Just as I predicted at the end of yesterday’s blog, we had a party last night. Bottle of Fizz #2 was enjoyed out on the sundeck while the sun got ready for bed and the skies displayed their finest palette of pastel blues, pinks and peaches. Both fizz and sunset were beautiful. I then had my ‘more-than-halfway-there’ Feast. Cous cous, with chick peas and vegetables, and a dollop of green pesto. Delicious is an understatement. As for the pesto, that is the first cheese, besides my smelly socks, in over two months. Sublime overloading of the tastebuds.
There was something very satisfying about concocting it myself, too, even if it is the simplest meal ever invented. Usually it’s just a case of boil water, pour in, stir and leave to stand whille I prime myself to the effort of eating the mush. But for the Feast there were pre-meditated stages : boil water, add oil and salt, throw in cous cous, stir, open can of chickpeas, eat some, throw some in, open veggies, add them to the pot, stir again, leave to stand while I dream of crispy bacon, and finally add the delicious pesto. Yum with a capital Y.
In pedigree and enjoyment factor it was up there with the Birthday Feast of Day 56 and rounded off a lovely warm day, which all happened in the right direction, too. Bonus.
It’s 0430 Day 65 and there is a beautiful yellow moon outside my cabin now and a starry tent overhead. Happy days.
S & D x
PS
Gareth Playfair – So excited – both re bag of buns & baby boy. Look forward to teaching him to row and say ‘Oxford’. Ashamed to say my rash vest is actually a Tabby mint green. Eugh!
-Charly Sissons – World Champs?! Nicely done, lady! HRH Princess Royal was right, then?
-Chris & Kathleen – I have a boat you can borrow if you like?!
-Spike – Google Carl Safina’s piece of prose on albies, ’tis very good.
-Chippy & Nay : Babies everywhere! Congrats.
-Mark Powell – Alone but never lonely out here; company in the birds & fish (I am really Dr Dolittle)! Comms is super good though, I agree.
-Amy Bryant – So chuffed for your 10k, that’s great. Indeed I remember running wasn’t your choice training mode!
-Clare – Ooh, can’t wait to see the film…
-Charlie Chase – We have LOADS of footage from planning, buildup (i.e 2 years worth) and I’m filming out here – but we need someone to commission the film. BBC thought they’d ‘done rowing’ with Ben Cracknell & James Fogle….
-Susie Calderan – Had noticed the lack of the hippy tea wake up call. Forgiven as you’re busy lifeboatin’. Loving the similar socks,welly boot, posh frock image-I’m sure you pull it off beautifully.
-Ian Brocklebank – Dippers will need to be sold to repay the money I borrowed to buy her. So if anyone wants a solo boat for an ocean -…
-Colin I’ve – I agree, it ain’t easy rowing a desk. I salute the desk rowers!
-Xtina – Make sure you plot all the wiggles n’ circles too – makes the chart prettier.
Hi,
Just read your blog from yesterday (or is it today I get confused with time barriers)! Sitting in my office bright and early, as usual, surrounded by masses of paperwork which, as you know, comes with the fast approaching end of term, I envy you your beautiful sunsets, tranquillity and even the cous cous! You are doing so amazingly and we at Teddies are all very proud of you. Life marches on here as usual, grads appointed for next year and now just looking forward to the summer holidays (only 4 weeks to go!!)
Keep rowing and lots of love
Moira
xx
Will do! the chart has made the journey alone side clearer! (and closer)
Perhaps you could make a few notes for future Ocean Diners, recipe wise, to explain you can eat with more fun food out there!! So important to have some flavours with your daily food intake ~ especially as most of those dried food packets are very bland and uninteresting. Capital Y!
Have fun for the rest of your day. Tx
Too bad you are half a world away. I’d love to make Paella for you. I had an idea for sweets on the ocean–Salt water taffy. You’ll need sugar, corn syrup and some flavoring (licorice , peppermint etc.)
I hope you are enjoying the poem. I haven’t read it since high school back in the !(&)s. Can hardly wait for your book.
PART THREE
THERE passed a weary time. Each throat
Was parched, and glazed each eye.
A weary time! a weary time!
How glazed each weary eye,
When looking westward, I beheld
A something in the sky.
At first it seemed a little speck,
And then it seemed a mist;
It moved and moved, and took at last
A certain shape, I wist.
A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist!
And still it neared and neared:
As if it dodged a water-sprite,
It plunged and tacked and veered.
With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,
We could nor laugh nor wail;
Through utter drought all dumb we stood!
I bit my arm, I sucked the blood,
And cried, A sail! a sail!
With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,
Agape they heard me call:
Gramercy! they for joy did grin
And all at once their breath drew in,
As they were drinking all.
See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more!
Hither to work us weal;
Without a breeze, without a tide,
She steadies with upright keel!
The western wave was all a-flame.
The day was well nigh done!
Almost upon the western wave
Rested the broad bright Sun;
When that strange shape drove suddenly
Betwixt us and the Sun.
And straight the Sun was flecked with bars,
(Heaven’s Mother send us grace!)
As if through a dungeon-grate he peered
With broad and burning face.
Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud)
How fast she nears and nears!
Are those her sails that glance in the Sun,
Like restless gossameres?
Are those her ribs through which the Sun
Did peer, as through a grate?
And is that Woman all her crew?
Is that a DEATH? and are there two?
Is DEATH that woman’s mate?
Her lips were red, her looks were free,
Her locks were yellow as gold:
Her skin was as white as leprosy,
The Night-mare Life-in-Death was she,
Who thicks man’s blood with cold.
The naked hulk alongside came,
And the twain were casting dice;
‘The game is done! I’ve won! I’ve won!’
Quoth she, and whistles thrice.
The Sun’s rim dips; the stars rush out:
At one stride comes the dark;
With far-heard whisper, o’er the sea,
Off shot the spectre-bark.
We listened and looked sideways up!
Fear at my heart, as at a cup,
My life-blood seemed to sip!
The stars were dim, and thick the night,
The steersman’s face by his lamp gleamed white;
From the sails the dew did drip–
Till clomb above the eastern bar
The horn’ed Moon, with one bright star
Within the nether tip.
One after one, by the star-dogged Moon,
Too quick for groan or sigh,
Each turned his face with a ghastly pang,
And cursed me with his eye.
Four times fifty living men,
(And I heard nor sigh nor groan)
With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,
They dropped down one by one.
last four lines
The souls did from their bodies fly,–
They fled to bliss or woe!
And every soul, it passed me by,
Like the whizz of my cross-bow!
Hey Sarah
How are the cameras holding up ???? (love the cheery poem someones posted for you !) I will think of you as I eat my toast, bacon and egg breaky
xx
Sarah – you are now featured on the Oxford Alumni website and we are busy signing up for your session at the Alumni week-end in late September . Meanwhile – in spirit we are all with you and willing you along. Over half -way – WOW! That book is going to be fabulous.
fantastic to be able to speak to you today and absolutely amazing to share the passing of a pilot whale and your description of the sunset. I am in awe of your spirit which has left a smile on my face. Think perhaps you might want to suspend the Ancient Mariner until later, I studied it way back and think one of my late dad’s favourites, Spike Milligan, might be a better companion so I have copied in a rhyme to help you along. sorry about the length, but it is a smile raiser…. Susie
The ABC by Spike Milligan
‘Twas midnight in the schoolroom
And every desk was shut
When suddenly from the alphabet
Was heard a loud “Tut-Tut!”
Said A to B, “I don’t like C;
His manners are a lack.
For all I ever see of C
Is a semi-circular back!”
“I disagree,” said D to B,
“I’ve never found C so.
From where I stand he seems to be
An uncompleted O.”
C was vexed, “I’m much perplexed,
You criticise my shape.
I’m made like that, to help spell Cat
And Cow and Cool and Cape.”
“He’s right” said E; said F, “Whoopee!”
Said G, “‘Ip, ‘Ip, ‘ooray!”
“You’re dropping me,” roared H to G.
“Don’t do it please I pray.”
“Out of my way,” LL said to K.
“I’ll make poor I look ILL.”
To stop this stunt J stood in front,
And presto! ILL was JILL.
“U know,” said V, “that W
Is twice the age of me.
For as a Roman V is five
I’m half as young as he.”
X and Y yawned sleepily,
“Look at the time!” they said.
“Let’s all get off to beddy byes.”
They did, then “Z-z-z.”