Posts

16 July : happy day day

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my "free gift" as a patreon supporter of CSM Mariner.  It was a really nice surprise to find in my letterbox on such a dull dreary weather day.  But first, I jogged 10k before breakfast. A night I lay in  bed nesting myself up for not having jogged or ridden for a few days, and my suspicion that I was putting on weight. Even though the forecast was bleak; 10-15mm of 80% probability, I was pretty determkned. Awake at 4am I went downstairs in the chilled air, did some preying and reading, and as the kookaburra called up the dawn, it was time to go. I was hopeful, even though it had rained heavily during the night hours, before decamping from my berth, I saw a star.  Driving out with Cuddy the surf reporter painted a bleak picture of the weather on the coast, just forty k's away. Looking out, there was a massive cloud head to the SE and a lot of wet haze in between.   It was 8°C, so I had long tights, long sleeved t, short t, puffer, cap and gloves...
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12 july st ignatius

cyprus needing to make passage. the captain of the biggest denied ignatius bec he offered no paymentwhile the owner of the smallest willingly took the job   at sea a storm drove the larger ship onto rocks, the smaller ship survives
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6/7/2026: lessons from St Therese' autobiography.

  "Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name ." Imitation of Christ, III, xxiv. 2 Good advice; to not seek company of great names.  He who on earth chose to be poorest and least known for love of his Saviour, he will be the first, the noblest, and the richest .*                  1.Corinthians 4:5 * Unsure if this is a direct reference of personal expression of the passage. My good father, often recited a similar passage about laying up all worldly possessions that moths and silverfishes would destroy. He was a quirky fellow, but during his life I never realised his real goodness.  
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5_July 2025

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we've had a light shower early, now its just cold with the S-SE air flow.     Being a Sunday I would be entitled to have a lazy day, but I'm not. I hit the deck early for prayer & reading before heading off to my current batch of lantana clearing.  I made several wind rows, of lantana & fallen timbers. Any lose stones were stacked clear for the digger. I love this work, its physically & emotionally rewarding as well as aesthetically pleasing. Listening to reggae, does it get any better.  Back to the cabin for Wim Hoff breathing followed by a cold shower. I was lucky to enjoy breakfast of home laid eggs.  At the moment I'm setting up a water storage cube for the chooks. This way I can get the permanent cube off the Land Rover & use it for other jobs. On on!  
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4 jul 26: anniversary of a special friend & some digger woes

Actually while I think of it, today is her birthday. She died by suicides the day I discovered my then wife of 29yrs, was cheating.  Anyway, Robyn was my first serious girlfriend & a very special relationship we had. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events that any couple would struggle with, bought is undone. But, the memories are of a very special, romantic & loving soul. Some people would struggle to see me as being romantic, but I am, its just that years of little brutalities by "friends" & family have made me this way.  Back in the now so to speak, I had a restless night fretting over my little digger. Its rubberised cat track had walked out of its runners. The cost of replacing them is legend, & despite having tried to sooth myself, I did fret.  So this morning I got out early & began trying a remedy.  No luck. I went back home & searched the little manual that came with the Digger when I bought her. Essentially there were no clear...
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29 jun26: Grit

Grit: 1. small loose particles of stone or sand. 2.  the combination of passion and perseverance toward long-term goals. While convalescent I discovered the Travel Grit podcast. On the small list of guests are Sven Yrvind & Hugo Vihlen. One other featured the owner of the Wandered III who has sailed over a hundred thousand miles, many in high latitudes. All gritty sailors.  Meanwhile, I'm feeling like I have grit in my eye! Following a cold day afloat, when I went overboard twice, once to fend off rocks & to check for centreboard problems, I developed a back spasm. A painful condition thats aided by pain relief, gentle movement & warmth. Right now I'm low on pills & the water jacket on my fire has sprung a leak. And my centreboard is frozen & its Monday, booboo!  Ab
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Sven Yrvind Wisdoms

Very occasionally Sven leaves my head spinning with his logical revelations. * On his website, he writes, big production boats are not made big because they are safer, they are made big because they make more money. * on a podcast he explains how selling small boats in Sweden was crippled by boating industry lead  regulations. Apparently a flood of small seagoing craft were being bought from France. The Swedish boating industry outlawed the practice by alleging these smaller boats were "unsafe". Sven knew this because he had a friend on the committee.  * When he was building his first boat in his mothers yard a town planner told him he couldn't do it. Sven protested; " I thought this was a free country". The planner asked Sven, " What if everybody built a boat on their yard?". Sven asked: "What if everybody was a town planner?".  * Sailing Bris through The Doldrums Sven was held in place by lack of wind for 35 days. The interviewer asked his ...
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