“Stop sounding so cheerful.” THG 29/03/2024. THG is prone to mal de mer and we were in the queue on the landing stage of the Isle of Man Steam packet Company waiting to board. Sea sickness tablets had been dispensed as Liverpool came into sight but the boat trip is always looked upon with an element of trepidation.
Now onboard and sitting comfortably in the lounge (window seats 15 and 16) with a cup of tea the skipper has assured her that the voyage should be smooth. We are however now having to endure the safety video. This is the one that involves an actor dressed as a pirate who tries to be funny whilst the other actor dressed as a cabin attendant dispenses safety advice. It is mildly amusing the first time you see it but seriously annoying thereafter. A bit like that star studded BA safety video that used to drive me totally nuts. I donned my Bose phones and drowned out the pirate with The Doors (Cmon Baby Light My Fire).
I quite like the boat trip to the Isle of Man. Gives me a good couple of hours of uninterrupted time turning thoughts into pixels. You can almost picture the flow of words beaming into the laptop. You are reading them now, Scotty.
As we are on holiday I have already consumed two small packets of bourbon creams, dunked in the tea, and a Breakaway chocolate biscuit, not dunked. The lounge is well stocked. Probably the only time I indulge in such delicacies nowadays. It is very easy to consume a whole packet of Bourbons with some serial dunking. Don’t fancy any of the food on offer otherwise. I could nip down to the main deck to purchase a sandwich I suppose. Will survive.
When we arrive in Peel some big decisions of the day will have to be made. What to have for tea. The choices are something from Shoprite/Tesco/whatever it is called these days or a takeaway/eat out.
I will in anycase have to do a supply run to stock up for the week ahead. Essentials such as bacon, queenies and Noa Bakehouse sourdough bread. Noa Bakehouse is just opposite the ferry terminal in Douglas so could swing by there before we head west for Sunset City.
Bit of a tedious sounding bloke droning on behind me. I seem to attract them!
Tref’s shopping list, written whilst on da bote.
Bread
Butter
Milk
Berries
Salad
Queenies
Bacon
Sausage
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Yo, gurt (greek)
The Starlink connection provided on the boat is next to useless. It proxies everything and so sensible websites don’t trust it.