As many of you may not know my other half left the Navy a bit over a month ago. I started this blog post around 8 weeks ago and was writing it as we was travelling back home to Norfolk along the M25, but I got super busy with work when I came back and then we had my partner leaving the navy and life just got a bit busy, so im only just getting to sit down and actually finish this post. Now the news I wanted to share with you guys eight weeks ago was, although he only had a week left left back then (I know a week crazy right, this day has felt so far away for so long and now its gone and past) eight weeks ago I finally visited Portsmouth. Now as I have been with my boyfriend for a year and 4 months I wanted so desperately to go visit him there. It is a huge part of his life (5 years) I just didn't feel I knew too much about. Please dont get me wrong he's told me so so much, but it doesn't help me to understand what his life really is like. So on Friday (27th July) me, mum and mums husband jumped into the car and we travelled the massive journey down south to see him. So it was a super eventful weekend and that wasn't only due to the weather, so lets get down to it.
Leaving Norfolk in 37 degree heat was not only a great way to start the weekend but also a sweaty one. I adore the heat but it was the warm sticky heat that just makes you drip in sweat. So a four hour journey, we wasn't best looking forward to. But wow that was one hell of a journey. We left Norfolk as it was just starting to cloud over. Part way through the journey we was met by the most violent storm I have ever been in a car for. Wow what can I say the rain was so hard you could hardy see the road and then all of a sudden it just went. But the journey was on and off drizzle all the way. Once we got to Portsmouth and found our hotel, we found Michael standing outside waiting for us so we went and parked the car. We stayed at The Royal Maritime Club Hotel. Now this hotel is directly opposite the dockyard and is based around all things naval. Different parts of the hotel are all different naval terms. Which I absolutely adored. We all got checked in and then it was up to the rooms and have a quick freshen up. The rooms themselves are lovely. Very simply decorated but it was perfect for us. We all headed out and had dinner at Nando's and a few drinks here and there. It truly was a great start to the weekend.
On the Saturday we woke up and as pre usual on a standard day off for me, I had absolutely no interest in getting up as I wanted to just lay in bed. Now dont get me wrong it wasn't I didn't want to go explore, trust me I did. But I dont get many lay in's so I try to take them when I can. But with much persuasion I did get up. We got sorted and met the family and we made our way down to the restaurant for breakfast. Now I have noticed as me and Michael do a few weekends away regularly that I seem to be a breakfast snob. Its always something I am massively looking forward to and every where we go we seem to compare it to others we have been to. So I know you probably shouting at this now "Zoe just tell us about the breakfast!!!!" The truth is, it wasn't that special. Actually its probably one of the worst we had. There wasn't too much choice there was enough maybe just not what were use to. The food also wasn't cooked very well. Having said this I did managed to find something to eat both times and that kept me quite happy. We then headed off out. Now this day was the most important of the two. Today we was seeing my boyfriends ship. Which this meant a huge deal to me. We first headed over to the base so we could just get all signed in and then headed off to the ship. Michael gave us a little tour the dockyard and we saw the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Which is not only huge but absolutely incredible. The size was just outstanding, you know its big from seeing pictures but it is something else in person. I loved seeing all the little bits of his life the I normally just know about from him talking. Be this his accommodation off of the ship or down to the gym that he uses.
When we got over to his ship we went up on to it and I have to say as someone who hates being on the water, he was right it doesn't move at all when tied up. Im not sure what I was expecting but its like standing on land. It was just as, if not more, impressive as I expected it to be. My first thought was, this is massive, and it really was. Michael gave us the guided tour of the ship and it was truly incredible. We went round all the compartments from the junior rates mess all the way to the officers section and then we even saw where the room is that belongs to the captains. It was truly amazing seeing the way my other half actually lived for such a long amount of time. We saw the kitchen where they prepare the food and where everyone sits to eat. It really opened my eyes seeing where my boyfriend actually slept, it was the kinda space I couldn't ever sleep in yet this was his second home. I did jump in his bed to see what it was like and honestly I thought it was uncomfortable and have no idea how he slept there. But he did. It is honestly unreal how big the ship is once you are on it. Going all the way to the top where you will find some of their guns fitted to air defence destroyers. As you work down the ship you would be surprised how many decks there are, I really couldnt keep up with it all I would well and truly get lost. We learnt so much going around and I even tried on one of the firefighting oxygen backpacks. Now that was heavy. But what an experience, to think my boyfriend would have one of them on his back and the rest of his firefighting gear when going into a fire. Overall this was an incredible experience and I'm so glad I went.The rest of the day consisted of the dockyard just seeing the tourist attractions. We visited the HMS Victory and the HMS Warrior. Wow what an experience again it was incredible. These ships were both at one time in history at sea. Do they look it, no they dont. To go inside they are to see as the crew would of once seen them. Their living conditions, poor. Their facilities, poor. Their work load, huge. But this is how they lived. It opened my eyes to another side of the navy. These ships look nothing like todays vessels, they are full of history and beauty. Eye catching is the wrong word to use but this is what they are. I felt so proud to leave the dockyard that day knowing this our services has history that will take your breath away. We also went on a trip on a boat around the dockyard and though yes I do hate boats I did see a lot. I also felt sick but I saw a lot.
The sunday we were due to go home but we did wanna have one last day in Portsmouth. We had planned to go to the beach. We woke to rain and in true British style still went to the beach. Only for about 5 minutes. We was wet and windblown but it was worth it for one crazy selfie. We then went over to the shopping centre and spent most of the day there. It was a beautiful shopping centre and we went in plenty of shops and even had some cheeky buys. It truly was a perfect end to the weekend and I couldnt asked for it to be a better last day.
If you ever get the chance to visit Portsmouth I would say go its a beautiful part of our country.
A Norfolk Blondie
xxx
