Hello Strangers,

I know it's been a while and I'm sorry... I've been having far too much fun.

I have no idea when i last wrote, but I am now coming towards the end of my 4th contract on Braemar and a lot has happened.

First of all Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that, belated I know... but it's nice to be nice. I can't believe we are in March already! The years really do go quicker the older you get, I never believed that when I was younger. I also never understood why grown ups got tired so quickly.... Now i know! I'm knackered! But to be fair we are on our 6th day of 13/14 hour days at sea. All those of you who think i have it easy and just seem to be on holiday constantly.. take note! On port days we have the best time and see amazing places (if we have no other duties) but on sea days we make up for it.... I am doing a 70hr week... not a 40 hr week like all you part timers at home!

Anyway I digress...

So this contract has been...eventful to say the least, there has been ups and downs, highs and lows, tears and laughter.

The lows... losing an old friend. You may have seen in it the newspaper, on the news or on the internet... an old friend from Costco went missing around christmas and her body was found weeks later, to my knowledge the cause of death is not known, but two men have been arrested. I don't know the ins and outs of what happened, or why they would want to hurt such a lovely, bubbly, friendly person, but i hope they get what they deserve in the most painful way possible. I don't care if that makes me sound like a horrible person or vindictive. They've taken a wonderful person from us and she will be sincerely missed.

Another low... for those who don't know, Jerwin and I have parted ways and are no longer together. It was a difficult decision to make and there were a few deciding factors and this result is for the best. I sincerely believe that everything happens for a reason and I have had some amazing times with him, I enjoyed the Philipinnes immensely when I travelled there last September, it was an amazing experience and not one to be forgotten. We are trying to remain friends as much as we can, it proved difficult at the start but it's getting easier. I will always love Jerwin, I don't believe that once you love somebody that you will ever fall out of love with them, the love may change forms but it will always be there in some way.

So that is how my year started and i'm not going to lie, I was not impressed with how 2015 started and hoped it wouldn't carry on like that.
Luckily it hasn't.

We ventured to the Caribbean on new years day and oh my, the Caribbean is amazing!!!! It is exactly how everyone describes it - paradise! Nothing prepared me for how much I would enjoy it there, the weather, the culture, the food, the beaches, the water... the rum! It has been the best experience in my sea career to date. I did so many things that I would never had dreamed I would ever do. I swam with dolphins, went whale watching, horse back riding on the beach, snorkelled in the reefs, swam with stingrays, kayaked down rivers, salsa danced with cubans, travelled to the Panama canal, did the limbo with the locals, sampled a variety of rum... It was mind blowing, just recalling it now leaves me in awe. I can't believe how lucky i actually am.

And now we are coming back to England after almost 3 months in heaven :-(... my golden tan will fade, the weather will turn cold, but i still have amazing photos and memories.

We are due to arrive in Ponta Delgarda tomorrow and then back to Dover. Our next cruise is back to Norway, equally as beautiful but freezing!

This leads on my my next bit of news... I'm leaving the Braemar. Now don't get your hopes up (some of you) I'm not coming home. I'm actually being transferred to the Black Watch, which is another ship in the Fred Olsen fleet. I've been on this ship now for almost 3 years and it is time for a change, although I foresee tears when I leave, probably mostly mine haha.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on here and it has become home to me with the crew becoming family and I will miss it so much. It is time for a change now, and the Black Watch has some amazing itineraries, including Canada and a world cruise! I have always wanted to do a world cruise, it's the whole reason why I joined ships. Oh, did i mention that when i go there I will be manager? That's right, I've been promoted! I'm a little nervous as you would be, but i have been trained well and I've done it before so i'm pretty confident :-)
I leave Braemar on 11th April, so the day after my birthday and join Black Watch 13th April, so only 1.5 days at home really, but at least i'm home for my mum and dads anniversary, which is nice. I should hopefully find out when my actually vacation will be soon... I hope they don't send me home for the Canada cruise, I really want to go there!

Oh well, we will see. Right I better go now, i have a bustling social life to keep up with. This should be posted when we hit land tomorrow... finally land!!! I miss land. I'm actually looking forward to 3G (though my phone is kaput!), ah i didn't think about that... my phone battery has about a 2 hour life at the moment, i'm going to have to put it on my portable charger while i do 3G. At least i have my new ipad that i won in a raffle :-)
I'm looking forward to actual clothe shopping in new look and dorothy perkins, buying new uniform and shoes. Looking forward to poundland, looking forward to holland & barratts!

So many things to look forward to, this year is now looking good!

See you all, and speak to you all soon hopefully :-)

Love Kim
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