18th September 2001

Going to Ipswich today. I didn't feel that upset that I was leaving home, because I enjoy travelling. I felt excited about going and when Mr Mountford and Mrs Evans come to collect me I was well chuffed! When we were travelling down to Ipswich I was excited and we had a right laugh. Me and Sarah were in stitches all the way down!!! We got to the hotel after just one stop. Me and Sarah have a twin room Mountford and Evans have two single rooms. We had a shower each and went down to the bar where the other two were waiting. We ordered our meals and waited until they were ready. We then went into the restaurant and ate our meals. (Chicken and veggies!) then all four of us were just chatting, taking photos and having a laugh! Then we started to get a little tired so we went up to our room. We watched the Young Ones and then we went to bed.

19th September 2001

Had a bad night. Couldn't sleep because of the blinking bell outside! Couldn't get to sleep until about half two, and I woke up at half six. Got dressed and woke Sarah at half seven. Went down to breakfast, just had orange juice (vit. c) just chatting and then Mr Mountford came and nicked Sarah�s coffee and toast! Then we was all chatting and the one window was leaking (it was raining outside) and Mr Mountford sat by that window so obviously he kept on getting wet! Then Mrs Evans came downstairs and we were chatting then Mr Mountford and Mrs Evans had ordered full English breakfasts so me and Sarah went up to our room to sort our stuff out. We went into Ipswich and Sarah bought hat and gloves and Mountford made me have a chicken sandwich!!! Got on the boat, unpacked all my stuff made friends with the other peeps. I've got the top bunk. Boy are we cramped!!! Lockers are right next to the bunks and there are 8 of us in one cabin...smelly!!! The one underneath is called Kerry, she was my first friend!!! I'm white 9. Sarah's red 8, so we're split up but I�m not too fussed We'll see each other in the day. Got practising on the ropes. Had a briefing. Got oilskins and harnesses. Went up to the first platform on the mast. Signed on. (Showed passport etc.) Then we went for tea. Darren the chief officer sat next to me. We was chatting and he seems like a real nice guy. Our tea come, and I kept on looking at him, and he asked if he could pass me something, I just shook my head. Then I was still looking at him, and he asked why I kept on looking at him, and I just laughed and so did he. Anyway, we had a fire drill etc. We got to go into Ipswich. Me and Sarah went to McDonalds ok the food was nice but Darren was right. We should put brown sauce on it!!! We went back and went to bed. Then...

20th September 2001

At midnight had to wake up. I was on duty! Got to go in the mess room and slept. We then had to go on watch at 1.20am. We was checking the pavement for burglar's etc. Went back to bed at 2.40am. Woke up at about half seven. Went up to breakfast had some orange squash (Yuk!) Went up the sails to tie them with my brilliant (not) knot ha! ha! I told Uncle Dave (watch leader) I didn't feel well. So he was proud of me when I went up the sails. So was Liam (second officer) and he gave me a hug! Then we had lunch (potato and salad) had to haul the sails and hold the braces. Then we set off up the river. It was quite sunny so we just lazed about. Had tea. Went to bed.

21st September 2001

We're going to Weymouth tomorrow. Should be fun. Was up early today because I was on 4-8 watch. Was absolutely freezing. (There were a lot of brass monkeys crying!) Sat about for a bit. I still feel queasy but not as much as yesterday. We sat on the blue life jacket box, it's now my box!!! I sit there because it's nice, quiet and I can chill without people talking to me all the time. Had lunch. Was on duty again 12-4. It was cool because I kept watch and then I was chatting to Tash. Had a lot of free time today. Had tea. Went to bed.

22nd September 2001

Woke up for 4am freezing again! On watch which was kind of boring except for the fact that Darren was there. Because I had to steer the boat in the pitch flipping black. But Darren told me a different course and I tried, I really did but he comes out to tell me to try and keep it there, but then he realised who I was this was because I had my hat on. And he was real nice to me, he asked if I was happy steering and I said no so he told Dave to take over, which I thought was nice of him. Then I was on scribe duty, which was cool because hey I only had to do what I was told which was pretty easy!!! Was feeling real ill today though. I was sick 4 times, and Matt had to tell the doctor to see me. So he gave me some tablets. Then while I was sitting in the office who should walk past? Darren. But he was really nice about it he asked me what was up, if I�d had something etc. But he could have walked past when I was in a more talkative mood. Still it got me out of happy hour which wasn't bad. Matt (youth mentor) is soooooooo sweet he took over my duty. One bummer though I couldn't go up the mast in case I fainted. Got to Weymouth. Had lunch and briefing. Have to be back on board for 5. Had sandcastle comp. Came third. Went round the shops. Bought McDonalds believe me it helped my stomach!!! Bought a hematite ring (at last!) and a Rubik's cube key ring. Got back on the ship. Had tea. Had shore leave. Had to be back by midnight. Had a big heart to heart with Tash. And we found out we were both quiet and shy and we didn't like half our watch!!! We saw our watch by the pub and we stayed to chat but got bored so we walked off. Went on the carousel!!! Had a walk and then went back at nine. Watched Blackadder. Didn't realise Liam was sitting behind me, and when I got up to go to bed he made me jump!!! Had to get up again at midnight so I went to bed.

23rd September 2001

Up at midnight. Sat in my usual spot. Was chatting to Vicky (deck hand)and told me that Darren likes to get drunk and get laid!!! He is a male tart. He seems to be too nice, but hey she knows him better than me. He didn't roll in until 2.10am. Matt was chatting to me, asking if I was ok and if he needed to worry about me. I was nearly in tears, because he is a sweet guy, and I�m not used to being asked if I�m all right but I said I was fine, and he said ok then. Sat through rest of watch nearly in tears. Went to bed. Slept for about half an hour. Felt sick again. Went up on deck, and had another but stronger tablet. Had happy hour, and Nat flicked Anna with the toilet brush and I was in hysterics for about an hour. Had briefing and had shore leave. Had tug of war, and it was equal so it was trainee�s Vs volunteers...we won!!! Then I went off on my own for a bit and I bought a sign for my room and a key ring for Darren...not sure why though. Came back had lunch. Didn't eat much. Cast away from Weymouth and I couldn't go up the mast again because I was on watch. Had tea and Chris dropped the lid in the jug so I was in hysterics again, and so was he. Lazed about, and went to bed.

24th September 2001

Had a good night's sleep. Went up on deck and Darren waved to me and I waved back. Had to pull the sails out and I went up the mast (at flipping last) to go into the French port. It was great. We hadn't got much to do so we messed about mainly. We had to go on the bridge and I was look out. In France had our tea and a briefing. Got shore leave. Had to be back for 11. Went to a French diner, and I had a glass of coke and that is the truth. Everyone else had something alcoholic. Went to 2 more bars I had nothing. A mad French man was trying to buy us all drinks but we weren't accepting. I tried to get back to the ship but the two I was with were a bit drunk. They'd had 5 kamikazes and 2 baileys each. They went the other way so I found other peeps to walk with. Went to bed.

25th September 2001

Got up at 3.40am. Put my fleece on, and found my self asleep on the floor, at 4.10am. (Supposed to be on watch at 4am!) Then I put my trainers on rushed out to the stairs and found I�d only got my PJ's on so I had to rush back and put my jeans on, then someone came and told me I was late duh! I knew that. Went on watch, which was very boring. Went back to bed. Woke up at 6.30am. Had a shower, went up on deck sat down and watched the sunrise. Had briefing. Went ashore, got Pringles, chocolate, and sweets. Went back on board. Got ready to go up the mast. Went one higher than yesterday! Went back down. Had lunch. Went up on the bridge. Chatted to Darren for a while. Went back down. Had tea. Watched sunset and stars for a while. Went to bed.

26th September 2001

Woke up at 6.25am. I was late for galley duty. Nobody had woke me up so Sarah had to wake me. Got up to the mess deck. Laid things out for breakfast. Finished the whole breakfast thing. chopped apples and mushrooms. Fetched stuff from the provisions cupboard. Once Liam came down with me, and he said 'ah you're in trouble now' I said 'who me? Why?' He said 'because for some strange reason everytime I�m alone in the same room as a girl strange rumours spread, so you've got a reputation now.' I said 'don't worry about it' and laughed. Washed up a lot. Served lunch. Washed up even more. Grated some nutmeg. Cleaned the mess and galley. Got some free time. Went up to the royals and sat on the yard. Came back down. Went to mess room for duty. Sat on 2nd sitting which I knew Darren would be sitting on. Sat next to him. He was chatting to me a bit and he finished his dinner. Then he asked for 2nd's but then he said he didn't because it was just greedy. And then he said but Carly looks like she's having trouble with her chips, and I said have some if you want some, and he was like no I can't and I kept on saying have some and he called me a temptress! He had some of my sausage aswell. The Captain had a couple of chips aswell. Then I carried on my duties. I finished my duties. Then I had free time. So I went on deck. Then I went down stairs, and back up again. Darren was at the top of the stairs, so I poked him in the back and gave him my sweetest and girliest smile!!! Then he said goodnight, and I said it back, and then I went to bed.

27th September 2001

Someone woke me for mess duty, and I was having an argument saying it wasn't me because we ain't got a number seven, and so it was Kerry�s turn. Got up had breakfast. Darren and Gemma (deck hand) were drawing pics of the permanent crew. Went up the t/gallants with David. We were just having a laugh at first. Then they kept on telling us to roll the sails, but we couldn't because it was too bulky. So we was pissed off. Then we couldn't tie the gasket because the sail had come too far over. Then we couldn't move our harnesses, because of the sail so we had to help each other off. Then Judith was telling us to redo the sail hello we weren't gonna fall to our deaths for her. My arms were so tired I felt like letting go and dangling. Got down with great difficulty. Had a hot chocolate with David. Had lunch. Went up the royals, and then right up the pole, which was brilliant, the wind was blowing and for some reason when I'd been climbing up there I'd felt like a monkey!!! Then we were chatting in the accommodation. Then we had tea. Then we got to Essex. I was standing by the box and Darren pushed me playfully. Then when he walked back he smiled at me. Then we played a game of football. Then the ball went in the water and sunk!!! So it ended. Then we went up to the first platform and just chatted. Then we went up the bough and had a chat. Then we had to sign off. We lined up and Darren called me in. He smiled at me real nice, and I signed my name then I turned round and he said see you so I said it back. I started crying because it's all official. We all had big hugs and Darren smiled at me. I went up on deck a bit, and then to my bunk.

28th September 2001

Got up early for first sitting on breakfast. Had cereal. Sat next to Liam which was a laugh. Had some photos for HSBC. Then I went up the mast to the royals to go through tower bridge! How cool is that? Went through twice it was soooooooooooooo good!!! Got down had a few photos. Got lifeboats out. Had a buffet for lunch. Went on shore and phoned mom. I was soooooo happy to talk to her. Went back to the ship. Had a happy hour and Darren was being nice to me. Finished happy hour, and was nicking stuff off Liam and Darren. So I got to wear Darren's hat. We practised our song, and I went up on deck a bit. Got a couple of peeps to sign my jumper. Then Darren came out. I told him I would miss him. He said well come on another one. I said yeah but that doesn't mean you'll be on it. He said I probably will be I�m on most of them! I said well now I have to save up the money. He said get someone to sponsor you, there's money floating about everywhere. Then he signed my jumper with 'see you again soon. luv Darren xxx' Then we went for tea, and our ship was on the London news. Then we went up on deck, and I saw Mountford and Evans, and we were chatting when my Mom and Derek come!!! Yay!!! We hugged for ages, and I showed them round. They both seem so different. Then we went to the party. We sang our song and Darren and Steve (the cook) showed up dressed as women. I sang bohemian rhapsody with Tash and Anna. Darren took his scarf off and put it round my head! Then we went out to McDonalds and we were going home, when we saw Judith (watch leader) and Barry the boson together. We thought it was sweet but they kept on stopping so we had to stop so they wouldn't see us!!! Then we got home. I went and packed my stuff. I took my shoes and socks off. Then I went up on deck and saw Darren, Liam, Steve, Robert, and Gemma and Vicki all coming back. Darren apparently fell asleep on some girl. Had watch at flipping 3am. Liam was holding peeps noses who were asleep to wake them up. It was funny. Went to bed.

29th September 2001

Awoke at 6am. Got all my stuff. Got my smock. Derek come, so then I had to find Darren. He was in the mess deck, so he gave me a hug, and I gave him his key ring. We walked to the Captain's bit, and he said 'what's this?' (Meaning the bag with the key ring in.) I said 'it's for you', and he said 'ahh thanks!' Saw the Captain said bye etc. Then I went outside with Darren, and we hugged again. Then he said so I�ll see you next time you come yeah? I said yeah definitely, then I said see you, I 'm gonna miss you he said I�m gonna miss you too. But he actually said it like he meant it, and I thought he was going to cry when he said it. So I gave my best smile and walked off. I went up to my luggage, and Anna was there and I just burst into tears. I had said bye to a guy I really liked. I went downstairs to say bye to Tash and the rest. Took my luggage and got in the van. Went home. But it seems unreal like I hadn't been on the trip. But these memories prove that it was real.