Ancient Elevator

Theres an ancient elevator here that services the seven decks. With dual doors... exterior door looking like any normal door and an interior grille. Seldom see such elevator around anymore... they are phased out long ago. They might belongs to the 60-70s.

The elevator is so said to be able to carry 5 persons. The space in there... i dont think so. 5 persons to be squeezing in there?? The scenerio will be like 5 persons hugging tightly together praying that the ancient thing dont plunge.... haha

So far i only travel in that antique with Mao... just the two of us. The 'Bulldogs' family :p (Both dogs as i always bite Mao... and he is also dog cos everyone avoid him like hes one mad dog that bites. Hahaha) Mao doesnt like to use the elevator as he said its for the lazy. So he uses the stairs mostly. The only times he can be spotted in the elevator is when he is travelling with lazy me.

The seven decks on the ship... i only frequent 4 decks. There are Upp Dk (where the laundry room is), A deck (the mess rm we go for food), D dk (where our cabin is) and Nav Bri Dk (where Mao work on the bridge). The rest of the decks i dont go unless my bulldog is with me.

Medical Chest

The cold that i caught seems to like me quite alot. Thou am oreadi sick and tired of it by now. It is still not willing to leave me. Giving me blocked nose every night when i sleep and causing lots of phlegm in the throat as well. Disgusting thick yellow ones... haha

Therefore no choice have to let Mao play witch doctor. Theres a Medical Locker down at the Upper deck. Went there for an excursion with Mao the other day. A whole chest of medicines!

Mao got me a Nasal Spray to reject my present from the Cold. Kind of works wonder... but hate the moment when the medicated solution went down the throat from the nose. Yucky!!! However its worth the 3secs of discomfort as it offer 12hours of relief for blocked nose. Cant use it for more than 3days thou.

Have you people noticed that everywhere on the ship, they label all their surrounding... Like we have all the cabins label. Eg: Ours will be Captain Room... the medical chest is called the Medical LKR.. short form for Locker. Its like going to Nursery school where labels are on everything and everywhere.

Lucky hour for laundry session

Washing clothes onboard is a real challenge. Theres a laundry room downstair with three washers (two for normal wear and one for dirty boiler suits) and a dryer. Three washing machines sounds like alot right? But the fact is the washers are ever so busy. Theres always a load in the washer. One have to be guarding the machine to earn a chance to dump your clothes in there. To complicate matter, one can only do laundry at sea. Laundry room is closed when in port. (One of the country regulation so as not to dirty their water)

Those dirty clothes are not mine ->

Therefore after all these time... i have decided to do my laundry in the early morning (4-6am). During that time most people are still fast asleep. As the room is near all the engine room..etc. Theres always human traffic around. I dont like to hang around or guard the machine for my chance. And of cos i forbid Mao to send a cadet there to guard the machine on my behalf. Imagine if am that cadet.... what guarding the washing machines so that mdm can use it? What crap right? So at the lucky hour i chosen, all i have to do is a quick visit to the washer downstair... dump all (only clothes... socks, panties, bras, handkies all *handwash) in then bring it up to the dryer on our own deck. My exclusive dryer :) Too bad cant have the washer on our deck too.

*Handwashing clothes... something i havent been doing for donkey years. At home the washer is mine and mine alone... i can dump all and what i want in them

Under the weather

No i am not lazy. Just been feeling under the weather for 3days. Must have been standing out in the wind after my shower with my hair still wet that caused the rise in temperature. First time to be running a temperature in cold weather. Suck siaz! Fingers and feet are cold while body is hot...breathe also hot... feeling like a dragon breathing out air.

The internet connection also have been feeling under the weather. As we are further out at sea again.. and fog have set in. So internet connection decided to stop work and hid in the fog for awhile. When the fog cleared after two days... the wind picked up. Once again lazy internet sneaked off with the wind. As a result.. another day passed. Finally when clear weather came... (tamade) we are too far away to have any connection!

Clarification: Internet connection is always like a dying snail pace here (But still one have to be thankful that it is still alive and kicking) All of you at home with internet connection, you have no idea how fortunate you are.

Sugar is a good gal

Sugar, my sugar.... i misses her! My furry kid that follows me everywhere in the house. Who comes to me and rest her paws on my lap whenever i sits at the com. That pair of big round eyes that speaks volume when she looks at you. Goosh... i misses her!

Asked Mao to hold his sleep at 6am this morning. So that we can go up to the bridge and give mama a call (SIN time 8pm). This way am able to catch mama at home and talk to sugar too.

Sugar seems to be having a ball at mama place now. Mom said that sugar kept pestering to play the moment they wake up. She is also happy when mom came home from work. Cos once again that means play time for her! Normally she will be at the door greeting you. Standing on her hind, resting her front paws on your thighs she trys to lick your hands while shaking her bushy tail vigorously. Thereafter she will follows you everywhere in the house till you are ready to play with her.

My precious is getting a little fussy with the food these days too. She knows that law and order is not around and she could push her luck here and there. According to mama... she isnt feeding well on her pellets of dog food. Told mom to leave the feed schedule and food the same, no changes and definately no special treats permitted. Wouldnt wish her to accquire new eating habits and food liking during these period. Or else by the time she comes home with me... its gonna be tough for her as well as me.

During the call to mama earlier... i got exposed. Mama said that she knew i wouldnt be calling her as much if Sugar isnt with her. Its the dog that i misses and not her :p

I misses my mom too of cos... but sugar is different. As this furry gal is the one that keep me within her sight, following me everywhere and coming to me whenever am feeling down. She is the one whos 24/7 available. No matter what kind of mood you are in... she will be there. How do you not pin for her???

Basket or Bird Cage???

Front of our vessel











The operation that was delayed for 3days due to bad weather is finally going to take place today. When completed we are going to steam for 16hrs and hopefully getting to dock.

Saw how they picked up they mooring master today. In a basket with the crane as what Mao always say. In a basket hmm.... i always visualise the basket is something like those of a hot air balloon. What would you visualise? (Take a look at the picture on the left for the so called basket. See the the man in blue with a white safety helmet, standing in something that look like a big cage) Not as per we think right? Basket??? Look more like a bird cage.


Mr Mao said that at times of joining... we might have a go in the basket. Hmm.... a go in that bird cage supported by that crane? Sounds fun right? Imagine having to balance yourself in that bird cage in the chilling wind with only the ropes to hold onto as they crane you up. Hey dont forget about the luggages which mostly have wheels? As the bird cage is rise... acrobatic me will have to balance, hold tight and squeeze my luggage between my legs??? Haha.. think i can do better to have my luggage flat in that bird cage and i lay on top of it with my full body weight. Got to be joking right? I rather wait for the vessel to come into port and WALK up the gangway.


My only excitement now is to walk down that gangway in 2days (i hope) and go to the supermarket. Just love the supermarket in the states... they are so huge. Unlike our pathetic NTUC at home. 5mins only all grounds covered and completed. I want to buy chocolates, chocolates and more chocolates. Ohh, dont worry about being fat. The weather is so cold... can afford to put on some more fats and slowly burn. :p heehee

Here in Houston

Got in to Houston for 3days by now. Have survived the 26hours flight with an hour stopover in Moscow airport. Managed to get an aisle seat at the emergency exit when i checked in, thus plenty of leg space. Not that i have very long legs but its wonderful to be able to stretch your legs on such long flight.

Got to come directly from the airport to my 'new home' for the next 3-4 months. Didnt get the intended one night hotel stay as 'home' was already in and waiting. Therefore shopping malls please wait for me.

First night here was a blur due to time difference. Adjustment is require for the timing as well as food. My first meal in my new home was dinner and am deeply demoralised when i saw it. First thought was the never achieve diet plan is finally going to take place now. However after 3days, i dont think that i will turn into that super model with this new diet after all. As all 3 meals (food that i have to eat) are regular here, unlike back home i only take one or two meals a day (food that i choose to eat).

Mao kept telling me that our new bed here is a queen bed. Alamak queen bed indeed... for the midgets! I would say that it is slightly bigger than a super single bed. Thank God back in SIN we used to squeeze in my single bed before we got our greatly missed queen bed now. Since the weather is cold here now, its sure is nice to cuddle close to my husband. Sleeping in my new home is like going to sleep in a power operated cradle. Rocking slightly all the while. Kind of soothing for the moment (keeping my fingers cross for bad weather).

Anyway i slept well on the first night due to the cold weather. Its with reluctance that i had to wake up to visit the loo in the early morning. Filled with sleep i got out of bed and make my way to the door in the dark. Fiddling at the door for a full one minute trying to open it, i cant find the door handle! Trying to keep my eyes open and shaking the sleep away, i feel for the door handle again. Suddenly i heard Mao said 'Be careful baby... i switch on the lights for you'. Upon hearing the direction that his voice coming, i knew i must be real groggy with sleep. As all this time am actually standing at the cupboard door feeling for the bedroom door handle. Wonder if Mao dont speak, how long more will i be standing there trying to open that impossible door. Hahaha