Sunset

Another day playing with the engines. We've named them now and I'm sorry I can't type those names out! You get the picture. I think maybe they have heard us though and are retaliating.

On a lighter note, today I gave Geoff another Atlantic shower. Digby got some good photos of me grinning like a lunatic pouring buckets of sea water over Geoff! Then we got an awesome shot of water flying out from the bucket and splashing all over him. Oh the things you do for entertainment.

Hoping to reach Cape Verde tomorrow and with lots of help from family and friends with connections we are also hoping to make it a quick stopover.

The weather has calmed down a bit today so it makes for a more comfortable ride which is good. Sunset last night was amazing. I'm hoping to master the art of taking a photo in focus while on the boat. Still learning but I promise to get a good one up when I do.

Geoff and Digby were out talking about fishing and speak of the devil we got one. But it was only a baby Dorado and now they've had a taste of that they are only interested in the big boys of the tuna. No bludgeoning here today which is nice. I'm starting to feel a bit guilty about the other two fish...

7 sleeps to go before Christmas! My present box is miraculously still unopened but I think that has something to do with it being inaccessible because of all the mattresses, pillows and other things in the way. It's safer that way I think.

The festive spirit has arrived

Can you believe it was a week ago that we were waved off by everyone in Lanzarote? I really don't know what has happened with the week but it's been busy. Who would have thought that possible on a boat when you have nowhere to go?

Today I bludgeoned another Dorado to death. My weapon of choice this time was a winch handle. Don't worry Elizabeth, Digby got the whole thing on camera and I am sure that will be put up somewhere soon. I feel a bit mean hooking in the poor creature and then beating it up, but hey, dinner is served. And Ron, that time when you and Cruz came to Massey, I got the ball fair and square and you said yourself she was off balance so that was why she fell! Ok maybe a bit of a strong tackle from me, I do remember hearing you both at the other end of the field making various sounds of astonishment though :) Yeah, don't mess with me! Anyhoot, back to the fish, I think we are going to curry it up. Whatever we do, I hope I'm feeling better by then because now I'm back to feeling rough. Is there anyone in history who hasn't come right? Mind you, in all fairness, I think a week ago I would have been hurling and lying in the foetal position so I really am getting there.

Another job of the afternoon was to manually fill up with some diesel from the spare that we have on board. There is this really clever tube thing which siphons it all for you so that was relatively easy. I think perhaps the smell of the diesel may have had a hand in my current state. Today was also another Atlantic shower, I've been a bit of a camera hog really. Digby got that on film too. Don't worry people, before you even think it, I had my bikini on and he has promised to photo shop it for me so that I look half decent. I think he just filmed it all out of focus....

So feeling a lot cleaner after having rid myself of the aroma of dead fish and diesel, I set about decorating Impossible Dream with Christmas decorations. We have tinsel, a Merry Christmas sign, some wonderful window stickers (thank you Martine!), and candy canes. It looks very festive even if I say so myself. Meanwhile Digby saw another sailing yacht and made contact via the vhf radio. It was a man sailing on his own, his engine had failed and he didn't have any comms equipment so asked if we would mind calling his wife in New York to tell her he was ok. Digby did and relayed messages and it felt really nice to chat to another boat and help them out.

And so another evening falls. RIchard, that book you gave me (Do dolphins ever sleep?) has been very entertaining these past few days. Digby and I were talking about something random, birds at sea I think and we had a question about birds and I had a 'Eureka!' moment and went and got the book. Since then it's been passing between Digby and Geoff and I'm still trying to get my hands on it! I'm off for a nap now in an attempt to recharge and psyche myself up for cooking dinner. And I'm going to practice saying things like fush and chuckun since my accent appears to have gone! I'll get it back :)

Sunrise

This morning I watched the sunrise and thought of my mum. I hope that she's up there in the stars somewhere looking out for me.

The sea has a huge swell today, again a rocky motion but I'm not as sick as I usually am so that is a small step in the right direction. I'm now wondering if acclimatising at all is a possibility or just a big myth! I will get there.

Continuing to head towards the Cape Verde Islands for some more fuel. Kerr my man, you are a LEGEND!!! I hear you are hooking us up with a mate of yours down there. Again, thank you so much for all your help. Gotta run, Digby and I have to go and play with some engines again. We just can't get enough of the smell of diesel :) But have turned it into a very slick operation. Get us!

Don't mess with a Kiwi girl!

Bring it on people!!!! Digby and I fixed the other engine today, a much faster process because we knew what we were doing so that is success number one. Then in the middle of all of that Geoff called out that we had a fish on the line. So Digby reeled it in and I used the net to get it up onto the deck. (Here's my favourite bit of the story).

I got the gaff to use the handle to whack the fish with. Geoff said, 'Ok, so now what you need to do is to give it a whack on the head.' So I did. Thud! Geoff jumped and exclaimed 'Woah! I wouldn't want to meet you in a dark alley!' Did you hear that? I must have looked tough! Yeah, what did you just say Mr Fishie? Well, think again because you are going down. Ok, enough of me gloating, I'm just so pleased to have been able to redeem myself after my last pathetic attempt with the gaff. And then, for all of those who think I may still be a bit of a wimp, right then and there on the deck I sliced and diced (with coaching of course because I had no idea what I was doing) and got us some nice fillets for dinner. We have marinaded them now and so all the flavours should be soaking in. The fish by the way was a Dorado. We took some piccies, they're on Digby's camera so I am sure they will be put up somewhere.

Sea state is a bit more rough today, I'm still having the bouts of queasiness. I've got the ginger biscuits on hand, and have been nibbling away. I've also got some fresh ginger so will tackle some tea later on as well. I still think the world is full of a bunch of liars!!!! But I don't care because we've got fresh fish for dinner :) Having said that though, the last few hours have seen me wiped out as suddenly the sea just got the better of me....bugger, I thought I was getting there! Slowly she goes.

Stillness

Woop woop! Get me! Today has been my first day of not feeling sick (much)! Before you get excited I don't think this has anything to do with becoming used to it or the tablets which I've stopped taking now because I didn't like how I was feeling on them. I've tried four different types in the past few months now. Still no winner. No, I think the fact that today the sea is calm and flat is the reason for my success but I'm not going to knock it at all. In fact, I'll take the win with pleasure.

This morning I was able to pay attention to the sunrise. It was pretty spectacular even with the clouds. It had been a really clear night with loads of stars and countless shooting stars. Not sure how those wishes will come along, I'll let you know on that one! There was just a small sliver of the moon and it was so bright. Then on the horizon there was a faint orange glow as the light started to come up. The water was calm and glassy and it was just amazing with the orange behind the clouds, the moon above and a stillness about the whole place. I enjoyed the quiet moment - yes thank you people, I do have the ability to be quiet and enjoy a moment! I did my best to take a snap of it, but could never do it justice. And besides, with the boat moving slightly it was quite hard to get one in focus. Ok, I confess, the beautiful calm moment was disturbed with a few curses from me....But only a few.

Today we have seen two turtles, both on their own and swimming in opposite directions. I kind of felt sad for the little guys, all alone out here, swimming along. I really hoped they knew where they were going because I'm totally lost. It all looks a lot like water to me. And if that hasn't been enough for one day, we've just had a short visit from a couple of dolphins. Only a short one, but it's always cool to see them.

I think also today I managed to redeem myself from my sack of potatoes day. Our engines have decided that they didn't really like going so guess who was down to check it out. After much consultation we found the source of the problem and then yours truly got in there and with a bit of help and direction fixed it!!! Three cheers for me! But hopefully the winds will pick up and we will be cruising along. Genoa and stay sail are out now, bring it on - but only a little bit and if it's really calm.

Still smiling

I think yesterday I was even more useless than a sack of potatoes. I mean at least the potatoes provided some dinner for Digby and Geoff! I think it was my worst day so far. I felt rubbish and spent most of it knocked out from my sea sickness tablets or knocked out after the effort of offering Neptune some crisps and half an orange. Chewed thoroughly of course.

Today has been a lot calmer on the seas. They're not so rough but I am still a little queasy. Highlight of the morning was when the fishing line we had put out actually caught a big fish. I got as far as hauling it in and trying to hook it with the gaff but sadly they were very pathetic attempts and the fish got away. I'm hoping there will be more so that I can redeem myself. Don't worry, Digby caught it all on camera so we can relive the moment that one that got away!

I'm out on the deck looking around right now, it's a weird sensation being surrounded by sea. I'm a complete land lubber I have concluded but this is a cool experience. The weather seems to be looking on the up and I have made Geoff and Digby promise me that the seas will be calmer when we turn right after the Cape Verde Islands. They both laughed after that.....

Being 12 days before Christmas I decided to put up our little Christmas trees. One has been secured to the starboard side of the nav station and Sarah, the blow up Christmas tree you gave me has decided it would like to decorate my cabin. Unfortunately there are no photos of Teddy looking a bit lost yet as I simply can't face it. But I'm hoping to get right soon and get up to some mischief!

I'll sign off now, seriously hoping to improve on the whole motion thing out here, I'm still holding fast with calling the whole world a bunch of liars but I'll have to get used to the sea soon, there is no other option!!!!

Liars!

Too rough to write today but I will say this. They're all liars! I see no calm gentle swells and it's day 3 and I still feel rubbish! Liars! Don't worry, I'm not as grumpy as I sound, it's more for effect but it really is rough - both me and the sea!