As I sit and start to reflect on the 2017 sailing season in Norway, I wonder how to finish the blog for this, the best sailing season we have had. I think how lucky we are to have been able to do this and I try not to take all the things this season and other seasons have given us for granted.
When my Father died, in August 2000, it changed the way I look at life. It's not about money; yes, you need a certain amount of it to do the things you want but not a great deal. A house is just bricks and mortar, a car loses so much money once driven of the forecourt it's ridiculous. Why do we tie ourselves up with these unimportant status symbols? Life can be so rich in experiences and in the people we meet. We met, whilst sailing in Norway, Norwegians, Germans, Finns, Polish, British, Dutch, Swedish and Danish, all beautiful people (even the Scottish :-)). Friends we made around Norway, from motor cruisers and yachts, plus the Hommersak Divers made sure I was OK until Donna arrived. Money cannot buy this, the rich reward of spending time with likeminded individuals from all over Europe.
Spending time with Donna in the great outdoors, time spent reading, learning, books about the stars, marine diesels, electrical engineering and many others, learning the guitar.
A person very close to us has passed away and my Mum has been in and out of hospital whilst we have been away, there have been terrorist attacks and oh, Glen Campbell died.
We intend to travel around the world eventually, not a holiday but a lifestyle change, making memories for us to look back on. I've always been lucky in the fact that I'm not bothered what other people have, only that Donna and I can enjoy life the way we want to, not the way people expect us to, and bugger the Jones's.
A good friend of ours, Nancy Miles always speaks about life's circles and it's something I've adopted as well. We have come full circle. Here I am arriving back home having departed just over 3 months ago. However, as one circle closes another one opens as we consider next seasons possibilities and goals. What will Donna and I achieve in our next circle?
I am so appreciative of spending time with my beautiful wife, Donna and my girl, Muirgen. It's about making the most of the time we have together.
The real measure of modern success is nothing to do with the size of your house or bank balance, its the amount of available time you have at your disposal. Time is the curency of life, as Tim Meeks (not Peeks) said, "time will eventually run out and we will not be judged on how much we have, or have made, it will be how much we have done with the time available". These days time runs out all too often too soon. So as I say "make hay whilst the sun shines and enjoy life (time) whilst you can and make those important changes, you deserve it". Oh and I never thought I would say it but being a proud 100 percent Yorkshire man and an English man, it's unbelievably fantastic to see England's green and pleasant land again. Never thought I would miss them so much. Great to be home.........but still looking forward to other adventures in foreign waters.

To our good friend, Jean Wilson, 91 years young, who died on 1st August, may she keep supporting the Leeds Rhinos in Heaven. (Jean is on the left in the photo below, with her sister and her beloved Kevin Sinfield).