Another lockdown… another commute

[Stumpy]

Pillows aside, I am wondering how Mendy can sleep in a bed that looks to be the size of what a small child sleeps on. Must be a real eye opener to roll out of it and hit that couch on the way to the floor or the roll over and smack your head on the wall...

[Shutree]

@mendip - I see those pillows as 4 triangles. Maybe like those triangular Hershey Kisses? Maybe she's trying to send you a message?

I thought the same. Really. The closest she can get to little hearts.

Clearly a conversation starter, she just wants to be invited into the cabin to discuss the pillow aesthetics.

[Reg Dingle]

that looks to be the size of what a small child sleeps on

Not Roger the cabin boy?

[Mendip]

^^ I prefer that theory to she's trying to hide my 'wank stains'... of which there aren't any, of course.

(a lesson all seafarers learn early in their careers! )


^^ My bunk is perfectly ample for my reduced girth (Did you know that in Nelson's time the sailors were only allotted 14 inches of space in which to hang their hammocks).

In fact, at the last crew change a couple of onsigners mentioned that I'd lost weight. If I stayed on much longer I reckon that 14 inches would be more than enough!

[Shutree]

I reckon that 14 inches would be more than enough!

I suggest you ask the stewardess for her opinion on this important topic.

[malmomike77]

I have no NHS number that I know of and haven't been to a doctor's surgery since the 1990s. That one has since closed down and I have no idea if I'm registered anywhere else... all this seems important to the NHS website

Have you been paying NI? if so i think your best bet is to phone the GP practice where your mum lives ahead of landing in UK (if possible) and see what they say. Your NI number if you have it, full name and DOB may be enough. Time may be against you though but hope it works out.

[Mendip]

^ Yeah, I've been paying NI throughout.

I spoke to my mum about just this topic and she say's that it takes more than an hour for anyone at the surgery to answer the phone (and appointments can be offered two months into the future). What has happened to the UK?

I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this...

[malmomike77]

What has happened to the UK?

It started when Labour doubled Doctors pay over 4 years, from there being allowed to go part time and many taking early retirement because their wages mean even 25 years in they can bank a good pension + the flexibility of locum work on astronomical hourly rates - all of this means its a nightmare to staff properly. COVID has also seen most face to face appointments cancelled and its proving challenging to get the GPs back into practices since the little darlings are so used to working from home. Its a catastrophic fuk up, the only way to resolve it is going to be to confront the GMC and Unions with consequential strikes etc. They almost need to start again with new contracts, all the power sits with the doctors and they can hold the country to ransom.

[Stumpy]

My bunk is perfectly ample for my reduced girth (Did you know that in Nelson's time the sailors were only allotted 14 inches of space in which to hang their hammocks).

Yeah my parents sailboat had a small bed in the aft cabin. Never liked it much.

I realize ship or boat quarters are always small. I guess it is why I couldn't do the long treks in a boat. After living on land and having a big bed to lounge on, seeing that little bed looks uncomfortable.

Since you are commenting on your size getting smaller, how much have you lost? And body tone noticed? It's hard to imagine losing much on a ship with your schedule. A tremendous amount of sedentary time 12 hrs a day looking at a computer then another 8 or so sleeping. Leaves 4 hrs a day. How much time are you logging in the gym facility?

[mudcat]

The small berth (nautical term for bed) to one side of the companioway (nautical for door) is a quarter berth, very comfortable in biggish seas as your body doesn't have enough distance to accelerate much and convenient for the watch stander to roust you for your watch or to assist.

[Headworx]

They look like fortune cookies to me though that bite-mark seems a little odd. Is the cabin boy/girl's name Roger?

[David48atTD]

Not Roger the cabin boy?

Not to Roger the cabin boy?

FTFY

[David48atTD]

Since you are commenting on your size getting smaller, how much have you lost? And body tone noticed? It's hard to imagine losing much on a ship with your schedule. A tremendous amount of sedentary time 12 hrs a day looking at a computer then another 8 or so sleeping. Leaves 4 hrs a day. How much time are you logging in the gym facility?

... this pls

[Saint Willy]

Since you are commenting on your size getting smaller, how much have you lost? And body tone noticed? It's

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

[Mendip]

^ Yeah, right!

^^ As this seems to be of interest, despite my efforts not to turn this into a dieting and fitness thread...

I haven't weighed meself as I'm saving that for a surprise on my last shift but I just look at myself side-on in the mirror and I reckon that I've lost a few kilos. I'm deliberately avoiding that 'buffed' look as it'll just cause too many questions when I get home.

I do an hour in the gym at 10pm most nights and reckon that I've managed 3 out of 4 nights on average throughout the trip so far. I haven't had a drink in nearly 10 weeks so there must be a lot fewer calories flowing through my body than usual. In fact, once I get off this damn boat in the middle of next month I'll have gone over 12 weeks without a drink... probably the longest I've gone for around 40 years since being a teenager.

Give us a shout Mendip if you're flying into Manchester!

Will do for sure Joe although I'm hoping to land in Bristol. If I make it, let's eat out... my treat!

@mendip - I see those pillows as 4 triangles. Maybe like those triangular Hershey Kisses? Maybe she's trying to send you a message?

Rabbits, my arse....Those pillows are positioned for hiding the wank stains that wouldn't come out in the laundry

I've now had it from the horses mouth that they were two rabbits. I've asked her to make a swan out of my towel next time so we'll see how good she really is. And her name's not Roger, by the way.

And I really can't believe I'm responding to this, but all laundry is done at 60 degrees and it would take some special kind of stain not to come out at that temperature.

Have you been paying NI? if so i think your best bet is to phone the GP practice where your mum lives ahead of landing in UK (if possible) and see what they say. Your NI number if you have it, full name and DOB may be enough. Time may be against you though but hope it works out.

Well Mike, I'm making some progress.

Bupa aren't interested in helping, but after some investigation I reckon I'll be able to just turn up at a 'drop in centre' and get my second Pfizer. For example, next week I could have gone to a pharmacy in Wedmore that is only a short drive away from my mum's place. The problem may be getting everything uploaded in one place, but I'm working on that and yesterday downloaded the NHS app to make a start. I may have to just resort to having two separate paper certificates which I think should be OK.

My next problem is finding out my NHS number. I thought I was getting somewhere yesterday but as part of the verification process they sent a text message to my phone... only we're slap bang in the middle of the Black Sea right now so I've got no signal. I also tried to make a bank transfer on Friday but had the same problem... NatWest have taken to randomly sending verification codes by text which is great if you have mobile phone coverage but no good when you're at sea... or in remote parts of Somerset for that matter. But I have two weeks to sort all this out and on Monday at 9am we have an appointment with the Russian customs at a small port called Anapa, close to Novorossiysk. Hopefully then I'll be able to receive a text message to discover my NHS number... and send the missus some money so she can replace four tyres on the Vigo which seems to have become an issue. I'll be happy, she'll be happy... what more can I ask!

I am so looking forward to the day when I can just get on a flight and go somewhere without having to do all this shit.

[malmomike77]

yesterday downloaded the NHS app to make a start.

Mendip is it worth being flexile with your Thailand return date, it strikes me the although you are desperate to see your daughter it may pay dividends to sort out your NHS status and GP whilst in the UK. Worth a week or so long term.

[Saint Willy]

And her name's not Roger, by the way.

Perhaps it’s Bob?

[Mendip]

^ Yeah, you're right Mike.

I have over two weeks while still on board and another two weeks once I get back to the UK and hopefully that'll be enough. I think that I'll have the NHS number/doctor/doctor surgery issues sorted out before I get back to the UK and also hopefully will be able to get registered on this NHS app thing and find out whether I can upload my Noggy Pfizer certificate.

I found in Norway that everyone was very helpful but the hard part was just making contact with the right people.

[malmomike77]

You've paid your stamp and although you don't intend residing in the UK, now may be a time where you get your records in order before your mother passes. Sorry to be so blunt, but get your anchors sorted in the UK whilst its easier and mum gives you a reason to be there. You may or not be intending to be in the UK long term but you've paid in and it would be stupid not to get a record sorted, imagine being able to fly back to the UK and getting treatment because you have an NHS number.

[Mendip]

^ Yeah, definitely.

I've paid Class 4 and now Class 3 NI throughout the years... a no brainer really if a hundred or so quid a year will get me a state pension (I think).

It seems that I do have an NHS number but I just have to find out what it is! It has been a huge advantage having my mum still living in the house we grew up in. I've constantly been asked for name and Post Code, which amazingly seems to have led back to decades old records.

[malmomike77]

^ Mendip, you have paid in and that is what counts, now don't be stupid for the sake for a few weeks, get your NHS records sorted. Its not just a one off jab its a right to access primary care in the UK for life and you have paid for that. Sort it out!!

[Mendip]

^ I'm on it!

By the way Mike, I owe you a thank you.

I seem to remember you posted a picture of a Terry's Exploding Chocolate Orange a while ago? I'd never heard of these before and included a few with an online order from Asda (Daddies Sauce, tinned kippers, SPAM and the like).

My daughter will love 'em!

[malmomike77]

Terry's Exploding Chocolate Orange

it was new to me too, its for winners

[katie23]

@mendip - re: the pillows, well rabbits are known to be very (re)productive. Maybe another hint?

btw most Filipinos like Hersheys chocolates

No Surstromming for the online Asda order?

[Mendip]

^ Katie, I guess I'll have to get used to this attention now that I've lost some weight!

And that Surstromming... that was this time last year I tried that and I can still taste it. Food from hell.