So it's been a while.... And so much has happened... I just don't know where to start, and it's causing writer's block.... That and Sam asking me non stop questions about what film to watch.... God bless him... But if he asks me one more thing...........
Anyway, enough of that!!!
So, it has been a while and so much has happened: visiting home, training in Bristol, training in Southampton, a few extra shifts at work and seeing my friends...actually I've just realised that ive been home twice since i wrote last... Lets start at the begining from what I can remember... (Sam is still bloody going on about films - avengers, role models or step brothers - i've chosen to ignore him and see if that works... never has done before)
Annnnywaaaaaay! This is going to be a big one - lol!!!
It was lovely coming home and seeing all my friends, even some i hadn't seen in years. Not alot has changed though, apart from us all getting older and supposedly more mature... haha... It does make me laugh, how we can all spend so much time apart, but as soon as we all get back together,nothing had changed and we revert back to 16year olds... Our problems are always the same and can be summarised into 3 catergories:- 1) MONEY, 2) MEN and 3) THE FUTURE. Back then, we worried about leaving home and going to uni, about having no money for drinks or shopping, about boys being boys.... Now it's what area is better to settle in, where the money will come from to pay this bill or that bill and men being men.... That will never change! It was lovely seeing my friends again though, and I can safely say that I, Robyn, Mike and Winnie, we will still be the same in 10, 20, 50, 100 years, with the same three problems!!
So I bet you can't wait to hear about my training in Bristol and Southampton! Well!!! What an experience! It will be something I will not forget in hurry and I'm hoping not to have to repeat it!! Joking aside, I did have a good time and met some lovely, funny people. The majority of them will already be on their ships right now! The training wasn't too bad either, the theory side was great and not too taxing. The practical in sea survival however.... Oh i cringe at the thought!
Let me set the scene... Theres about 15 of us, plus the instructors, at an indoor swimming pool in Southampton. Our tasks here were; learning how to deploy life rafts, how to conserve energy in water, how to put on life jackets, and how to jump into the water without being knocked out by our life jacket. That was all fine, i can safely and confidently deploy a DVT lifeboat. That wasn't the problem... It was climbing into the bloody thing!!!! Now you who know me, you know i have zero upper body strength and i'm short! So imagine me, in my combat trousers, t-shirt and lifejacket, no glasses or contacts - so i'm also blind! So i'm there in the water, this inflatable life raft floating in front (and above) of me, and I've got to climb into it by a weird thin rope ladder thing. Well! You may aswell have asked me to scale Evervest in roller blades! It would not happen. Everyone else had managed it, some struggled, some didn't and then there was me. Now the key thing to point out here is, if you can't climb into the boat, you've failed. So I'm exhausted, physically and mentally, everyone is watching me and I couldn't do it. I wanted to cry and then be swallowed up by a whirlpool. You know that one fat kid from swimming class? Everyone had one in their class. The one fat kid who cannot get out of the swimming pool? That was me in Southampton, it was mortifying! Luckily, as i was about to swim to the side and leave, the instructor twisted the boat and there was another entrance with an inflatable shelf. That was ALOT easier, I did that first time, even though my whole body hurt. So I passed! Eventually! And everyone was so nice and supportive after, "Well Done Kim!", "You did so well!"....Shut up! Lol! I know they meant well bless them. At least it's over!
When I was down south I did manage to get some extra shifts at work, which was great. Extra money for me and chance to spend time with the work guys! Although, I didn't get another leaving party, or card, or present! Technically i left at least twice, that warrants another card at least! lol! I'm joking, it was great to see everyone again and it's now that i realise how much i will miss everyone there. Like I said in previous blogs, they are my southern family, and I would love to go back there after my travels... so Mark and Manish better keep my job open!! lol!
And i have decided, i will more than likely relocate to the south when i return after my travels. Theres just so much more going on, I LOVE LONDON! I never thought i would say that! What has happened to me? The south has changed me!! Don't get me wrong i do love the north, but the recession has hit some places really bad and.... it's just too quiet! Plus I need distance from Nana Mafia for when i play my practical jokes :-)
Plus the people in the south can't live without me! I am their air and light, without me, they would wither away.....zoe..... lol I'm joking! Oh I'm so looking forward to our last night out in London soon, I'm already prepared for the tears!
Oh I haven't mentioned about my poor car yet. Poor Dirty Berty is out of action at the moment, due to an unfortunate motorway incident, some debris flew at me near Nottingham on the M1 and pulled the wing off my car off :-( But i will fix him....then i have to sell him... To a good home though! It feels weird, I will be sorry to see that car go, it's a sign of my independance, i paid for my own lessons, i paid for the car myself and the insurance.. and now, its all going bye bye.... Sad times.
Now for the good news...
I HAVE A SHIP!!!!!! Finally! I thought the day would never come, everyone else seemed to have their ships but not me, I was originally told that i may have to wait til after christmas (much to some peoples delight) but the other day i got an email... I set sail on the 23rd of this month!!
My ship is the Fred Olsen's Braemar and my first contract will be around Europe, The Canary Islands and West Africa... exciting! I will try to keep the itinerary updated so you can track me. Now I'm not going to lie, at first I was slightly disappointed, I was expecting a large luxury cruise liner going worldwide or to the Caribbean... but instead Braemar is a smaller ship and travels locally... However, i have had a chance to think over and i'm actually glad... Yes the ship is smaller, but that means its more cosier and sociable and I'm less likely to get as lost! Also, the local trips mean i'm never too far from home (England) and it returns regularly to Southampton, so you never know, theres a slight chance i may get that port day off and be able to visit some people....It's a slight chance but you never know.
So! 23rd i set sail! But! Before that, i have something equally as exciting..... More training!!! Yay! This time in the Isle of Wight! This time it's first aid and fire fighter training... Luckily, I'm excused from the sea survival one...Thank God!!!!
I hope that wasn't too much to take in! I've got a couple of weeks left and alot to squeeze in! I will definitly try to write before i go and let you know how the training went!
Hasta Luego!!!
Kimmie xxx