Clyde and flying out to meet the ship

[RNR]

We are due to finish our phase 1 at college and Clyde have told us we could get a call anytime from the end of college informing us of when we have to fly out and meet our ship (them being as vague as usual).

So I was wondering from other cadets experiences, how long was it between finishing your phase and flying out to meet your ship?

[ETwhat?]

it really does vary, took me three weeks and i was only going to scotland, but only got the call on friday and was traveling on the tuesday. other people joined sooner at that point its down to the sponsors and not clyde. for my second ship the day after i got back i was told when i was going so i could use the time off rather than waiting by the phone which was good. its a bit pants but just get everything you need ready so print out an expense form and get an envelope then its piss easy to get it sorted and saves going to the 2nd with a pile of reciepts (make sure you know what you can claim and then keep everything my view is were arent paid enough to not milk it when we can) other than that check the check list and then relax

[RNR]

Thanks ETwhat, my main problem is I need to buy a load of stuff before I go to sea (digital camera etc) which I can't afford until payday but Clyde doesn't pay us until the end of July. I'm just hoping I'm due to fly out around mid August time.

[Lewis]

Can't you just use your phone and buy your camera when your ship stops somewhere with cheap electronics.

[ETwhat?]

Yeah i know that pain i got a digital camera and kindle book reader for joining ship both well worth the money. get a credit card, set it up to pay off the bill automatically every month and then that will be after your pay comes through. my guess would have you at sea before then if your finished now.

[ETwhat?]

Can't you just use your phone and buy your camera when your ship stops somewhere with cheap electronics.

your assuming that hes going to get ashore somewhere that he can do that. Personally if its sometihng that you really want have it by the time you get off the plane. Can be worth buying stuff in the airport but most places have considerably less choice than the high street so depends on how sure you are of what you want

[RNR]

Plus my phone is like from 2003, its camera is practically useless haha. Thanks for the idea ETwhat, credit cards have never appealed to me for the obvious debt reasons, plus would it not take some time to set up? From our pre-sea talk the other day I think Clyde count the sea-phase from the start of August and us finishing now is down to the college timetable. However, I don't know if Clyde have changed this knowing we finish this week :S

[CharlieDelta]

Wait and see I suppose - if you don't have a camera I'd definitely put it top of the list. Reports always look better with lots of pictures (which saves a bit of writing) and with the things you'll see you'll want to get some pictures. :-)

[size4riggerboots]

"A picture is worth 1000 words" they say. With that in mind I must have written several books worth by now!!

[CharlieDelta]

The last-day picture frenzy is fun too, going around the entire ship taking pictures of really random things. Never know when you'll need a picture of a square of carpet on the bridge or a random sign next to a lift.

[ETwhat?]

I've tried to take pitcures of anything that is in the TRB and is to hand, so that when at a later point i need to write about it i have some stock footage, often when your working on that piece of equipment its a pain to stop and get the camera out.

[Lewis]

You could always sketch :P

[stronglead]

my missus waited around 3 months then flew out to korea and had to come home again to go back out 2 weeks later haha