Back for the Christmas break, but still plenty to do. Firstly doing the rounds and catching up with family, explaining what I had been up to in France…(they should really read my blog!) and consuming vast amounts of festive food.

The selection of freeze dried food

Along with the traditional Christmas food we were treated to a nutrition day with Round The World Foods dubbed ‘The Artemis Offshore Academy Christmas Meal’!! Really an opportunity to try before you buy of over 50 different freeze dried/expedition meals. After listening to a tantalising talk on how to preserve the best flavours and nutritional qualities my stomach was rumbling. As the first few meals were rehydrated I looked at my watch to realise I had to get back to work for the afternoon at the loft! As I was offered a few in a doggy bag to try I made a swift exit. I have to say my colleges looked at me very oddly as I did the ‘boil in a bag’ in the kettle!

Henry and Sam placing IV lines

Our other day of training was a specific first aid course run by Medical Support Offshore (MSOS) designed to educated offshore sailors in the tricky business of dealing with medical issues offshore. Not only was it tailored to our needs as solo sailors, it included real life scenarios that MSOS had been involved with, such as the current Volvo Ocean Race. And of course by not doing things by halves, we were given the option to place IV lines in each other as practise! With my paranoia that the plastic tube left in your arm is actually still the metal needle I bravely opted out, but Henry and Sam took it on like pro’s!

As for the coming week, I have a Meteorological, Psychology, Fitness Test to look forward to.

AC