The two jobs I remember best on the bridge were the steering, my favourite job. The worst was the Bridge cleaning between 06.00 and 08.00 every morning.
I loved the steering, great fun, even in difficult conditions, and I was pretty good at it, if I say so myself.
As for the cleaning, just a routine chore that I found onerous. Corrugated cork decks, that had to be swept and mopped, then swept again to sweep up the bits of mop. Windows, inside and out, flat surfaces wiped down, ashtrays and bins emptied, toilet cleaned etc etc. All done at a rush before 08.00 when the watch changed. Fortunately there was no brass on the tankers, but acres of it on the passenger boats. On one ship, the Capetown Castle I think, had a brass steam whistle. I hated brass polishing. All brass should be painted black I reckon
