In lockdown, I decided to write and self-publish a book. As a Linux-user, that was harder than it sounds. Here's what I learned.
How to Format Files for Self-Publishing on Linux
Blog
Beamu: First Impressions
BeamU is an impressive security device with a convenient credit card size form factor. How well does it actually work?
The Freedom of Constraints
I like plans. In January I wrote my 2020 plan; in March, I got stuck in the wrong country. There's freedom in having limited choices: here's why.
How trying to do the right thing got me stuck in the UK
“Your request to be considered under the COVID-19 travel ban exception process has not been successful. There is no right of appeal."
What can sailors teach us about lockdown?
There’s a strange phenomenon that happens on ships; it’s called “Channel Fever.”
Seafarers: the Forgotten Essential Workers
In this time of Covid-19, we need supplies to survive under lockdown. But we've forgotten about the seafarers who transport them.
“Girls Don’t Belong at Sea”
How to motivate someone to prove you wrong Photo of a professional man looking at paperwork, from LifeofPix The examiner stared at his papers, silently rearranging them, avoiding my eyes. I forced a slow, deep breath, determined not to let him see how tense I was. The clock behind me ticked, meting out the seconds. A... Continue Reading →
Seasickness: the Best Feeling in the World
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash The best thing about seasickness is that it leads to one of the best feelings in the world: that moment when, several days into a voyage, I wake up and realise that I feel hungry. I get up to find something to eat, then realise with a sense of joy... Continue Reading →
Sometimes you’ll never be ready
At maritime college, they teach us what to do in emergencies, how to prepare for flooding, fire, man-over-board. Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash They don’t teach us how to deal with the aftermath. It’s possible to put on a facade of calm, to exude confidence, but no-one ever teaches us how to deal with the... Continue Reading →
Don’t ask, “Why?” ask, “Why not?”
They sold my ship in February. It was Friday, in mid-Pacific. The captain read us the email just before dinner. Most of the crew were somewhere between upset and angry, but I just felt relieved, as if I’d been freed from a prison I hadn’t realised I was in. The company offered me a transfer... Continue Reading →
Nic Gardner 