Tuesday, March 28, 2006

preparations underway!

Well, the Personal Survival training was fab! Spent about 4 1/2 hours in the pool dressed in overalls, shoes and of course, a lifejacket. Learned so much, plus it really helps to have done physically what I've learned theoretically. It was great to be able to sit in a life raft - feel the size and space of it, learn where and SEE where all the euqipment would be and also do what we would need to do. Although yes, I do realise that it is cold in the sea, at least I stand a chance if something happens!

At the end we did and exercise, with the wave machine going, the lights of, full on fog machine, explosions and sound efeects, and cold water spraying everywhere. We had to jump from the 5m platform, form 2 carousels get to and in the liferafts and then carry out the procedures and answer questions - very cool! It was a good combination of fun and seriousness and the only down bit was when I jumped in for the execise and the person after didn't check to see if it was clear and someone landed on me! Still only a dead leg so not too bad :)

Have finished at th Red Lion, went to my last church service for a while on Sunday, finished off the bathroom, bought the curtains for my bedroom, made lists of 'to do' and pthings to take, started to pack and went to my last J.A.M club tgis afternoon. It was really sweet - the boys were actually fairly well behaved and they gave me a card and chocolate!

Oh and RD series 8 arrived this morning with a mini skutter :)))

Friday, March 17, 2006

...the modem cometh

Finally!

We have our shiny new modem (after a bit of straight talking and mild bullying of the BT operator in India) and the wonder of the internet has returned to our abode.

I haven't posted for ages I've just realised, here's an up date:

*I leave for the ship 2 weeks today.

*I leave work next Saturday

*I had to have a full (expensive!) medical for this new contract, I discovered that you have reflexes in the oddest of places - did you know there are 3 on your arm?

*Next Monday I travel up North for the PEEL staff party - oh yeah, and the P.S.T training in Blackpool the next day. It's one of those where they chuck you in a swimming pool, turn the fog machine on full blast, make you jump off the top diving board and then inflate a liferaft - at least, that's what I've heard!

*I've been meeting up with folks as a last catch up before I toddle off. Next week I'm visiting Charly, the girl who travelled around most of America with 5 years ago and have only seen a couple of times since!

*I have plans whizzing around in my head for a change (more like a 180'turn!) in career direction. All depends on various factors which I get to think about whilst on the ship.

*Check out the "Reading" section on my sidebar - I bought some new books which are amazing - I finished one of them the afternoon I bought it! Tory Hayden is an amazing person.