Goodbye For Now!

[Charlie Brown]

Kept it 'shush' for a while, but I'm actually giving up the 'mobile jock' work for a while now. It's time for me to move on and discover new avenues.

Very soon, I'll be travelling the world on the boats.

Long term - I'd like to be a cruise director or run my own agency.

I'd like to thank everyone for all your help and support. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today.

This pretty much sums it up - http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10975

A special shout out to all the mods & admins, especially - Steve, Angela & (most of all, for me) Darren Thomas. Brilliant guy.

Wishing you all the best.

Chat soon.

[Pe7e]

Good Luck Charlie, I hope it all works out for you, Life is only limited by your imagination, go for it, you are only here once. Personally I have more regrets over what I didn't do, as opposed to what I did do.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

How have you kept it shush...its a worse kept secret than Area 51...lol ;)

Enjoy your travels :beer1:

[STEVE HANLEY]

Good luck young Charles. Keep in touch mate:) :)

[Excalibur]

Charlie, you and a tactful silence are complete strangers, believe me! :D :D :D :D May I wish you all the best in whatever endeavours you undertake, and thank you for the work you have passed my way ( even if some of them had roads so small I couldn't get my van down them! :eek: )

Charlie, you have been an education at all times, we really couldn't make you up, even in our wildest flights of fantasy.

All the best young fella, don't be a stranger. I look forward to seeing accounts of your voyages on here ( mainly cos I can't be doing with this Faceache mullarkey ), and tales of you swimming with dolphins, and battling sharks. :eek: :D :D ( And if I'm honest, I more expect an anguished plea for help along the lines of " How can I get my playout connected to the ship's PA when the plugs are a different shape" ? )

[Alchemy]

Have a blast CB.... Keep in touch :wave:

[MikeW]

All the best Charlie, hope it all works well for you.

[Corabar Steve]

Well, I'm in shock!

Good luck Charlie.

[Shaun]

Good luck.

[DJ Frankie]

All the best fella, I did a stint as the DJ/AV tech on the cruise ships and it was alot of fun, im sure you will enjoy it!!! Good Luck.

[deltic]

good luck fella :beer1: :beer1:

[sweetie]

bon voyage!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Enjoy!

[Charlie123]

Good luck Charlie

[Jem]

Can't say as I know you Charlie, but your posts here have made great reading :)

Have a great time on the cruise ships. Which line are you going with?, we do a fair bit of cruising and you never know our paths may cross someday.

All the very best for the future.

Regards

Jem

[Sapphire Disco]

Can't wait for the book to come out :evelgrin:

[BossmanKaraokeDisco]

:D :D Good luck Charlie, this place wont be the same without you :D :D

[surround sounds]

Hi Charlie
You will be missed, Good luck

[Sapphire Disco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ya_Gq8d4Q

[hammy]

Take care Charlie, Remember to also have fun.

[Alchemy]

Charlie, whilst wandering the ship late at night and a bit bored thought "wonder what this valve does?"

[hammy]

Ha ha, Just found this as a going away present.

This is what happens when Charlie hears a fire alarm going off

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh28/hammyloz/Photo0148.jpg

[DazzyD]

Charlie, whilst wandering the ship late at night and a bit bored thought "wonder what this valve does?"

I was thinking along the same lines. When I first heard Charlie was going on a boat, this was the image I got in my head:

http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o612/DJDazzyD/fab13db4.jpg

Anyway, good luck, Charlie. I somehow feel the guests are going to need it more than you, though! :D

[Andy Collins]

Hi Charlie, never got to meet you but I wish you every success in your new ventures. Good luck!

[Totally Plucked]

Just too reflect what everyone else has said, Good luck!! :)

[DiscoPromotions]

Good luck...

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Keep in touch CB.

[Mister Musicman]

Bon Voyage - Hope you don't get Mal-de-debarkment, I did a couple of trips a few years ago and ended up with this problem which is like constant sea-sickness. Took me two years of treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary (physio etc).

I reckon you will enjoy every minute of it!

[Charlie Brown]

Well this is it!

I have to be up in two hours, ready to drive to birmingham airport. First flight is to Switzerland, wait there for three hours, then fly to Palma. Why they couldn't get me a local direct flight is beyond me!

One night in a hotel tomorrow and I'll join the ship Saturday morning. Three intense days of training before arriving back at Southampton (when you'll probably here from me again) before sailing to New York.

Physically and emoitionally drained but I can't sleep. Really scared and nervous. Hope I enjoy it.

If for whatever reason I don't get in touch before, have a smashing time at BPM and don't do anything I wouldnt! :sj:

All the best,

Charlie (aka trouble!) ;) :)

[katman]

Have a safe flight Charlie and I hope all goes well with your new job. :)

[Shaun]

Best of luck. :beer1:

[Excalibur]

Keep us updated on The Further Adventures Of Charlie Brown, won't you? Bon Voyage young fella.

[Corabar Steve]

Good luck. Don't forget your Ecopure

[MikeW]

All the best Charlie. Hope you enjoy every minute of it. Keep us posted.

[Mark Wild]

Good luck little fella ! You should be blogging or vlogging your trip mate, you're going to have a ball ! :D

[hammy]

All the luck in the world to ya mate, Have fun

[Corabar Entertainment]

Good Luck and have fun, Charlie. Do try and find a little bit of time to pop in and let us know how you're getting on. :wave:

[Charlie Brown]

Good Luck and have fun, Charlie. Do try and find a little bit of time to pop in and let us know how you're getting on. :wave:

Try getting rid of me!

At Switzerland airport now, three hour wait for my flight to palma. Good opportunity to grab a beer and a funny looking sandwich.

People are smoking in the airport too, first time I've seen that!

[DazzyD]

Well, good luck. Bon Voyage and all those other "leaving" pleasantries!! :wave:


...

If for whatever reason I don't get in touch before, have a smashing time at BPM and don't do anything I wouldnt! :sj:

All the best,

Charlie (aka trouble!) ;) :)

To be fair, Charlie, that doesn't leave much!!! ;)

[wensleydale]

People are smoking in the airport too, first time I've seen that!


You've lived a sheltered life Charlie.

Good luck Sir- hope it all goes really well for you.

[katman]

Just a thought.....

Do people still get Keel Hauled ? If so, better be on your best behaviour :)

[Charlie Brown]

Okay, so today has been pretty stressful because it's been the first time on my own. The main DJ left today, so I was sad to see him go. I was left in charge of the night club last night and it was rocking, which was good.

Got up this morning with a sore head, we had a party in the officers mess last night and didn't get to bed until gone 4. I had to stand on the port, welcoming passengers on, showing them to the cabins etc for four hours, then we did the muster drill (life jackets etc), then straight on deck for the sail away party.. I found this pretty stressful, because it was my first time and the running order of their dance routines kept changing, they would literally say, 'next we're doing new york new york' on the mic, so that was a mad scramble.

Then I had an hour to chill out and get some food and have a few beers. After that, it was time to do the welcome show, you have to stand in front of 900 people and say what you do, where you are from and try and make a few jokes. I wasn't great the first time, but the second showing was good.

Then went to the disco which finished at 12.30, everyone goes to bed on the first night.

The average age on here is 68, so they don't expect the night club to be very busy, which is a shame. I have a lot to live up too as well, the chap before me scored 78% (out of the customers questionnaires)

Today has been very busy but tomorrow, I don't start work until 2.00pm, where I'll do an hour of golf and then an hour of cricket. Rest a bit more, then do the radio show between 6-8 (just put a playlist on and keep going for a few smokes!) and then I start the disco at 9.30.

The equipment in there isn't bad. 16 martin mini moving heads, couple of dance floors cameras and led lights, all controlled by a touch screen monitor which is cool.

The staff are lovely, I've only really spoken to the entertainment team and a couple of bar staff.

They haven't and won't be delivering my uniform until the middle of october, which is a ball ache, I look like a right muppet trying to improvise!

Cabins are spacious and clean. A steward comes in every day to tidy up, change the towels etc. He also does my laundry.

Food is obviously out of this world, because we can use all of the passenger facilities.

I feel sorry for the bar staff/cleaners etc, I walk through their living conditions and they are literally confined to a small smelly canteen. They work really hard. Because I'm classed as an 'officer' when I walk through a room, they stop messing around or shouting or sitting down - no need for that at all IMO, just highlights how they've been taught to work!

The staff seem to drink day and night. 70p for a bottle of beck's and £1.50 for 20 smokes. I keep missing their 'after work drinks' because I'm still DJ'ing, I can see it being quite a lonely job at night.

I'm not having the time of my life but I'm not hating it either, just getting settled and we'll what happens! I'm sure I'll get to like it soon.

Next stop NY and around canada, which is cool, with several overnight stops.

I'm flying back from Barbados in December and they want me to join again for the world cruise in January. I don't want to commit myself yet.

Probably missed loads of stuff out, but should give you an insight! Some days will be hectic others will be a doddle.

Sorry for the poor grammar, ships internet is very slow

[Excalibur]

The average age on here is 68, so they don't expect the night club to be very busy, which is a shame.


68? Hey Charlie do you need a Trainee/Understudy? :whistle: :D:D

Keep at it Young Man, sounds like you're doing just fine for a Newbie. When you get 90% on your reviews, they won't want the other fella back.

[DiscoMagic]

Hey Charlie,

Just picked this up and have to say that although I have never spoken directly with you, your numerous posts have made me chuckle many a time and the MDD will be somewhat quieter without you. So don't be a stranger, and I look forward to your commentry about life on board!

I have to say that I am VERY jealous of you, and wish that I had taken the leap and done what you are doing back when I could. Alas now being the wrong side of thirty and married means that such things are now most inaccessable. However in the meantime ensure you enjoy you experiences and I await the next bulletin with anticipation.

:);):)

[MikeW]

Thanks for your report Charlie. Good to hear from you. I am sure there are a lot of DJs on here who would love to be in your position. Good luck, hope it works well for you :)

[Johnny P]

Thanks for your report Charlie. Good to hear from you. I am sure there are a lot of DJs on here who would love to be in your position. Good luck, hope it works well for you :)

I can feel the waves moving the ship about now........:sick::sick::sick:

[Corabar Entertainment]

I'm sure you'll get used to it all in no time, Charlie. :thumbsup:

Keep us posted!

[JAMdisco]

I have to say that I am VERY jealous of you, and wish that I had taken the leap and done what you are doing back when I could. Alas now being the wrong side of thirty and married means that such things are now most inaccessable. However in the meantime ensure you enjoy you experiences and I await the next bulletin with anticipation.

:);):)

I don't think age plays a big factor and there is such thing as divorce :p :zip:

Seriously Charlie, have a blast, a good choice if you ask me (which you didn't lol) but should be an eye-opener and you should gain some good 'life-skills'.

Justin.

[lazersounds]

After seeing Dispatches last night on channel 4, made me think of Charlie, hope its actually nothing like what was shown on TV!

[HeartandSoul]

After seeing Dispatches last night on channel 4, made me think of Charlie, hope its actually nothing like what was shown on TV!

Hope not!

[SoundONE]

I just love reading your post Charlie, always gives me a smile, good luck buddy, think your going to be awesome at this.

[jamesh]

After seeing Dispatches last night on channel 4, made me think of Charlie, hope its actually nothing like what was shown on TV!

It's not... well it kind of is - but charlie is classed as an officer so gets a bit of an easier ride than the kitchen/cleaning/porter/bar staff etc...

Having said that you are still on call pretty much 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the whole contract - however long that may be and generally the DJ gets a bit more of a raw deal with it as not only do you have to get involved with the day activities and embark/debark duties but you have to stay up until the early hours and DJ in the club.... Mind you it used to be the only time you needed to do morning stuff was once a week during the safety drills so it wasn't completely bad but that may have changed since i was cruising :)

[yourdj]

It's not... well it kind of is - but charlie is classed as an officer so gets a bit of an easier ride than the kitchen/cleaning/porter/bar staff etc...

Having said that you are still on call pretty much 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the whole contract - however long that may be and generally the DJ gets a bit more of a raw deal with it as not only do you have to get involved with the day activities and embark/debark duties but you have to stay up until the early hours and DJ in the club.... Mind you it used to be the only time you needed to do morning stuff was once a week during the safety drills so it wasn't completely bad but that may have changed since i was cruising :)


I am going to have to find when he is coming back as i have just got a boat (moored at Calshot - so right where his boat comes back).
I could make a charlie flag or something and sail alongside :D


14766

[SoundONE]

Awesome, like that.

[djtrev]

Has anybody heard from Charlie.Does he keep in touch with the forum.
Would love to know how he is getting on.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Oh, I'd guess you'll be hearing from him very soon: he travelled back yesterday and is home today!

[djtrev]

For the vast majority of us its something that we would probably love to do but never quite had the nerve to actually get up and do it.
It will be interesting to find out if it was all that we would have expected or wanted.
Either way I am sure he has some pretty good tales to tell.

[JAMdisco]

For the vast majority of us its something that we would probably love to do but never quite had the nerve to actually get up and do it.
It will be interesting to find out if it was all that we would have expected or wanted.
Either way I am sure he has some pretty good tales to tell.

What? Charlie & tales? you must have got the wrong person....:D :p :D