D, my sibling, used to make the most extraordinary mixed cassettes for the family. Even back then, their taste in music was wildly eclectic. They blended genres with what I can only call controlled chaos—ska with classical, reggae with Monty Python. I wore those cassettes…
In this podcast, Lia speaks with Maria of the Learning and Development team about what it’s like to build a family life connected to the sea. Maria is married to O’Neil, once a marine engineer, and longtime Oldendorff employee. They talk about early sailing trips,…
In this podcast, I sit down with Adrian Pereira to talk about what it’s really like to spend three months living and working on a bulk carrier ship. Adrian recently finished this part of his training with Oldendorff Carriers, and we cover a lot—from safety…
I’ve always admired those highly organised people with their to-do lists, checklists, and laser-sharp focus on details. I wish I could say I was one of them. After all these years of travelling, both for work and for myself, you’d think I’d have it down…
Last week, I finished the last in a long series of medical tests. That means I officially have the greenlight to embark on what I’m calling my OC Voyage*. The last company I worked for, Oldendorff Carriers (OC), gave me the most amazing parting gift,…
Dave was more or less always on duty. He had a way of making everyone think he was relaxed. Even in storm conditions, he would whistle under his breath and calmly move from one task to another. People felt safe on board. I spent years…
In this latest monologue, I share what it’s been like to build my new website, experimenting with Publii, drafting podcast episodes, and navigating the oddly thrilling logistics of safety training at sea. Along the way, I reflect on family, generational shifts in decision-making, and the…
My father, Dave, believed that being on a boat was the best way to spend a day. It didn’t matter where he was or who was onboard. When he was on water, he felt most himself. That sense of purpose, the ease of it, shaped…
I never really liked reading books by Ernest Hemingway. Too macho for me. Too much Tarzan on steroids and alcohol debauchery. And the bulls, OMG, the bulls. Yet, oddly enough, I did enjoy The Old Man and the Sea. There was a thread of interwoven…
Fresh from my meeting with Lola, I start to see just how many hoops I’ll need to jump through to get on board. Jumping into the North Sea in an immersion suit, fire simulation module, medicals, yellow fever shots—and somehow, still excited.
Recorded on a walk through Lübeck, on my way to meet Lola, where I discover that talking to my dad and navigating cobblestones at the same time is harder than it looks. Walking slower helps. I’m excited to meet Lola who is going to be…
It has been over 35 years since I last did any long-distance sailing. Back then, I was on a 17-metre yawl and not a 150–180-metre dry bulk carrier like the one I’ll be joining soon. We usually had four to six people on board. The…
I’m meeting with Lola, my crewing officer next week. She’ll be the one handling all the formalities of getting me onboard the ship—and eventually, getting me home safely. I’ve got so many questions. I’m holding myself back. It’s our first meeting, and what I really…