Misty & mournful
05/19/2012, Chateau Villelongue

I am too excited and too sad, to write much, so.....
VERY excited to post chez pats' latest position. Yaaaaay, getting closer by the day!! Just cannot wait to see Paddy again. I know, after 16 years I shouldn't feel like this, but I do!!!! Beyond excited!! Heh heh
Sad...Sooo sad, cause T flies off tomorrow.
Golly Jhb!!
So gotta get her to come and live in France soon. Yup, whole family!!!
Simply love living here!!!
Xxx

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Sherryl
05/17/2012, x

How exciting. Chez patrick sailed gracefully into the Azores on Tuesday, with a very tired but jubilant crew of Paddy, Gary and Robert on board. By all accounts, they had a thoroughly challenging time of it. I know what a really strong wind, feels and sounds like. But I have never experienced 52 knotts. And beyond huge swells. And torrential rain!!! What a combination. All this, in the pitch dark as well. Paddy says that the sound of the wind and the sea under those conditions, even scared him and Gary. Poor chez patrick. I can only imagine, how that most faithful of all yachts ever built, tried her level best, to keep her crew safe and comfortable, under very uncomfortable conditions. She did her usual shake, rattle and roll. A microwave oven was unceremoniously hurled a few metres across the galley floor. It still works!!! My orchid, Pallas Athena, lost a few pieces but is still hale and hearty, to tell the tale. One broken batten and a damaged genoa, was the only damage and the batten was an old, already repaired(albeit badly) batten. Repairs started immediately. As the boys tied the last lines, the sail came down and the batten came out. A lady was found to sew the sail and a new batten was put into place. Then, the important business of sampling local cuisine was attended to. Yes, the solid and the liquid. Good fun was had by all. The two foodies headed for the fresh market supply yesterday, to replenish much loved, fresh stock. The last fresh stuff is being bought, as I type this blog. All three are eager to get into the good ship, and set sail for Cadiz again. One never leaves port on a Friday and they are not keen to wait until Saturday, as there appears to be a good weather window now. A Friday departure apparently signals bad luck!!! We don't want that. I just love their che patrick look am slightly concerned that their words revolutionary etc might awaken port authority security , but on verra....let's see:-)) if I type that as they were about to enter Cadiz, a port authority boat approached them, and boarded, don't be surprised:-))!! Must admit, just love love love Paddys new look. Yes, I totally adore him in a beautiful suit, tie and parfum, but I love the mafia cigar look. And the longish, curly hair:-)) I mean, he is on retraite, after all!! Can you imagine what his former colleagues would say. I know for sure, that Moni will look this look too:-)) I am determined to get her onto chez patrick in the very near future. Gary seems to be in his element. Think it's all very new and quite tough for Rob, but I hope he's loving it and getting used to the choppy seas!! Paddy has stolen my favourite phrase and says he's "gatvol gecross" now:-)))!!!! Just love it. I'll make a coffee shop sailor out of him yet!!!:-)) he tells me that boat work is very hard work!!! As if I don't know:-)))!!! Heheh. I cannot wait to welcome them into Canet Port one of these days, with a rather large and ice cold magnum of my favourite champagne!!! Not sure obviously of the date yet, but it is getting closer, every day. Still can't fix my photo bug, so will post the pics on my facebook. Will keep you updated. Lots of love and as usual, A la prochaine Xxx

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Sherryl
05/13/2012, St Marie

As you all know by now, I am here, in this little village house in Villelongue and chez patrick is crossing the north Atlantic, heading towards the Acores, from where she will head to Cadiz, Gibraltor and then finally, Canet Port!! Well, after not hearing any news from the boat, for too many days, and my over active imagination playing havoc with my brain, I decided that it was a good idea, for T and me to go for a very long cycle.. The wind was very gusty and fairly strong, le vent Marin, it's called in this part of the world or la Tramontane, depending on which direction it's blowing from. We have still not agreed on which wind was blowing because it was swirling. Coming from all directions!! Anyway, it was either take the bikes and head out, or do serious damage to the Cava stock in the house and so, we took to the roads. We cycled to the next village, St Marie and then cycled all along the beach front. After being blown as dry as parchment , we noticed a corner cafe, offering free wifi. I instantly pulled in and asked the bored and arrogant looking waiter, whether they were open and whether the wifi was working. He looked at me as though I'd asked him whether the pope was catholic. Going on to explain....how could I think that the resto was not serving, when the lights were on inside!! I had only seen him clearing all the menus, glasses and serviettes, from all the outside tables, a minute earlier. Explain that to me!! I didn't tell him that though because I still needed his wifi code so that we could use the free wifi!! We ordered two glasses of ice cold, dry white wine. They didn't last very long and so we re-ordered, only to be given two much smaller glasses this time!! He obviously saw our bikes and decided to take it upon himself to see that we got home safely!!! When we finally asked for l'addtion s'il vous plait he said, oh the damage:-)!! He was quite obviously dying to try out his newly learned English on us. He then proceeded to ask us where we we from and so when we said, South Africa he said. Well, I thought you were English and then I thought you were Americans and then I thought you were Australian!!! But, you didn't sound like any of them, so I didn't know where you were from. South Africa, never seemed to ring much of a bell for him. Probably, like many people in this region had never heard of it before. I guess that we don't really see ourselves as having such a strong, unusual accent?? He thought we did. We took our bikes and pedalled off into the night. Still no news from chez patrick. As we were about to turn the light off and try to sleep, I received news!!! They had been through some awful weather and were all fine but in serious need of some sleep and rest!!! I drifted off to sleep, praying for fair winds and calm seas. A la prochaine Xxx

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sherryl
05/11/2012, villelongue

It is the most wonderful experience, to be part of the daily life, of a very small, agricultural village!! Tiny street are often littered with narrow tractors. Narrow, so that they can pass through the narrow village streets!! And avoid all the children, dogs and bicycles, sharing the space too! This is a place, where one truly eats seasonally. Not that Carrefour does not have every import known to modern man, but because generous neighbours, ply us with their fields' offerings on a daily basis!! This is the first year, that T and I have been here early enough, to enjoy the artichokes. This region, is famous for their artichokes and our neighbours that farm them, are tremendously proud of their individual crops!! They come in a variety of colours and sizes. So, if you receive an armful, of just cut artichokes, every day, you eat artichokes!!! We have made the most delicious dishes, so far. Artichoke risotto, using "le prince du Riz" according to one chef at le cordon bleu!! Carnaroli. This is the only risotto to use, he says, and it was truly delicious. We have also made incredible pasta dishes. So, living in the country like this, with wonderful farmer neighbours, one truly eats according to what the fields are producing at that time. Yesterday, Monsiuer Eli, gave us a just plucked, butter lettuce from his patch of land. Never, refrigerated. From field, to salad bowl. Simply delicious!! Today, he gave us our very first, féves. Broad beans, that can either be eaten raw or slightly steamed. How I wish, that we could share all these wonderful, fresh ingredients, with our boys on chez patrick. Every time we use these just picked treats, I think about them and their tins of veggies or veggies that have passed their sell by date!! I am going to try to post a picture on this blog of the artichokes, but if I still don't succeed, I will post them on my Facebook page. I mailed tim from sailblogs to ask for help. I wish I could show you his reply. Suffice to say, I'll wait for Gary to arrive and help me!! We are off to Collioure now. A tiny, stunning seaside town that makes the very best crepes grand marniere, glace artisinale, gauffres miel chantilly and moulle frittes!! We will take several photos, to share these delicious treats with you!! Oh yum. Ten times a day, I thank goodness, to be able to enjoy such a special and wonderful time here. I love it here, so very much and really appreciate the privilege of being here!!! So, here goes with the photo try...... A la prochaine Xxx

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Sherryl
05/09/2012, and still McDo:-))

I do Not give up easily!! But I'm almost at the end of my jolly tether!! Gary is halfway, no more than halfway to the Azores and I'm stuck here, in McDo, trying to get my comms to march. I've mailed sailblogs helpline, but they have not replied yet. So,...... I'm going to blog, without photos, until I get them marching again!! Got the funniest email from Gary this morning:-)) Just before I left chez patrick, in St Martin, we called Robert in Sweden, to check whether he had any dietary requirements. He said, no, he was an easy eater, as both Paddy and Gary are. I remember us asking him specifically, what he preferred for breakfast. "No, I don't bother with breakfast" "Nothing???" ( I love breakfast!!!) "No, just a cup of good coffee" Having a nespresso on board, good coffee is de rigeur, but just in case, I also bought the best instant espresso sachets, that I could find. So, Gary tells me in a message this morning, that I need not worry about there being any provisions left on the yacht, when she pulls into Canet Port, because they will all be polished!! Yes, you guessed it!! By who??? By Mr I-don't-eat-breakfast:-)) Clearly, the sea air and good company have awakened his appetite:-)) I am told of delicious Swedish meatballs being cooked. Steaming bowls of vegetable and chicken stew a la Robert. T and I are completely thrilled by this news. Just sad I didn't install a video camera, before I left, so that I could enjoy it all, too. What a relief that will be. To have a yacht arrive, without too much stuff still aboard, that needs to be taken off and re-gifted. There were still so many provisions on board, from Cape Town, when I left St Martin, that I gave Gary strict instructions, to eat everything , before tying up in Canet. Now, I'm sitting here worrying, whether there will be enough!!! I would die if they told me that they went hungry, because I didn't provision adequately before I left them to their own devices. I also made sure that the fishing equipment was in good order. Just haven't heard about any fishing taking place yet, though. Probably been way too busy, battling huge seas and strong winds!! Golly, I'm grateful again, that I'm sitting here in McDo typing this instead of being tossed around by giant waves. Would not swap my experience, nor my diamond, but I don't think I'd easily do it again, unless good weather was guaranteed! On our last crossing, I made butternut curry often for Paddy and myself and Gary sometimes ate his meat option and sometimes ate our veggie option. Now he tells me, it was his favourite meal on the trip and asks for the recipe!! What a compliment. I wish I'd known he liked it that much so that I could have left a proper recipe and spice mix for him. Boys!! And they say that we women don't communicate properly. Well, I'm going to try to post a new photo again. Excuse me if it doesn't work again and you have to look at Paddy staring into the sunset, one more time. A la prochaine Xxx

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sherryl
05/08/2012, mcdo

why does this pic keep appearing, when I select a new one??? Golly, I miss my Gary. Techie deluxe!!!

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