|
Disneyland - with knobs on
By Lesley, assistant cook. 6 March. Well, OK then, I'll
tell you a bit about today. It was 'Pete the Captain's'
birthday. He is 49 and hates it. He has never been to 'Disney
World' - but if he had, I'll tell ya, it would take years
off him.
I decided to give him a Dutch birthday last nite. That
means staying up until 12pm/1am and giving him 2 bottles
of wine. Then, we all have to sing the Dutch 'Happy Birthday'
song.
I welcomed the Captain into the mess with 'Happy Birthday,
you miserable old buggar'. Apparently he smiled. (Thank
god!)
Anyway, the next morning I say 'Goodbye' to Nescafe, the
dog that I had met in Sete (A.k.a. 'Wellard', for EastEnder
fans out there), and his owners (see previous diary) and
eventually (like, 2 hours after we had decided to go), we
set out of the harbour.
I was well pleased to see Sete disappear. Don't get me
wrong, it's a lovely town - but a ship standing still is
like a wet lettuce (and I know, I was one yesterday).
As we move out of harbour, the RW starts rockin…hey
- we haven't done this for a while, and you can tell. Things
start flying across the mess-room floor. We are all holding
on for dear life…
Pete, the Captain had decided to use sails - it is OK,
cos it's his birthday. But hang on, we are heading back
into the 'Mistral' …why do you wanna use sails? Is
it your birthday or something???
So - things get so stupid that I tell Marco that unless
he demands my presence in the galley - I ain't going into
the galley. A galley at a 45 degree angle = trouble. He
agrees. We both know that in this weather, one professional
who knows what he is doing in the galley is better than
two of us rolling around with sharp knives.
Later, I see Captain Pete tucking into his free-range salmon
and fresh dill sauce - and I see the smile on his face…
Meanwhile, I've been up on the bridge. Those waves are
coming thick, fast and high. I'm sorry, but this IS Disneyland
with knobs on.
Think of the best ride in the world….Then, lash yerself
down to the port side of the Rainbow Warrior, watch out
for the BIG waves and - just hang on for dear life…but
enjoy it at the same time of course. In fact, scream your
heart out, cos nobody is gonna hear you anyway!!
At 9pm sharp - we bring out the birthday cakes. Marco has
made the most divine pile of profiteroles in the world.
And at the top of the pile, he has crafted a choux pastry
swan for christsakes. It looks fantastic.
I've made a simple lemon cheesecake (using condensed milk)
and Sarah, the Boson, has rolled out the words ' Happy Birthday
Captain Pete', with the green marzipan I told you about
earlier. Oh - and we've done a vegan flapjack with cherries
on top, so there!
But, Happy Birthday, again - for 9pm tonight Captain Pete.
Not only did you sail us through the fattest (and scariest)
part of the Mistral, you should have been in the mess to
have witnessed it!
What a laugh. Oh, and I lost my glasses! Les.
Go back to the main page >>
Read other crew diaries >>
|
