22:49N 19:34W
Tales of Amok's Adventures
Mike Jones
Sun 20 Dec 2009 18:48
found this previously written email blog on ur computer, guess it never got sent from Las Palmas. Forgive me if it has been sent. The history of Mike's nickname seems too good to delete just because it's a bit dated.
Forgot to mention that we took ourselves off to a small local restaurant in Las Palmas where the menu had some interesting English translations; for example, "wreck loin at will" or "fried meat of small young goat" and lastly and most curiously "broken eyes with fried potatoes". One truly wonders what one would find on the plate...It was a surprise to see what came out of the kitchen. The food turned out to be even more interesting than the translations. Nuf said.
So after the "let's do some welding in the engine room with a 10mm spanner and the 24 volt system" day, we tackled yet more jobs done and Toby had been up to the top of the mast (again) to wash the mainsail track. This was a good job to be done as it didn't involve 1) spanners or 2) electrics, as "we" had dropped all the 10mm spanners into the oily bilge water. We should have followed surgical procedures and counted the tools in, then counted them out, as I am sure there are still some spanners down there. I did have the enviable job of plunging my hand into said oily water to go fishing for the spanners, but no luck, just an oil slick up to my elbow. Retribution no doubt.
At least my hair is still straight and I don't have a twitch.
Anyway, for Toby going up the mast, I had the job of hoisting him whilst Pandora had the job of hoisting the bucket. Luckily, I was able to take shelter under the dodger from the inevitable rain that followed. The job got done eventually much to everybody's amusement.
There was a fantastic mix of people in Las Palmas, many young people looking for berths to go across the Atlantic. No money, nor experience, but loads of enthusiasm and often a small musical instrument. One wonders whether the request of "can you play us a tune" would exceed the request of "can you shut the **** up??
The boys watched Moby Dick on DVD whilst we were there, seems weirdly appropriate some how. Toby's new nick name is Moby as he seems to be always the one to spot the whales, Pandora has become Meercat, for the way she pokes her head up through the hatch, does a few sniffs and looks around, then returns to her bunk.
Mike has become "Queen", please note that this does not indicate any sort of seniority or authority, it is simply an abbreviation, as "Drama Queen" takes too long to say.
I remain as Stirling but continue to aim for Parnelli which is much more to my liking.
28 Dec 09.
made a brilliant fish pie for our dinner tonight (IIDSSM which stands for IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF). It's amazing how good food can be when you have a recipe book...
we had the reaching sail and the black spinnaker up today, wing on wing, i.e. both held out on poles, with no main up as the wind was dead behind us. We were achieving around 4 knots in very light airs. it's nice sailing like that as there is no mainsail and hence no accidental gybe to worry about. There's about 2800 sq. ft. of sail when we have both up, so it's pretty exciting. We have elected to keep the black spinnaker up this evening, pole-less and on its own, on the strict understanding that it comes down if the wind gets to 12 knots. Sounds good in theory, but it needs close monitoring as the wind can go from 12 to 20 in the bat of an eyelid.
speaking of which, must check it, when it is up, I feel like I have a 2 year old on deck.
farewell me hearties, keep smiling; it keeps 'em guessing...
ps. Pandora has baulking at the title of Meercat, she's decided she's now "Sketti" after attempting to tidy up the spaghetti ropes we have on deck.
that's all for now me hearties,
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