Happy-tired once more after a long day’s row in the right direction. Bit of a novelty after a week of Easting and so brilliant that I think I have grinned all day. (In between many a discordant out-of-tune out-of-time rendition of every song that ever made my acquaintance).
Sunrise was beautiful and all the sweeter with a gentle breeze from the SE. Lunch was preceded by a deep blue swim to reassert my Landlord status and evict the barnacles from the hull. Naturally, I was ably accompanied and assisted by my stripey school of friendly Tweedles, and the wonderful Rt. Hon. Msr. Tweedle le Grand. He promises to write soon and blushed a little when I told him how pleased you were to read his blog. Have you ever seen a Pilot fish blush? Very sweet.
Making use of the sunshine juicing up the batteries, and courtesy of my audiobook library, we spent the afternoon in the jungle with Mowgli, Baloo and Bageira. And then to round off the happy day with an absolute treat, we have just watched Sense & Sensibility on my iPod. Where would we be without Jane Austen, eh? It is a truth universally acknowledged that a solo ocean rower, in posession of an onboard library, must have at least one of Jane’s tales. Without headphones filmwatching is more than a shade precarious, both for the batteries and for me. I have to play it through the speakers outside and to hear it need to sit half inside and half outside the cabin. Not the most comfortable of auditoriums but thankfully saltwater showerings were minimal and insufficient to detract from the night at the pictures.
That’s how Friday 12th June, Day 73, happened aboard the good ship Dippers. Simple but sweet.
Here’s hoping for more of the same.
S & D x
PS
Rupert – Wow, lots of q’s! Stretching is v important out here, yes, if not a bit restricted by space. Training-see website. Music, yes, though limited by battery power. I sing all the time!
Marcel -Je ne parle qu’un petit peu
Helen Cassin – Miss Caaaaaasssin, I’m sorry I can’t give you my homework today. A French fish floppayed onto my boat and ate it 🙂
Rosie – Push on through with that Pimms, keep strong
Mark Powell – Forgot to ask, how is the rower coming along? I’ve done Baldilocks before, too…
Xtina -Spoke to the boys yesterday. They’re planning to boatjack my chocolate supply. That’s why I’ve come running up North, nothing to do with the weather
Robert – Poor Simon Prior, that must be absolutely gutting.
Hazel Rossetti -Hadn’t thought of bracelet maker, good idea. I need to rethink everything now.
Linda Morison- Ah, the good ‘ole 90 East ridge. I’m past there now. Water wasn’t murky but the swell was biiig and confused and there were lots of currenty bits.
John Williams – The ocean says hello! Did you go back to 85 degrees East for another look?!
Charlie Pitcher – Are you waterborne yet?
Hey, glad the weather has turned for you and you are going in the right direction once again. Am keeping my fingers crossed for you. Handed in my thesis today so my days left at Hughs are numbered. Will have a drink for you at Summer formal this evening. Keep up the amazing work, you are truly inspirational. Keep smiling and singing! xxxx
Hi Sarah,
Good to hear you’re back on course and the elements are smiling back at you once more. Maybe the wannabe chocjackers on your tail are counting their chocs before they’re jacked…you may outrun them yet! Just don’t give those boys your last rolo!
Can’t believe how many days you’ve done – awesome. And the Tweedles.
Keep up the pace – hope you are still blister free? best Jane
Glad to hear you are west bound again. Girl power! Amazing what you have achieved so far. Keep it up. Amanda Black xx
We’ll give you a crash course in French (or should I say Mauritian) when you come in. So you can say “merci beaucoup” and “encore” after each of the Rhum Punches. That’s how we write RUM in French, in case you wondered.
The Walrus and The Carpenter
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright–
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done–
“It’s very rude of him,” she said,
“To come and spoil the fun!”
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead–
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!”
“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
“O Oysters, come and walk with us!”
The Walrus did beseech.
“A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.”
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head–
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat–
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more–
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”
“But wait a bit,” the Oysters cried,
“Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!”
“No hurry!” said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
“A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,
“Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed–
Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.”
“But not on us!” the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
“After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”
“The night is fine,” the Walrus said.
“Do you admire the view?
“It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf–
I’ve had to ask you twice!”
“It seems a shame,” the Walrus said,
“To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“The butter’s spread too thick!”
“I weep for you,” the Walrus said:
“I deeply sympathize.”
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
“O Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
“You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?’
But answer came there none–
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.
Hi Sarah, so glad you are rowing in the right direction again. We know Guy and Andy have also been struggling with this but they too seem to be back on course!
Sarah when you next speak to my bro can you tell him that he should leave your chocolate alone please.He will get in my car for a short journey and nick all my sweets, just tell him that and he’ll laugh.
You really are doing amazing and it’s only a matter of time before you arrive in M.
Lots of love, tom, kathryn & mi mi la rue (amelia) watts xxx
Hoping you have a happy westward saturday! Thinking of you all, xxx