Ab-zorbing!!!!!!!!!
08 October 2007 | At work ;-(
Skip
Well at last I've gotten around to blogging again, or is that 'slogging?' ie sail blogging! So what is the updates sine my last meanderings?
Nichola has attempted hamster impersonations in a large inflatable ball or 'zorb' but I'm not sure it is a practical way to circumnavigate!
Perhaps she has misunderstood that you go around the globe not get the globe around you! (I know, I know, I should be a stand up comic)
Onto Emerald, we went to the Southampton boat show, and spend too much, but have another anchor (Nichola is convinced I have an anchor fetish, as this is my forth one now! We also got a secondary anchor rode, with 100m of anchor plait spliced onto 50 ft of chain.
(for those of you with a similar problem, we have a 60lb CQR on 100m of 10mm chain; a 45lb copy of a CQR on 50ft chain 100m rode; a fortress fx55 and a folding 15kg fishermans) I'd quite like a 15Kg or 20Kg bruce as a stern anchor/kedge as well but don't know how to mention this to Nichola without being put into compulsory therapy!
We also have fixed our engine issues, so only have to concentrate on our sail handling now, and repairs to the mast. I think we'll also put mast steps in too when we have pulled the mast, as well as replace all the standing rigging, and I think we'll oversize that as well but I haven't worked any of that out yet.
So as we start to focus on sorting out the wedding, and continue on the hugely depressing work slog, (40 weeks to go) our ability to get through the job list on Em has diminished significantly. So much so that we'll probably end up late next sailing season as well as not getting out at all except for engine trials this year. However I'm trying to remain upbeat as we have freedom in sight, with 40 weeks left to knuckle down with.
When I was younger, I had joked that I would retire at 40. Then as I discovered that I really didn't like working for a living I tried to firm up the reality of achieving it. Unfortunately I won't hit my lifelong goal. However the good news is I will only miss my goal by 6 months! Now that ain't bad at all is it? 15 years in the planning and execution and only missing by 6 months, a fact of which I'm rather proud if I'm honest.
The day I arrive back at Emerald, at the end of July 2008 will be the second greatest day of my life, my wedding day of course being the greatest (phew......... that was close!)
There is a lot to do still but I'm trying to think of the long game.....and the amount of time I will have back when I don't have a 60 to 70 hour week (including the commute).
Suddenly I hope that the boat will really fall into place, and we will relax and begin to live! (oops sounds a bit like wishing my life away, but isn't meant like that).
We have a reasonable amount of financial security, a fully sound, strong, and refitted boat, and a small but sufficient income to put food on the table and keep the boat in good shape. We are lucky, even if I'm a little impatient for my freedom!
Fair winds to all freedom seekers
skip