Tag: Ships

A princess, a queen and a sun lounger disaster – first published 8 June 2013(2)

image

Yesterday I told you all about the Spitfire factory and the old Floating Bridges. My plan had been to walk down to the shore and have a look at the Royal Princess from the other side of the water, trying out a different route in the process. Passing the old Supermarine site and the remains of the Floating Bridges was purely incidental but, as so often happens, I got a bit distracted and it was an interesting diversion. It’s good to make plans but not if you stick to them too rigidly, I prefer to go with the flow. Next stop, Weston Shore to see if I could get a better view of the giant ship. Continue reading A princess, a queen and a sun lounger disaster – first published 8 June 2013(2)

two bridges and an iconic plane – first published 8 June 2013

image

The two day weekends were playing havoc with my walking. At the beginning of June I’d planned a twelve or thirteen mile walk  but time was not on my side. Four day weekends made it easy to take one whole day out for walking now it was not so simple. Commando suggested I try a short walk instead. Although I will admit to being a little peeved not to be having the walk I wanted I had to agree his plan made sense. The decision was made and I set about finding an interesting shorter walk using Walkjogrun. Continue reading two bridges and an iconic plane – first published 8 June 2013

A life on the ocean wave…nearly – first published 5 June 2013

image

One of the best bits about my job was turning out to be the ship visits. Of course they  meant getting up really early and getting home late and somehow I usually got roped into carting around marketing boxes due to my previous marketing experience.  There was always a lot of running around and a few dramas but life on the ship was never dull. Continue reading A life on the ocean wave…nearly – first published 5 June 2013

we are sailing, very nearly – first published 21 May 2013

image

For nine months I’d been organising entertainment and refurbishment for the Silver Helm ship. Arabella and I had pored over carpet samples and fabric swatches, discussed which bars or public areas different entertainers would perform in and ordered hundreds of books for the library.  For the last few weeks I’d been preparing detailed itineraries for ship visits, discussing which cabins on which decks we would be able to show prospective passengers even what we’d eat for lunch. During all this I had never actually seen the ship. Finally, on 21 May 2013 I was going to board her. Continue reading we are sailing, very nearly – first published 21 May 2013

sea, wildflowers and motivation – first published 19 April 2013

Moss on the old sea wall
Moss on the old sea wall

My walk along the shore had reminded me of the reason I’d signed up for the Moonwalk. Perhaps I needed that before the next walk, which would be a full marathon. In the end this was not about aching legs, painful knees, blistered feet or struggling to put one foot in front of the other, it was about raising money to help fight cancer. Now it was time to walk back and this part of the walk reminded me that nature is not always cruel. Continue reading sea, wildflowers and motivation – first published 19 April 2013

Sun and storms

Cobden Bridge
Cobden Bridge

1 to 4 July 2015

Annoyingly, Wednesday was a beautiful day but I had to go to work. The sky was brilliant blue as I crossed Cobden Bridge and the river looked like it was made of deep cobalt glass. The little ships cast perfect reflections like an upside down, underwater world. The colours seemed especially bright and fresh in the morning light and I could see flowers blooming on the houseboat deck garden. When I reached the slipway two men were trying to get a boat in or out of the water, I couldn’t quite decide which. Their car was right at the bottom of the slipway, back wheels in the water. It looked like a precarious business and I was glad it wasn’t my car. Continue reading Sun and storms

Infinite sky, reflections and an empty nest

image

27 to 30 May 2015

The pyracantha flowers were beginning to open on the way to the river on Wednesday morning. The tiny white flowers and pearl like buds looked like a wedding bouquet. When I reached the riverbank there were no swans but it was hard to tell where the sky ended and the river began. The morning sun slanting through a host of tiny clouds created an illusion of infinity that made me dizzy. Continue reading Infinite sky, reflections and an empty nest

Missing the boat and other small disasters

image

31  March 2015

It was a relief to turn off of Queens Park and walk up Latimer Street towards Oxford Street, at least I would have some shelter from the wind which had been trying to blow me off my feet since I set out. The next part of the Titanic trail is also part of my family history, without which I would not be writing about my wonderful Commando. Continue reading Missing the boat and other small disasters

Two foreigners in a historic dockyard

Bitterne Station, off into the unknown
Bitterne Station, off into the unknown

12 March 2015

There is much rivalry between the two big port cities on Southampton Water, some of it good natured. Less than thirty miles apart, the gap between them often seems unbreachable and many think the animosity is football based. Certainly there is no love lost between the two sets of fans but it is far older than football. What began in medieval times as rivalry between Portsmouth, the fishing village turned small port, and the thriving port of Southampton, worsened after the sinking of the Titanic. Southampton sailors deemed sister ship, Olympic, unsafe due to a lack of lifeboats and refused to crew her. Portsmouth dockers took their place, travelling in the dead of night to avoid being attacked by angry Southampton mobs. Continue reading Two foreigners in a historic dockyard

Two buses, a little pink ferry and a pair of soggy feet

Bus stop number one
Bus stop number one

4 November 2014

The start to my Tuesday adventure was cold and earlier than I’d have liked on my day off because it relied heavily on public transport. Still, the sky was blue. A march up the Big Hill with puffs of breath hanging white in the air warmed me up and took me to bus stop number one. The bus was on time and I found myself in Woolston with a twenty five minute wait for the next bus. The cold was making my head ache and my walking boots felt unfamiliar on my feet after months of wearing Skechers but I had the feeling I was going to need something waterproof and sturdy. Continue reading Two buses, a little pink ferry and a pair of soggy feet