Well, here it is another sea day with yet another tomorrow before we get a chance to stretch our legs on dry land in Ceylon. Hmmmm, how to keep busy today? There are a few lecturers that I may catch, I have three meals to eat and some books to read, a photo book to work on and a blog to write. Here it is at 6.55 in the morning and that is all that I have to look forward to today. 'Give me land lots of land …' the old western song used to say.
Speaking of eating, I think I have adjusted my food intake to match my physical activity. If that is the case I should be down to bread crumbs and bit of water. That walking the deck is not for me, give me my chain saw and a pile of logs to cut up any day. I have to learn to look upon these sea days as something that I can only wish for in the heady days of heavy gardening to make me appreciate them.
In order to get the blog out of the way on such a busy day on a 'Quiet day in the news room', I am going to show some photos of things the room stewards do that are meant to put a smile on our face. Towel art is something that the room stewards do on many/most ships. I believe that there is a bit of competition below decks as to who is the master of the art. It is coordinated throughout the whole ship, in other words everybody will get a monkey, or rabbit or whatever is chosen for that day.
Fellette had some great news yesterday, the ship is going to form a Passenger's Choir, rather late but better late than never. Apparently the ship's paid staff can no longer assist in such matters so it has taken this long for volunteers to come forward as Choir Director and a pianist. Apparently they have access to good music and there certainly will be no shortage of good singers. That is a part of Fellette's life that has been sadly missing.
* * *
The following 'Ode to Spring Clean-up' was sent from son-in-law Robert. Fellette is known as an avid 'fire person' being able to spend endless hours tending and feeding bonfires in fall and spring cleanups. Robert and Jeanette live in a rural setting and one can burn debris in the open at certain times.
Oh the winter storms
have now abated,
And last Fall's piles of branches
have laid and waited,
And now that I need
Fire Master Fellette,
She is laying
on the beach In Phuket!
* * *
Around 1.00 this afternoon the ship's alarm bells went off. [Not a nice feeling I might say]. There was an announcement from the bridge telling the fire suppression crews to man their stations and "This is not a drill". A moment later there was another announcement telling us that there had been a fire alarm go off somewhere in the ship and it was being investigated, another few seconds went by and the bridge announced that there had been a small fire in an engine compartment. The ship slowed down to less than 6 knots for some time and then the captain announced came on and announced that it was under control and all was well and enjoy our day. The whole thing lasted maybe 15 minutes at the most. That was the most exciting thing that happened out here in the middle of the Bay of Bengal. I could have done without it I must say.
Nautical sayings in everyday usage.
Over a barrel: The most common method of punishment aboard a ship was flogging. The unfortunate sailor was tied to a grating, a mast or over the barrel of a deck cannon and flogged.
Pics:
- These creations are left on our bed after we have had dinner and return to the cabin. They are placed there along with the chocolates, next day's activities, a good night from the captain along with any pillow gifts.
- The Farm at home where the Spring Cleanup is underway, sans Fellette.
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