Our village in black and white…..

Autumn in Derbyshire

Nieces

Piggy back please

We’re at Gatwick airport waiting for our flight back to the states. We have splashed the cash and are in one of the lounges away from the hustle bustle madness of the main airport. Doesn’t take much to make me feel special… a free newspaper, a cuppa with a selection of nibbly nibbles.

I’m reading the Times and there’s an article about a drunk teenager who was arrested by police. They noticed he had ….and I quote….’a considerable bulge’ in his trousers. When questioned he stated he had a snake in his pants. Turned out to be a baby royal python. Mind boggling. Apparently it’s a non venomous constrictor. Does that fact make me feel any different, of course not!

Snakes are on my list of unpleasant things which also includes celery, food of the devil, and hot air hand dryers that have been installed too high in public washrooms so you have to hold your hands up rather than down, consequently water runs down your arms towards your elbows. Sloppy design, poor installation, a lack of thought whatever, they annoy me intensely.

Rant over. I have just checked the marine forecast for the sea area including Gloucester, Massachusetts. It’s gonna be breezy for the next 36 hours.

S winds 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 4 to 7 ft. FRI NW winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. FRI NIGHT NW winds 25 to 30 kt, diminishing to 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft.

Temperature wise they are forecasting minus three at night. And with the wind in the north it’ll no doubt feel very chilly. The boat has been closed up for about 7 weeks without heat or ventilation. Anyone want to swap places? I envisage getting back onto the boat, putting more clothes on and going to bed.

It has felt tough and tearful saying goodbye to people: my dad, Dave’s Mum, Chris, Becca’s partner plus everyone else (you know who you are). The life we have currently chosen means we are away from people we care about. We are both thankful that our families are supportive of what we are doing and even though living on a boat and sailing around is well beyond their experience, and probably desire (!), they understand or tolerate our desire to explore a bit of the world!