Picture this, a river with a strong current running through, mist and fog, a Welsh woman on a boat watching rugby with an English man as they play Scotland! I have to be very careful. You know the response if you ask a Scot what team they support – they answer “Scotland who who ever is playing England”, well, it is the same for the Welsh let me tell you – strange I know, but true, unless of course they are playing the French!
Anyway – Its 8.41 and am trying to keep very quiet during this match, and have [romised John a bacon sarnie if Scotland are winning, so as Chris Patterson has now put a score on the board – maybe I better get the frying pan out quickly!
John is a keen rugby fan, is very English and taught the wonderful Ben Young, and currently teaches his brother so he is watching intently.
I sat quietly in my cabin with just the occasional involuntary outburst of “Flower of Scotland” and “come on Patterson”! Alas, England won, and I tried to look pleased but not really sure I pulled it off!
The fog has descended on the Scotland rugby team and it certainly lingered for us on the River Dart. I glanced around, trying to guess the visibility, which was around 50 metres, and started to negotiate the river in my minds eye – working out which way I would head and how I would progress. This was to remain in my minds eye only, as John made it very clear to me that we were not moving until it had totally cleared. He does work as a farmer in Norfolk, and I can imagine they have some pretty interesting fog in his neck of the woods! We knew however, it would only be a matter of time until it did clear, we could feel the suns heat burning down – on the 1st October too!
We were absolutely right, and the fog seemed to lift within minutes and revealed a gorgeous landscape
With the sun warming the land and people, we sailed down the Dart heading out to the coast and back to Brixham. I couldn’t resist taking the odd photo or two hundred!
We brought the boat back into Brixham effortlessly (ahem ahem), and I had a lovely afternoon planned with my very good friends – Nicky and Stu. It was Stu’s 50th birthday last week, and Nicky had planned a bit of a get together for close family and friends, so abandoned John to Nashira! Now most people when they attend a party take a present or a bottle or two, I’m ashamed to say I did neither, but took a large bag of dirty washing and made good use of their utility room! Thanks Nic Nac!
It was lovely to spend time with them, and have an opportunity to say my goodbyes to their families as it will be the last time I will see them for a long time – as I’m stepping on a plane to Australia in little over 3 weeks time!
I’m happy to say that I made a new friend too – her name is Rachel Smith and she has been doing some work with Stu and Kevin. You know when you meet someone and feel a real affinity with them – we both felt the same, and Rachel commented that she felt I was her long lost twin sister separated at birth – well, she is only 5ft , but more significantly, she is 6 years younger than me, so it would have been a shame on our fantasy mother! Rachel is a most interesting creature – she has rowed across the Atlantic – how impressive is that! She seemed as equally impressed by my trip around Britain, which really can’t compare. I had my own cabin and ensuite facilities, and she had a bucket!
I think Rachel and I will be seeing more of one another in the future – I’m sure I can entice her over to Oz!
I have a long week ahead of me – tomorrow a new instructor comes onboard and starts our “yacht master prep” – aiming to bring me ship shape and Bristol fashion ready for my exam next weekend – gulp and double gulp!!
So, like a good little student, I left the party in good time and was tucked up in my cabin on Nashira by 11pm with no plans for a hangover tomorrow – goodnight!
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