And if I show you my dark side
Will you still hold me tonight
And if I open my heart to you
And show you my weak side
What would you do?
-Pink Floyd, "The Final Cut"
No, that's not how I'm feeling at this instant, but it's a rather nice quote off a new CD.
posted by Simon Sunday, December 29, 2002
At sea
Well, yesterday was exciting, in Barbados.
I went in a submarine, and went 140' down over a reef. TBH the view was less clear than from snorkelling, although at a deeper depth there's obviously different stuff, but I was sat at the front by the 'pilot' and could see him doing everything, so could see how the sub worked. Then I got dragged to the beach, without expecting to so I had to go swimming in P&O uniform shorts (!) and tried jetskiing for the first time!
This cruise has really been one of ups and downs - Christmas was nasty. But on this cruise, and one day of last cruise, I have:
- Been in a helicopter
- Been in a speedboad around tropical mangrove swamps
- Snorkelled over a live corel reef
- Been in a submarine
- Been on a jetski
And all of the above cost me a total of $20, which was for the jetski!
posted by Simon Sunday, December 29, 2002
St. Lucia
Today is St. Lucia. I'm working on board all day :-(
Yesterday was good though, in Antigua - I spent boxing day zooming around the mangrove trees on the north of the island in a 24' open speedboat with a guide, and then going snorkelling over a live corel reef. A fun day, especially as I was able to forget about work and the ship for a while...
Today will be a day of getting on with maintainence I think.
posted by Simon Friday, December 27, 2002
PS - I'm very sunburnt, after a day on the beach yesterday. And after being rained on in Lanzarote last cruise (which is technically a desert), I got rained on in Tortola!!! But hey, I spent three hours of Christmas Eve swimming...
posted by Simon Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Well, it's now 6pm over here. Today I've worked an 8hr day (with a few more to come), been served dinner by the Captain and various officers, cried a bit and been accused of being drunk more than once. So, a varied day...
What else can I write? It's like a normal working day except that you're supposed to be happy and bouncy at everybody. Not being Christian I don't feel I have any reason to be happy and bouncy today in particular, and there's nobody on board that I'm close enough to enjoy things with. All the "happy" people remind me of things I've preferred to forget...
For any worried parents reading, things aren't as bad as this probably sounds - it's just that I've just finished some stressful work... Today has been both good and bad, sometimes in ways that I expected and sometimes in completely different ones. Of course, the theatre company will come in for the show tonight having done 1/2 hr work today and assuming that it's the same for all of us, and not knowing that I've rehearsed them and three other acts and spent 3 hrs programming their lighting while they've been having a party. But that's to be expected, they're like that...I don't begrudge them their short hours, I just wish they'd realise that they don't do very much work.
Hmm. Bitter ramblings now. I should probably go... actually must go and get dressed up soon anyway, I have to check on a classical music recital in an hour.
If you're reading, send an email and tell me what's happening back home. Apart from anything else, I'm curious as to whether anybody actually reads this anyway, given that updates are so sporadic!
posted by Simon Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Carribean - Christmas day
Merry Christmas to anybody who's reading this. Please don't be offended if you think you shou ldhave had a phone call, there are three ship-shore lines for 800 crew, and so I've given up on trying to get one.
Christmas on board ship is strange. Some departments are working pretty much a normal day, or in some cases more than usual, while others basically have the day off. Which makes sense, in that those who don't have to work might as well enjoy themselves, but at the same time causes resentment - there's a notice on the crew office door saying "No Crew Cash Today", and a handwritten scrawl on it saying "why not - everybody else is still working"
Personally, my feelings are mixed. Partly becausae of not being with family or friends, partly cos I have to work, and largely bercause on board ship it's impossible to get away from the jolity, forced or otherwise. Big Customer Service Smiles are hard today, especially when you're having to do the same with crew as well. I get irritated by the hipocrisy of people who wouldn't normally say a word to me being all friendly and huggy, for one day.
Anyway........ off to work. Hope everyone is well.
posted by Simon Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Somewhere off Madeira
Well, today I had a ride in a helicopter for the first time ever!
I ran into the tours manager on board, who told me that they had a spare seat and if I could be on the quayside in 15 mins I could have a helicopter trip around the island! Wow... Madeira has some incredible landscape. Especially when you're flying through it...
I have a night off tonight. Which is odd. Cos there isn't much to do apart from sit in my cabin...
posted by Simon Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Atlantic - between Tenerife and Madeira
Well, we just spent the day in Tenerife. At least the ship did, I only got 45 mins ashore due to workload :-(
Tomorrow is Madeira, where I should hopefully be doing a passenger tour. I signed up for an off-road one by jeep =8-)
Some people have observed that I've leaving it incredibly late to plan my week's leave. This is because I'm disorganised. I may be visiting people in the north, or may be in the south. I haven't time to do both. Come to think of it, maybe even Dublin as there are at least three people there I'd like to see who I haven't seen in a year or more... of course whether they still want to see me is another matter.
Anyway, if you'd particularly like me to visit, let me know. And otherwise some people may start to get sattelite phone calls in the next day or two!
posted by Simon Tuesday, December 03, 2002