I can’t remember where I left off. I have been staying with Tony for about 4 days now. It’s been great fun. He and I get along great! After only meeting him briefly in February it’s like we’ve known each other forever. It’s really been great! He’s been a perfect gentleman too which is nice!
We met his friend Greg right off the bat and Greg has a boat of his own. It’s currently berthed in Portugal and he is planning to go get it in August. I think I’m invited to go along and do that.
In the mean time we got up and met with Greg for Coffee on Saturday and met a nice old man named John Holland. John is a boat owner also, his boat is here in Poole. It’s called Mi Gitana. Means something like “my gypsy girl” in who knows what language, I think he speaks a few. German, Spanish and maybe Portuguese? John is a bit of a character! Tells a lot of stories and is one of those guys who teaches you inadvertently that giving without question is a great way to get it back in return, just meaning always be generous and spontaneous because it can reward you! It’s really fun to meet people like that. He tells a story about one guy he meets and he did this and that and then it comes back to him again. Pretty cool!
He is a very chatty character and can walk around meeting strangers all day long. Its pretty funny! He chatted up all sorts of people in the marina and sent me to chat some of them up myself. That was Sunday afternoon. We met up with John about 4 pm and were not planning to go sailing. John had had a whole group of people with him, young men he knew somehow. He had taken them fishing etc and invited Tony and I and the boat was really pretty full so we waited until he unloaded and then we hopped on. Tony had no intention of going out but before we knew it John had cast off the lines and was out into the harbor. It was pretty funny. Like being taken hostage! We motored out and put the jib up right away. It was really really windy! So out we went. Tony took the helm and John taught me some stuff about sailing and managing the buoys etc. We went all the way out the harbor entrance past Sandbanks and then to a place called Old Harry or something (old Harry is a name they gave this pile of rocks, there is Harry his wife and children apparently)?! Can’t quite remember! Then we turned around and John put me at the helm and in we went again. Under sail, not power. I was proud of myself for not plowing into anything. It was great fun!! I mean, awesome! It was sunny and when the engines are not going its pretty quiet, other than the wind, which was pretty strong. I had a great time!! So glad I got to do it! He won’t be back again for a few weeks now so I’ll miss him when the time comes.
There is a big boat in the marina right now, called Tugela; it’s a beautiful boat, similar to those I saw in Palma. John chatted them up after we went home and called me around midnight to say they are leaving tomorrow (Tuesday) for the Med and that I should go introduce myself and ask to go along. I think I might. I’ve been down there twice and missed the crew both times.
John had also asked a boat full of Germans who are headed to Gibraltar if I could go along with them cut they barely speak English and are not men I feel comfortable with.
So, it’s been fun! Tony has taught me a ton and Greg and John have too. Turns out most of the people Tony knows are boat owners! And all chatty too, so this has been a good visit so far!
It’s like I told Tony, if the timing had been better Tony and I would certainly date. But that’s not the way it’s going to work this time around.
I am really hoping to figure something out soon! Even doing these trips for free is tons of experience! So good for my CV, then I can head back to Palma with something to show for myself!
We’ll see if I can manage that long. Tony has been really generous so far and its been great!
Tomorrow we’ll take the ferry to Swanage and then head inland to a castle called Corfe or something like that…then a train to Wareham and then back home, should be a fun day!
I will head up to Rob’s pretty soon! I guess he is there right now and having a bit of fun too, but I’m in no hurry to leave here, it’s been fun and the marina is full of activity!
I will be more willing to dock walk since they all speak English and are really nice!
Yesterday I met an American family that has just bought a boat (a really pretty big sail yacht) and they were fun to talk to! They went out for a sail this morning while Tony and Greg and I had coffee!
What else am I missing? It has been a pretty lazy existence so far and been really nice. I am trying to feel like I’m trying but it’s really hard to make an effort I really have no idea how to proceed!
I want to sail, play water sports and get paid for it, why is that so hard?? Shouldn’t be!
I think I’m on the right track being here though, Tony is pretty devoted to helping me with the fight and that is good, otherwise I wouldn’t be quite as motivated I think!
It looks like both Water sports schools (Rockley and Bournemouth water sports) are a much farther walk than I thought L! Like miles and miles not just a mile or two so I will spend Wednesday morning doing some walking and pay them a visit at least!
Who knows after that, I guess I better head north but I’m really liking my time with Tony so we’ll see!
I guess I’d better go see about getting online. I am at the Blue Boar. Its Tony’s favorite pub and where we met which has been fun to be back. They are really nice here and the pub is nice, has big windows etc. Its quiet in here right now, its about 3:30 pm and I am sat at a table and Tony is at the bar talking to the chaps in here.
He’d gone up to see him Mum for her birthday and missed her so he came back here and is having a chat.
I got a lot of response from my friends about jumping onto that catamaran with the Germans. I was skeptical and they had good warnings too so that was nice! Aunt Maureen and Uncle Stan had warnings too! So I was thankful to have been armed with good questions when the time came!
I think my ear just popped, its been plugged up for about 3 weeks! I can hear!! Its amazing! Amazing! 3 weeks is a lot of time to go without hearing very well. I always had to be on the right side of someone so I could hear them well enough!
Wow, we’ll see if it lasts! I just bought some stuff from Boots (where Aunt Maureen used to work) they gave me some ear drop things to help out, so I may still need them if it stops back up again but for now I’m okayish! J
I better get the wifi code and get this uploaded. I don’t have the internet up so I’m typing this in word so that its done and I can move it when I’m online again.
Okay, I'm online and feeling good. Only costed me a pint to get online. No big deal...sheesh!
This is a long one. I better end it now. More adventures to come!
K
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