Clinker

We arrived in Dunkirk on Thursday evening. I had an eventful watch across the Dover Straits which included seeing hubbys ships sailing past at about 10 miles away.
The Dover Straits is like the equivalent to the M25 - it is always busy with ships. Those heading in a South westerley direction do so in a lane nearest the English coast and those ships heading North do so in a lane closest to the French coast.  I should point out perhaps that the lanes are not marked out like lanes at a swimming pool, they are marked on a navigational chart very clearly and the occasional navigational buoy will mark the edge or centre of the channel. When crossing the lanes from England to France you have to do so at 90degrees to the flow of traffic so it is clear what you are doing. You only do that however if it is safe to do so.
So when I came down to cross from England to France there were loads of ships about.

Electronic chart showing my ship
position and our intended route in
green across the Dover Straits

There are Rules of the Road like the Highway code at sea so when I was crossing the South west lane it was the duty of all the ships coming south bound to keep out of my way but once I was crossing the North east lane it was my responsibility to alter course for any ships in that lane that were on a collision course with us.
So I started altering course for one ship and then I was on a collision course with another so I came round a little more and that made me on a collision course with yet another ship! It only takes about an hour or so to cross the lane but it was full of actitvity and I really really enjoyed it, Its what i love most about this job. Problem solving. Making sure I don't crash into anything or run aground!

So I went off watch at 8pm just before the pilot boarded to take us into the port. By the time I came on watch at 0400 we were safely alongside and waiting for the French stevedores to turn up to start loading the clinker.
At 0500 there was a flurry of activity with a few forms to sign and off we started. By the time i went off watch at 1200 we had just about finished.

Our cargo of clinker waiting to be loaded

Our hold nice and clean ready to load

The first grab of clinker

A piece of clinker

Hubby's ship sailing by - so close and yet so far

When I came back on watch at 8pm last night we were already back on the English coast heading for the Thames and guess who came sailing past again -  Hubby! He was also Thames bound too.

By 0400 this morning we had reached Gravesend. A pilot came out to meet us and take us the last few miles up the river to Purfleet to discharge the cargo, We are moored right beside the QE2 bridge at Dartford. We have no more orders for cargo and the weather forecast is not good so we are not sailing today. Hubby is further back down the river and is not sailing either.

A view of the conveyor belt which carries the cargo ashore

Back to sea

Well I've run off back to sea again! Well I drove actually and I really didn't feel like coming back but I had arranged it a couple of months back so couldn't let them down. Besides I know once I get into the swing of things I'll be fine.
So hubby got up and left at 3.45 this morning, he had an early flight to catch to join his ship in Antwerp. I got up at the same time but left just before 5 am to drive upto Teesport. Strange I should join in the same place that I left my last ship!
Anyway I got on board at about 1015 and met Andy, the chief officer leaving and we spent the next 2 hours running through loads of stuff. My head was bursting. You know when someone tells you loads of things, like email this to them, send this form to that person, full in and send this form here........ My head almost exploded and to be fair although he did a really good handover I was beginning to lose the will to live by the time he had finished !!
I know some of the crew, I've sailed with the Captain, Chief Eng, bosun and one of the deckhands before. So I don't suppose it'll be too bad.
I've unpacked and am off to have a snooze. I'm back on watch at 8pm this evening and want to get up there a bit earlier to get my bearings etc.
I'll be on watch until 4am.
We're off down to Dunkirk to load a cargo of clinker. Clinker is a residue of burned coal or from a furnace which comes in lumps. It's used in the production of cement. I remember sailing on a ship some years ago and we loaded clinker. It was usually loaded once a month and taken to a berth up the Thames river. Since this is the only ship that can carry it in this company, we get the job every month!
From memory I do remember clinker being really dusty, it had to be wet down with fresh water. However if it comes into contact with a lot of salt water then it can start to stick together so let's hope it all goes smoothly.

My cabin here is not as spacious as the last ship I was on but it's not bad although the only down side is that I don't have my own bathroom. So glad I brought my bathrobe with me. It'll come in handy as I traipse down the alleyway to have a shower!

Anyway here's a few photos of my cabin.

Also if you fancy tracking my ship and seeing where I am click on the link at the side of this page and type in Arco Beck into the vessel name search engine.

Comings and goings

There was much excitement in our household yesterday tinged with a little sadness though.

At the beginning of March my lovely hubby sourced a sewing desk for me. It is custom made to fit my sewing machine and folds away into a very tidy cupboard. I think the main reason for this was because when he had come home from sea he had found the dining table strewn with material and the sewing machine as I was right in the middle of quilt making for our grand daughter.
This has been a wonderful table to use but we both hate clutter and fearing this hobby may become more permanent hubby went ahead and ordered the desk.
When I got home yesterday the man had been to fit it in the upstairs spare room.I shall really enjoy filling all these little boxes and containers and of course making many lovely items.

When I got home yesterday my mum was also there. She had come across for lunch but had also come to collect our dog, Maisie. Maisie is off on her hols, staying with my parents, because both hubby and I are going away back to sea tomorrow. I said goodbye to my furry companion and went off back to work. It wasn't until when I got home last night that it hit me how quiet the house was without her. Both hubby and I sat around looking at each other and said, 'Its not the same without Maisie is it!'

It has felt really odd to day too without her but I am sure she is having a wondeful time, being thoroughly spoilt no doubt.

We have packed and are ready for our early start. I shall be poting while I'm away like I did before with lots of lovely photos too I hope.

5 things you didn't know about me

Sometimes I find it hard to write my posts. Once I have a subject or even a photo I'm usually ok but the past week or so have been so busy.
My brother is off to New Zealand to follow his dream of a better life this weekend so we have spent quite a few days with him and my parents.
Mum and I have done well with our Christening quilt, it's taking shape nicely.
Sadly for my mum she has been left with some more work to do on it, I'm off back to sea next week for 3 weeks.

Anyway I do like reading through people's blogs and got a great idea from one.
Check out Friko's World by clicking on the link to her blog in the right hand column. She had written about 7 things we didn't know about her. I thought it was a good idea although as you will notice I've only come up with 5 things!! Clearly I'm not as exciting as she is!

1) At the age of 16 I cycled 1000 miles from Lands End to John OGroats.

2) As part of my work experience I spent a week with the Royal Navy at their airbase at Portland. I flew in several helicopters but my ultimate dream would be to fly in a Chinook ( I love 'em)

3) I have 2 tattoos. One is a purple dolphin on my shoulder, the other is a cute little pig on my left thigh.

4) When I was at secondary school I played the bassoon for 5 years.

5) One of my secret ambitions ( not so secret now) would be to star in a film or TV programme.

Easter Hols

We've had a busy time since hubby arrived home from sea 10 days ago.
On Good Friday we set off down to see his son M and his wife L. They live down on the south coast so it takes about 3 hours to drive there. They are expecting their first child in the summer and it was our first visit to them since hearing their news. Although we speak often it was nice to see them both and see that L was well in her pregnancy.
In the evening we went out for a meal at one of Jamie Oliver's restaurants. Hubby and I shared a meat platter starter served on a wooden board atop two tins of chopped tomatoes. It did make us chuckle when the waiter came over and plonked two tins of tomatoes on the table. What on earth , said hubby, picking them up to examine them.


















My main course squid ink pasta served with scallops. I usually go for a chicken dish if we eat out but decided to go for something different. The pasta was very dark and the scallops were very tasty.
The next day we went down to Southsea seafront and walked along the beach with the dog. Then we went and had a go at the nine hole pitch and putt. What fun we had! A few years ago hubby had one golf lesson whilst we were on holiday. This meant that he tried to impart this knowledge to us as we tried to hit the ball from tee to hole. I was terrible, having difficulty even hitting the ball. But I did get better as we went round. Hubby started off quite well but did get worse and M and L were very good, their previous visits obviously helping them! In the end, L won and I was last, well someone has to be!!


















After we had played we went to the tearoom, aptly named The Tenth Hole where we had huge slices of naughty calorie ridden cake and a big mug of coffee.
We dropped M & L home and continued on our travels, heading north to visit my parents.
We spent Saturday evening and most of Easter Sunday with them before heading home.
On Easter Sunday morning, after dropping my mum at church, hubby and I dropped round to see my best friend and her family.I have known S since we were at secondary school together. Our parents live quite close to each other. We were bridesmaids for each other in the same year, 2004. S now lives near Cambridge and has just had her 2nd child. We hardly get to see each other apart from if we happen to be visiting our parents at the same time. She was staying with her father so we went round to see them. It was so lovely to catch up with news and see their new addition.

I love visiting family and friends but it is always nice to arrive home.

Grandma

A grandmother is a special woman, full of warmth, kindness, love and laughter

She overlooks our faults, encourages our dreams and praises our every success

A grandmother has the wisdom of a teacher, the sincerity of a true friend and the tenderness of a mother.

Grandma, you are someone we admire, respect and love very much and you are always in our hearts.

My Grandma passed away on 1st April 2011, she was 95. This past year has been really hard for me. I didn't think it would be but it has. My Grandma was such a huge part of my life and that chunk seems to have gone and I'm left with a void which I'm not sure how or if I should fill it.

Below is an extract from what I wrote and then read at Grandma's funeral.

"My Grandma was born in Dublin in 1915. When she was 9 she met my grandfather  and they became lifelong companions.

They married in 1936 and in 1937 they moved to England, settling in Birmingham.

In 1939 they started their family, having 2 sons and a daughter(my mum).Religion was always an important part of their lives but it must have been truly tested when they lost their first son when he was only 5 years old.

In 1963 she became a grandmother for the first time. She had 4 grandchildren and gained another 3 by marriage.

I arrived in 1974 and from the age of 6 weeks old Mum entrusted me into Grandma’s care every day whilst she and my Dad worked. Grandma did the same when mum went back to work after having my brother.  It was here that our strong bond with Grandma was formed. We learnt many things in those early days – doing up buttons, tying shoelaces and telling the time, to name a few. I remember having wonderful conversations with Grandma about my imaginary family – we would stand by the kitchen sink and talk about my fictional husband and 4 children for what seemed like hours!

We are all so lucky that we had her in our lives for such a long time,she shared our good and bad times, she enjoyed a party as well – she was alwaysa good party guest – a big smile on her face and enchanting our friends with her wonderful character and wicked sense of humour. We’ve inherited many fabulous party games from her too such as the magic writing.

In 1983 Grandma and Grandad moved to Cornwall where they lived for 17 years.

This was the beginning of many happy holidays with them, even our friends would sometimes come and stay with them too. We kept in touch mainly by telephone and it was during this time that my brother and I perfected our roles as ‘wind up merchants’.

Every now and again we would phone up and pretend to be someone different – a man wanting to come and buy Grandmas settee, a lady from BT doing a voice test which involved Grandma having to count to 5 from various points in her lounge. Being asked to see if she could see any cows in her garden as they had escaped from a local farm or speaking to a lady from Clarkes shoe shop who was doing a survey about footwear which involved Grandma counting how many pairs of shoes she had!

I know it sounds very cruel but I do know that Grandma loved these phonecalls and at the end of each phone call, when she found out it was us she would always laugh loudly and then threaten us with a 'laroping' which of course never materialised.

Grandma moved back to Birminghamin 2000 after my Grandad had passed away and she came to live with my parents.

Before mum retired Grandma always prepared the veg for dinner and did the ironing – she loved to be useful.

The partying didn’t stop either – she attended many of my brothers music gigs and most recently attended one of my fancy dress parties dressed as a pirate. She was also a bit of a jetsetter. She often flew out to Spain and Sweden to spend time with my uncle and his family. She also went away with Mum and Dad in their camper van, even venturing to Ireland with us 3 years ago.

She knitted squares to be made into blankets for charity. Her face was a picture on her 90^th birthday. Mum had suggested everyone bring her a ball of wool as a gift so she was sat on the settee surrounded by hundreds of balls of wool.

Grandma, you knew how to laugh and joke, you had  a warm smile and a lovely singing voice,  you loved watching the wrestling on a Saturday afternoon, - you once took my brother and I toa  live wrestling event at a local leisure centre and insisted we wait until the end so we could meet Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks.

You hated pickled onions but loved a drink of sherry, you have left us with many words and phrases which we’ll use forever – in an Irish accent of course.Your love for all of us was unremitting and unconditional.  We miss you but we all have wonderful happy memories which will stay with us forever."