Diary Entries
I had to go to the lav as soon as I got up this morning. Same as I always used to and ever since I have had my pain return. I am lying in bed now at 2.30 and have just woke up from a dream. A ship wreck, me on it and hundreds of kids, Margo and Art were there too. I was jumping off the ship onto the shore trying to save them. Perhaps it is because I was thinking of Margo and hoping she will not take to smoking as I have seen her try it once or twice. I am asking her not to in my letter home.
read moreAs soon as I got up this morning and had some tea, off I had to go again. You will get fed up with reading about my pain. I've had it all day. Our clocks went back the last hour tonight till New York. It is 10 o'clock now that's 16 hours of it, 17 actually, I surely believe this is part punishment for although I had my easy job it is down that I go back to where this trouble of mine originated. The galley, fate sent me into it again and I must bear it.
read moreI learned today that our ship is in such a dangerous condition that we may be kept in New York as we are too bad to go further. So goodness knows what is going to happen to us. I have been free today again from my pain, thank goodness. I can work much better and with more heart. There is nothing else to tell except that we are still going merrily along and that this evening I introduced "Battleships". The last time I played it here was when that other ship was fired. Good night all. I have just written to Margo.
read moreGetting nearer. I was told today that the Commodore's ship who had been holding us up all the way had to drop out yesterday owing to steering gear trouble. Now the other Commodore who took over has ordered 8 knots. So we are going faster now.
When we got on deck this morning it was pitch dark, we could see a fire in the distance. It turned out to be a Swedish ship (neutral) and it's not the first time it has happened this trip. Very ominous, for it will slow a convoy up for miles.
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Well we have not gone yet. Our sailing orders were cancelled this morning but we do not know yet what is happening. They both came back early this morning. The Steward had a tube of stuff for my use but I have not used it yet. Later in the morning the Cook and he sneaked ashore to buy bread and saved us making it. They got sixty loaves and two quarts of beer. Hurrah! The Coast Guard stopped them too late on the return but the man who let them go got into trouble. On each ship there are two coast guards to prevent anyone going ashore.
read moreNothing today, no doctor no excitement. Just work and rain and cold. But - the Skipper returned at 8.30 tonight. We have learned, uncertainly, that we stay here for a few more days yet. The truth is, Red Tape. American, at that and no one knows what to do with us. Send us south for repairs or stay here. Anyway, we shall be allowed ashore Tuesday, so my first visit to New York. I am looking forward to it too.
read more12.30. We have just finished serving dinner. Turkey again with chicken, lucky buggers eh! Why even now they are each looking at the clock working out "how long before tea time". No officials have been aboard yet, customs, immigration or anyone else. But that may be because there is another large convoy came in. My word this place is full of ships, they have a job to watch anyone.
I am just having a break before going aloft to shift 30 bags of Yanky spuds. I suppose by now you have had my telegrams and know by now that I am ok and safe.
read moreWell, up this morning , Brrrr it was so cold. We were up before the ship sailed and everything, all Frost and sea water , was freezing up. We had to go down 50 feet into the engine room for every bucket of water. And so it has been all day. I am fed up with it but we have left N. Y. and are now well on our way. Aircraft is accompanying us . We are going all out for the Skipper is taking a chance going on his own like this. We have seen a few other ships. As we go south it will get noticeably warmer and when we hit the Stream it will be quite nice. That will be in a couple of days time.
read moreIt is appreciably warmer. At 10 knots (14 miles an hour). It is now 1 o'clock. How far have we come since yesterday morning at six? I came to my cabin at 11 o/clock this morning, opened the post. I leant against it swaying with the gentle heave and roll of the boat. Quiet. I looked out, sun shining on a very tranquil sea. I watched it, the gentle waves a few ripples only. It made me wonder at life, my life, what it is, what does it mean. I cannot understand. I am going to try and get fifty winks now. We saw lights in the dark this morning. We saw them on the last trip but later on.
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