Here’s an excerpt from my diary about the voyage:
Wednesday 17 November
Arrived at the ship at 2.15 with Michelle, Daddy and Pippa. Had coffee with Adriana – thank God! We all said goodbye. No one left. All by ourselves in an old tin can.
We sail at 8.00 pm.
Sailed at 8.25. Had drinks etc, chatted, early night at 9.15.
I was sad but not too much – thank God! I can’t stand being sad. Also, Mary turned up at the ship at 5.30 pm. We had some beer and she stayed for dinner – fillet of Whiting (Dinner 6.00). We then all had a drink.
Michelle had gin tonic, Mary had cinzano + coke, and I had a pint of Guinness which is bloody strong stuff. To be honest I don’t like it, it’s too strong on the tongue. Mary stayed on until 8.00.
She waved goodbye until we were virtually out of sight.
Thursday 18 November
Arrived in Montevideo at 8.00.
Had breakfast with the captain. He’s a decent enough chap. Bacon and eggs, toast and coffee, all delicious!! We then walked ashore all the way to the embassy residence, about 15 blocks!!
We waited an hour and met Mr Oliver, the British ambassador. Then Mrs came and we all had a drink at 12.00 prompt. We then had to leave as he had the Polish ambassador for lunch- so we went back to the ship for a beer and some sandwiches. I had a siesta – dog tired!
Had tea at 3.30 pm. There is one more passenger on board. We went down to the officers bar and had a few pints. Very pleasant people and not too forceful.
Friday 19 November
Up at 7.30. Steward forgot to bring tea into the cabin. He had a late night on the town, apparently.
After lunch Michelle and I went to the embassy residence and had a swim. Said goodbye to the Olivers and returned to the ship. Today we sent 4 postcards to B.A. (Adriana, Mummy and Daddy, Pippa, Charles).
Watched the loading etc. Had a beer before dinner and a few afterwards with John Banks (P.C.O.), captain, Michelle and new passenger, Jeanette, quite young and interesting to talk to.
Eventually sailed from Montevideo at 2130. Didn’t like Monte as a city very much – quite dirty and dull.
Saturday 20 November
12 noon 33 23 S – 52 22 W
Up at 7.30 with cup of tea. Good breakfast. There’s always plenty to eat. To port there is a fine looking flat coastline of sandy beaches and trees- too far away to distinguish anything. Two ships side by side on our port quarter. Look like warships.
We all went down again to the officers’ bar for a drink. More people this time. Sighted a wee bit of land this morning.
I got very sunburnt today on my face, chest and legs. Quite painful but worth it I suppose.
Sunday 21 November
12 noon 28 27 S 48 32 W
Today there is a beautiful view of the Brazilian coastline. Lay out in the sun awhile. Talked a lot. Looked at the sea a lot.
Michelle saw a shark. Tropical weather is beginning.
Monday 22 November
Arrived Santos, Brazil at 7.00 am. The dagos swarmed into the ship like ants. Very tropical place, palms, mountains etc. (Locked Michelle in the cabin – Ed)
In the afternoon we looked around the town, bought postcards. Sparky took us to H. Stern the jewellers – he wanted a special stone but they didn’t have it.
Went down “Hellfire Corner” and “The Skids” with some of the officers…(that’s enough! -Ed)
Got back on board at 3.00 am.
Tuesday 23 November
Didn’t do much today. Stayed on board most of the day. Posted the postcards and letter today, only cost 7 cruzeiros. (cards to Mummy, Adriana, Pippa, Charles – letter).
Had a quiet evening – drink in bar etc. It is getting very hot lately. The humidity clings to you. Mountain usually surrounded by mist and steam.
Wednesday 24 November
Didn’t do much this morning, read a little Spanish etc. In the afternoon we went to a fantastic beach with two little bays and an island. It was like a jungle on one side and really hot and sticky.
There were many incredible kinds of insects. Huge butterflies and hornets. Banana tress and all sorts of tropical vegetation. The beach was lined with palm trees, the type of place I never imaged I would go to.
If only Mummy, Daddy and John could have been here too, to see it all. Adriana would have loved it too, we could have been so happy on that island together.
We went out for a drink again tonight just for a laugh…
Thursday 25 November
Hardly did anything this morning. Had a couple of beers at lunchtime. Watched all the loading. They loaded 5 containers onto the ship. They are lashed onto the deck by chains. All the derricks have been lowered for sailing the long leg to Rotterdam.
We sailed from Santos at 20.30. One of the engines has got something wrong with it so they stopped the ship awhile in the open sea. An incredible all night, dry electrical storm. Streaks of lightning all around us.. So humid, everyone just like sponges. Drank beer on deck, Michelle, Sparky, Jeanette, Ronnie and I. Nothing like a nice farewell drink to Santos. We were there 4 days and was I glad to get moving again. It stinks there.
Friday 26 November
12 noon 23 08 S – 42 18 W
Up at 7.00. Very humid and hazy. Not much different from Santos, only not so smelly and it’s a lot fresher. Sunbathed a bit and burnt my face intentionally. Read Spanish. Force 5 wind, just missed a storm to the west.
We had a lifeboat drill today. They lowered a lifeboat. From now on it’s a straight run to Rotterdam.
Passed Cabo Frio at about 14.30. Have drink before dinner – beer! We bought a bottle of wine for dinner – what a mess! (? Ed)
Invited captain for a drink with us. It’s not until you prize him open that he can really start talking and he does have some very funny things to say. (the captain was drunk most of the time – Ed)
Bed at 10.00 and bloody hot! Still quite a wind blowing and a swell, but barely any heeling or pitching of the ship.
Saturday 27 November
12 noon 18S – 38 22 W
Missed my morning tea at 7.30. For some unknown reason I didn’t wake up. Face very burnt and small blisters appearing.. Had a couple of drinks in the bar with a few people. Tom showed us his battle scars from Korea. Bed at roughly 11.30.
Very stuffy in the cabin even with all the portholes open. I keep losing my appetite and never really feel like eating for some reason.
Sunday 28 November
12 noon 12 00 S – 36 04 W
Rained intermittently. Strong winds. Sun later on.
Went down to visit the engine room – very hot and well organised. Started to write a letter to Adriana – you know I really do go mad about that girl – I’ll be with her again some day – I know it.
Apparently the weather is bad in UK!
Monday 29 November
12 noon 5 49 S – 33 41 W
Very hot sun today – a few showers too. Swam in the pool and sunbathed. Helped scrub the decks. Saw a few flying fish and still quite windy. Paid a bar bill (£2.70). We saw a film tonight called “False Witness“. It was bloody confusing – starring George Kennedy and a few other creeps. Also, someone has lost the lens for the projector so we had to see it all tall. Went to bed straight after. It is still very hot in the cabin at night.
Tuesday 30 November
12 noon 00 27 N – 31 33 W
Sunbathed today.
Also helped to paint the lines for the deck tennis. Michelle got her back very sunburnt – had to put ointment on her. Had a couple of beers after dinner with Sean telling some of his Irish jokes. Got to bed reasonably early tonight.
Wednesday 1 December
Noon Lat 6 46 N – Long 29 29 W
Quite heavy weather today. Overcast but generally still. Quite warm. Ship pitching quite a lot, but hardly any rolling. Horizon very misty – as a result, a fix of the sun can’t be made – therefore no exact position can be determined.
Thursday 2 December
12 noon Lat 12 15 N – Long 27 21 W
Still very hazy and very choppy. Getting cooler. We had a barbeque today. I cooked several steaks. It was a good barbeque – it went on until about 11.30 pm.
Friday 3 December
12 noon Lat 18 26N – Long 24 44W
Did absolutely nothing today. Lost appetite. Not feeling too good – I don’t think many people were, really. Oh yeah, I had a shower. Still quite a large swell – ship pitching but not really rolling.
Played cards with Mrs Carter tonight. Ronnie played his harmonica. I had an early night but it took a long time to get to sleep. Weather improving.
Apparently there is still bad weather in the channel and the bay – force 10.
Saturday 4 December
12 noon 24 31N – 22 02W
Feeling much better today. Saw a sailing ship on the horizon at 8.15 am. It looked like one of those you see on the Nile. It could have been a training ship.
Sunday 5 December
12 noon 30 18N – 18 52W
Getting colder all the time. Bar bill until today £26.14.
Monday 6 December
12 noon 36 02N – 14 55W
Ship rolling a hell of a lot. She rolled 32 1/2 degrees at the most. Force 9 wind behind us. Waves 30 ft high. Dangerous to walk about the deck. Tables and chair flying about everywhere. We had to have coffee on the floor.
Tuesday 7 December
12 noon 41 40N 11 09W
Still bad rolling. Olga toppled off her chair and flew across the (dining) room, banging her head very hard on the floor. She could have cracked her head.
Wednesday 8 December
12 noon 47 07N – 6 29W
Thursday 9 December
12 noon 50 29N – 01 00E
Friday 10 December
Should arrive at Rotterdam today.
Arrived at Rotterdam – very cold. Went for a walk around with Michelle. Very dull, had a coffee in a pub. People nice but very unattractive. Pavements covered with dog shit.
Saturday 11 December
We were going to go to Amsterdam but it was much too expensive – so we went to Kinderdijk and saw all the windmills. Damned cold.
Sunday 12 December
No entries.
Monday 13 December
Did nothing in particular today – free drinks in the officers’ bar tonight.
Tuesday 14 December
Left Rotterdam at 10.50 am. Sky cleared up. Sent telegram at 1.40pm.
(Wednesday and Thursday, no diary entries)
Friday 17 December
Arrived at (a very cold) Southampton. (with Daddy waiting for us in his shiny, metallic blue Volvo 144GL)
NOTES
Passengers:
Marc
Michelle
Jeanette, a lady of about 30 who was very pleasant to talk to with a happy disposition. Michelle may remember more.
Mrs Carter, a lady of about 80 years, but a very young outlook.
Olga, who we think was a Polish princess. Very dignified and elegant who could have had a very nasty head injury when she flew from her chair, hitting the bulkhead.
The crew:
The captain was an experienced sailor. Very quiet, and as far as I remember, he did like a drink or two. On one occasion I actually saw Sparky (the electrical officer) grab him on the bridge in a heavy roll, to stop him being thrown over the side.
Sean/Shaun was a steward and looked after all our needs.
Ronnie may also have been a steward.
All in all, they were a great bunch and we all mixed together very well, including the officers, who dragged me ashore in Santos for some interesting nightlife and sightseeing – but enough said about that the better.
Reading through this diary again after so long, it seems now to have been more of a booze cruise and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. The beautiful warm weather, gradually turning colder as we headed north is something I shall always remember.