the little one came down to see me. It was so great to see them both as I do miss them when I am away. Little Beth was as smiley as usual and when we were in the Cider Press the little tyke kept trying to get to my pint.
I found out this week that I have had my extension approved, which is good news as it should help tie things together later in the year. I do worry though as Debbie may get SPD again which will make it very hard for her to cope with the little one. I just hope we have things timed right so that I get home before the SPD really kicks in.
Well today has been the normal Sunday at FOST preparing everything for the coming week. I think this is going to be a very hectic and unpleasant week. At the end of the day it is really only three and a half days of exercises and then it is all over and we can prepare for our ISM audit the following week.
I think the only thing that will get me through this week is looking forward to next weekend and the little ones christening. I really hope all goes smoothly on the day.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
THE NIGHT BEFORE SAILING
The week seems to have flown by since I last wrote. MASC took up all of Tuesday with a day of fun and games at sea. It did seem strange though as they ramed everything in to the first few hours after sailing. Then we were left stooging for about three hours whilst debriefs were conducted and we awaited the alloted time for returning to port.
As usual with MASC there were lots of pick up points that were identified by FOST staff. Reports were handed out with an expectation of the points being rectified prior to sailing for the sea week. As always though with FOST we then spent the next three days attending breifs and table tops that allowed us no time to rectify the pickups. Well after a lot of early mornings and very late nights we have managed to crack most things so I just hope all goes well tomorrow when we sail.
It hasn't been all work though as I did manage to get the three oclock boat ashore yesterday for a bit of a wonder around. Debbie has come down with a horrible cold (she hasn't met any Mexicans so I know it isn't swine flu) so she wasn't up to coming down. I really do miss her and the little one when I am away and it isn't helped this trip as I have put in for an extension (which suits us for later in the year) so rather than thinking I am half way through with two months left I am only a third of the way through with about four months left.
I had quite a nice wonder though, I spent about an hour walking around Waterstones looking at all the books. At first I couldn't find anything that gripped my interest but then when I was leaving I saw a biography of Stalin's early years which I thought could be interesting so I came away with a book in the end. No doubt it will get me in trouble though as I have a pile of about 20 books on my 'to read' pile at home and no bookshelf space left anywhere. I think next time I am home I will have a look around and see if I can find anywhere to build a bookshelf. Well after the bookshop I met up with the rest of the bridge team and we had an impromptu BBQ on the Hoe over looking the sound which was very pleasant other than the view of the ship in the background.
Well the OST proper starts tomorrow as we sail for our first sea week. We have all worked hard getting things ready but I know they will always find something to pick us up for, which can be demoralising. You can't fight the white as they say, so we will just grin and bear it for the next few weeks.
Hopefully I will get to see Debbie next weekend, I know I am going to have lots of work to do but hopefully I will be able to keep my head above water enough to take a few hours off Saturday afternoon.
As usual with MASC there were lots of pick up points that were identified by FOST staff. Reports were handed out with an expectation of the points being rectified prior to sailing for the sea week. As always though with FOST we then spent the next three days attending breifs and table tops that allowed us no time to rectify the pickups. Well after a lot of early mornings and very late nights we have managed to crack most things so I just hope all goes well tomorrow when we sail.
It hasn't been all work though as I did manage to get the three oclock boat ashore yesterday for a bit of a wonder around. Debbie has come down with a horrible cold (she hasn't met any Mexicans so I know it isn't swine flu) so she wasn't up to coming down. I really do miss her and the little one when I am away and it isn't helped this trip as I have put in for an extension (which suits us for later in the year) so rather than thinking I am half way through with two months left I am only a third of the way through with about four months left.
I had quite a nice wonder though, I spent about an hour walking around Waterstones looking at all the books. At first I couldn't find anything that gripped my interest but then when I was leaving I saw a biography of Stalin's early years which I thought could be interesting so I came away with a book in the end. No doubt it will get me in trouble though as I have a pile of about 20 books on my 'to read' pile at home and no bookshelf space left anywhere. I think next time I am home I will have a look around and see if I can find anywhere to build a bookshelf. Well after the bookshop I met up with the rest of the bridge team and we had an impromptu BBQ on the Hoe over looking the sound which was very pleasant other than the view of the ship in the background.
Well the OST proper starts tomorrow as we sail for our first sea week. We have all worked hard getting things ready but I know they will always find something to pick us up for, which can be demoralising. You can't fight the white as they say, so we will just grin and bear it for the next few weeks.
Hopefully I will get to see Debbie next weekend, I know I am going to have lots of work to do but hopefully I will be able to keep my head above water enough to take a few hours off Saturday afternoon.
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