One Week In......Again

One week in for the second time this trip. After all the upheaval of having to transfer I didn’t think I would settle in onboard but fortunately I was wrong I have settled in really quickly. Our immediate programme is pretty naff as the ship is alongside for a while. Nothing to look forward to but AMP, Lloyds and MCA surveys oh and finally an ISM audit. If that’s not bad enough I am stuck in Scotland miles from Debbie and the little ones. It is not all bad though, I have a reasonably comfortable cabin, we have transport to the local town and more importantly there is Strongbow onboard.

I really can’t complain though as although on my previous ship I was generally working 12 – 14 hrs everyday on here I am just going 8 – 5 which is much more civilised. In addition my work load is going to allow me to take 4 days local leave mid March so I will get home and see Debbie and the little ones. (A weekend off to change pooey nappies). Joking apart I am really looking forward to getting home for a few days as I know it will give Debbie a break and the ability for her to have a full night’s sleep. If I am really lucky I may even get a pint of the dreaded Rattler down the GD.

March is going to be pretty crap though, stuck alongside and to top it off guess what day we sail. Yep Easter Sunday which I think is wrong as it is Easter but it can’t be helped as we need to get somewhere. As I will be writing the programme for the ship though we will be making Thursday a Saturday and Friday a Brunch day so that should keep people happy. Then once we do get out to Sea I have a nice Thornton’s Easter egg with special Toffee to look forward to.

I know I have moaned quite a bit about the transfer and the programme but there is one glimmer of hope within it. April looks like fun as we will be doing a big exercise in home waters and then heading off across the pond so I will finally escape European waters. Well it had to happen eventually. I am actually really looking forward to a proper ocean passage for once and sunny weather. Once we get to where we are going I won’t be staying with the ship though as my time will be up so it will be a flight home and a nice summer leave. BBQ’s, gardening and hopefully a night on the moors, here I come...Why do we always end up wishing our lives away.