12th October 2009
Mary has finally completed packing two shipping containers which she calls luggage. These not only contain sufficient clothes, shoes (four pairs), sweaters, shirts (Long and short sleeved) underwear (including Thermals) children's gifts (Many and various) pot scouresrs and dish cloths (Don't ask!) chocolates, swimming goggles, sweets, comics, a top for Megan, electrical components, but packets of Bisto, jars of Colemans mustard and various food stuffs which are specifically banned on the white customs form that I fill and hand in, with fingers crossed, to Immigration on arrival.
13th October 2009
Awake, far too early. Cold morning but resist Marys urging me to wear a coat as well as a sweater, load car and set off. Get to end of road and return to house to unpack coat and put it on.
Arrive Bristol Bus Station with half an hour to spare. Quite crowded, Mary elects to wait with me. Coach on time, load containers and sneak small roller bag on coach. "Not allowed anything with wheels to be carried into the bus" says driver to little old man. Take back seat next to toilet. It is very cold. Ask driver to put heating on. "Its broke"
Connect to iPod and open BLT sandwich pack. Slept for an hour. Arrive Terminal 3.
Successfully find a trolley, load containers and roller bag, unload trolley as they cannot be used between Central Bos Station and Terminal three. Juggle the containers through barriers and stumble the three mile to terminal. Check in, no upgrades.
Into security, I have three trays to contain laptop, shoes, coats and sundry electrical. Buzzed when going through scanner, told to remove belt. Ahh! therein lise a snag. Belt is a trendy canvas type with a cam locking action. This actioned is fine for the slim hipped yooth but problematical when securing a 70 year olds steadily expanding waist line, Any exhalling of breath causes it to jam. Also belt is supporting a pair of my youngest sons hand me downs which, although extremely comfortable and perfect for travelling being very large, has the tendency to make the wearer look like CoCo the clown.
Two security people grovel at my groin trying to unlock my belt. Success, now all I have to do is pull belt through loops to remove it. Belt too big for loops and will not pull through. "Remove the buckle" suggest the lady security guard" This worked
I'm through. Trouble is I am blocking the line so I have to carry the three trays plus coat and shoes to a clear area where I can dress. This I do with my trousers now at knee level waddling like a deranged duck.
Buy two bottle of Bombay Gin, Hello magazine and The Times. Found out later that these were free in the Departure Lounge!
Found sandwich and crisps had been mangled and were scattered over inside of case so bought new.
Mens toilet had a long queue and a small Bangladeshy person shouting "U rhine oles" to the right" and "Cabinets to the left"
Boarded, I am sitting on the inside seat next to a Black Girl. Plane takes off half an hour late. I had noticed on The Net that there was a very deep depresion on the weather chart over the Bay area! Perhaps it will clear by the time we get there.
Lunch, "Sorry sir we only have the beef left" Beer and red wine. Flight Attendant pours red wine on my trousers. F.A. and B.G. mop my groin with white wine. This seems to be a popular spot!
Have forgotten to take Warfarin so no danger of DVT as blood is not circulating. Drop spinnage on trousers! No one offers to help.
BG asleep, my wallnut size bladder needs emptying frequently so rather than wake her tried to slide between seat and fuselage. She woke up, just as I got wedged, and kindly assisted me.
Watched three bad movies half listening to a loud mouth behind me, who wore a knitted cap, chatting up the F.A. She was saying that the Captain had told them that the conditions at San Frabcisco were bad and prepare for a lot of air sick people!
Announcment, Due to heavy weather we would be held in a holding pattern for 35 minutes. Very bumpy, noticed BG with head in hands. Was she praying? tried to say reassuring things. Cannot see wings from aircraft, very thick cloud. Long approach, Nobodys talking. BG starts praying again as bumping gets very bad. 1500 feet see Bay water very choppy, plane lurching, Pilot bangs it down in driving rain and very strong winds. Passengers applaud and cheer.
Clear customs and collect baggage. Told to go through another channel where they were X raying the luggage again. Noticed people other side of machine being interviewed about food stuff found in their luggage. Here goes, definately a night in the cells. Miracle! they just waved me on.
Jim waiting, his Audi 7 is huge with all the gadgets, Thats my boy! Lots of accidents caused by flooding and trees down. Jim tells me he has passed his building exams and now technically he can build anything. Also Jack is being assest for a special Basket Ball team.
Great welcome from Kate and Kids. Megan bouncing with excitement. Thay loved all the gifts, particularly the watches.
Nice meal, glass of beer than bed about 0900.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Go east young man
0600
Slipped out of a raft of 4. Miserable bugger in X boat, most unhelpful and rude, seemed like a typical asshole that you get in the Solent not like us simple country folk. Bacon and sausage sandwiches on route.
0900
Failed to tell Vasgo the navigator our destination. He is very irritated.
Thoughts, Beaulieu for lunch, Cowes for overnight. In Poole Bay. Weather sunny with NE wind. Under engine.
1030
Rang Mary, she was off to dentist. Abeam of Yarmouth. Vasco navigating to the second. Decided that if The Gnome of Zuric, Ian, runs out of money he will have to sell his camera or body.He kindly offered to fund the whole trip.
1400
Lovely run up to Beaulie.
Moored Bucklers Hard sunny hot. £12.50 for a lunch time stop!! The working classes must rise up and seize the land from these bloated aristocrats! Pint in the pub and hot pasties on board, somewhat spoilt by a yacht "Airel" colliding with us. Women drivers!
1600
Motored to Cowes, no wind, moored visitors pontoon. Weird bird in next boat who broke her leg and missed the season and said her her water tanks are dirty and needed flushing and could she get out in the morning through the mile wide gap we left and and.... I need a lie down.
1900
Scrubbed up and walked into Town. Drinks opposite Marina, Roy on the Scrumpy. Jim having nightmares about sausages. Asked way to China China, other end of town. Found pub with two big attractions!
2130
"China China" good restaurant where the Maitre D spoke French, German and presumably Chinese. The Gnome matched him verb for verb in French and impressed us simple country folk who only speak Oldbury! Nice meal.
2200
Back to pub with the resolution that we would all look into the barmaids eyes and see what she looked like!
Pub duo guitarists, murdering Eric Clapton in the corner. Boys stayed talking to locals or rather letching over a girl that looked like that bird in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" who keeps telling you "Shes worth it" Returned to boat for relatively early night.
The crews motto was "Ever vigilant"
Slipped out of a raft of 4. Miserable bugger in X boat, most unhelpful and rude, seemed like a typical asshole that you get in the Solent not like us simple country folk. Bacon and sausage sandwiches on route.
0900
Failed to tell Vasgo the navigator our destination. He is very irritated.
Thoughts, Beaulieu for lunch, Cowes for overnight. In Poole Bay. Weather sunny with NE wind. Under engine.
1030
Rang Mary, she was off to dentist. Abeam of Yarmouth. Vasco navigating to the second. Decided that if The Gnome of Zuric, Ian, runs out of money he will have to sell his camera or body.He kindly offered to fund the whole trip.
1400
Lovely run up to Beaulie.
Moored Bucklers Hard sunny hot. £12.50 for a lunch time stop!! The working classes must rise up and seize the land from these bloated aristocrats! Pint in the pub and hot pasties on board, somewhat spoilt by a yacht "Airel" colliding with us. Women drivers!
1600
Motored to Cowes, no wind, moored visitors pontoon. Weird bird in next boat who broke her leg and missed the season and said her her water tanks are dirty and needed flushing and could she get out in the morning through the mile wide gap we left and and.... I need a lie down.
1900
Scrubbed up and walked into Town. Drinks opposite Marina, Roy on the Scrumpy. Jim having nightmares about sausages. Asked way to China China, other end of town. Found pub with two big attractions!
2130
"China China" good restaurant where the Maitre D spoke French, German and presumably Chinese. The Gnome matched him verb for verb in French and impressed us simple country folk who only speak Oldbury! Nice meal.
2200
Back to pub with the resolution that we would all look into the barmaids eyes and see what she looked like!
Pub duo guitarists, murdering Eric Clapton in the corner. Boys stayed talking to locals or rather letching over a girl that looked like that bird in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" who keeps telling you "Shes worth it" Returned to boat for relatively early night.
The crews motto was "Ever vigilant"
We are all off to Waymuff
Wednesday
0530
Early start again, heading out of Braye harbour and watching the sun rise. For some reason or another the boys did not think this was very romantic! Course to steer 360M.
0900
Crossing shipping lanes very busy. Jim making jam sandwiches and coffee. Sea slight sun warming up. Roy at helm. lan asleep below, Vasco at chart table discovering America.
1100
Mary 1st cake eaten with cheese by rough northerners. Celia's cake still to come, must encourage this inter cake rivalry.
1400
In great danger of completing phase 4 of plan A!!!
1500
Moored up town quay. There is a fishing competition and berths are limited. Walked around town. Very much like Weston super Mare, all Kiss Me Quick Hats, Tattoos and Candy Floss. Much nice tother side of harbour, which where we will take supper.
2000
So much for fine cuisine! we had fish and chips which was close to being indigestible, hence a huge run on my Gaviscon Cool tablets.
Found two more boats had moored outside of us, warned them we would be going at 0600 tomorrow. Girl in the next boat, a new X type yacht was chatty and relaxed about early start, so were the people outside of them.
0530
Early start again, heading out of Braye harbour and watching the sun rise. For some reason or another the boys did not think this was very romantic! Course to steer 360M.
0900
Crossing shipping lanes very busy. Jim making jam sandwiches and coffee. Sea slight sun warming up. Roy at helm. lan asleep below, Vasco at chart table discovering America.
1100
Mary 1st cake eaten with cheese by rough northerners. Celia's cake still to come, must encourage this inter cake rivalry.
1400
In great danger of completing phase 4 of plan A!!!
1500
Moored up town quay. There is a fishing competition and berths are limited. Walked around town. Very much like Weston super Mare, all Kiss Me Quick Hats, Tattoos and Candy Floss. Much nice tother side of harbour, which where we will take supper.
2000
So much for fine cuisine! we had fish and chips which was close to being indigestible, hence a huge run on my Gaviscon Cool tablets.
Found two more boats had moored outside of us, warned them we would be going at 0600 tomorrow. Girl in the next boat, a new X type yacht was chatty and relaxed about early start, so were the people outside of them.
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Rotary meeting
Tuesday 0130
Woken by a text from Mary re wine and late Bed and Breakfast guest. Thanks love!!
Lay awake listening to the NE blowing, which is not the wind you want for laying in Braye habour. Decided to postpone the decision to go until midday tomorrow.
Must have slept as Vasco complained about the snoring! The nerve of the man!
0800
Bacon and eggs on board and a stroll around the crap restaurants of Cherbourg, admired the fish markets.
Coffee and back to boat for lunch. Wind dropping.
Put 1 1/2 litre of oil in engine and checked water.
1300
Slipped, tried to put at third reef in unsuccessfully. Easy sail with 6 knot tide, sunshine and NW 3knt wind, SOG 9NM.
Yet more cake cannot remember if this is Celia's or Marys but delicious in either case.
1600
Picked up a mooring in Braye Harbour, easy run in.
Water taxi to Braye. Walked up long hill to centre, in rush hour (One car). Drinks in smokers pub then went to nicer place where Vasco attended a Rotary meeting.
Supper, Starters for main course, served by smiling Slovak waitress.
2130
Water Taxi back to boat accompanied by two pissed loud mouths who were slagging off, on the phone, a woman called Corine.
Roy and I lying in the fore cabin looking for Uranus through the hatch.
Woken by a text from Mary re wine and late Bed and Breakfast guest. Thanks love!!
Lay awake listening to the NE blowing, which is not the wind you want for laying in Braye habour. Decided to postpone the decision to go until midday tomorrow.
Must have slept as Vasco complained about the snoring! The nerve of the man!
0800
Bacon and eggs on board and a stroll around the crap restaurants of Cherbourg, admired the fish markets.
Coffee and back to boat for lunch. Wind dropping.
Put 1 1/2 litre of oil in engine and checked water.
1300
Slipped, tried to put at third reef in unsuccessfully. Easy sail with 6 knot tide, sunshine and NW 3knt wind, SOG 9NM.
Yet more cake cannot remember if this is Celia's or Marys but delicious in either case.
1600
Picked up a mooring in Braye Harbour, easy run in.
Water taxi to Braye. Walked up long hill to centre, in rush hour (One car). Drinks in smokers pub then went to nicer place where Vasco attended a Rotary meeting.
Supper, Starters for main course, served by smiling Slovak waitress.
2130
Water Taxi back to boat accompanied by two pissed loud mouths who were slagging off, on the phone, a woman called Corine.
Roy and I lying in the fore cabin looking for Uranus through the hatch.
France or America?
Vasco confident he can find America by contacting the spirit word, we keep telling him we only want France.
Monday
0300
No sleep at all! So got up at 0300 and made a lot of noise. Disturbed creatures started to emerge from their lairs
0330Steady motor to The Needles in the dark.
0430
Wind building to 20 knots from the North West, Cold
0530
Seas building, Jim cooking bacon and sausages. Bacon roll good but Jim passed on the sausages.
0930
Started reefing sails, eventually, as third reef not in on luff, dropped main, lost Genoa sheet. Jim talked to the fishes,
1130
Received text from Grandma that we have two baby goldfish and I am a Grandfather.
Felt very proud and protective.
Managed to cross both shipping lanes without too many scares.
1230
Wind building to 24knots, 2 metre waves, uncomfortable but Nemo is taking it in her stride.
1530
Entered Cherbourg. Too tired to go into town for tea bags, so beer and Marys cake on board. Ian has done a Paul and prepared meal. Jim's sausages found in oven.
Not entirely certain what delicacy Ian "Jamie Oliver" Copely" has prepared for our delectation but reassured that Celia would have supervised preparation.
Excellent meal; Smoked meat (Forgotten name?) Coc au vin and Tart with custard with a very fine wine from the box! A toast was drank to the Chef, Celia and my Aqua Grand Children. Thoughts; Is P.J. going to be jealous, will it be spatulas at dawn or pork pies at sunset................
Worked out with Vasgo course to steer to Braye Harbour Aldernay, aware that we could get a 6+ knot tide trying to drag us south between Aldernay and the French coast.
Course to steer 296C for 12nm then 268C for 10nm. Vasco will be navigating so have every faith we should hit somewhere.
Surprisingly we all went to bed early, heartened by the knowledge that it would be a late start due to tide.
Avoiding the M4
Sunday 9th Sept
1030
Packed Roy's car, Roy moaning at size of my bags.
Picked up Ian and set off for Hamble. M4 east, inconclusive signs saying M4 closed ahead, come off at Bath junction. Find out later that Jim and Trevor delayed exit and were still near M4, as we were going through Salisbury.
1300
Weather light, NW winds, sun and continuing high pressure.
Took over Nemo and sent Roy and Ian grocery shopping.
Formulated PLAN A. Hamble, Yarmouth, Cherbourg, Weymouth, Solent. If plan A goes as badly as PLAN A Brixham, it will reach PLAN X subsection T.
Motored to Solent through yachts going home. What do they know?
Moored up in Yarmouth, fun with berth master re getting boys up at 0330. Put sign on window of boat warning potential rafters that we were serious.
1800
Meal liver and bacon and fish and chips. Boys pissed at 0300 start. Plotted course 180C. Boys started into wine box. Boys on 2nd glass, l see problems!
2130 all go to bed.
Lots of snoring from Vasco da Gammas cabin, kept kicking Roy thinking it was him!Vasco muttering "More sardines Julia, more sardines?"
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