And We Roll Into The Fourth week!

Nov 12, 2009

The sea has calmed down and life's getting back to normal. There's promise of much activity on board what with many people signing on, and signing off over the next couple of days, not to mention the STS(ship to ship) cargo discharge taking place on Friday 13th (oops!!)....that's tomorrow.

Watched a remarkable film, "Scent of a Woman"!! Boy, was I speechless with Al Pacino's histrionics or what??? Undoubtedly one of the few really great films and rightly awarded the Oscar (1993) Wonder how I missed out on watching it all these years. I'm definitely going to buy a personal copy when I get back home.

It's going to be a totally different experience watching cargo being discharged STS (the last we had seen it was almost 15 years ago)...d-uhh can't remember much. So yes! Something new to look forward to...watch this space. Hopefully I should be able to click some pictures too!!

Nov 13, 2009

There's been activity on board since 0900 hrs...I'm beginning to talk like shippies, now! The 4 officers who signed on, arrived in the helicopter along with the vetting inspector( d-uhh I don't really know what that means).

Everyone seemed to be just zipping around, busy...at lunch hour though, it was surprising to find the mess almost full; some introductions made and I learn that the 2nd mate, the Chief mate and 2 engineers have arrived. Now some 3-4 guys will be leaving in the next few days, which means some more helo landings and take offs..which brings me to the thrills I got while video shooting the helo landing and take-off today (ofcourse with my l'il Kodak digicam--LOL!)

The cargo discharge was to start at around 1700 hrs, but the 'daughter ship' hasn't yet arrived and is expected at 2130 hrs...sigh, looks like I'm going to have to stay up late if I want to catch the action!!

Watched a silly, rather crappy film called "Made of Honor"....once again I was wondering why on earth do they make such predictable, mushy crap? And then when I saw this superb film "Ray"...I forgot all about the earlier crap and was fully engrossed in it. The trails and travails and the heady success that Ray Charles Robinson (the man with the golden voice) went through in his life has been very well depicted in the film. Jamie Foxx has portrayed the blind singer very well; as have all the supporting cast, not to forget the musicians. Ofcourse much of the original music has been used...well.

Nov 14,2009
The daughter ship, Intrepid Reliance, (about 1/3rd the size of Nectar)finally arrived at 2130 but came alongside only at midnight. Despite having gone to sleep, the ship's engine and the shudder kept interrupting my slumber and small surprise then that I was up at the right moment when Intrepid came alongside and I could take a few pictures, in my sleep!

The cargo discharge apparently began thereafter and Dilip came to take his rest only at around 0330 hrs....aahhh that's the flipside of being the Master of a super tanker, I suppose.

After breakfast I could go up on the bridge and watch the entire operation of carfo discharge and the following procedures and take pictures and video footage. All of which concluded at 1530 hrs and Intrepid pulled away. It's rather intriguing to listen to all conversations that go on, on Channel 16 of the VHF radio....the service launch AET Liberty is the one that gave the fenders to both the ships as well as the hoses for the cargo discharge. The Mooring masters and surveyor were transported from one ship to another in the typical basket...reminded me of our sojourn in that basket 15 years ago, when the kids and I were picked up from a small launch on to SCI ship, Sekhon!! Memories, memories.....

The local papers are full of rave reviews for the new film, "Precious", based on the novel "Push", about childhood abuse and incest. Apparently the protagonist played by newcomer Gabourney Sidibe, is a seamless performance! Oprah Winfrey is one of the producers, it seems. The rave reviews are predicting a nomination for the Academy awards for Gabby, as she is known....well!

Nov 17, 2009 Week 4 begins---

It's a bright, crisp and cold morning. There's a cold front passing and the mercury has dropped considerably. It's 13-14 C outside, with biting cold winds. Yesterday and this morning, the helicopter pilot found difficulty in landing as the winds were blowing at around 35 nauts..

I couldn't stand on the bridge wing to see the helo landing and take-off. 3 officers signed off today and soon they'll be homeward bound!! Wow! we could see the excitement in their eyes, a spring in their step. Its always like that, when you're going home!

The tread mill in the gym has gone kaput, so I had to make do with the cross trainer and the rowing machine...but that's ok. Saannu ki??? Tread mill's going to be fixed soon.

Been watching some 'timepass' films. "Bewitched" with the demure Kidman kept me fairly entertained whereas "Are we done yet" had me saying "Is it over yet?"...a forced attempt at comedy, for sure!

Chief cook, last night surprised us all by cooking up a storm with the 'Aloo methi' recipe I ave him. This guy's too good. He's really interested in his work and so proud of what he cooks and feeds the people on board

The coffee machine has finally been installed on the ship and the aroma's all over the alley ways; guys are drooling about it, cos it's the kind where you make coffee with the beans...I haven't yet managed to get my hands on that cuppa...I will soon, I MUST!

So here's to cold winds and hot cuppas!