… Its brochure perfect beautiful over here -
only snag is I am working not playing - but the view sure beats grey London skies from my desk….
However work is intense! It’s been a pretty hectic schedule since I returned from my sick bed. After limping back on board mighty Callisto my mission was to get back to full health, work was interesting after daytime TV bed bound hell for the last 3 months…and I found my depleted energy levels bouncing back.
I used my weekends off to go and visit a few people and make a few surprises as well as squeezing in my own little 30th bash prior to sailing off to idyllic island haven!
I returned to the boat in Marseille, working, (gently), in the week and roaming around at the weekends. First I visited my favourite Dutch people - Rob and Ria -
in the lovely region of Le Lot 
(the heavenly South western area in France where I spent 2004 - 05 rearing sheep and developing a taste for “The Good Life”)
It was very lo key but just a perfect catch up whilst skipping down memory lane.
The next weekend I visited Andorra,
and although there was no snow, the mountains
were breathtaking and good times were had, with more memory lane jaunts.
The following week I brought my lovely mum out to my favourite French town - Nice. It was a first for Dee on the French Riviera 
and I think she really did enjoy herself. We even managed to squeeze in an open top bus tour 
which was a first for me - and which took me to places there I had always wanted to visit but never got round to in the past. The sun shined for all of our 3 days there and Nice showed us both its full glory and proved to my mum why I love it so much. 
You can’t really go wrong with beaches,
amazing architecture,
sunshine and friendly French people.
Then I squeezed in a surprise visit back to London for my best mates -Lorna 
- 30th birthday - I know its sounding like I wasn’t working in Marseille - I just maximised my weekends. This was literally a flying visit but well worth the effort just to be with her for the big 3 0 and share it with my closest friends 
After all that family and friendly love I spent some good times with my old mates from Callisto. Getting back into the boat vibe was easy - time off is quickly forgotten and too be honest I missed the hum drum of work…A new girl joined 
- Alex -
and just as quickly left, but we managed to pop up to Paris for a few nights. Its got to be done really - 
Paris is a beautiful city 
one that is especially close to my heart.
And then it was the big event of 2007 for this little girl - my own 3 0 - I figured as I would be mid ocean on the day itself friend and family-less I would chuck a party a few weeks early and get to celebrate the event with the ones I love the most. 
It was an eventful night - me on the ole sparkling waters for a start! The evening was a real mix of friends
and family 
and all through the night blasts from the past showed up. Those who couldn’t be there were missed and those that came truly made it special.
After all that excitement I settled on down in Marseille and just French Riviera’d it up! There were some excellent music festival nights with live drum and bass, trip hop and African beats which really brought me fully out of my shell and back to the dancing bean that I am…I fell in love 
typically just before I then sailed away! 
Whilst in Antibes me and my fellow crew said Bye bye to Matt
- not quite sure how we will live without that one!!!
Which almost brings me to date - my recent high seas voyage to paradise!
After 2 Atlantic Ocean crossings I was buzzed about going south into the depths of The Med,
cruising past Egypt,
down the Suez Canal, 
past the middle east via the Red sea and then to idyllic island haven in the Indian Ocean 
- 21 days it was and, as is the theme of my life, eventful it proved too! It wasn’t quite as fun as before but it was definitely a life moment… The new girl addition to Callisto joined us for the crossing
Lucie
and Warrick 
was the relief chef who proved to be an absolute Godsend and spiritual partner in crime. Lets not forget the mid ocean chatalina to Beckalina - she is working on Indian Empress a 90 metre monster which was on its way to India - we crossed paths off the coast of Yemen 
and chatted for a we while on the radio!! Trust us to cros paths in the middle of the ocean!!!!!After sunsets
rough seas 
and daily increases in the temperature we arrived here to the highly acclaimed Maldives…
I’ve only been here a few weeks and have, due to workload only had 2 amazing days on an island in a beach villa 
- with a Jacuzzi may I add.. it’s a little taster of what is hopefully to come. At the moment work has stepped up a gear as we have guests on board (was I really complaining of being bored when I was sick? Bring back daytime TV all is forgiven!).But I have a feeling I will get the chance to enjoy this beautiful
pocket of sun in the not so distant future.. For the time being I am just cruising past all the islands and daydreamin…
Wistfully daydreaming, basking in the sun I bid you all farewell - Merry Crimbo and I send you all my love and lots of luck for 2008 - 
Muchos Lovos xxx 
