Another Leave

Ok, so as usual I am running at least a month behind on the blog. But I have a more than valid excuse. I have been on leave, which has been a very hard month of lying in the sun, drinking and eating to excess and even the odd bit of sailing.

So rewind a month, and after lots of debate the crew change was finally scheduled to happen by helicopter. To say I wasn't overly keen on the idea was a bit of an understatement. Any mode of transport where you have to wear a full survival suit, lifejacket and rebreather just to be able to get onboard isn't exactly my idea of a nice day trip. Add to this that the weather that had been great for the previous month was finally beginning to deteriorate, and things weren't looking the best.

But the magic day finally arrived, and after a few hours delay while the helicopter waited in Aberdeen for thunder and lightening storms to clear, we were finally off. But of course things weren't quite that simple. We boarded the helicopter, and were immediately told that the weather had deteriorated, so we were going to land on the Gryphon platform and await better conditions. So leg 1 was a 2 minute hop. Then we all disembarked for a 45 minute wait before we could continue on our way. This time with the pilot explaining that we may make it to Aberdeen, but if not, we would land at Wick or Peterhead and wait once more. So why exactly I'm smiling in the next picture is a total mystery.

Now I remember, I had just realised that I was on my way to Spain for a month.

After a fortunately uneventful flight we landed in Aberdeen in the early afternoon, and I then had an onward flight to Birmingham where I spent the night catching up with my family before carrying onto Spain the following morning.
So for the last month I have been relaxing in the sunshine, with a steady stream of friends to keep me company, and help me justify why the recycling bag is always so full!
Not that it is all lying in the sun, drinking gin and reading books. I did manage a day of culture when Hannah and Kirsty were over, with a visit to Cartagena. The view below is of the newly renovated ampitheatre, which I have watched slowly emerge from the ground over the last few years, and is now completed.

And of course I managed to get Fintail out for a few good sails, and even a bit of swimming. Although jumping in the water at lunch time when it is your own boat looses the magic a bit, as you instantly want to grab a brush and start cleaning the sides.

So while I was busy with my scrubbing brush, I let Kirsty practice her diving skills.

Then of course, no visit to see me is complete without the mud. This time the modelling is done by Hannah and Kirsty. There was of course the normal picture of all 3 of use with beer cans in hand, but I have exercised my rights as editor, as it really wasn't a good photo.

And the final shot of the leave is of Sophie and Jeremy relaxing in the swimming pool.

So a very short leave, but very busy and very good fun.

I returned to the UK on Sunday, and after 2 nights waiting for the ship in a very nice hotel suite in Aberdeen, I finally rejoined in Peterhead on Tuesday. So back to work, but all change as I am sailing as Chief Officer for at least the first part of the trip. So a bigger cabin, a bigger work load and more responsibility to go with it. Also a very steep learning curve, but so far so good.