Sherryl
05/23/2012, McDo

what a day! Luckily, I had a good talk to myself, before I went to sleep last night and decided that today was a day that I was going to get things done!! No more sitting in bed in my pj's reading and writing and listening to the Tramontane bash our little house left and right!! I made a list. Ok, I would get up, make tea, allow myself a few pages in my bed with a second cup of tea, but then, up!! Shower, dress and start the day. Draw money. Fill my trusty little stead with gazoile and then head off to zone technique and check that all is well with chez patricks berth. Then of course, head here to McDo for a double latte and catch up with my comms, using the wonderful wifi here. I was fresh out of the shower, hair dripping wet when I heard severe bashing coming from our courtyard gate side!! Feigning avoidanosa seriousa, I dressed, only to hear the bashing escalating in volume..without T here, I had to go and investigate myself. Yes, you've guessed it. I operate very well, behind somebody else's back!! Well, I went downstairs only to find to very red faced men, chopping away at the cement, next to my water meter. The day we arrived from Paris (30/4) we discovered that the icy February weather, had exploded our water meter and so we had no running water in the house!! If we turned the outside water on, to get water inside the house, a fountain shot up, hitting you square in the head and then proceeded to flood the courtyard and then create a mini river down Rue de Paris. Much to my neighbours non-amusement. Here, every Madame sweeps her house front proudly, each day. Not even tolerating a stray leaf. I like that though, so.... We switched the water off. Consulted our neighbours husband, M. JJ and trusted he would arrange a plumber for the next morning. That was almost a month ago. The plumber duly arrived, only to tell us, it was a job for the mairie. Kindly arranging this for us, a service provider arrived that afternoon. He fixed the fountain and changed the meter but a leak still existed. Water here, is more expensive than wine, and so he assured me 1: that the leak existed, before the meter, and so we wouldn't be paying for it and 2: that a colleague would be along "shortly" to chop up the cement, replace the faulty pipe and repair the hole:-))!! Well, this happened this morning. Part three, repairing the hole, is scheduled for 14:30 this afternoon. On verra:-)) Plus, as the taller of the two laid eyes on me, he immediately asked for "un petit cafe" s'il vous plait:-)) two nespressos later, he was chopping up a storm. I fled upstairs, to finish my toilette and then head to the ATM to draw money. Wondering while I was walking up the street, whether there would be any money in the machine. You know with the eurozone crise and all and us being very close to the Spanish border. Well, I got to the ATM, only to be told by a lady, that " il est mort" what?? I looked left, only to see an exquisite little dog, still with his gorgeous little harness on, lying dead!!!:-((( she showed me where the blood was still fresh, red on the tar!!! With that, I turned away and ran home. Shoot!!! People who are cruel to animals are destined to a seriously bad time in the here after!!!! I know that for sure!!! Shocked and saddened, I grabbed my bag and headed to St Marie, to put in gazoile. Ok, sorry!!! Just got Paddy on Skype. So will continue soon A la prochaine Xx

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Sherryl
05/22/2012, my warm bed

Finally. Chez patrick is in the same time zone as I am!! Just had a position update from captain paddy and all is well on the good ship chez pat:-)) not knowing the wind position in the straits, they might stop in Cadiz after all. Still bumpy on board. Simply cannot wait for them to finally tie up here. Hope this latest map position update holds. Much nicer being able to see their position accurately on that little map. A la prochaine xx

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05/21/2012,

I've fixed chez patricks position three times today and each time I check it, it's back to the sample position. Good old sailblogs!!! Supposed to be 35 52 N. 8 58W. Can you imagine sending out a mayday and a rescue boat looks at sailblogs for the boats last position. Nice

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Sherryl
05/21/2012, McDo

I had to try and think about a title to this blog, as there wasn't any one particular thing that stood out, but rather a group of random bits of news..thus, the title "news". I took Theresa to Perpignan Airport yesterday morning, in pouring rain and a raging Tramontane. Driving home alone, my little C3 did a sterling job against the wind and the rain. It was my very first night alone in chateau villelongue. This tiny little village house, over 600 years old, started out as a place where they used to brew very strong alcohol..it was then changed from a distilling shed to a living space, with ground floors!! After a mild renovation, it's where I live now. Tiled floors, hot water but not too many other mod cons. I do wish that we had bedroom doors that lock now though. I think I managed very well for my first night alone. Not being used to all the creaking and groaning of the shutters, due to the rain and Tramontane, I read a lot!! I switched my 3G on this morning to see if there was any news from chez patrick. I updated their new position on my map and was excited to see them slowly getting closer to Cadiz and the Straits of Gibraltor. They might make Marbella their first stop, if the winds continue to be favourable and drop Rob off there, to catch a flight to Sweden where he needs to attend Judys film premiere. Gary and Paddy will sail the last leg from there to Canet, double handed. Paddy says the wind is at a good angle but that the sea swells are huge and they are all rather tired of the bumping!! I bet! I then happened to check whether Scolamanzi had blogged. They are also a leopard 46. Also en route from the Caribbean to the Med. I read her update with horror. They are crossing with the ARC and one of the yachts had been hit by a whale. The hull was damaged and started asking water. A mayday was issued. A nearby cargo ship diverted to take the husband and wife aboard their ship, leaving their entire yacht behind, probably to sink shortly afterwards. Not long after that, another yacht was abandoned. Two yachts. On the same route that cp had just sailed, abandoned and sunk!!! Not happy, I hopped on the blower to check whether our crew was all fine. No whales spotted they reassured me. But still. It's an area where many unlit fishing boats fish. Also where many pieces of cargo, lost from cargo ships, float in the water. Plus unlit boats, manned by illegals, trying to make a new life elsewhere, sail under the cover of darkness. I pray for their safe and speedy arrival in Canet port with all my heart. It's interesting to be on your own in a vaguely uncomfortable place. I see that I'm a thinker and a worrier. The free spirit with the five year plan. I amuse even myself!! I see how intensely close Pat and I are. Sensing the others mood many miles away. How change affects me. Each time I behave in exactly the same manner. So now, I see it, and say, ok. I give myself these first days of withdrawal and know that suddenly I will wake up one morning and be completely comfortable in my new situation. Develop a new routine. I still pray that cp sails speedily and safely into Canet though!!:-)) the meteo this morning warned of the Tramontane blowing 75 kilometres an hour and of a low of 7'C. Glad that they are still far enough away not to be affected by it. I miss my housemate. Chores were fun and entertaining. We have a beautiful tree in our little cour, Tallulahbelle, a meurier platane and she needs to be trained into a parasol, so we did this with strong cord. The wind blew many cords into shreds last night and so this needs to be repaired but it's a job for two sets of hands. Now, she looks like an umbrella that's been stripped by a wayward wind. Some spokes spiking up and some spokes spiking down. I know that sometimes one has to repair a roof in the middle of a downpour but this is going to have to wait. I'm not going to risk an injury with nobody here to help sooth me afterwards:-))!!! So, there was a lot of news. All random bits of information. As I sit typing in McDo, the wind is howling outside and my feet are frozen. How I miss my ugg boots that I left behind in B's flat in Paris. Thought I was only going to be wearing ballerinas and havaianas. O well. I see the little children skipping to school early every morning as they pass my kitchen window and guess that they must be used to all kinds of hot and cold, living in this region of France. I will adjust too. I'm too scared to try and post a picture as I'm sure the last one is still jammed in the system, So...a la prochaine Xxx

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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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