Karlskrona has been Sweden’s main naval base since 1680, and until recently was off limits to passing sailors. Now it has a large marina, with smart glazed buildings and lots of glossy brochures, a fabulous maritime museum, and is working hard to build a tourism industry. But it is all run on a shoestring by a student harbourmaster on day two of his work experience, and his boss who was nowhere to be seen.
We are leaving the boat here for three weeks while we change crew and go off to Portugal to Rachel and Patrick’s wedding, via Germany to pick up the car and drive it home.
So a great opportunity to catch up on some washing…..
In the launderette, I was met with a loud greeting from a bearded sailor, standing behind the student harbourmaster, who was staring into the washer drum looking puzzled.
‘You will be an expert’ the Bearded One proclaimed to me. ‘This machine tells lies’.
‘It has my clothes inside and says they are washed but it won’t give them back.
I think it is planning to send them to Africa in that green recycling bin outside’.
The student stared at his iPhone, and said he had found a German forum that would open the door.
He said he needed to turn the temperature to 95C briefly then press the unlock button.
‘No, no, you will burn my clothes’ yelled the Bearded One.
‘Only for a moment’ pleaded the student.
‘No, These are my clothes, I can’t have them burnt!’ (They were on their way to Africa anyway, I thought)
But the student made a stab for the controls, and the door opened.
‘Wonderful! you are a highly skilled engineer’ gushed the Bearded One.
‘You have advanced skills for a harbourmaster. You must ask your boss for a payrise’.
‘If only I could find my boss’ mumbled the student glumly, as he left us together in the laundry.
Post script.
90 mins later, I had to use the German escape code to free my own laundry.
Miele?
Yes! Hahaha
I bet you looked up that forum.