Last weekend I spent Saturday at Royal Victoria Dock supporting the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames team for the London Youth Games, which comprised 100% of cadets from Thames Sailing Club. Great day, beautiful weather, wind was less accomodating, but the mile long dock and buildings didn’t really help the shifty nature of the windy that day. Great location and some fantastic pictures.
I have been sadly neglecting the old blog of recent, too busy sailing I am afraid. However…. on a slight diversion from wind powered vehicles I accompanied some friends on an exploration of the River Wey on Sunday. It always amazes me how a journey to Weybridge from Epsom would probably take 20-30 minutes, but by river it took us about 5 hours and that included oh… 5 locks, two of which we had to DIY. Beautiful day and travelling by river is such a charm.
My lovely little Grandma passed away in her sleep at the grand age of 97 last night. Finally free from the dementia that had confined her for the past 10 years. She had a very naughty sense of humour and would get into all sorts of trouble. She never suffered fools gladly and spoke her mind at all times.
She did the most beautiful paintings, some of which I am lucky to have in my possession, they take pride of place on the walls of my home. As well as having a love of West End Musicals; now what sane person wouldn’t?
I will always associate the smell of lavender with her - it’s now one of my favourite smells.
Grandma at about 18:
You are now free…
Trying to leave for work at 07:30am
A very quiet Epsom High Street
Train station closed so came home
At TSC we are celebrating Burns Night on Tuesday, being the regular club night and as like last year I’ve been asked to do the Lassies Return. Thankfully I don’t have to sing this year. You really don’t want to hear me sing, it’s not good at all.
So, if anyone from TSC reads this you are getting a sneak preview of the Lassies Return 09 style:
The Lassies Return – 2009
Why thank you “______”for kind words previously uttered,
Ladies you’ll agree with me, they weren’t too cluttered.
So to my short lassies ditty
Thrown together, hopefully witty
In honour of TSC men (and Mr Burns),
This evening; the Ladies Return.
Andy Christie, our Commodore he be,
So small that he can fit on one’s knee.
I may jest and be cruel, but it’s meant in good favour,
The past two years, he’s been a true saviour.
So I turn to the vice, of Mr Gurney you’re aware,
His rambling long speeches you know are nightmares.
The King of the disco and kedgeree cook,
A champion teacher, students ne’er mistook
Now this year there’s been boat kerfuffle’s,
Of owners there’s been shifting and shuffles.
The happy face of Big Al, with large persona,
Using guile and cunning to seize graceful Iona,
So what to next year, the future has plans,
A new Commodore to see, we should all be his fans.
New faces and old, of many there’ll be,
Our darling River Thames, may she continue to flow free.
To the end of my prose, we now have reached.
Thank goodness, hoorah, I hear you screech.
Let me leave you with these thoughts,
Be kind, be happy, be free but ne’er distraught.
Thankfully this year I have a drysuit to add to the ever growing bag of kit I have for sailing and it’s been most welcome. I finally got my arse up to Island Barn to dust off my little Solo for some winter fun and games. A spectacular capsize on the start line made sure everyone knew I was there and to give me a wide berth! Sadly later in the same race after another capsize whilst doing a gybe mark rounding I ended up in the drink and when she was upright again there was a considerable amount of water (no way I was going to sail this one out!) I need a tow back to shore and once we’d got her out of the water and water starting pouring out of holes in the hull (try saying that one fast!) I realised she was not in the greatest of condition.
I got my expert! to review the damage, hoping and with all fingers and toes crossed he say; you’ll be fine with a bit of gaffer tape until the spring and then get to work with the epoxy and gel coat…. sadly no. Even when Capt Bob looked at her for me he said much the same. Which would be fine if I was happy to wait until the spring, but I want to be out on the water next weekend.
Two weeks of frantic (web) hunting for a new second hand boat and a trip to Portsmouth with the cash in my back pocket I am now the owner of a shiny and in significantly better condition Solo. Still some bimbling to do and she’ll be ready for her inaugural outing week after next (going to have lunch in Leander Club on Sunday)
Yawnnnn, another sailing yarn to delight you with! This one is a bit more special for me though as I was actually helming Lady Jane this time and had the horror of having to complete three races. Fribbs in his infinite wisdom took it as another opportunity to tease/wind me up during the build up to the first start. However I can not berate him too much as without him, who took fantastic charge of the main sheet and Kevin on the jib; gave me constant instructions throughout all three races.
We tried for a port side of the start on the first race, only to be OCS and have to restart, Bess, helming Lady Iona managed to get a nice gap out in front and Carolyn Munday in Osprey was close on our heels; there was a point on the down wind legs that she might have snuck past, but we managed to get some of the gusts breezing through and in general was doing better upwind against Osprey and downwind better against Lady Iona. To come 2nd overall in the first race. 2nd race we got a blinding start on the starboard side of the course and was most definitely not OCS; leading and kept that pace up for the entire race. The race officer had changed this course for race number two and we had to navigate down and up the Surrey side of Raven’s Ait, rounding the down wind mark to port, gybe and head for the island before tacking; at this point she was heeling, heeling, heeling - I also realised at this moment that there was NOTHING for me to balance on and I am sloowwwwly slipping down the boat; only to grab on with all my might and right arm to the gunnels of Lady Jane whilst still trying to head upwind - then Fribbs lets of the main sheet and we come back to an upright position (I seriously thought we were going over at that point) PHEW! Even after that minor upset we held onto our lead and finished first; mum was there to witness this too - I still can’t quite believe it. Third race was the same course again and we got another cracking start; Bess was close on our heels and it stayed that way; we’d edge out in front and they’d catch us again; finally passing us the club end of Raven’s Ait and crossing the line about 20m ahead.
Final score:
1st Lady Iona; Bess Rhodes
2nd Lady Jane: Mel Hardman
3rd Osprey; Carolyn Munday
A topic close to my heart; this is a very simple way for you to make your thoughts about smoking easily felt (yes I have done it):
I would like to ask for your help on an issue vital to Cancer Research UK’s vision and Goals.
Tobacco advertising has been banned on television, in print and on billboards. Yet children are still regularly exposed to attractive tobacco displays in shops, newsagents and supermarkets.
We know that many young people, particularly underage smokers, buy cigarettes from vending machines.
We also know that on-pack branding, including logos and colour schemes, makes cigarettes more appealing to young people and dilutes the impact of health warnings.
The Department of Health has recently announced an important consultation on tobacco control. We need to make sure that the vast majority of responses call for better protection of children and young people from the marketing and promotion of a product that kills. With your help we can convince the Government to reduce the pull towards a potentially deadly addiction.
Please email the Department of Health today. It’s quick and easy– just enter a few details and the email will be created for you. You can add your own comments if you like.
https://campaign.publicaffairsbriefing.co.uk/cancerresearch/emailsupport.aspx
For the sake of all children and young people – let’s put tobacco out of sight and out of mind.
This is so wonderful, made me cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr1pWzoLvT8
It involves a lion who was bought for 250 guineas from an exotic animals department in Harrods in 1969 and called ‘Christian’.
Australians John Rendall and Anthony Bourke took home their furry bundle and raised him as a pet in their Chelsea flat.
The urban lion became a popular local figure in their London antiques shop, until he went from a manageable 35 pounds to 185 pounds, a year later.
Christian was moved to the Kenyan wildlife sanctuary featured in the movie Born Free, and after a year living in the wild, was found by his former owners with a pride of his own.
The 38-year-old video captures the emotional moment which shows the lion stalking towards the two men, until they call out his name.
The fully-grown big cat then leaps upon them - the trio collapsing together as Christian hugs and licks them with familiar affection.
The reunion lasted until the next morning when Christian returned to his pride
Last year, Cancer Research UK teamed up with Channel 4’s 4Talent, with funding from the Department of Health, to run an innovative filmmaking competition called Breathe.
The competition, for 13-18 year olds, resulted in the production of three short viral films which are now available to view online.
The films were produced to encourage young smokers to quit and deter others from starting. Two thirds of smokers start smoking before they turn 18 so it is vital that this number is reduced.
Do you know someone who would benefit from seeing these films?
Cancer Research UK are keen for the films to be seen by as many people as possible, so I am sharing them with you please forward these links on to anyone who you think could benefit from seeing them or who could help us spread the message amongst young smokers.
Short films
Young girl coughing up a lung after a night of partying
Girl who turns into a wrinkled, unattractive old woman during a party
Someone who pays to die in a slaughter house
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