Madiera Lovers and the end of contract
I am, at long last, in the final few days of a long contract. I think I have written about it before, but the last cruise of your contract can be the most tiring of all. The preparation that goes into leaving is quite extensive. You must prepare your handover to your replacement; ensure your departmental responsibilities are all in order and your “house is clean”. You need to think about packing again which is rather a pain; even though we do it so frequently you would think we are used to it. You need to get your flights and make your plans for getting home from your repatriation airport and you need to attend sign off meetings and do all your sign off paperwork. You can never just “walk off” a ship, you have to be cleared, “debriefed”, paid, searched, approved, and escorted. It’s not as easy as when you disembark as a passenger and just wait for your color to be called. If only it was. You need to return your lifejacket and safety information packet to the Safety Officer so it can be reissued. You need to collect your medical reports from the clinic because you need them again to sign on your next ship. If your medical is expiring they will tell you and give you more paperwork to take with you for completing a new medical. There are many things to think about and do, in addition to your normal duties. Combine this all with the fact that you’re at the end of your contract, a little more tired, worn out, older and crankier than you were at the start of your contract!
It is true that some people, normally brand new to sea, are sad to leave. But most of us are quite happy to disembark and long for the comforts of our own homes for a few months rest. Homes where we can live life on our own terms, be in charge of our own destiny and safety, eat what we want to eat, dress how we want to dress, and act how we want to act. Even though most of us are so used to doing it at work that even at home we find ourselves greeting strangers on the street, smiling all the time and opening doors for strangers.
Once, when I went out with my wife I was waiting to get us a couple drinks. She walked up behind me and asked me I was doing and I told her I was waiting to get our drinks. She looked at me funny and reminded me that I don’t have to wait for the guests to leave the bar; I could go and order whenever I wanted too.
On another subject; I think the best thing about travel is all the photo opportunities. The best thing about High Definition digital photography is that sometimes even a shot you thought was junk, that you took while touring a half day stop somewhere, can be a treasure. I was looking through some pictures I recently took in Funchal Madiera, and I was looking at one shot that seemed a waste of SD
card space when something caught my eye. As I zoomed in, and zoomed in, and zoomed in, a great shot was actually available. It had everything, the ship in the background, the lovers in a tender embrace, almost a perfect moment. I added a touch of selective coloring and et voila, there you have it, an image good enough to grace the cover of a Valentines Day card. Of course the “ecoponte” recycle bin sign kind of bothers me and I was going to Photoshop it out but didn’t.
I am, at long last, in the final few days of a long contract. I think I have written about it before, but the last cruise of your contract can be the most tiring of all. The preparation that goes into leaving is quite extensive. You must prepare your handover to your replacement; ensure your departmental responsibilities are all in order and your “house is clean”. You need to think about packing again which is rather a pain; even though we do it so frequently you would think we are used to it. You need to get your flights and make your plans for getting home from your repatriation airport and you need to attend sign off meetings and do all your sign off paperwork. You can never just “walk off” a ship, you have to be cleared, “debriefed”, paid, searched, approved, and escorted. It’s not as easy as when you disembark as a passenger and just wait for your color to be called. If only it was. You need to return your lifejacket and safety information packet to the Safety Officer so it can be reissued. You need to collect your medical reports from the clinic because you need them again to sign on your next ship. If your medical is expiring they will tell you and give you more paperwork to take with you for completing a new medical. There are many things to think about and do, in addition to your normal duties. Combine this all with the fact that you’re at the end of your contract, a little more tired, worn out, older and crankier than you were at the start of your contract!
It is true that some people, normally brand new to sea, are sad to leave. But most of us are quite happy to disembark and long for the comforts of our own homes for a few months rest. Homes where we can live life on our own terms, be in charge of our own destiny and safety, eat what we want to eat, dress how we want to dress, and act how we want to act. Even though most of us are so used to doing it at work that even at home we find ourselves greeting strangers on the street, smiling all the time and opening doors for strangers.
Once, when I went out with my wife I was waiting to get us a couple drinks. She walked up behind me and asked me I was doing and I told her I was waiting to get our drinks. She looked at me funny and reminded me that I don’t have to wait for the guests to leave the bar; I could go and order whenever I wanted too.
On another subject; I think the best thing about travel is all the photo opportunities. The best thing about High Definition digital photography is that sometimes even a shot you thought was junk, that you took while touring a half day stop somewhere, can be a treasure. I was looking through some pictures I recently took in Funchal Madiera, and I was looking at one shot that seemed a waste of SD
card space when something caught my eye. As I zoomed in, and zoomed in, and zoomed in, a great shot was actually available. It had everything, the ship in the background, the lovers in a tender embrace, almost a perfect moment. I added a touch of selective coloring and et voila, there you have it, an image good enough to grace the cover of a Valentines Day card. Of course the “ecoponte” recycle bin sign kind of bothers me and I was going to Photoshop it out but didn’t. Maybe this gives you some ideas on saving some of your own "less than best" travel shots.
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