Worse things happen at sea..... (God I hope not.)

It all begins 20th March 2006



Yup I set off on 20th March to work on THIS 41m Russian owned boat crewed by Italian's, working the Mediterranean for the summer

Blue Ice is her name..


she's currently out of the water in Viareggio in Italy, having the finishing touches done before we set sail in May.

Inside isn't all set up yet but its very Zen like


and bloody huge as boats go..

With little friends hidden around the place to keep me company ...


I had hoped this would be my bed size....

but alas... no, I get this little ole match stick

Welcome to the chill out area (a.k.a crews mess!) Note the Italian calenders.. with World Cup coming up I know I have some serious male contenders for that wall space!!!!


but one can't complain, I have weekends off and have managed to sample some local sights




culture




and even a little of their politics (think we could learn from their guerilla marketing...!!)


Roll on THE CHIANTI!!!!!!!!

Just incase you were a little worried I did partake in a week long safety course at Southampton Maritime Centre, before I embarked on this crazy new line of work.. I learnt how to be a firegirl, abandon ship and stop bleeding wounds with the following guys from customs and excise!!!!!


they also taught me new words...
like HIPPOCROCOPIG



And gave me a new nickname of.. Lip... not quite sure why!?

The Big goodbye from France to never never land!!!

March 2006

Hmm Another one of my famous Goodbye weeks.. no sooner have I left then I seem to re-appear and demand leaving parties all over again.. you must all be so bored of it.. the truth behind these marathons, if you haven't already worked it out yet, is I just love parties and as my birthdays seem to be abroad more recently I'm making up for it with numerous and lengthy leaving do's... HA HA!!

Luckily for all concerned the camera only came out at a few choice moments (Ben= I think I got away with that green moment!!!)

1stly Amanda's


and the famous chocolate cake.


With the lovely Louise and Luca

suitably bored by me and Amanda rambling on ...


Then France

Where after a year and a half of hard graft the Goodbye went all a bit .... shhhcary for shhane

John finally got into his own birthday

And lots of red wine was had!!!

Not a sheep was insight!!! luckily we're not mutton dressed up as lamb JUST yet!!


But by the time we got back to the UK Bex was definitely begging for me to leave PRONTO...


HAHA we still had the lost weekend to go!!!

Which started with the ultimate Goodbye where I arranged lots of meets with UK mates and family...

it all started so well
with Lorna and Bex in Richmond's Pizza Express.. my last Fiorentina for a long time!!!


And then...... it all went a little strange...

There was gurning,


Motorbike helmets (?)


And Brake Dancing (why is there always break dancing...?)

Come Saturday when I was officially AWOL me and Bex realised we had found our match in sillyness

and Nerdlingness...


We also realised Bex had grown a Marky mark for 2 days :

Witha little bit of Little and Large thrown in for good measure - we love you Tom!!!

And then ....


before the final whistle blew

We crashed and burned


And not surprisingly that was a full weekend at "it" with me in denial and only 2 hours left to pack for a life at sea....

A brief apology to all friends and family who I deserted that weekend.... it was all Becky's fault!!

Amelia Does Cambridge
January-March 2006


After been left a little high and dry unexpectedly in Jan 06 without a job, an ole friend of mine SamThrelfall came to my rescue. I say old friend, we were diving buddies in Utila, Honduras in 2000! I'm not sure he knew quite what he had bargained for when he offered me a job in his new internet busines (quotemelocal.co.uk) in the customer services department in Cambridge!!

Because of course there was the inevitable Bekalina visit!!!! And we decided to have a go at punting... (when in Cambridge one must go punting!!!)

Bex started off well..

Then started to pirouette...

I however...


nearly fell in (surprise surprise!!)

Then for some reason

we all started doing catalogue poses!!


Even the ole punter himself got into the spirit..


I'm sure it was our constant supply of beer and a touch of pity for us as we rolled around giggling to ourselves like mad women!!!


Amongst all the madness I did manage to note that Cambridge is infact bloody pretty..



But I think my time was up at Quote me local when we thought it hysterical to wake Sam up, on a school night, with treacle pudding

Ala Bekalina and Ameliana!!!




I think between you and me he was pleased when I left him and his sofa in peace, said goodbye to customer services and shot off on my next little escapade!!
Sammy I owe you one!!!