Pacific crossing : I can still see the sea

High point: Saturday night is party night and the crew had a BBQ for us on the deck, in the rain, with Christmas songs playing.  Wonderfully random.

No point: Wondering what’s for dinner, it’s rice and probably something with cabbage.

Low point: Eating stir fried kidney thinking it was going to be a mushroom.

Most random meal on board: Mushroom brulee/soufflé that tasted of fish. I’m not saying the two are related but, the day that was on the menu, was the only day I was sick.

Lessons learned: Avoid mushrooms, they are evil.

Best chat:

Amy “I saw I seagull earlier, I forgot to tell you.”

Steve “What really? That’s crazy.”

Amy “I know”.

Life on board: Hours turn into days, days turn into weeks and before you know it you can’t remember a time before the good ship Hoegh Beijing.  How did we get here?  Is there really a big red fire engine on deck 5?  Do we really have to get off in Mexico?  This is our home now, we’re not ready to be let back into the wild, please let us stay.  Our days are structured around meal times, reading time, ping-pong time, DVD time, toast time and not much else, apart from basketball for Steve.  We move only between our cabin, the mess room and the games room.  Why would you need to go anywhere else?  With comms down, films are the only way we can remind ourselves there is actually a big wide world beyond the sea.  Or is there?  They are only films after all.  Is that real or is this real?  Am I in a backwards episode of the Truman Show?  Is there such a thing as Hoegh Beijing syndrome?  I think I’ve got it.  Someone please help.

Lonely hearts club: The Pacific is a lonely place.  In 17 days we haven’t actually seen any other ships or land, not that we were expecting to see land, but it would be nice to see something, anything really.

No news is good news: Apart from the odd text message on the sat phone, we have no idea what’s going on in the real world.  On top of the void of friends facebook updates and celebrity tweets, imagine 17 days without knowing the latest on Kate and Wills wedding.  I know, it’s been tough.  To be honest our non-media bubble has been quite nice but now we’re craving information.  Someone get me a copy of the London Lite…

Taking the rough with the smooth: The first week was pretty calm considering, but since we crossed the equator things have been a bit more rocky on board.  Luckily we already had our sea legs and our cabin in at the stern, which means we don’t feel the waves as much as the lucky people at the bow.  Check me out with the lingo.

I like to say thank you to the crew, they have been lovely, but I’m really ready to get off now please.

If I don’t see you before, see you in Mexico amigos, I’ll be the crazy lady celebrating being on dry land again.

Amy

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