I once read that one of the world's largest shipping lines allowed captain's wives to stay on board with the captain in his quarters for a maximum of 3 weeks a year.
They found that if she stayed any longer she started to have an influence on the captain's decision making on board which wasn't necessarily in the best interests of the ship or the company.
The Concordia is probably a good example how a captain's decision making and good judgement can be easily manipulated by outside influences.
When my wife started working with me part time she had never cleaned a window with a pole before. But within a couple of hours I was informed that I was doing this all wrong despite having cleaned windows with the pole for some 8 years previously.
She was and still is always cold so retreated to the van to 'warm up' when I thought she was around the back wiping sills etc. So the diesel air heater was on virtually all day keeping the cabin warm. I ended up winding in 2 hose reels, the hoses of which were invariably tangled up because she did it her way. In the end I found it took us longer to do each house than doing the same houses on my own.
One morning in the van I was informed that women make better cleaners than men. I have had enough experience to know that this is a subject that is better left alone. The first house that morning she did she missed the customer's lounge window. The customer was there watching her and was indignant about it. I always checked her work when I wiped off the sills so would have seen the window was missed. I just cracked up with laughter when he came out to repremand me about it. He was very annoyed. I explained why it was funny; women being better at cleaning than men and that I would have noticed the uncleaned window as I had started to wipe the sills of his house. Anyway I got the reel out again and cleaned that window. Once done he cancelled our service. The wife was sitting in the van as usual and asked what that was about. (I still talk to his wife when I see her but he blanks me.)
Toilet necessities became an issue. Public loos are few are far between and I can understand her not wanting to use the ones that are still open. We can just pee in a bottle in the back of the van, women can't. She needed the loo every 'five' minutes.
What I decided was that we wanted an extra long wheel base van with an inbuilt kitchenette, a gas hob, fridge, lunch and coffee making facilities and a comfortable seating area to relax. We also need a toilet comparment all screened off from the work area at the back of the van. It also needed to be comfortably heated at all times, including the toilet compartment.
Anyway, it never happened that way as we ended our working relationship after we had a full blown argument on a customer's front lawn over the working procedures. But she still expected to be paid a monthly wage.
