As I've eluded to previously, life at sea can be isolating. Or maybe insulating is a better word? It provides an opportunity to almost opt out of the noise that the rest of the world makes. It's almost liberating. I don't really do social media anymore, most news sites sit behind paywalls so keeping on top of current affairs isn't as easy as it might be out there in the real world. You're a little sheltered and I personally welcome it. I avoid the echo chamber of speculation and 24 hour news.
However, when events are significant they still leak through, especially when they directly impact us. Being so far away from home means that leaving and joining crew are forever flying in and out of our ports of call. And when you're in this part of the world, the obvious route of travel is through the middle east, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi etc.
Trumps Operation Epic Fury (you really can't make it up) against Iran has had a massive impact on colleagues hoping to finally go home after months away from families. Never have I been more glad to be leaving in Southampton. It's a reminder that the world outside the shop continues to tick, world leaders continue to make decisions that affect so many and that comes with unintended consequences.
One of those people affected is Dave, pictured above. Don't worry, despite the photo looking uncannily like an order of service for someone who has died, Dave is alive and well. The team with the help of AI created this picture for his retirement party. I don't think it was intentional to make it look like an obituary. Although I have pointed out that it will save his wife a few quid come the day he does shuffle of this mortal coil.
Dave leaves us in Sydney where he retires for good. And as a result it fell to me to try and organise a party of some description
It doesn't take much encouragement for the team to put together the bones of a good party. I order the food and drinks, a selection of various Indian and Filipino food, five slabs of soft drinks and a bunch of beers and leave the rest to the team to borrow beg and steal, tables, bedsheets, cool boxes, speakers and the obligatory Karaoke!!!
You can't beat a ship party. They're an eclectic gathering and this was no exception. The medical, technical and deck departments all turned up. The Deputy Captain said a few words, gifts were handed out with Dave getting a model of the QM2 to display in his home pub alongside a sketched, framed portrait of himself from one of our talented team members.
So, next stop, Sydney where we have a complicated call!! That aside, Sydney is a great port, fingers crossed I get ashore to enjoy some of what it has to offer.
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