The end of snow – so says our climate gurus and the UN.
2020 snow in Austria.
Love this. The Maldives were supposed to be underwater by 01 January 2018. Last time I checked they are still above water. As are Vanuatu and other Pacific Atolls. The UN’s response when confronted with this news? “Oh, the islands and Atolls have risen up vertically.”
Climate Change is real man. Right!
Boy, are we in trouble as a country. Our MINISTER OF FINANCE!!??
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 from Chrystia Freeland, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. AND @cafreeland wants your feedback. pic.twitter.com/xd4LssawhQ
They may be exempt but remember: they shit just like us and their shit stinks just like us. They cough and sneeze and fart and belch just like us. They are not immune from sickness nor exempt from death so why may I ask are these so called elites exempt from the rest of us.
It makes no sense.
It is just “Covid Insanity”
Senior company executives are among travelers set to be exempt from Covid-19 quarantine restrictions for international arrivals in England, meaning they will not have to self-isolate for up to a fortnight.
Recently signed elite sportspeople, performing arts professionals, TV production staff and journalists will also not have to abide by quarantine restrictions if arriving from a country outside of England’s travel corridor from 4am on Saturday.
Announcing the move on Twitter, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said “high-value business travelers” would be exempt from quarantine rules in an effort to boost the economy,“subject to specific criteria being met”.
Boost the economy? The very people needed to get this economy going again are in quarantined isolation.
As they were making their way out of the harbor Michael noticed a large galleon to windward off their starboard side coming down on Drake’s ship. She was upwind and had the weather gauge on Drake. There was nothing he could do. His ship could not tack or reach that far up wind to intercept her.
Michael immediately assessed the situation and the danger that Drake’s ship was in. He called down to his boatswain to haul in the stay sail sheets as hard as he could muster the crew. He then ordered the helmsman to steer a course that would intercept the Spanish galleon but upwind of Drake to such an extent to add separation between Drake and the Spanish ship. His stay sail innovation proved itself as MONK’S ORCHARD came upwind and sailing off the headwind by about thirty-five degrees. MONK’S ORCHARD heeled hard to port submerging many of the port side gun ports, which had been closed to protect the cannons, powder and shot. As the ship heeled you could hear pandemonium below decks as those items not secured for sea came thrashing and rolling about. MONK’S ORCHARD’s course and speed carried her between Drake’s ship and the Spanish galleon until such time as she now had the weather gauge on the galleon. Michael altered course to starboard and came through the wind then fell off until he had a speed and aspect advantage on the Spanish ship. MONK’S ORCHARD steadied up. Michael had the gun decks cleared while barreling down on the Spanish — bow on. At the last minute, and about three hundred yards upwind he altered hard to starboard, presented a beam aspect then opened fire with his port guns. He struck a mark for, in an instant, there was a large explosion. This was followed by a series of smaller blasts then a massive detonation what could only mean one thing: a direct hit on the powder hold. The ship came apart in a thousand pieces. The ship’s hull disintegrated under the weight of the explosion. The fireworks display was as impressive as it was frightening.
Michael looked at the carnage in amazement but was saddened at the inevitable loss of life. He made the sign of the cross. The men in Drake’s ship yelled and screamed their thanks and approval to Michael. Michael fell off, and then fell back into Drake’s formation as they headed out to sea. The English fleet barely suffered a scratch with this raid. The Spanish lost over ten thousand tons of provisions and considerable material damage to their ships. It would set their invasion plans back by about a year.
Love it.
SJ…………..Out
Check out Monk’s Orchard by clicking on the link at the top of the page. Thanks…John
All is well here, Ruthie, and we’ve been very busy. Training has increased substantially… (redacted)… and we are also continuing with our various construction projects. The weather is fine, no, spectacular. It may be some time before you hear from me again… (redacted) I went for a long walk yesterday. In fact this letter is being written at one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen on the island, not far from our camp. From my perch and vantage point high up on one of the hills, I can see out across the crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, which are strikingly blue, with glaringly white, feathering spray flying off the tops of the whitecaps. The wind here, being such a constant force from the northeast, can whip up the sea into a dangerous dancing cauldron, while at the same time cooling and caressing one from the tropical heat and humidity. The waves inshore appear short and long: running, cascading, then breaking in a line from right to left, like some horizontal plane of falling dominos, and crashing with such force onto a beach of the blackest sand you could ever imagine—as black as a moonless, starless night in Bremerton. The contrasts are breathtaking and out of this world.
The beach is surrounded on three sides by low-lying dunes, as if protected somehow from the small hills and overhanging cliffs that envelop, protect, and calm the waters as they flow from their seaward mouth into the throat of this broad bay. The transition area from the beach to the high tide line and brush is skirted by the greenest, fullest, and tallest coconut palms that I have ever seen, standing and swaying like mythical guards to protect this idyllic place from evil spirits. For it is a place of happiness and peace. If only you could be here with me now to complete this awesome picture of nature’s splendor. It is a scene that could only be surpassed by your natural, wholesome beauty.
I can just see a small boy and his father in the distance, throwing their nets from a black volcanic outcropping that juts out into the bay, as if taunting and challenging nature’s strength with every cast. As each and every wave responds and crashes into it, spray goes everywhere. It is so very peaceful, so very beautiful, so very natural. I can only imagine the folklore, the legends and myths that are part of the culture of this wonderful place. Dark tales of lost loves, of jealousies, of death, of rebirth, and of eternal joy… of Pele, Lohiau, Pehe, and Makakehau, and other mythological supernatural beings of this strange but beautiful place. It is here in this spectacular setting that I bear witness to all of these strange icons of local legends and mythology of this sacred place to ask you for your hand in marriage. I can’t be there in person to ask this of you, as I long to be, but I can write these words to you as I look out at one of the most beautiful scenes that I have ever seen and ask you to be my wife, and I your husband, forever and ever. I love you, Ruth, and this mystical, magical place will be my testament to you forever.
Always, in my heart,
Ted
Love it….sailing. My next book for sure.
SJ………Out
Check out Kurofune by clicking the link at the top of this page. Thanks…John
Marijke. I love you and miss you. I think of you every day.
2018 was a bittersweet year for me. My dear wife passed away from cancer 08 December 2017. Our first grandchild was born 01 April 2018. April Fools Day but more importantly, Easter Sunday. A real blessing for me but sad that my wife never got to hold her.
I spent most of my time in the first 6 months of 2018 planning my pilgrimage. This proved to be a very welcomed distraction from my grief. I will not go into it as you can read about it in my archived posts starting around the 27 July – 13/14 September 2018. I felt my wife’s presence throughout the long walk. Silent times for personal reflection among some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet – France. Mon Dieu, beaucoup de belle pay. Je l’aime. It renewed my faith in life and in God. My anger about my wife’s death dissipated like a light translucent fog in a light summer’s breeze. How could I remain sad in this environment?
From there I went to Lourdes, which was a very personal journey for me. Then finishing off this glorious summer trek with a visit to a very old, but dear friend, who now lives in Switzerland. Spending a week with her, her husband and family was a highlight for me. Thanks Ruth and Pascal.
Sadly Ruth passed away from cancer 19 August 2019.
I was able to say goodbye to Marijke and I could sense her letting me go. To move on. It is okay, she whispered in my ear, GO, and live, just as a soft, light enveloping wind swept over me like a cool refreshing blanket in this summer’s heat. I will never forget her but I must move on for the sake of my two sons, and now my grandchild.
Goodbye Marijke. Until me meet again. Hallelujah!
I have met someone new. Debra Dorothy, aka Dot, who herself lost her husband 27 December 2007.
We are now together to share both our loss, our grief but most importantly, our new lives together.
One can move on from a tragic loss. I love you Dot.
