As with most cruise ships, the majority of the crew on the Silver a Helm ship were from the Phillipines. In November 2013 typhoon Haiyan devastated the country with many thousands killed or missing, towns and villages flattened and food running out. A great deal of uncertainty surrounded the whereabouts and safety of the families of most of our crew. For them it was a very worrying time.
14 November 2013
Behind the scenes a great deal of effort has gone into tracking down all the family members of our crew affected by typhoon Haiyan. By some miracle, every single one has now been accounted for safe and sound. They have lost everything of course, but they are alive and well which is all that matters. We have had so many letters of support from passengers, entertainers and guest speakers who know these lovely, hardworking people. Donations have been flooding in to the Red Cross typhoon appeal and Father B, our wonderful priest, has arranged mass and prayers as most are Catholic.
So that was the good news, something I read in an email while I ate my breakfast this morning before I caught the early morning bus. I walked through the parks with my headphones in, Greenday putting a spring in my step and a smile on my face to know our receptionist’s wedding would not be spoiled by grief.
There was news of an accident on the motorway and we were pretty sure Arabella would be sitting in her little car stuck in it somewhere so it was no surprise she was late in. I got on with the schedule with one eye on the door. When she did arrive she looked exhausted, more tired than I’ve ever seen her look. A cup of Earl Grey was hastily prepared while she set her laptop.
When I went up with my pad for a debrief on the meeting she’d had, I knew something was wrong, very wrong. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined quite how wrong though. There has been a restructure on the restructure of the original restructure. Actually there may have been a few more in there but you get my drift. The result is that Arabella’s job has become untenable. She has refused the final job (or maybe not because that man seems incapable of making any decision and sticking to it) she has been offered and has now joined the ranks of the rest of us, redundant.
If there was one single person amongst all the amazing, dedicated, loyal people working in my office who could turn things around and save the ship it is Arabella. Without her there is no hope at all and I think it’s time we all stopped our frantic bailing and let her sink. Maybe that was the plan all along. Shocked doesn’t even cover it.
