Fool Metal Jacket....
Rhiann Marie - Round the World
Stewart Graham
Sun 13 Feb 2011 14:47
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Sunday 13th of February 1222 Local 0522
UTC
08:13.61N 098:30.12E
From what I understand, being alive is far better
than being dead and from what I know, having your back in one piece is far
better than it being in two pieces.
To make the most of the wonderful part of the world
we are in I decided by yesterday that I was fit to (yes, yes!
- carefully) go back out to sea on Rhiann Marie. The conditions in Ao
Phang Nga, the bay in Thailand formed by Phuket in the west and Krabi on the
mainland to the east, at the moment are very benign and there is almost no
wind so we would not be heeled or crashing away up wind - because that would be
stupid, wouldn't it?
Anyway precautions to protect the gains my
back had made were taken and my back brace was reinforced with two oars to
keep the whole body stiff and straight. I just needed to make sure I didn't fall
over! For medicinal purposes and to keep malaria at bay I put some tonic - tonic
- in my gin. So all precautions were taken.
Before I left hospital I checked with
the pharmacy what the advice was about taking alcohol while on the
medication. The head bomber was called. "No, no alcohol" she said "because
it could make you drowsy". Now what the hell did she think the painkillers
did? So to advance drowsiness and while writing you this wee note at anchor I am
having a wee nightcap of Abhainn Dearg. Very
pleasant.
I know most of you will be pleased to hear that
despite breaking my back I did not claim or even think of claiming incapacity or
invaidity benefit. I did not even take a day off. I did not burden the NHS one
little bit. All e-mail and busuiness communications were kept up to date
completely. Sometimes my opposite number on the other end of the phone on the
first day or two after my foo pah and after finishing a long business discussion
asked "how are things going with you?" would be mortified to learn I was lying
in bed awash in morphine and held together by bits of German steel. Come to
think of it, I hope I did not sell anything too cheaply while morphined up. If I
did please dont tell me until I am completely better otherwise I'll probably
have a hernia too.
Good wishes have poured in from all over and every
single one of these is appreciated. Thank You. I will try not to Phuket
up.
We anchored in between three islands one of which
is Koh Hong. "Koh" means island and "hong" means room. These are stunning
natural formations in limestone islands and they are entered by a very narrow
channel or through a cave. Often they have a beach inside them which is
surrounded by high cliffs. They and the scenery round about are spectacularly
beautiful.
Later today I will lead my merry band up the river
delta and through the mangroves where we intend to anchor off a stilted fishing
village. The crew can go ashore while I stay aboard alone to try and
dampen down my moral a lttle.
Damn! Its good to be alive! Anyway got to
go f e e l i n
g a li
t t
l e
d r
o
w
zzzzzz
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