I’ve had a hell of a week 21:14 - Aug 19 with 6311 views | NewcyBlue | Rumours were going round the fleet of no crew available for relieving those of us on board, followed by emails surfacing saying those of us on board won’t be relieved until we are over 60 days past our extended service date. For me that’s 4 months +60 days. Which means I will miss the birth of the twins. It also means I will be lucky to be home in 2020. It also means our Filipino ratings will be on board for at least 11 months. Today MrsN went for a scan. Twin 2 hasn’t grown as well as it should have. We are now looking at 2 scans a week to monitor. It could be that T2 is just smaller, there’s a blood restriction, or downs. It’s all been a bit stressful, I’ve barely slept. I’ve smashed a gym session tonight. I feel better for it. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:22 - Aug 19 with 3201 views | unstableblue | Hang in there Newcy, and I hope you're able to get back to the UK to be with the Mrs as soon as possible. And that the focussed scans shows improvement. Its a stressful concern. Exercise a great leveller. Where is your boat? | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:28 - Aug 19 with 3172 views | BanksterDebtSlave | Strewth Newcy. All I can offer you from my own recent experience is to try not to race ahead with medical stuff. Take one step in the process at a time. The seafaring stuff is just mental and I have nothing. All the best fella. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:36 - Aug 19 with 3138 views | midastouch | No wonder you're feeling stressed with all the uncertainty hanging over you. Sincerely hope it all gets resolved so you can get back in plenty of time for the birth of your twins. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:38 - Aug 19 with 3124 views | WeWereZombies | Whatever troubles we have there is always someone a little more weighed down - and at the moment that someone sounds like it is you. All I can say is that I hope things work out, both for Mrs. Newcy and your upcoming offspring and for you being able to get off the ship at the end of the voyage as initially arranged. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:48 - Aug 19 with 3077 views | Coastalblue | Often as not these things just turn out to be a bump in the road, sh1t at the time, but afterward it's just an experience to draw on. I hope this year turns out to be one you laugh about in the future over a couple of drinks while you watch twins romping around, and odds are that it will be. Best wishes to you and yours. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:52 - Aug 19 with 3064 views | jeera | What's the assumed reason for the crew shortage Newcs? Still covid related or is there a dip in employment in the field or something? Hopefully the missus will have some more positive news soon. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:53 - Aug 19 with 3049 views | Keno | Fingers crossed on all counts Newcy | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:03 - Aug 19 with 3024 views | NewcyBlue | I appreciate the kind words. As does MrsN. My boat is currently in the High Risk Area for West African pirates. We are heading for Southern Spain and Morocco. We have a lot of crew that have been over tour because of COVID who are now just getting relieved and going home. They won’t be coming back any time soon. There are plenty of crew that can’t get out due to lockdowns. And then there’s us, on board. Plenty of countries still aren’t allowing crew changes. MrsN asked about what she does with Seb meeting the twins, wait until I get home or not. I said he should meet them as soon as she feels up to it. She said she feels bad because, inevitably, I won’t be there. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:07 - Aug 19 with 3007 views | blueblueburleymcgrew |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 21:52 - Aug 19 by jeera | What's the assumed reason for the crew shortage Newcs? Still covid related or is there a dip in employment in the field or something? Hopefully the missus will have some more positive news soon. |
Hope Newcy won’t mind me answering thie crew question. it’s a logistical problem, getting crew out of certain countries and into other countries and ports for change overs is a real issue. Vessels have to deviate and that plays havoc with schedules and insurance arrangements, it’s not really the shipping companies fault it’s all a reaction to lockdowns and quarantining etc. So yeah a Covid isssue. | | | |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:13 - Aug 19 with 2984 views | factual_blue | Hope all turns out well. Although when you say there's no crew available to relieve you, I become slightly worried.... | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:14 - Aug 19 with 2974 views | homer_123 | All the best Newcy. Hope all turns out well fella. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:16 - Aug 19 with 2965 views | Nthsuffolkblue | Really hope all is OK with twin number 2 and that you somehow get to be there too. Thinking of you all. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:24 - Aug 19 with 2946 views | ghostofescobar | Good luck Newcy, hope it all works out. The crew change situation is dire. I hear some seafarers now on course to serve a total of 17 months at sea. Some seafarers may work eight months beyond the maximum period specified under the MLC? Not right at all. Mental health, boredom, fatigue - as tends to be the way with these things, will it take a serious accident until something changes? Let’s hope not. Fingers crossed for you, Mrs N and the twins. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:24 - Aug 19 with 2943 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:03 - Aug 19 by NewcyBlue | I appreciate the kind words. As does MrsN. My boat is currently in the High Risk Area for West African pirates. We are heading for Southern Spain and Morocco. We have a lot of crew that have been over tour because of COVID who are now just getting relieved and going home. They won’t be coming back any time soon. There are plenty of crew that can’t get out due to lockdowns. And then there’s us, on board. Plenty of countries still aren’t allowing crew changes. MrsN asked about what she does with Seb meeting the twins, wait until I get home or not. I said he should meet them as soon as she feels up to it. She said she feels bad because, inevitably, I won’t be there. |
So if another captain Newcy was available the company wouldn't fly him in under the circumstances? I feel a strongly worded letter coming on! | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:27 - Aug 19 with 2927 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:24 - Aug 19 by BanksterDebtSlave | So if another captain Newcy was available the company wouldn't fly him in under the circumstances? I feel a strongly worded letter coming on! |
I would like to think both company and country could look at the exceptional circumstances here and somehow help you out. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:31 - Aug 19 with 2918 views | NewcyBlue |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:24 - Aug 19 by BanksterDebtSlave | So if another captain Newcy was available the company wouldn't fly him in under the circumstances? I feel a strongly worded letter coming on! |
To be honest I fully understand not being able to get off. It’s a Seamans life. I just needed to vent. It’s not going to be an easy trip at all. But getting home, whenever that is, is going to be so sweet. Home to a bigger family. There are seafarers out there having worse conditions than me. I’m one of the lucky ones. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:33 - Aug 19 with 2910 views | NewcyBlue |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:24 - Aug 19 by ghostofescobar | Good luck Newcy, hope it all works out. The crew change situation is dire. I hear some seafarers now on course to serve a total of 17 months at sea. Some seafarers may work eight months beyond the maximum period specified under the MLC? Not right at all. Mental health, boredom, fatigue - as tends to be the way with these things, will it take a serious accident until something changes? Let’s hope not. Fingers crossed for you, Mrs N and the twins. |
Yeah I think it was Panama that said seafarers could go up to 17 months on their flagged ships. MLC states a maximum of 12 months. Seafarers, the forgotten lifeline of the world. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:35 - Aug 19 with 2873 views | davblue | All the very best for you and your wife at this time must be difficult. I know you don’t know me from Adam, but when corona hit earlier this year and I was struggling to get things for our baby you reached out and offered me support. If there’s anything I can do to help, please reach out to me. | | | |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:38 - Aug 19 with 2873 views | NewcyBlue |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:35 - Aug 19 by davblue | All the very best for you and your wife at this time must be difficult. I know you don’t know me from Adam, but when corona hit earlier this year and I was struggling to get things for our baby you reached out and offered me support. If there’s anything I can do to help, please reach out to me. |
How is the bairn? I hope everything settled down? Hope all is well there mate. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 23:23 - Aug 19 with 2803 views | catch74 | Hope it all sorts out as best it can - thoughts with you Newcy. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 07:43 - Aug 20 with 2612 views | BlueAlex | As others have said, thoughts are with you. I've seen your posts before and meant to say hello, particularly as I live in Newcastle too (there can't be many of us!). I'm a psychologist and more importantly a new dad myself so what you shared really resonated. I can only imagine how you feel but if there's anything I can do to help then add my name to the list of those who have offered already. | | | |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 07:51 - Aug 20 with 2591 views | GlasgowBlue | Really sorry to hear that mate. I know how much you want to be back home the birth of the twins. Hoping things work out and you it’s just rumours. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 08:01 - Aug 20 with 2558 views | Herbivore | Blimey, that sounds incredibly tough mate. Thinking of you and will keep everything crossed that you can be gone in time for the arrival of your twins. I hope the little one starts getting bigger, it's good they are closely monitoring things and hopefully it is nothing untoward. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 08:07 - Aug 20 with 2546 views | Steve_M | When are you supposed to be back home? Hopefully rumours are just that. Best wishes to Mrs N with the twins too. | |
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I’ve had a hell of a week on 08:15 - Aug 20 with 2511 views | davblue |
I’ve had a hell of a week on 22:38 - Aug 19 by NewcyBlue | How is the bairn? I hope everything settled down? Hope all is well there mate. |
yeah she's done really well, Baby Gaviscon helped no end, which we has to source from Skelmersdale as Boots couldn't get it for us on prescription she settled down and didn't need to be held all the time. She only needed it for 5 to 6 weeks and the silent reflux stopped thankfully. She's now nearly 6 months old and starting to have some proper food and been sleeping through for a fair while. | | | |
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