Category Archives: Goose Freckles

21/03/2010

Christine Thornton

By hairygoose
 
Sometimes inspriation arrives in the most unusual form.
 
Last night, at around 11pm, my phone rang.  Of course i answered it when i saw her name on the phone and was instantly greeted by that four letter word that starts with C , ends with T, and not many girls like to say.
 
After a barrage of C’s we finally settled into a conversation – albeit she was pissed and i was sober but we talked anyway.  It must have been getting on for 4am when she finally hung up, only after i reminded her that she was effectively calling america, mobile to mobile.  Even in the early hours of sunday morning, that must have cost her 50 quid ( i have to say quid because i dont have a pound sign on my keyboard only €)
 
One of her reasons for calling, apart from calling me a C*** was to get the address for this page, so i thought i better update it and tell you all what is happening.
 
Have been in the caribbean now since December.  I know that sounds highly exotic but it does get boring after a while.  To help combat boredom, the caribbean has several offerings to amuse you – there are endless lines of cocaine, forests of smoking herb, Bars to drink yourself into oblivion and handfulls of coke’d up pissed yachtie girls that are more than welcoming for anyone slinging a sausage.
 
Thankfully, for me – none of that is really my scene so i embarked on my next scuba qualification instead.  To date , i have managed an additional 50 scuba dives in the last 3 months which is not bad.  I also managed to bag my divemaster certification which leaves me just 1 step away from being a fully qualified, work anywhere in the world, dive instructor.  So i am quite chuffed about that.
 
I am also quite chuffed at the fact that on thursday next week, we will leave the caribbean behind, cross the atlantic again and head to europe.  South of France is our final destination but likely to call at the Açores and Gibraltar along the way.
 
In addition to that, i also quit my job on the boat.  Things got to the point where it was abundantly clear that i will not get to take my holidays again this year.  Last year was fairly manic.  I took just 8 days off all year and at the end of the year the boat paid me more than a months salary extra for holidays not taken.  It was suggested that this wouldnt happen again this year and i agreed but due to lack of clarity from the boss about how he wants to use his boat, i can never get time off approved.  So i made the bold decision that it was time to leave.  I have a three month notice period to run, only being cut short if they find a suitable candidate before that deadline, so latest for me is mid june i will be free.
 
Of course, I have already saved enough to rebuild that old farm house in portugal but i also fully intend to take a little time out, maybe spend some time at home surfing before the crowds appear, could even consider working at the dive centre in sagres before flying to the virgin islands at the end of the season to take my instructor ticket.
 
And also at the same time, keeping one eye open for something new work wise.
 
So dare i say it – it could be another summer of love – hot sun, cool waves, underwater excursions – life is looking good.
 
So thats about me in a nutshell.  I am about to check my cameras for some random photos and will upload them shortly – including the foot long poo that i took the other day – it was a monster, so good infact that i got up , got my camera and grabbed a few shots of it.  It was as long as my size 12’s
 
 
Choose Life
.

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13/02/2010

Searching for inspiration

By hairygoose
 
I just looked how long its been since i last posted. Almost a month has passed.
 
Dont let that worry you though – i am still alive and kicking although i have hit one of those famous ‘gotta get away’ modes tonight, so i have a little trip planned for tomorrow.
 
07.30 start – taxi to the north west of the island where there is currently 2 metres of swell.  Should be in the water for 8am and if all goes well, the 9’6” will be rocketing down the face of a volcanic reef.  This of course, does worry me somewhat.  Reef break surfing is not advised under any of the following circumstances . . .
 
1.  you have a new board that you have never ridden
 
2. you havent surfed in over a year
 
3. you are over 40
 
 
So, lets see how the odds are in my favour – 1. brand new board, not even waxed. 2. sadly, been over a year. 3. almost 40 and a half !!
 
Looks like i may be in deep shit then.  Either way – i have to go, i am comfortably at my ‘ had enough’ point and need the solitude that only escape can bring.  I did toy with the idea of beach camping tonight but some of the locals have a very bad habit of murdering people, so i decided for an early start instead.
 
Galley bay is my spot for the morning.  I would imagine that after an hour or maybe two, i will be knackered.  i may rest slightly at the beach bar but then i am off to Jolly harbour to get on the scuba boat.  I almost forgot – i closed on the final exam in my divemaster today so i am now qualified !!
 
I am also over familiar with the local dive sites so wanted to go further afield and see what is about.  Jolly harbour is sheltered by a huge offshore reef so we may have some rather fantastic sights to see.
 
I did get face to face with a small shark the other week – strangely, it wasn’t as scary as when a huge lobster came out of his cave as i was swimming over the top of him.
 
I will of course be taking my camera – i am fully aware that i have yet to show the world my new board – would like to get a photo before i cover it with wax.
 
I think thats all for now – stop by again soon, i may have written an inspired masterpiece – like the old stuff i used to write when life was simple and uncomplicated.
 
I miss home
 
 
 

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19/01/2010

bigger than blighty

By hairygoose
 
Its good to relax and catch up with work at the same time.
 
For the first time in 16 months, since i joined the boat, we are standing still for a few weeks.  Boring i know, but it gives me a great opportunity to catch up with the jobs that have been shelved because i never knew when we would move next.
 
So some interesting stuff to sort out, lots of PLC related issues and two generators with curious governor faults.  My plan is an epic one as always – finish them all before the skipper gets back, and also complete my dive master to boot – all will be happy and then we can sail off into the sunset once more.
 
Next stop is Belize, hopefully late in february.  The galapagos was shelved unfortunately, in favour of Belize and a tour up the east coast of the states, stopping for a month in Cincinatti to do some work for our Lloyds 5 year survey.  That will mean yet another frantic time for me but then i guess that is what i get paid to do.
 
I have always wanted to try the states, i wonder if they are as mental as the media makes them out to be, i guess there is only one way to find out !
 
After that, i have no idea – Canada could be on the cards but the boss found Scandinavia too cold last summer so i doubt that will happen.  Likely to hang around the states all summer and then return to the Caribbean again next winter.
 
I guess thats it for now, i still have some reading to do before tomorrow’s work efforts and some photos to send to the boat builders, so i better get back on it.
 
 
 

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06/01/2010

but not quite !!!

By hairygoose
 
Snow Chaos!
 
It’s good to be home.  i had a very fruitful meeting yesterday with the engineer.  we made a few adjustments to the plans for the house and he is ready to re-draw and present the plans to the Cámera for approval.  Even he admits that it will be a very beautiful house – i am looking forward to this.  I was a little worried that my lanuage skills would have faded considerably but yet again, i amazed myself at how well we could communicate.  So thngs are rolling along perfectly.
 
Sagres it wet and a little windy.  Of course, the place is deserted and most places are beginning their winter shut down.  I met with all of the gang and took them out to dinner last night at the Hotel Baleeira, one of the new resorts that threaten to spoil the area.  I am glad to say that this place was very tastefully done, unlike the monstrosity across tha bay at Martinhal.
 
I even had time to go and see Russ the cock at his new workshop.
 
Today is proving a little more difficult though.  I am currently wasting my day in the Dromedario with Frannie while waiting for flight information from Gatwick.  The place is snow bound and closed and this will ultimately prevent my easyjet flight from reaching me and then, again i will miss my flight back to the caribbean.  There is nothing that can be done about this and i certainly wont be stressing about it.
 
And lets not forget, i am in portugal, so i can leave my laptop, phone, wallet and bag at the bar completely unattended and it will be there when i come back.
 
So, i will sit and wait it out.
 
 
 
 
 

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04/01/2010

They think its all over

By hairygoose
 
It almost is!
 
It’s been fun being back in blighty for the last two weeks – infact, it is the second longest time i have spent here since leaving the UK 5 years ago – second only to a month at Warsash in 2008 but that was study so i think it doesn’t really counts.
 
As always, england stirs many emotions for me – its ability to cost so much, yet suddenly smack me with something so cheap.  It continually amuses me with the politically correct brigade still calling the shots, the size of spirits you get served in pubs makes me wet my pants (and the price you pay for them)and the chavvyness of the local town centre – amazing!
 
So the two week trip has cost me around 1500€, the return train fare from gatwick airport to Rugby just 31 english pounds.  I see some muslims are protesting against the british army when they return to england, be it dead or alive.  The average brit is too afraid to speak out against them for fear of being branded a racist by the PC brigade.  Common sense left the country decades ago – probably for a cheaper and more full Gin and tonic somewhere else in europe that doesnt have the pc brigade bleeting on about binge drinking.
 
The snow comes and causes chaos – suddenly people loose all abilities to think for themselves.
 
So, i will leave you once more for a brief trip to a slightly warmer portugal before returning to the caribbean once more to what will undoubtedly be 40º temperatures and lush warm blue waters.
 
It was wicked to touch base with so many friends and family.  Finally , Junior and Jack tied the knot on new years eve. Christine was there with Pilly who got absolutely munted, the forever lush Lisa Melvin was also in fine fettle, Amy Horne – just gorgeous.  Special thanks to sex pest for letting me have his spare room for the duration and TJS hire for letting me have a car for sensible money.
 
But for now, i have to depart once more for warmer climes – chasing the sun around the world for another year.  Tomorrow night, i will be talking with the engineer and re-designing the house plans before submitting them into the ether that is portuguese bureaucracy ( i think i got that one right )
 
Its been a blast

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22/12/2009

England bound

By hairygoose
 
Its been a bit of a trek to get this far – and i still have 4000 miles to go!
 
Yesterday at 16.30 i arrived at the airport in St Maarten to get my connecting flight over to Antigua where i would pick up the BA jet back to Gatwick.  the 25 minute flight was due to leave at 18:50 and put me on the ground at 19:20 in time to check in for the BA jet that was leaving at 21.20.
 
The connecting flight was 6 hours late so my BA jet would  long gone by the time i got there.  The staff in St Maarten said someone would help me at the other end but frankly, i doubted it.
 
We touched down and i expected to find a completely deserted airport.  Instead i found a helpful representative from LIAT air,who told me that they had already re-booked me onto the next BA flight, a taxi was waiting and it would take me to a hotel for the evening and come and collect me again the next day.
 
Now, i have checked the weather at gatwick and it looks ok, a little foggy maybe but i am sure we can manage with that – so it looks like i may finally get back to england.
 
I was looking at the major hire car people for all of the UK airports – most of them had no cars available for the two weeks that i wanted.  I did find one or two but they wanted 1000 quid for two weeks.  eventually, i dropped a bomb and found a fiesta in Rugby for 275 quid – and they offered me a free upgrade too – so not only will i get to england, i will also be able to get around while i am there.
 
So as long as the plane can land – and the trains can run, i am there.
 
I was a little miffed to find out that Jake had blocked me on messenger and removed me on facebook without saying anything other than ‘cunt’ but i guess thats just the modern way.  Maybe i should ‘modernise’ my will to disperse the estate in a more graceful fashion
 
 
Merry christmas – wherever you are
 
 

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09/12/2009

Endless summer

By hairygoose
 
Made it back, and man, is it hot here!
 
having a few days off at the moment so grabbed my new board today and went looking for surf with young harry.  we rented a 4×4 and used it well.  found some beaches over a reef and paddled out.
 
it was bliss, the wave was not so big, maybe a metre if it was, the water was so warm but sadly the reef was so shallow – on my first paddle in, i saw the rocks expose below the surface and decided it was just too dangerous to try – so we got out and tried a few other spots
 
We covered the whole island over the course of the day and found nothing really worthy – the better stuff is just offshore where the reefs jack it up early before it hits the shore.  So unless we can find someone to sit out there in our boat, it aint gonna happen.
 
Some more scuba is booked for friday and saturday, underwater exploring is so cool, and literally cool out of the sun too.
 
well enough for now, darkness is about to fall so time to hide from the mozzys.  the engineer finally sent the house plans too – not a bad looking thing.  will meet with him over new year.
 
will be in england over xmas and new year too, Juniors wedding is top of the list for new years eve, would be good to touch base with jake too .
 
 

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20/11/2009

Travelling time again!!

By hairygoose
 
Not quite a road trip, but more an epic voyage.
 
By monday afternoon, we will be underway.  Leaving Mallorca in the distance and heading to Gibraltar to fill up with diesel.  After that, heading off to the Canaries but not stoping there, carrying on to Cape Verde where we will stop for a couple of days to refuel again and maybe have a surf or two.  My new board has been repaired – i promise to post some photos too.
 
After that, its a straight line to Antigua.  Lucky for me, i get christmas off this year and will be returning to blighty.
 
Early in the new year, we will be heading to the Galapagos islands, which of course, i am very very excited about. After that, god only knows! although it looks like the west coast of america for the middle of next year as we head to shore again for our Lloyds survey.ight now
 
So its all go.  Right now, we are in the water and have tried the boat today. All seems to be good , with a few minor issues but nothing to stop the 3 week trip.  It. will be good to get away from land again and into the perfect isolation of the yacht.  So please don’t expect to hear from me for the next three weeks, infact, expect to hear nothing.
 
But i will be in touch sometime soon.
 
 

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29/10/2009

I wont let those munchkins munch your Jaffa Cakes !!

By hairygoose
 
 
Where are we today ? – still in mallorca but hopefully only for two weeks more.
 
I just got back from a short trip to England, which was of course, immense fun, but before i start my untrained waffle, let me please issue a thunderbolt on those inconsiderate baggage handlers who damaged my brand new, still unwaxed surf board.  (you may be amazed at my controlled language back there – i recently learned about some of the readers of this blog and have decided not only to keep it mum clean but also juniors clean too)
 
Anyway – i spotted my surf board on the conveyor and then, before it got to me, spotted a hole in the top of the bag.  I knew what to expect, i have never travelled with a board on any airline and got away damage free – its just one of the certanties in life.  What really grieves me is the severity of the damage that they can be dealt.  The damage is so harsh , i cannot believe it was accidental – it looks like the bottom of a pram frame has been rammed dead centre on the top of the board, ripping a hole in the bag an inch wide and inflicting even more damage to the glass and polystyrene below.  Of course, it can be repaired, and then coated in sex wax so i doubt you will see anything of it but i am still miffed that people can be so inconsiderate of other peoples belongings.
 
Moving on swiftly……..
 
I would like to thank Hertz Car rental for not giving me the Mondeo that i had booked but instead a Mercedes Coupe.  It was pleasant to say the least and i found the cruise control very handy for the trip north.  all the roadworks and their average speed cameras – bah – cruise on at 50 and hey presto, no tickets.
 
Bristol – its a funny place i know.  I have been crossing that bridge for maybe around 15 years now.  I cannot ever remember a time when there were no roadworks on that bridge.  It has been a constant coned off area.  I don’t get it.  Have they been overrunning on their works for a decade ?
 
Eventually of course, I would arrive in Rugby, home of Rugby Football.  It does startle me on my travels, how few people know that the game of rugby football was named after the town where it was invented.  Maybe i am a little bias, the link is easy to make in my mind.
 
It is infact, one of my favourite views of the town in Autumn.  From Barby lane looking across the fields where all those years ago, a young nipper called William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and put it over the goal line of the football pitch.  The referree of course, blew his whistle incessantly until Ellis had stopped his run and placed the ball.  Removing the whistle from his mouth, the referree (who was also a teacher at the school – proper old english stock don’t you know) then shouted, ‘nice try ellis – but you can’t do it that way you fool’  Not only was the game invented but also the name for the act of scoring had been born, all in one foul swoop.
 
 
Anyway  – the view across the field, as the leaves are turning colour and falling to the ground.  Sound seems to carry better on autumn days, it has more clarity to its volume, you hear things that you dont hear in other seasons, even though they are still there.
 
You can almost imagine the long shorts and even longer socks and the toffs play on that field – sorry, i was getting carried away there, its just a view after all….
 
Let me hurry up………saturday night, went out to a party and into town.  bumped into a shed load of family and friends i havent seen in years – got well munted and went back to Deano’s house who then threw up in his kitchen sink, then went to bed – spewed all over his duvet, then slept in it.  The G man, also puked in the downstairs toilet, then fell asleep next to it but not before getting his old man out for the camera.  Justina made some very sexy poses of the bonnet of the Mercedes, then deano deleted all but one of them.  Another of life’s certanties – Deano will always be a dumb ass.
 
Bumped into Junior Gurnsey, never saw Lynsey, Sharon Williams who i havent seen in 20 years, sharon evans who i havent dated in 14 years, Michelle Belton who didnt look as if she was enjoying her date, Clive Hagues from school and Jackie Evans  to complete the mischievous twins scene.
 
It was a wonderfull 6 day break, take a look at the photos next door.
 
sleep time

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09/10/2009

5 years the ex-pat

By hairygoose
 
It is hard to believe in a way but the time has passed.  in less than two weeks time, i will be celebrating 5 years away from England.
 
Of course, it has been an epic journey of adventure but i am sure you would expect nothing less of me.  I still remember it well, the day i left my house, handed the keys to the new owners and crunched my way off the pebble drive for the last time in my trusty blue vauxhaul carlton.  the most epic of journeys was about to begin.
 
My journey started late on 23rd October 2004, a saturday night if my memory serves me well.  I had slept on the floor for my last night at home – all of my furniture had been given away, sold on ebay or taken to the local tip.  My car was full with everything i needed, some stuff i didn’t really need and my two groovey surfboards clamped firmly to a rusting pair of paddy hopkirk roof bars (courtesy of Mr. Richer).
 
I turned onto the M6 at junction 1 and headed south for Dover.  Of course at 10.30 on a saturday night, the motorway was empty so i crept up to 70mph and hit the cruise control.  My ferry didnt leave until 07.30 the next morning and so i was destined to arrive early.
 
Once on the mainland i crossed ‘the Somme’ . Post war – this place still had a very eeirie feeling about it, my hairs stood up, goose bumps made me shiver and i held my breath.  Driving across France was an eye opener – a beautiful flurry of small towns, tree lined roads and McDonalds.  Eventually i would reach Le Mans, i was no stranger there.
 
Biarritz would also be a port of call, with a little business to attend to – a quick surf was in order before heading into Basque country and across the mountains in the dead of night.  France was bloody big !!!  I remember that for sure.
 
Spain was almost as big too.  I managed to time my run to pass through madrid in the dead of night, and that proved to be a wise decision.  6 lane motorways around the city – can you even begin to imagine that in the middle of the day?
 
I had to stop in southern spain to sleep, i was completely shattered before continuing on after a very dodgy sleep in the car at a service station.
 
Finally, i made it across the border and into portugal.  First stop was in Faro to buy a portuguese SIM card and then onto Sagres for some dinner.
 
For 3 nights i camped at Salema before i found a job and an apartment to keep me entertained for the next year.
 
That year was an absolute blast.  I was in good shape, we had good surf and even better weather.
 
It took me all of that year to find the house.  OK it was a bit rough and needed some work but it was bang on the right spot.  to this day, that alone has kept me sane.  I know when it is finished, it will be an awesome venue for me to surf my 40’s away.
 
Then , suddenly, i got into boats.  It was a great way to earn some money to fix up the house.  Problem was, i also enjoyed it too, so here i am still working on boats
after i had told myself that after leaving the uk, i was going to take it easy.  The biggest benefit is of course the money.  in another 18 months, i will be able to rip the house down and start from fresh – a bit like i am building my retirement home.
 
But none of that will happen until after i have sailed the atlantic again, passed through the panama canal and stonked out of the other side into the pacific.  The next 18 months will be a most excellent adventure i am sure, such highlights as Tahiti, Galapagus, Caicos, New Zealand are all on the cards and by the time that trip is finished, i will be building a home
 
A date for your diaries – summer 2011 – come to my new house in portugal and celebrate the summer.
 
Anyway – enough of this – i have added some photos from the past 5 years.  a real mixed bag of photos i have either taken or appear in.  I got carried away if i am honest, there is nearly 150 of the buggers but do take a look.
 
 
 

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