to spew, or not to spew....

Has anyone been seasick? Do you know how truly awful it is? How you just don't feel better until you're on land?

Xave & I caught a ferry years ago from Krabi to Phi Phi in Thailand, the day was as rough as guts (not unlike the so called 'ferry'). Prior to boarding, we were offered some seasick tablets - which we wolfed down in a bravely trusting sort of way - whilst our French neighbours pffffffed them away claiming godlike untouchable status. They were collected and taken home in a greenish state by speed boat 35 minutes into their non-refundable voyage. Lesson 1: you are not untouchable. Take the damn tablets. Arm yourself.

The question is, which tablets?

I've heard about ginger, travelcalm, quells, but the name which seems to pop up again and again on the 'serious' yachty sites, is the Paihia Bomb. A concoction concoted by a pharmacy in the town of Paihia in NZ.

They certainly sound serious enough to work..

So I'll order some at grand expense (and try not not tell Xave). I'll have them delivered in a brown paper bag, and see how we go.

... but in the meantime, I'll keep one eye on the horizon, (as the other will have to firmly planted on the children), I'll not drink alcohol, ?, I'll pop a pressure point bangle on my seasickness pressure point, and think stable thoughts about stationary things.

(and YOUR remedies would be gratefully received....)

The Simple Life

Xave was asking me the other day about washing machines. (Woohoo). He wanted to know if I wanted one on the boat?

Was this a trick question??

Would I otherwise be expected to [gasp] handwash??????

You see, it's not just the physical washing of clothes (of which there will be minimal, seeing as though he's made it very clear about MY SHOES SO WHY WOULD BE CLOTHES BE ANY DIFFERENT....) that is the issue.

The issue is the power used to operate the machine. The water needed to go through the machine. The grey water generated as a result of using the machine... and so it continues..

At last I will be forced to consider the environment in a non superficial way.

At the moment, in order to have power, either the generator or the main engine (both diesel powered) need to run for a few hours each day. To a silly gal like myself - sorry Xave, I'm trying to understand it - it is all very mind boggling. Something about 12 or 24 volts something about 240 volts something charges a battery something doesn't the kettle runs on so & so volts the microwave something else we need a car charger to charge the phone the tv will need a digital marinised tuner (?!) and the lights could be bloody charged with bananas for all I know (and care).

Seriously, it's nuts.

So we've agreed to have a little bit of everything: the generator running a little bit, the main engine charging stuff whilst we're on the move, solar panels (ugly and bulky and space taking when there's not much to take) and a wind generator (which Xave says whirrs in a loudly whirring kind of way and will possibly interfere with the tv antenna).

and I've also decided on a manual washing machine - one where you turn the handle like a mad woman to spin a barrel inside which chunders the (minimal) clothes inside. That'll be a good job for Cooks. - thanks for the suggestion Trish.

Like I said. The simple life.

Sound carries over water.......

I was thinking the other day about how noise carries on the water. I remember as a young girl, holidaying on a houseboat with my family in Pittwater. I vividly remember a party going on in one of the beautiful homes nestled in the bushes. The sounds of eating and drinking and laughter carried calmly and silkily across the glassy water to our boat.... (it was possible I had cabin fever as I also remember how badly I wanted to be at that party..

that aside, it made me think of Cookie. It made me think of Cookie and her headachingly LOUD screaming tantrums. It made me think about how sound carries along water and how other people are potentially going to be experiencing Cookie's tantrums (by default.)

When Cooks has a hissy fit at home, she's bundled up and put in her room with the door firmly SHUT. The squeals of outrage are fairly muffled by the closed door. What on earth are we going to do with her on the boat?. What do we do with a tantruming 2 year old? Where is 'time out'? Is it in the bilge? Is it in the dinghy tied to a very long rope at the end of the swimming platform? Will she be made to 'walk the plank'? Maybe she should be hoisted up the main mast and left there dangling until she's over her hissy fit.....

.. and if that is the case, maybe our reputation will precede us. Maybe everyone will know, as sure as the grapevine travels on water as on land, that the wriggling, squirming, outraged 2 year old up Awaitea's mast, is just Cookie - just Cookie having time out.

Hopefully she'll be over it all by June (!), but in the meantime, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Farewell my lovelies?...

OK, so I know it's a bit premature (for those not in the know, we aren't leaving until June), but I was caught browsing 'tan boots' on ebay the other day by Xave. He stated rather emphatically "well, you won't be needing those where we're going".

Have I missed something?

Will I not be needing my shoes. MY SHOES I SAID. Am I going to be shoeless from here on in?

I've started going through my stuff. Xave's stuff. Roo & Cookie's stuff. I have NEVER been a hoarder, but we have still accumulated so much stuff.

I have absolutely no idea what we'll need. I have very little idea about how much space we'll have.

maybe I should ask the people who ransacked our yacht a couple of weeks ago. they'll know how much space there is, seeing as though they emptied EVERY BLOODY CUPBOARD out..

I asked Roo the other night what he HAD to have on the boat. His response was (in no particular order) 'my leggo, all my cars, Buzz Lightyear (which was clearly in his peripheral vision as he hasn't actually picked it up for about 12 months), all my books mum, my train set, transformers, leapster, space hopper, bike, scooter, art book and pencils, leggo soccer, puzzles of course', etc etc etc

Cooks might be a bit easier, she'll be fine with a palmful of sunscreen and my clothes to dress up in.

As for me, what can't I live without? my phone, the internet, my family, my friends, visitors, cafe's, shops.....and all. those. lovely. shoes.

Might need to make a few adjustments.

Freak wave.

I just typed 'freak wave' into youtube's search panel.

The trip is off.

Tra la la boomsi ay....

it was a windy day, Al's knickers blew away, tra la la boomsi ay..

Do you know the funny thing is that I really, really hate the wind. The other funny thing is that you kind of need it to sail. Bugger.

Introducing Family Robinson

The family members who will be adrift are from top:

Dizzy, our Jack Russell, who frankly is nothing but trouble, and barks pretty much non stop.

Sailing experience: zero.

Cookie, our nearly 3 year old, who frankly is nothing but trouble, and barks pretty much non stop.

Sailing experience: zero.

Roo, our 4 1/2 year old, who frankly is perfect, except that he doesn't appear to possess a buoyant cell in his little body.

Sailing experence: zero.

Xavier, my beautiful and long suffering husband who has been bullied into realising his dream.

Sailing experience: yes, thank god.

and me, Al, the wife and mother. The drama queen with a susceptibility to seasickness.

Sailing experience: just enough to realise my susceptibility to seasickness.