30-06-2012 saturday halfway 4th cruise
Door: joebkoppenrade
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Joeb
30 Juni 2012 | Verenigde Staten, Washington, D. C.
I’m getting used to the life on the ship and its limitations. I have already a list of thing that I don’t like. But I stick to my daily routine: get up at 6, down load e-mail and bank account, (only if the crap internet works of course) shower, breakfast, walk over deck 15 and 16 say, good morning to everybody who wants to hear it and talk to some of the crew. Back in my cabin I start with my mail or do the administration for Alliance Française. Then I go for a big American coffee, or if we are in port I go for a walk and a coffee in port. One of my ‘friends’ on the top deck “Ketut” has gone back to Bali today but he says he‘ll be back 8 September.
Every week we get a summary of the remarks the guests give for the service on the ship. The musical director filters out the remarks for the musicians. You get all kinds of remarks: More black musicians, no country and Western, music to loud, not enough music. 9 out of 10 we get good remarks. But for me it was bingo a few times to: “Loved John the bagpipes.” “The bagpipe player was great.”
The boat is fully air-conditioned, fairly pleasant to play as long as I’m inside. My pipes are very steady as long as I’m inside. Playing on the Helipad or the pier is a different matter, this is always hot and humid. I play at the family parties as well. One of the crew ladies gave me a book with children’s songs, I adapted them all for the pipes and started using them now.
I notice that my fingers are getting better, partly I play a lot of course. But to begin with my fingers are always cold. People notice that when we shake hands. This will always be my problem with a bad circulation.
One of the other things I’ve noticed is the pain in my fingers when bending, specialists thought of arthritis, has gone.
Friday, at 5.30 pm while I was having my diner there was an announcement from the captain. He had stopped the boat because a little boat with refugees coming from Cuba and going to Mexico needed help. He would not take the people in they only wanted food and drink. I was in between my performances, but quickly finished my diner and went up, in kilt, to deck 16 to see. It was a little blue rubber boat, no engine, 4 paddles and smoke to draw attention. I guessed about 15 peoples but later I heard 18. The captain said he would sent a boat with food and drink. I don’t know if they got something else like a compass because they were nearer to the USA then Mexico. He also said he warned the USA Coast Guards and passed the position on. It was very strange to see this little dingy rowing away from this big ship into the endless sea.
It was a calm sea today, but I wonder what will happen to this people it there is more wind.
Joeb “Piper of the Caribbean”
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30 Juni 2012 - 21:17
Dik:
Een merkwaardig verhaal Joeb! Zo zie je maar: juist op de grote zee zijn de contrasten extra goed zichtbaar.
Leuk te lezen dat je steeds meer went aan het leven op het schip.
Je moet mij nog eens uitleggen hoe het mogelijk is om als die verschillende liedjes te spelen met als ondertoon één sonoor accoord.
We blijven je volgen!
Nog veel plezier en sterkte,
Dik -
02 Juli 2012 - 17:51
Henny Nijenhuis:
Hoi Joeb, dank voor je kaartje. Wat een vreselijk verhaal van die vluchtelingen. Kon je niet even mee naar Bali en dan ook 8 september terug aan boord komen? woensdag 4 juli is off. opening van het botterhuus. Neem aan dat je wel wat foto's zult zien later. groetjes,
Henny
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03 Juli 2012 - 07:53
Jan & Susan:
Dear Joeb,
Great that the passengers loved ''John the Bagpipes".
Good to hear that the Captain was willing to help those in need of food and water. Lets us hope they reached their destination safely even without a compass!
Love Jan & Susan -
10 Juli 2012 - 20:55
Richard:
Zet je wel met je beide benen op de aarde als je zo'n boot met vluchtelingen ziet, kwetsbaar en vol hoop.
Toch zo vertwijfeld dat ze met een rubberboot de grote plas op gaan, zullen ze hun doel halen wie weet er verdrinken er genoeg in hun wanhoopspoging op weg naar een beter leven.
Heb je nog geen cubaanse botter zien varen met 60 man aan boord ?
groeten Richard
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