Off again...

I haven't been here much for a while... Work has been far too stressful lately, I haven't had much time or energy to post or keep up my forum life... And now I'm going away for a month...

http://www.segelfartygskompaniet.se/images/alva/alva-seglande-stor.jpg

Monday morning I set off with one of my classes. We are flying over to London, and in the evening we'll head down to Dover where the pretty lady waits for us. After a day in Dover we'll cross the channel and head for Zeebrugge where we'll stay only for a day and a half, to rest after the crossing... I expect to be seasick... We will also take a trip to Brugge before we depart. After Brugge, we set sail towards Den Helder in Holland. We'll visit some shipyards in Den Helder, and take a trip to Amsterdam.

After a few days there, we will head up to the Kiel Canal and soon I will be surrounded by the Baltic again. We'll make a few stops on our way up to Stockholm, before we dock at the school, on the 17th of May!

My main job on board is teaching, I won't go as a sailor, even though I'm sure I will do some maritime work on board. If nothing else, I'll teach my students the COLREG's etc.

I'm really looking forward to this! Work has truly been hell lately, so getting away for a while will be a treat, even if it is still work. And the same day I dock in Stockholm, I'll go on my next trip. In fact, I won't even have time to go home, I've brought another suitcase to work, so I'll shower and change suitcase there, and then I'll fly to England for a few long needed days off!

I'll be in charge of a very nice and handy little digicam, so expect photos when I return!

Keep a seat warm for me, and keep your fingers crossed for me, that I don't get too sea sick...

 

Agree with Halo, wish I could get away from it all... Can I come!

 

Very cool "job" Solange! Should be a great experience.

Just don't watch the movie "White Squall" before you go.

 

have fun
give me a call when you get to Amsterdam

 

Careful if ya like to swim!
Watch out for sharks.
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/shortvacation.html

 

Wow, time sure flies. It was over a year since I posted this thread, and I haven't been back since...

During this year, I made this trip, and another one this Spring as well. Over the year, I've been working almost full time, and studying full time. There just wasn't enough time for forums. I'm sorry for the absence, I have missed you all, you are such warm, helpful, friendly people!

The course I took last year was an IT course targeting networks. I wish I could say I'm really good now, but I'm afraid some of the parts were just not quite advanced enough...

Don't get me wrong, I did learn a lot. At least I learned I have a very long way to go!

Now, the course is finished. I also finally quit my job that was only giving me sleepless nights, anger and frustration, I'll have 1½ month off before I start a job that I hope will cause a little less stress! Huge bonus, I can see the place from my balcony, so no more 2½ hours on the tube every day!

The "nice and handy little digicam" turned out to have some settings that I (being a complete digicam novis) didn't detect. So the colour balance and light was wrong on most photos I took. I have cleaned them up in PS, this is why some of the photos look a little "over edited"... Here, at last, are the photos from Älva 2005.

And of course I took some on the trip this spring as well! The "nice and handy little one" broke down, I think one of my students dropped it and the lens broke. So most of those photos are taken with a mobile phone. I'm amazed at the quality considering the little gadget that took them! Älva 2006

 

Thank you so much, Halo! So good to see you again!

Those are ducks... But the last photo there has been slightly *cough* altered...

 

Hehehe. The ducks are the only things altered beyond what is reasonable, the rest of the photos have just been enhanced to make up for some bad settings on the cam...

 

Hey, good to see ya back with us for a while, Solange!. Loks like you've been pretty busy, Congrats on the new job,too.

Nice collection of photos, there!

 

Thank you Phantom! Good to be back!