Update by Martin

28 November 2013

“Ashore, I believe, you have already had the pleasure of getting to know quite a few persons and phenomena here on board. Indeed there are quite a few strange ones around here. To name a few, an English speaking lady learning Japanese; a specialist in Chinese, learning Spanish; a strange fellow who has been staring into an Italian book for as long as he has been on board (luckily ‘Oosterschelde’ herself has a faster pace). People are writing, reading, filming like lives depend on it. The baking of cookies has been raised to a form of art.
But there is something you didn’t know yet: I would like to introduce you all to Mariska. Who is she? We don’t know, but she is here and very regularly (some of us know her still from earlier trips to the Cabo Verde and luckily she continues her work on this trip).
Right in the middle of the middle watch, when the men of steel are starting to heel, and hope Jana doesn’t have a job for them anymore, right then, she comes to the wheelhouse, surrounded by the smell of snacks and mini-croissants with chocolate for Marino. The double espresso does it.
Decency prohibits me to talk about her appearance, but let me give you a couple of clues: she is wearing quite something else than foul-weather gear, and sometimes there are a few snacks left on the tray and the espresso just stands there getting cold…
As discretely as she appeared, she disappears. And the men of the watch are invigorated. Do you understand that the middle watch from 0:00 to 4:00 is the most wanted of them all? And that the speed of our good ship goes through the roof during this watch?
But, readers, if that was the end of it… but no! Even if we could resist said bellezza, what will become of us near the Cape? Carried to us by the wind the tempting and soothing voices come to us. The Sirens -also little dears- who will tempt good sailors to sail against, instead of around the Cape.
But, lucky for us, the captain knows his classics: he lets himself get tied to the mast and lets his men with wax in their ears sail the ship around the treacherous rocks. And when all that is done, we are at play! We will fire up the engines and rush to Port Stanley. The local establishments for years will remember our arrival and stay.
Greetings to all you readers, from our wet, lively and oh so good world!”