THANK YOU!!! and a Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and very best wishes for a wonderful 2014 ... to everyone who has stuck with me in my first year of blogging! 

A very big THANK YOU to all friends near and far, new and old - and some very long standing! - for your comments, your encouragement and your thoughts.  I am sincerely grateful and appreciate you more than you can imagine.

This year, while it has been one of turmoil and change for so many people here and around the world, represented almost unimaginable achievements for me personally.  Living on the boat away from our dog and home, the long cruise north to Cairns and the unbelievable Louisiades Rally all represent the trappings of another, more adventurous - maybe younger - woman.  But they are milestones I achieved.  And you shared them with me/us.  Again Thank You.

My wish for you, your family, friends and loved ones is for peace, love, kindness and happiness in the year ahead....as I do for our little family.  Remember, every chance you get, please be kind throughout the coming year - to yourself, others, animals and the earth. 

Happy New Year from me and Molly!!  (The captain is at sea somewhere having a great time too!!)

Careful Negotiation. Good Outcome.

The sailors quite a few years ago.

I've been married for 34 years ... over half my life ... to the same person.

Sometimes - most of the time if I'm honest - this life's marriage-a-thon is good.  The way it should be and I'm very happy and exceedingly grateful.

Other times negotiating the mine field of differing wants/needs can be more than frustrating.  Trying to achieve an acceptable outcome for both of us can expand into the realms of maddening, exasperating and downright infuriating.

Usually its the BOAT that brings out the worst in us both.  I'm a self confessed chicken sailor, happy to cruise through part of the day in light balmy winds.  He's happiest when the wind is blowing hard and most of the sail is hoisted causing the boat to lean heavily to one side as it gallops through the ever increasing waves on into the dusk.  You can just imagine the "negotiations" while at sea!

This week has seen a (heated) rise in our land base "negotiations".  His ankle is much better and we're both anxious to get 'Southern Belle' back down to Sydney where she belongs.  I've made it clear I don't want to do the sail back .. for many reasons.  He can't hear me.  Even when I'm driven to raising my voice I can't get through.  My husband just thinks I'll eventually give in - like I always do.

Anyway we were down to threats.  He was going to do it alone.  All 900+ miles.  And I was faced with the dilemma of holding my ground but worried if something awful happened I would never forgive myself for being "selfish".  Why does it always have to be an all or nothing outcome?

Well I can happily say we've reached a final compromise.  And one that doesn't mean I have to give in.  Hooray!  George will sail from Rosslyn Bay, where the boat is now, to Manly marina near Brisbane with one of our rally friends.  I'll fly up and join him for a week or so while we visit friends there and then he'll sail the boat down to Sydney with other friends.  Perfect.  Good outcome.

Can someone tell me how these negotiations could be easier.  Is it possible?  Or, is it just human nature - marriage or not - to have to wrangle with others before a compromise can be reached?  I guess that's the case .. we still wage war and our politicians are getting more contrary.  It's a damn shame it takes so long to just HEAR each other. 

And...I'm as guilty as anyone else. 

BUT deliriously happy I don't have to worry about his safety or sail the boat back!

Excellent Days

We finally meet the wonderful Miss Lillian Adams!  I am in LOVE.

Today we finally met Lillian Adams.  She's 6 months old and, without a doubt, she stole my heart from the second we met.  I felt - feel - absolutely beguiled, bewitched, besotted and swept off my feet by this little happy person.

Pip, Kate and Lilli on the back porch.

Lilli is Pip (Phillip) and Kate's little girl.  I guess Pip is the closest George and I get to a "son" of our own.  We've known him since he was in his early teens ..  the son of our good friend Brian.  George, who is a quiet and reserved person - usually happy for people to come to him - has always called or found someway to get in touch with Pip as often as possible.  There is a big connection there they both embrace.

Pip is unique and multilayered.  A true individual.  Happy... a bit manic ... a hugger and lover.  Always the first to laugh and hug and make a joke.  Also, in his younger years, hopelessly attractive/attracted to women - and loving every minute.   He has a fabulous relaxed attitude to life.  Animals absolutely LOVE him .. and let's face it - They know!  Kate is the same.  They are gold people .. very special.

Which brings me to Lilli.  What a cool, in touch little person - already.  She loves dogs and the sound of Molly's incessant excited barking didn't scare her in the least. On the contrary, the more Molly got excited the more she laughed.  Lilli got me ... had me from the first smile.  It was weird, I found myself on the verge of both laughing and crying the whole time they were here - with delight and love.  Hopefully we will see a lot more of this little bundle of joy before she's all grown up.

George, Robert and Maggie last night after dinner.  Great to have them here.

Last night we had a visit from Robert Burns and his very lovely wife, Maggie.  We met Robert on the Louisiades Rally and became great friends.  He lives part of the year in Townsville and part in Borneo where Maggie comes from.  We had a terrific time at dinner, great conversation & company and so good to see them here in Sydney.  As we parted last night we promised to visit them in Malaysia in the near future (by plane, I'm not sailing there!).  So good to see the friendships we made during our epic adventure are staying firm!

A very busy Sydney fish market!

This morning we joined in with the Christmas Eve tradition of making our way through the crowds to the Sydney Fish Market.  I dragged George out of bed at 5am this morning thinking we could beat the crowds.  Unfortunately we didn't.  Leaving home at 5:15 we were nearly there by 5:30 but stuck in the jammed traffic until well after 6.  Luckily I had pre-booked our Christmas lunch order so I didn't have to stand in the lines waiting to just get into the outlet.  It's been so hot here we decided to only have seafood for lunch instead of the baked turkey and trimmings.  I'm sure the wait will be well worth it tomorrow with luscious chilled prawns (shrimp) and French Champagne!!!

On the way home we stopped at the dog park to give Molly a run and I found a new piece of (children's) entertainment at the back of the park.  Boy was it fun!!  I must have rolled on it a dozen times before George (spoil sport) made me get off.  So much fun!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!!  Peace and Love and Goodwill to all!

 

Good Times with Friends

Ian and George in awe of the metre long pizza!

Now that we're back, and George's foot injury is getting better, our weeks tend to be pretty sedate.  Being back home can, sometimes, feel like an anticlimax - more for George than me, I think - but it doesn't mean we're like that all the time.  The past two weekends have been jammed packed fun with 'good friends time' ... the BEST time!

On the 6th of December we went to the yacht club "First Friday" cruisers event.  It was the first time we had  been able to reconnect to many of the friends we met on the rendezvous cruise up to Cairns from Sydney.  We had a terrific night catching up with so many people we met and became friends with along the way North.  Also I had the first opportunity to talk to the RPAYC cruising people who followed this blog and emailed me through our sailing adventure and to thank them for their fantastic support.  It was a big night all round .. our first chance to see everyone since returning to Sydney. 

The club had organised very special speakers for the evening meaning the venue was packed.  The guest speakers were internationally renowned sailors Lin and Larry Pardley who have travelled over 200,000 nautical miles in very small boats.  Lin gave an amazing account of their early time together, the decision to build both of their world cruising boats themselves as well as the good, bad and challenging times they've experienced over all the oceans on this planet.

Lin and Larry. 
If you don't know much about them have a read of the articles via Google.
What an amazing life they built for themselves.

Our friend John let us stay on board his boat in the RPAYC marina that night (thank you John!).  The club is very handy to our boat mooring (when it's there), but miles away from our home, so having a place to bed down there meant we could enjoy the wine as well as the company.  We finished off around midnight with drinks aboard with friends Ian, Sharon, Peter and Sue promising to do it again soon.

Saturday night I cooked dinner for friends Keith and Jenny here at the house and another good - and late - night was enjoyed.  Keith had been on a fishing trip up to the reef in the last couple of months and they brought the main course - beautiful coral trout.  Lots of conversation and mighty fine wine was drunk but we all maintained enough sobriety (and surprising good sense) to have a great time without feeling bad the next day.  Perfect.

The next weekend was even more packed.  The chance to see our friends from the club again came up quickly when we managed to get a reservation for Friday the 13th at the wildly popular local pizza restaurant - Via Napoli.  This place is so popular its been almost impossible to get bookings since it opened.  Their popularity comes from the fantastic "streets of Italy" atmosphere and their metre long pizzas.

Me and Sue at the beginning of the massive pizza.  What a fun night!

The food wasn't exactly gourmet but we had a good time!

Saturday our friend Leona was up from Canberra.  She came over for lunch with her cousin for a good catch up.  We hadn't seen each other much since the beginning of the year so there was plenty to talk about, again over wine and food.  And Saturday night our next door neighbour had a drinks party for the neighbourhood and their friends.  Sunday we had a lovely time with Tim who, welcomed us in his house while we were in Cairns, came for dinner and stayed the night.

Two great weekends with friends.  I love socialising!!  Guess I'm happy we're pretty boring during the week or I'd be looking at alcoholism soon!

This weekend is quiet.  I don't mind.  Its a good chance to catch up on our walks around the harbour with Molly.  This morning we went to Tunks park so she could have a big run and swim in the harbour.  Tunks park is big and just below the lovely, and historic, stone bridge which gives this suburb its name - Northbridge.

Throwing the ball.

Christmas is coming on Wednesday.  How did this year go so fast!  We're keeping it very low key .. nothing like last year's extravaganza.  In fact I haven't put up one bit of decoration .. mainly because George can't get up the ladder to get the box out of the attic due to his tendon injury.  We're planning a seafood lunch with John which will be fun but I think Santa may pass us by ... after the 6-7 month adventure we've just had - can't blame him.

Use it .. or don't Lose It!

This is a photo of me and Molly off for our 45 minute walk up to Lane Cove and back with a little back pack on my back.  Unfortunately it was garbage and recycling morning so the garbage cans on the street tend to ruin the picture.

While on the boat I lost weight.  Not sure how much exactly but the fact that my size 10 (Australian) shorts were falling off me were a good indicator that things had changed for the better.  The main 2 factors I can attribute the change to would be not being able - or willing - to eat when underway at sea and all the exercise.  Yes, at sea or underway I just do not want to eat.  A lot of the time I don't exactly feel so seasick that I want to puke ... I just don't feel good.  So eating is, in my mind, not a good idea.  Additionally, on a boat, you are always moving regardless of being asleep or awake.  The body is constantly maintaining equilibrium.   Catherine told us that sailing was one consistent core exercise.  I concur.

Since we've been home I've noticed the benefits receding rapidly.  It could be the 3-4 glasses of white wine every night or the potato chips or the higher than usual amount of fried food.  (Note: On the boat we don't fry anything due to the dangers of fire and hot oil accidentally flying across the cabin.)

So I'm making myself walk for 45 minutes to an hour every morning with Molly.  It is good for both of us.

There's the "big hill" we walk up each day.  Bloody steep.  By the time we get to the top I'm puffing like .. well, not sure ... but quite out of breath.  It's getting better.

We pass the golf course at one stage and, if the golfers aren't around, Molly gets a good run up and down the 5th tee.

I arrive at the Lane Cove Village plaza half way through the walk.  The village is getting busier and busier but it looks lovely dressed in the season's colours.  Notice the "older" lady and man crossing the street.  Unfortunately - or fortunately, not sure yet really - I see so many people of my 'age' out walking and keeping fit at the same time.  *Sigh*  I don't see myself yet as retired or in the "grey" brigade which keeps me from recognising myself in this pack.

Hey, I want a job!  Now!  Its not time for me to step aside yet (I hope).  However, with all my (mock) denial I'm loving this life!!!

This morning George decided to try his foot out and walk the easy way (without the hills) with me to Lane Cove.  On the way back I tried to take his photo but after all this time he's still Internet camera shy.  Ahh .. cute.

"This could be the last time.." The Rolling Stones

"Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know. oh no. oh no"

 

The Rolling Stones mean a lot to me in umpteen ways.  They provided the music, beautiful & raunchy rock/blues, that formed the soundtrack to much of my life experiences - the good, the bad and the just plain naughty.  They've always been "my boys" - and Mick my poster boy/man - since the late 1960s. 

Goodness.  Really?  Yes, early 1960.  It's weird to write or think about that.   So many of the people I know right now weren't even born then - hell, some of their parents probably weren't even born then!

 

I've just successfully bought a ticket - 1 ticket - to see my boys on March 25 next year.  Yes, I'm going solo - alone - by myself.  The ticket prices are extortionate, over $500 per ticket for the good seats, and George refused to go with me at those prices.  I don't really mind because once the concert starts I'll be dancing like crazy anyway.

As the song says, "this could be the last time" to see them in concert.  I honestly don't remember how many times I've seen them over the years.  The first time Jae, me and a car load of hippies drove all the way to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  The date was June 28, 1972.  Since then I was lucky enough to see them every time they came to Atlanta - the most memorable concert was at the Fox Theatre where I had 3rd row seats!  The last time they were in Sydney - April 2006 - was a terrific show and I truly thought that time would be the last.

Now there's one more time.  The ticket was stupidly expensive but I would have probably paid more.  That's how much being with them, dancing with them - live - one more time means to me.



Relief for the Skipper, Good movie and Enjoying life

Finally, no boot or cast.

Today the Skipper and I went to yet another specialist about his Achilles tendon. 

It seems like he's either been in a cast or restrictive boot for weeks and weeks .. but, it's only been just over 6 weeks actually!  Plenty has happened since that soccer game on the island of Nimoa.   Not one that's used to being sick or injured, in any way, he was getting incredibly grumpy and sorry for himself - more so every day.  Which was driving me to the point of not being able to be any kind of "nice".   He hasn't been able to drive since arriving back on shore meaning I'm the driver, grocery shopper, dog walker and chauffeur all day every day.  So, as I drove him to his 8am appointment this morning, we were both in a state of high expectation and apprehension.  This doctor just had to say he had mended and could start to move his right foot again!

Luckily that's what happened.  The doc said he could take the boot off now for extended periods (which, in reality, he was pretty much already doing); he could start to drive if he practised making sure he could step on the breaks hard; and he could sail remembering that ladders and climbing on masts etc. should be done with much care.  George will see a physio tomorrow and, hopefully, he will be well on the way to a full recovery before the end of the year.  Hooray!

Good Movie
Last Friday it was cool and rainy and I couldn't face staying in the house with Mr Grump so I suggested we go see a movie.  I've been wanting to see 'The Butler' since reading about it months ago and it was playing at the only cinema George will go to at just the perfect early afternoon time.  So I won the "discussion" and off we went.

I had an idea of what the film was about but it was so much more.  As expected it tracked the life of a man who was butler to American Presidents starting with Eisenhower and ending with Reagan.  What I didn't expect was an account of the shocking treatment of black people in America and the struggle to equal rights through the second half of the 20th century.  Coming from Atlanta Georgia and growing up through that time I was witness to the struggles and hatred and the slow change of behaviour - and even slower changes of thought - first hand.   I found the film surprisingly powerful and moving.  I recommend anyone to see it especially people in places outside of the USA .. its a good look at how far the US has (apparently) moved I the past 60 years.   And its also worthwhile just to see John Cusack and Alan Rickman play Nixon and Reagan respectively ... they do it well!

Enjoying Life

Molly with the new ball we bought today .. and newly planted flowers in pots!

I'm still utterly enjoying being back at home.  The shops, driving my car, the birds, being able to watch the ABC TV programs I love - all are still special after life on the boat. 

Still nothing escapes the gratitude I/we feel since experiencing how those lovely people of the Louisiade Islands live their life.  Just this morning, as we were walking through the shopping centre on the way to the doctor, George turned to me and said, "can you imagine if we brought the Louisiade people here how they would feel ... it would be like landing on another planet".  It will take a long time for those smiling faces to leave our thoughts - I hope never, ever.

Molly - with the shits - after I tried to pose her with the ball.
 I love it when she makes a point by turning her back.  Funny.