Tuesday 26 May 2015

In truth I felt nothing had happened today so our Captain wrote me a handy list of events to weave into this blog...

Ulric was up at 4.15 am and saw the first day light.

BUT he didn't serve me tea in bed with a chocolate muffin until 8 AM (thankfully!)

We counted 61 seals on Ray Sand and 16 seals on Foulness Sand.

We need to submit those observations to the Thames Marine Mammal Society (or whatever they are called) in Brendan's name. They have a great website where they track the movement of seals in the Thames Estuary.

The only problem is that we weren't sure if we are seeing Harbour Seals or Grey Seals. We did some research and are reasonably confident "ours" are harbour seals. They are pretty huge, brownish in colour, with white bellies they like turning to the sun.

Brendan tells me that seal hunting became prohibited in the UK in 2011. I am shocked it wasn't three decades earlier...

We dropped our anchor off East Mersey. I asked some probing questions: could Sir see himself running a Sailing School, somewhere, one day? Maybe in the same vicinity as a person running a Sacred Art & Shamanism School?! I vote for Vancouver Island!!

There was a dinghy sailing race on. We were quite close to the buoy they all had to round (ands some dinghies actually hit) before returning. Like the most expensive seats at the Opera, haha!

Brendan and Ulric have fallen into the habit of doing a late afternoon outing by dinghy and going ashore. A bit of wading in the mud.... A beer and lemonade in a local pub.... Called something like The Dog and Pheasant... or Sailor and Son... or Two Rams...

Quinn made everyone a hot chocolate with whipped cream on top: not so good for the waist line but wonderful medicine for the Family Soul!

A beautiful sunset today: the sun turned bright pink, became a chalice holding the clouds, then a dome sinking from view.

Mum is studying astrology. Her studies started last summer but after some recent encounters with astrologers she has found her (pink) notepad and is delving deeper into the symbolism and cosmic energies.

I have offered everyone on board a free birth chart reading! There seems to be some support for that idea. Quinn showed up before I had even managed to look at his chart.

The Moon was briefly visible but mostly shrouded in clouds. Brendan and I enjoyed a brief glimpse of Venus on Monday evening. But generally this is not the right time or place for night sky observations.

I am sleeping quite well. Wake up at 4 - 5 AM because it is damp and freezing cold. Make up for it by sleeping again the afternoon. But then again.... I have a massive sleep deficit to heal - because I never sleep much when I see client after client at home.

Dream well everyone!!

Imelda Almqvist