16:07S 5:34W
Tales of Amok's Adventures
Mike Jones
Wed 10 Feb 2010 21:58
Please note the irregular entries are a function of the activity; it is difficult to type when you have your head in the bilge or in the heads locker. We are all well and still floating. yes really. We've had some challenges recently which are really taxing the ol' brain cells occasionally (23 hrs per day) turning me into a grumpy cow. yes really. I know many of you will find that difficult to believe, but it's true. The generator appears to be working (fingers crossed) but the cooker remains a mystery. We have organized a small 2 burner electric cooker as a contingency. The microwave decided it was being ignored so it started working today on a whim. We've just departed Saint Helena, once again with long faces at leaving such a friendly lot of people and are now destined for Cape Town. We currently have a lovely 16 knot breeze from ESE which is fine, thank you very much indeed. We are making a course over the ground of 167 against our direct line course of about 151, so it's pretty good.
It's 19:30 here and dinner is a long way off. Salad and bread may feature, as the cooker is playing silly games. Mike has managed to coax it to work by lying and making false promises, unethical but effective. For some reason yet to be identified, it often erupts in a sound similar to a bugle warming up to do the last post. Just the first two notes mind you. Finnish poltergeist. (Finnish cooker)
Trevor Thomas was the Saint who finally fixed the generator properly, he worked his magic in a matter of minutes , removing and rebuilding the salt water pump so it will take worldwide available impeller spares instead of the unavailable American ones. He then discovered the exhaust injection manifold was corroded and about to fall apart, so he quickly rebuilt it and fitted it - result happy generator.
Every Saint has a nick name which they are known by, real names only come to light when one dies !! The names are read out on the radio, and every body walks around saying "who's died ??", til somebody says " that's old Flowerpot gone"...
It was such a pleasure to meet David and Doris Clarke; they showed us some pictures of my Paternal Grandmother, Jean Maddocks, and my Uncle Bob, Aunt Ruth and cousin Jane, Michael and Doreen which were taken at Ela's (Bob's Saint Helenian Mother) 100th birthday party in 1992. I cannot describe the joy at seeing family pictures when I feel a million miles from home; and before anybody asks, this is any home I have ever known. I used to think that some of the Scottish highlands and islands were remote; let me tell you that Saint Helena is more remote than anything I have ever come across. There is no airport (although one is promised) and the Royal Mail Ship St Helena calls in every couple of weeks to deliver mail and food. As you can imagine, it's pretty exciting when the ship arrives, there is a real buzz around the place.
Doris put together a fantastic box of veges and fruit, some of which we recognize and some of which we don't, to help us on our way. David put together a fantastic collection of St Helena stamps which he laminated and provided an explanation about - something to treasure for years to come.
Goodbye St Helena, imposing in every sense, whether arriving or leaving yet populated by the most unimposing friendly helpful and resourceful people we have ever met.
We shall miss you and the friends we have made during our short visit.
I can imagine Napoleon's thoughts when he was first brought to St Helena, he even commented that it was more a paradise than a prison.
Napoleon lived for ten years on the island before he died, he was buried in a nest of four coffins to stop him getting away and he was buried for 19 years before he was reclaimed by France and taken to Paris. France and Britain argued over whether he was an Emperor or a General hence his tomb on the island was unmarked as no agreement could be made.
ok, enough history interspersed with snippets of news.
take care little limpits, AMOK out.
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