Web report Day One 3rd January 2010 TNS 269. Once again, we are experiencing beautiful weather, which the locals tell us is unseasonably high for this time of year. We’ve been enjoying anything from 17-22 degrees! Blue skies, sun glistening on the water across the harbour, water gently lapping at the quayside. Further down the quay is the marina with restaurants and bars spilling on to the pavement. We are quite an attraction with many people promenading and walking off the excesses of Christmas and coming to admire this lovely tall ship. We’ve had a fantastic welcome here and we really do look rather splendid amongst the ‘gin palaces’ berthed here too. Of course for the Maltese people this is the winter season and while we’re peeling off our layers, they’ve been piling on theirs and no doubt questioning our sanity!
Fortunately this time, all flights were able to leave the UK despite the weather at home and four of our new crew are from this lovely island, so a full complement of voyage crew for TNS 269 turned up and quickly found their bunks and buddies. After a welcome cuppa, Captain Simon invited everyone to join him in the lower mess and introduced the permanent crew for this voyage namely: Chris the Mate, Dave 2nd mate, David the Bosun, Pete the Chief Engineer, Tony 2nd engineer, Rachel the medical purser, Cookie Dave with his wonderful assistant Jilly, and not forgetting the Bosun’s mates Maureen & Fred the Fish.
Chris gave the briefing for overnight on board and then shore leave was given following a welcome supper of goulash, potatoes, cauliflower cheese and carrots followed by Eve’s pudding – what a treat! As the sun went down, so did a few heads…..zzzz’s
We’ll keep you posted!
Rachel
MP