11/05/12 - Lord Nelson

After almost two weeks of wet wet wet freezing weather, the sun is shining, the oilies are steaming and there are smiley faces on deck !
Like any good makeover programme, we are running around trying to ensure that everything is ship shape again for Mondays new voyage crew.
This is no mean feat, as the amount of work that has taken place is pretty impressive. Dave has had to produce three meals a day from a combi oven at times, and work around teams installing a spring loaded plate warmer. He has managed well, and we are all well fed and content. Norfolk "dad" is trotting around helping him, and then spending his evenings adorning various female crew with his Turks head friendship bracelets. I was so far down the queue last night, that I have had to re-book!!
Jon and Lesley are still running operations, and getting the right people on the right jobs. Captain John is to be seen all over the place, in tanks, bilges and up the rigging.
This morning a long snake of volunteers wound their way ashore carrying the spare topsail, for inspection on the quay.
Jot is helping me to get the pillows and duvets washed, and with Bill, to put away the lovely, new sweatshirts etc for the summer voyages.
Rowan has got the circulation back into her fingers again, after many cold hours chart correcting, and all the paint is drying nicely now.
Alan, Tony and Tim and the clutch of volunteer engineers are working flat out, but apart from when they stock the bar , we have no idea what they are doing ! It involves water going off and on, a lot of oilie rags and a lot of dirty boiler suits!
The wheelchair users heads (toilets) below deck, have been redecked, and are looking very smart again.
So, tonight, as a small gesture of thanks, we are hosting a Pirate Party on board, for all our helpers - we love an excuse to dress up on here!!
There is a bit of a crew change for the next voyage, with people coming and going over the weekend. I am stepping down from the permanent post, but will be back as a relief MP again in the future... no one usually stays away too long! So, bye for now, and catch up sometime soon. Jane MP