Monk’s Orchard

An excerpt from my latest book: Monk’s Orchard:

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

Kurofune

An excerpt from my book Kurofune: The Black Ships

My dearest Ruthie,

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

Peaceful Easy Feeling

My wife died three years ago today from cancer.

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.

Love!

SJ………………..Out

 

 

 

God Bless America

Today, at 0748, Hawaii time, 79 years ago, the Japanese Imperial Navy and Air Forces attacked Pearl Harbour. This was a day of infamy.

Not diverse enough but a great emotional song for the times:

Let us hope that those men and women did not die in vain.

To my American friends. There is hope for the future.

Check out my book Kurofune: The Black Ships – A novel about the Pacific war. Just click on the link at the top of the page….thanks…John.

SJ…………………….Out

Insanity

Definition: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result over

and overJustin Trudeau becomes first sitting PM to march in ...………………….AGAIN!

The insanity of renewable energy:

Notes Tone Unturned - links for Humour, Comedy, Jokes, Laughter, Fun, The Bizarre

The insanity of the US election:

Yes indeed. And if Frank wins we’re going to be on a different planet.

The insanity of the great world “Reset”

Standby for the great Canadian reset – as brought to you by the UN and World Economic Forum.  Insane:

COVID-19 Lockdowns Are In Lockstep With The "Great Reset ...

Freedom….Not.

Tower of Babel?……………………….Yes.

Agenda 21 & The Illuminati’s Enduring Quest for World ...

Insane Liberals

definition of insanity | Marketoonist | Tom Fishburne

Liberal Covid caucus meeting.

Insane Comment:

Bill Clinton: ‘No Doubt’ I Would Have Handled Coronavirus Better Than Trump: ‘I Was Born For That.’

“But I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”

Insane Policy. It is insanity to think that one (the UN) can control the climate. If so then:

As long as it is their climate and not mine.

You think I’m kidding? Well do you?

Let’s ask this guy:

How George Orwell Predicted The Future! - YouTube

Naw. Better this guy:

The Premature Curmudgeon: Trump 2016?

Oh, and how is your day going?

INSANE!

Hey, support a struggling Canadian author by checking out my books: Monk’s Orchard and Kurofune. Just click on the links at the top of the page….thanks.

SJ………….Out