In fairness, it has already started, with a little ‘warm up’ between Rugby and Brussels in the new ‘1 grand’ motor – which performed perfectly on my little jaunt.

So tomorrow or wednesday, I start again with a longer trip from Brussels to Sagres – a full 24hour spaz mode, cruise control locked on just above the speed limit.  I am now looking forward to my summer off, surfing, scuba diving, sun tans and of course studies.

It is also good to know that a new subscriber has joined the ranks, Karen Thornham, all the way out in Australia so I really can boast a worldwide audience now, albeit only 5 of you but we now cover the UK, South Africa, Australia, America and also an American in Europe.  I tried to blag Maja into signing up too so I could claim Scandinavia, but it never happened – maybe Mr & Mrs Oliver-Watne could help out with that one?

I am now expecting a flurry of good writing as I get back to my roots a little more and away from work so be sure to stop by regularly, or better still subscribe and get an email when things have been changed.

Enough now, its time to buy a new xbox power cord

I know, and you should too that I have watched this before.  I am now lucky enough to be watching the second series.  Yes I know, fashionably late.

Sometimes programmes are so good that they kick my brain into gear with thought.  Tonights thought, while watching the episode ‘In Utero’ I found myself wondering would I still enjoy TV programmes so much when I am old?  All this to the backdrop of Pearl Jams’ ‘Nothing Man’.

I wrote about Californication once before.  One of my ship mates had told me it was a programme about a sex addict.  At the time I seem to remember writing that he had clearly missed the point of the programme and that he should be watching it again so that he does in fact get the point.  Understanding the lyrics to the song they used as backing for the closing scenes may just help him to see the error of his ways and of course the wise words of a younger Hank Moody read over the top – but I doubt it – Thick as pig shit that one !!

I am often in awe of music and how it is applied to TV.  Do you remember that supreme programme ‘6 feet under’? Remember how it finished with that ‘Sia’ track ‘Breathe Me’?  Sometimes I wonder if things are written specifically around a song – the fit can be too good.

I like it when I get inspired, writing is easier and it feels like I have a purpose behind it.  It’s good for the brain too – searching for those descriptive words. It’s better to use words that describe the thought well, than it is to use a word that describes the thought perfectly but has the reader reaching for a dictionary.  Thats my style anyway – keep it clean and keep it simple.

So, let me finish off with a question……….who is the pervert that landed on my site after entering the following immortal words into a search engine

‘Photos of Scandinavian Hotties’

Time to head back to the next episode, I can’t bear to listen to the screams of adolescent joy coming from the other cabin.  I would tell them to get a room, but they already have.

Emails coming your way Verity, Steve, Lana and the unknown from Pennsylvania ( I hope I spelt that right).  I find it hard to believe that such a monsterously good site has so few subscriptions

I got a new one – only one mind, and not from anyone i know, so a total stranger has subscribed to my site.  Sad thing is, its been so long since I used this site I can’t remember how to get to the subscriptions page to read about who it was.

Never the less, when i post this comment, there will be 4 emails now winging their way out to my subscription base.

I am of course bored shitless, sitting just off St Tropez at anchor with the boss on board.  So we all sit around waiting……….but he is the boss so if he is happy, we have done our job.

My wonderful girlfriend appears to be ground locked in Hamburg after a volcanic eruption – that has to be tough, locked in a first class hotel for a few days while your company pays for it.  Either that or another Taxi ride from Hamburg to Brussels is on the cards.

Sanremo is our next stop at the weekend, a quick chug along the south coast and we are there.  Who knows what waits for us when we arrive, needless to say, I will have plenty to do.

Had an email from my chums in Portugal today at the dive centre.  Water temp 21ºc.  I almost quit on the spot when i read that and headed towards Portugal, but i guess for now i will just stay on here because…………..

I have just booked my courses that I want to do in England.  At just over 4 grand, I need to keep the pennies coming in. So, England, expect me from 24th October until Mid November.

Now all i have to do is find the dive school in the Virgin Islands and book in before christmas for my dive instructor training.

Suddenly, life is not so bad after all

Although i am not sure if Gibraltar is officially classed as Europe, maybe a similar case as Norway, either way we made is safely into Gibraltar yesterday morning, first thing all in one piece.

The poor old boat took a bit of a beating on the way across, with only three days of calm seas but it did hold together well.  As we entered the traffic separation scheme in the straits we encountered our first of two problems but i was more than happy with that, a good few weeks from an old tub like this, not to be sniffed at – in my book, any atlantic crossing that you survive is a good one.

First thing you notice about europe are the light nights.  In the caribbean at 6pm it’s dark, so to sit out here at 9pm in daylight with a beer is a small but welcome pleasure.

I am confused though.  I grew up in an era when spain was always contesting sovereignty of ‘The Rock’ but today there are almost as many spanish people here as there are cockneys wearing Man U shirts. It is weird though, asking an english bobby for assistance and having them speak to you in spanglish.

We will stay here until mid-week until we have to leave for Ibiza, where the boss and his wife will join us for the first time in Europe.

Still no news on the house, or the car.  I will chase the house again tomorrow but the car, i am now of the mindset if it comes back i will pick it up, if not, i will leave it to rot where ever it stands – no more chasing on my behalf.  I am currently scouring ebay for a replacement.  I have always wanted a Hearse and there are a few on there that are not too bad.  I would of course paint it metallic lime green instead of black.  I do still keep looking for those V8 supercharged jaguars but they still fetch good money – i think the Hearse is a better option

Tomorrow I am going to the top of the Rock with Vix and Alex – proper tourists

Thats it for now – i am off to scour facebook and correct users on their spelling

My last chance for the next three weeks.  In about 6 hours, my first plane takes off to Germany, and then from there, a 747 will carry me across the atlantic to Miami.  After that, a quick hop to the Bahamas.  I know it sounds glorious, my holiday finishes and then i return to the Bahamas but reality is no sooner than i have landed and found the boat, we will be off again on a transatlantic crossing.  My first Bahamas visit will last no longer than 2 hours

My headline for this entry is a mix – two weddings coming up this year, nothing unusual in that , but at my age, i had expected all of the weddings that were going to happen to have already happened.  But two latecomers to marital bliss have decided to tie the knot.  Take a bow Steve Brown and Mason Jones.

I am not aware of any funerals but then again they do have a habit of jumping out on you and surprising you don’t they!

The Lisa Melvin comment is one that brings me massive amusement.  My close friends will know Lisa Melvin, the super hot 30 something chick that has graced the local town of Rugby, Warwickshire for many years now.  Years ago on my blog, i wrote a little bit about Ms Melvin and people started arriving at my blog from their search engines because of that name.  I was so curious about it that i googled Lisa Melvin myself.  My entry called ‘I love Lisa Melvin’ gets a google nº1 hit.  don’t believe me? open google and type Lisa Melvin.  The nº1 hit is ‘The November Archives’. Corporations will pay google massive amounts to get that kind of exposure.  Anyway, its a cheap shot but using the most successful headline for drawing in hits, i am to increase readers while i cross the atlantic.  As a spin off, i also wonder if i get nº1 & nº2 on google search.

I am sure they are all looking for Lisa Melvin in the states but so long as google promotes me for free, why should i let up?

Thats about it anyway, i just wanted to write something to keep you all occupied while i am sailing my way from the bahamas to europe.  I am miffed at the lack of subscriptions but would like to thank Verity, Steve and Lana for their support.

It would be nice if i got into the med and checked the site and it had received a flurry of new sign ups – I have over 450 friends on facebook, if only half of them subscribed to my blog that would be magical – i promise to mention all of you individually

Anyway – time for bed.

Nope, not drunk, just fuming mad.  For those of you that keep up with my stories (and you should – it’s piss easy to subscribe) you will know that my long suffering pile of shit mondeo has been in the repair shop now for 6 months.  Today i visited the shop who said they were at a loss and agreed it would be better for me to re-patriate it to england and have a dealer look at it there.  No problem, thats why i paid extra on top of my insurance for cover.

Not so easy.  Called them up and spoke to a young lady who wriggled and squiggled to try to get out of helping me – why? because i had tried to get the car fixed myself at my own expense rather than calling them first.  ‘ it’s been out of the country too long`she said.  Nowhere in my terms and conditions did it say anything about this, but she found it in hers.  So i logged a complaint, tomorrow i will call my insurers LV and ask them if they want to intervene – after all, it was their supplier.

I was also agasp to learn that only a week after asking for an EU bailout, i drive my normal road home to find a trench on the hard shoulder from Lagos to Sagres where they are laying fibre optic cables for high speed internet.  If thats not bad enough, on the same stretch of road, 12 junctions with traffic lights are being modified to round-a-bouts.  Nothing wrong with the lights at all.  Imagine asking for a handout after your own politicians veto’d austerity measures only to spend mindlessly on road changes that are not needed.

Its always a stark reminder of how retarded this country can be.  Like the soon to be toll road, the A22 which runs from spain to the western tip of the algarve.  When built, politicians swore it was a safety issue, replacing one of europes most notorious sections of road with a free motorway.  well, its still free at the moment but when i drove it this morning, the gantries were going up for the toll charging system.  Now i suspect that might scare off the spanish when they plan their short weekends away – and the spanish are big spenders over here – thats logic for you.

I take my hat off to Josè Sòcrates who resigned when he didn’t get political support for his proposed austerity measures.  I never understand public logic – the country is bankrupt but lets not stop spending – god no, that would never help.

So i remain miffed at the moment. No sagres bohemia in the dromedario although i did finally manage to blag a free t shirt from andreas – it only took 6 years.

So thats about it, rant over.  If you haven’t yet subscribed to my wonderful blog, please do so immediately and tell many friends to do the same.

And while you’re at it, please tell all your friends how Britannia Rescue have abandoned me in the western algarve

Imagine my level of happiness – finally after almost 6 months on the wrong side of the Atlantic, i have a ticket back to europe on thursday.  Sadly, it is a return ticket so i will have to come back to Florida but not until after i squeeze 10 days in belgium and 2 in portugal.

It took me all of half an hour to pack my things today – only one bag, managed to get everything into it and still have room to spare.  Flights between europe and america, belgium and portugal and hire cars have knocked a hole in 2 grand, and thats before i have even bought pizza for the missus.

Still no joy from the house engineer and also still no joy with the car at autorapo.  The engineer has not been in touch for two months now and the car has been in the garage for 6 months.  I plan a sweeping assault on all that is holding me back.

A flying kick to the office door of the engineer will catch him by surprise and i can pin him down and find out whats going on, then , next stop, Autorapo.  If there is still no joy there, i will be using my european recovery which i paid a mint for, to transport the car back to england and land it safely in the hands of Moserve.

My german friend Uwe will be looking after my possessions for me until i can get the new house built – although i have been wondering with Portugal in an EU bail out, if i should consider somewhere else – Answers on a post card please.

I have also ordered a stack of DVD’s for the crossing back to europe on the boat, including ‘Alo ‘Alo, Doc Marten, green wing and 30 rock.  I am almost looking forward to the crossing with that bunch of nonsense.

Got the new Foo’s album today too – will pass judgement on that in a few days.  Also, i would like to bring to a close the Mac versus PC debate.  I have now had the Mac for 3 months or more, have the software for spreadsheets, presentations and letters installed.  The total cost of the rig so far is around 2300 usd, which is massive – almost three times the cost of a reasonable pc.  It feels good to touch, it starts up quickly too – infact let me tell you how so –

PC start up – start up, go and put the kettle on, come back to pc, enter password, go and pour water on tea bag, mash it , and return to pc to begin work

Mac start up – turn it on, pull out chair, sit down, begin work

The same can be said for the shut down procedure too.  The Mac does hang sometimes too but it is momentary and it always resolves itself.  I have completely refrained from installing any microsoft software on it.  So – if you are considering a Mac instead of PC, here is my recommendation.

If you can afford it, its ok.  If not, dont stretch yourself.  And remember, there is still a lot of functionality software that doesnt work for Mac, so from an engineers point of view, you will still need a pc.

enough of that bollocks –

Holidays are coming

******************* News Flash*******************

subscription levels hit an all time high.  A total of 3 people will now get an email when i publish this release.

Subscription is easy – just click on the button that says ‘sign me up, buttered scone’ and then put your email address in, couldn’t really make it any easier for you.

Thank you to Verity, Steve and of course my super hot woman Lana.

In the last 8 days i have managed to work for just one day – boring.  I want to be taking stuff apart and putting it back together again.

Today, my highlights will be dropping the bow lines, dropping the anchor, raising the anchor and re-making the bow lines.  whoop de doo !!

The most exciting news this week – i had my first email subscription to The November Archives.  Hurrah for Verity! I have to admit that i really didn’t expect her to still be reading my nonsense.  Best thing about it is, as soon as I publish this, she will be getting an email to tell her that there is something new and exciting to read.  How disappointed she will be !

I wonder if i can get Mr. Brown to subscribe too?  And I would have expected my wonderful girlfriend to support my cause too – come along Lana, get your free subscription here.  its time tp push the subscriptions i think.  Instead of counting hits, lets count subscriptions instead.

All those lovely chums on facebook are about to get a prod.

Verity McCoy – I salute you !!

Nice – i like it – of all the things he could cook, he did listen to my request for cheesy beans and chips – he even threw in a sausage roll too.  I don’t care about the few extra tonnes i have gained since being on board, I am safe in the knowledge that it will soon disappear when i am finished here and of course that my girlfriend finds me hot no matter what (she might not agree to that statement without an upper weight limit!)

Now, imagine your professional pride.  You have spent years creating wonderful dishes for some of the worlds richest people, when a grease monkey like me asks for cheesy beans and chips.  I salute you Chef Curtis!!

Being on Anchor watch at night is good, it gives me uninterrupted time on the net without the distractions that the day brings.  An added bonus, by the time my watch finishes at 6am, you poor sods in the UK and EU are already hard at work. ha !

Half way through the boss’s trip and we still don’t know where we are going form here, USA or Europe.  I want to go home but it is just not my choice.  There is only one man that can decide that.  We wait to find out.

My globe trotting part finally arrived too – should be in my clammy and excited hands this afternoon so that i can finally get the water maker back together and running again.

Apart from that, not much doing – its my quiet time.  Pre-ordered the new Foo’s album today, have a few weeks to wait until it is released – looking forward to that.