Each Summer I went swimming

Apart from wanting to spend Christmas with the family, one of the main reasons we went over to the UK these holidays was to be at the wedding of my lifelong friend, Vanessa. Living so far from friends and family means missing all sorts of important occasions, so it was fantastic to be able to get there for this one. And what a beautiful, elegant, warm, joyful occasion it was! Well worth the jet lag and all those hours trying to get the volume right on the in-flight movies. (Is it just me or does everyone spend most of the flight with your hand on the controls, trying to make out the dialogue without damaging your ears in the process?) Continue reading “Each Summer I went swimming”

Themed presents!

Christmas Merry Christmas from Penrith, Cumbria, England! I was happy to get these two sailing-related books – and money for some marine binoculars. The Freedom Sailors book documents the first voyage of the Free Gaza movement and is especially exciting for us as our friend Sharyn Lock was part of that maiden voyage and contributed to the book. Her first book Gaza: Beneath the Bombs is also well worth a read for a greater understanding of the issues and a firsthand account of life in Gaza. Continue reading “Themed presents!”

Clouds from both sides

SeaClouds The journey from our place in Vancouver to see my family in the North of England involved two buses, the Skytrain, two aeroplanes, the London Underground, a short walk between Kings Cross and Euston (stopping in a for a swift half of real ale at The Euston Flyer), a train journey (made somewhat more fun by the free wine offered in first class) and finally a short car ride from the station to the house. Sailing certainly seems a more relaxing alternative… Continue reading “Clouds from both sides”

Community

Working at Rhizome I’d always thought of sailing as quite a solitary occupation – days out on the ocean with just the wind and the waves, all the time in the world to think and dream and wonder. So it surprised me to hear from Doug that one of the things he most loved about his past years of sailing were the people of all ages he met along the way and the sense of community they shared. Continue reading “Community”