Merry Christmas

Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Sun 25 Dec 2016 15:28

Muscat, Oman 25th December 2016

 

LINK TO VALETTA TO GOA PICTURES HERE

 

Just had a couple of days at sea from Goa back to Muscat.

 

Germans peak out for Christmas on the 24th and there were shows, festive meals and parties most of the day yesterday. My one job of the year was being der Weinachtsmann (German Father Christmas)  handing out pressies to 420 crew on the Aidaaura. The Captain and officers were Santa’s little elves which is only fitting.

 

                                                                     

 

 

Quite late, we were just settling down to a few drinks and imported mince pies on the officers deck when it was reported that a pair of shoes were seen tied to a railing. This is well known as a classic signature of a jumper and Christmas is a peak time for that. Partying was cancelled and all officers and the Captain went into a huddle outside our cabin with me relaying sage advice through the memsahib. After many cabin searches and announcements it turned out that somebody had just washed their shoes and had left them out to dry. Passengers rarely get thrown overboard by the crew but this was a time when it almost happened.

 

On Christmas Day morning we arrived in Muscat then we were off to a Catholic church for a Christmas service arranged for the Filipino crew. Lunch was in the Mumtaz Mahal restaurant which had festive curries and good views of the Arabian Sea. It doesn’t get any more international than that.

 

Merry Christmas from Martyn & Heike