Thursday 4 May 2023

North Atlantic Ocean  27 19.8N 55 08.4W

Today's Blog by David  (Time zone: BST -4.0; UTC -3.0)

I report that our Antivirus software alarms were all triggered this morning as we sought to download our mail.  One of the messages was described as an independent submission to our Blog by SOMEONE  -  the potential crew member who failed to turn up for the party last week because he said he had Covid.  He clearly has spent his period of incapacity scouring dark corners of the internet because his email was actually a virus infected  message that had to be quarantined and deep disinfected before our server would let us read it.  Amazing, this technology … or we’d ALL have been bedridden soon!

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SOMEONE's Blog from beyond

(SOMEONE, whose berth was below the cabin sole, last featured in our Blog in 9 June 2015. Please read our Blogs of 5 June 2015 and 9 June 2015 for the context.)

Wednesday 3rd May 2023, 12:32

Cambridge UK, 52 16.55  0 06.40

Blog by SOMEONE  (Time zone: BST UTC+1)

I knew it! The Boss never really wanted me on board, I'm sure. But what lengths to go to - causing me to catch an infectious disease?

It was quite distressing to wake up with a rasping throat the day before I was due to fly out. I was packed and had even remembered the parts which HE needed. (HE normally finds a reason to roll his eyes at me and I was determined that it shouldn't happen on the first day).

Should I take a Covid test? After all, it was just a sore throat..... However, the responsible thing was to take a test – particularly as I am aware of the many vulnerabilities of at least two of the crew - some physical and some … well, ….. er …. Mental (There! I’ve said it!).  

The Test line started turning red almost before I had placed the drops on the device. “Surely”,  I thought,  “I can't have it again? Perhaps the test kit is faulty  -  or out of date? Maybe I could chuck it in the bin and not tell anyone?”  Nope. On Serendipity, the rule is to fess up and so I gave HIM the opportunity to exclude me, …. which I fancy he did rather too gleefully for my liking. So, I am stuck on land while they are having Boy Scout fun on the Ocean.

Anyway, the good news is that NO-ONE is there to occupy the heads for 30 minutes each day……  even if they may be less fragrant.

Fair winds.

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The Crew all would like to offer warm thanks for this contribution to our enjoyment.  They note that, whilst this contribution is welcome (No.  Really!) it pales into insignificance in the context of SOMEONE’s anticipated contribution towards his share of the food on board (which we had already purchased), or his duty free brandy to the ships stores,  both of which, sadly, remain outstanding.  Further, in the absence of the vital spare parts which remain in Cambridgeshire, vital and oft-used features of  the boat are held together, frankly, by string and sticking plaster.

We do hope that SOMEONE is on a speedy path to recovery!