First Day Back

I am now back at sea and as I can’t access Facebook I am going to make a conscious effort to keep my blog upto date.  I will endeavour to avoid the doom and gloom and post apocalyptic thoughts of some of my previous blogs and keep things more relevant.  Of course names of places and ship’s will be left out as I can’t really give to much detail but hey ho.

 

The last week has been horrible as we knew I was going back and I think little Elizabeth picked up on it as she was really grumpy for my last week at home. This is unlike her as she is always so chirpy.  William didn’t seem to pick up on it and he has started saying his first words. Unlike Beth who’s first word were ‘Oh Dear’ William has gone a bit more risqué.  When we go to get him out of his cot in the morning he just keeps repeating his first word, which is ‘Sex’. He just keeps on saying ‘Sex, Sex, Sex’. Now this doesn’t really make any odds at home but can be quite strange when he is running around the pub saying it.

 

Anyway I flew out of T5 which was a novel and almost pleasurable experience. I had checked in online to ensure I got plenty of Leg Room as due to cut backs we now have to fly cattle class. I took Beth to the bag drop off and she stroked my suitcase as I put it on the conveyor and screamed her head of as it got whisked away. It is always hard saying good bye to loved ones when you go away to sea but having to say good bye to the little ones is horrid.  It is so hard knowing that I won’t see Debbie and the little ones for months. The only thing at the moment is that Beth and William are a bit young to understand but I am dreading it when they get a little older and can understand more. At least we have all the modern communications now so we have email and twenty minutes of calls each week. I will keep my eye out if I get ashore to see if I can find a WiFi hotspot then I might be able to skype them.

 

The flight was uneventful and apart from having to wait for ages for my bags to emerge at the other end it all went smoothly.  It is a long time since I have flown out this way and baring 2003 it is about 12/13 years since I was here. Things have changed so much, the first time I came here last century (95) the drive from the airport to the port was mostly desert, now it is all built up for the whole 40minute drive with a five lane motorway and skyscrapers the whole way. The first time I was here you quite often saw camels being driven around in the backs of pickups; I doubt I will see that this time. I suppose that’s progress for you.

 

Anyway I am now all unpacked and setting into my cabin, at least there are a lot of familiar faces onboard which always makes things easier, I just have to get my brain back into work mode now and hopefully with the busy programme the next few months will fly by.