For the last week, Falmouth has been enveloped in a fog as thick as a bag. Some days it’s rained, others the south easterly wind has been relentless. The summer seems like a kaleidoscope of sunlit days, full of sailing, adventuring and fun that have abruptly come to an end.
Sitting here looking out of the window, I wonder if I dreamt it all, for no one’s been out sailing recently. Mr B’s away, Al’s back in Derby and all the boats are tucked up. I bailed out Echo yesterday, looking at the ever increasingly empty moorings that tugged at my heart. I remembered our last outing, only last week. Perhaps because we had such a good summer, packing in so many wonderful experiences, the end of it seems harder to take.
But, oh, what memories I have to take out and savour. The exhilaration of racing in Falmouth Week and drinks with the very lovely bunch of people we met. Helming on Gipsy Moth, followed by champagne and pasties. Scampering down through the fields for a swim, Moll barking alongside. One particular adventure in Piran, with rip tides though Mr B saved the day. Those are just a few….
But yesterday I walked over crunchy leaves that are turning golden. Only last week Mr B and I picked blackberries, sharing them with Moll (it seems like months ago). There are plenty left, and I find blackberry picking very soothing. The crumble I made on Sunday was polished off between friends pretty quickly, too.
I’ve been reading James Wharram’s book Two Girls Two Catamarans – he was the first person to cross the North Atlantic voyages in a catamaran (that he’d built) with his two girlfriends, one of whom (aged 18) gave birth half way round…. Fascinating reading that has given me severe wanderlust.
But thankfully, Alan returns tomorrow, and as the weather forecast is good for the weekend, my spirits are rising. We’re both desperate to get some sailing in before Snap is lifted out of the water and he tows her back to Derby on Wednesday. When, as he said, we’ll both be crying…
Lastly, I had an email yesterday to say that one of my poems, Tuesday Evenings, is being published in a collection entitled 'The Dance is Now' which is to be published this week as an ebook on Amazon on Thursday 3rd October, which is National Poetry Day. Well!
12 comments:
Congratulations on having your poem published. I still think there will be more 'sunny' days to come yet before Autumn and Winter finally settle in.
Thanks DC - I'm sure you're right! We'vebeen a bit short n sun here but the weekend should be good. Thanks for the congrats too!
Apologies for being slow to catch up with all your news - too much on the family front, but I wanted to say how much of the two latest posts have chimed with me. I race through books (but am a very slow eater!) then wish I'd taken the more slowly. Its also been lovely to read about your rediscovered love of sailing... there are lots of boat thoughts here, although no funds to support them! Finally congratulations on the poem - not surprising though given your skill with words! Cx
Chris - thank you so much! Glad to find another fast reader and many thanks on the congrats, too!x
Congratulations on the poem published! What a great summer you've had, so many fabulous memories to tide you over the winter. :)
Thanks Ak - it's important to hold on to our happy memories, isn't it? I know you have a lot, too!
To a non-swimmer that photo shot looks scary but I can also appreciate why it would be exhilarating. You certainly have been bitten by the sailing bug.
Addy - we do wear lifejackets so we're quite safe!
That's an incredible picture, you sound like you've had a wonderful summer!
Congratulations on your poem being published.
Debs - it was wonderful and thanks for the congrats!
Another wonderful post, Sue, and well done for that poem. Rx
Rena - thank you so much! x
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