Day Four of Maintenance… so the happy band of volunteers continue to battle on and try and get Nellie ready for her trip home and to make sure she looks her best for her big birthday party on the 16th April. Mike and his team have been chipping, hammering and needle gunning every bit of paint from the port side bulwark. Aoife (pronounced "E for" easy) has been hanging over the side in her now padded bosun’s chair, working on the starboard hull. "Dad" has escaped from the galley and is oiling the bridge woodwork and chatting up all the young ladies in the vicinity, especially Aoife (he has a penchant for Irish girls – but Aoife is really fantastic so it makes sense!). Howard and Colin (the Odd Job Boys) have been checking off all the fire doors and oiling those which need it. Geoff has been sanding and varnishing lee boards, with help from Gordon. The engineers have been doing whatever engineers do, led by Kenny in his rather fetching pale pink overalls (someone put them in the wash with something red!). First Mate Chris has been "spanking" for two days, and Second Mate Jon will never be the same again (we mean they’ve been repairing the spanker and gaff). Nursie, Betty and Claudia are keeping things shipshape below, stocktaking, sewing and filing, whilst we, the Bilge Babes, have been taking up our second career as contortionists in the aft pump room, trying to paint inaccessible bilges. Some of the pipes seem to have been designed and placed in such a way as to guarantee the maximum amount of bruising and discomfort. However, we managed it and are now enjoying our tot before dinner. The Galley team are actually working for a change, making sure we’re all fed and watered (as opposed to sitting outside smoking and drinking coffee). After dinner, we will head to the Club for some relaxation and then on to the Carnival. It’s drag queen night tonight, so we think Marcin will be getting his seamed stockings and suspender belt out…
Kumi and Helen – the Bilge Babes