For whom the bell tolls...

Last night we had a close close encounter with one of the fishing
vessels that we have been spotting on the horizon for the last few
nights.Came within two miles of us before it stopped to pick up one of
their bouys and started hauling their nets.An interesting little nav
exercise for all aboard our vessel.Called the fishing vessel on the
radio,but as per usual,no response.Just to make sure he spotted us we
turned our stern,or back of our boat towards him for a while before
settling on our course again.Our stern light is the brightest,and you
won't find this manouvre in any sailing manual,but it makes sense to me.

We also enjoyed a most superb supper last night,fresh dorado
fillets,cross cut to about 15mm,and fried in just a little oil.No spices
or herbs needed to add flavour,just a sprinkle of salt and pepper.Brad
supplemented that with potato spuds,butternut and three bean salad.It
was the first time Pieter and Brad tasted dorado and they are united in
their view,the best fish they ever tasted.Dorado in a restaurant,if you
lucky enough to get it,was frozen and then defrosted before being
prepared and served to you.Not the same,so yes I guess spoiled for life
as far as that goes.At least they had a taste of the best.Don't get me
wrong,fish in restaurants is also great,and the traditional Friday fish
and chips goes down well.In London I was treated to pubstyle fish and
chips with room temperature bitters,or beer as we would call it.Also
went down swell.And yes,the poor cow now roaming the oceans
aimlessly,hope you find a new mate soon.We now and then also catch the
cow,and then the poor bull is left to fend for himself.That is the
nature of life I guess,and if you watch BBC Blue Planet and Planet
Earth,nature's ways we don't always understand.I would love to show my 7
year old daughter these sometimes beautiful scenes,but sometimes cruel
as well.But I am somehow hesitant to do this,although it will show her
another side of life which is just as much part of it,death.But the
energy,the spirit,the breath of life goes on even though the vessel or
the body will perish.And the will to live I don't think anyone knows
more about than the ladies that work at Panorama NICU.Respect to the
team that knows these things in a most intimate manner.Please share a
bit of your insights into the fighting spirit and will to live,sometimes
against all odds.I salute you.

We are enjoying a good spell of weather and sea conditions,and just as
the rough weather comes to an end,so will the good.No problem,once
again,such is life,the good and the bad.And in a way the bad is good and
the good is bad,figure that one out if you like.The eternal ebb and flow
that we see in the skies as the moon grows and wanes,the sun rise and
the sun sets,and our planet,mostly covered by ocean,just spinning around
in this finely balancing act as the seasons come and go.Sometimes she
explodes,sometimes she cracks,sometimes she's warm,sometimes she's
cold.And we,the inhabitants that share this with a multitude of other
forms of life,we also come and go,just like everything else.And for
anything to live,something must die.It is the nature of life.There is a
lot we don't know,but I think there is more we know and not always aware
of.Actually,very seldom aware of,or hardly ever.But we can learn a lot
about the nature of life and death by being aware.Death is our constant
companion,our shadow.so why not embrace it,invite it in,sit down and
dine with it.Then there won't be any more reason for fear.And in the
face of death you can stay calm and focused and have a better shot at
survival.Part of us was there before time,and the same part will be
there when time is no more.

And on this lighter note I wish you a splendid day till we meet
again.Will post our position again tomorrow.

Cheers

Paul