Captain. I killed The Mouse

sailor mouse
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

I try hard not to bother you lot with any of my boring, emotional joys or struggles and this trip home included a wide range of all of that, so instead I will tell you about a mouse.

A few years ago I was working as captain on a catamaran called, 'Mystique'. Some how, a mouse had decided to stow away with us. The boys named it ‘Roger’ and it was a cunning & elusive little creature, who had out stayed his welcome. We even had visions of him running around in a crew T shirt. I was very upset that we had this particular stow away, so I offered a 'bounty' on Rogers neck.

I remember very clearly! It was after Roger had made a rather public appearance during an evening charter! “We have to get rid of this unwanted addition to our crew!” I said, “It is all of our responsibility etc etc” ( the crew were sniggering) “Our small friend has to be dealt with! I don’t care how, float test him if you have to!

A few mornings later, I came on board to see Yuri grinning, a very proud and loyal Russian grin.
These were his exact words “Famous, long legs, English captain.. I have killed Mouse!!!”

During my extended absence from home, a small rodent had made him or her self quite welcome at chez Daren. The mouse was clearly short of manners and had not been house trained. Amazingly it had eaten every scrap of dry food, that was carelessly left there by me, back in August. The rice, pasta, sugar and even the flour had been devoured. I immediately wanted to shorten the little bastards life but the mess was contained in one small area and there were no floury foot prints, or other condemning evidence to lead me to my prey. He had vanished!

Where was Yuri when I needed him!

Another Royal Visit

Royal Visitor
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

As my friends know. Normally when I return home I have a royal visitor. This particular trip to the mother land was no different and as you can see from the picture I had an audiance with THE Queen.....Of England

The Corgies are well, the grand kids are as always a cause for slight concern and she was all ecited about her young subjects, not respecting the older generation. Oh and how she wished we could all just get along better with the different cultures that live together in Britain.

"Yes ma'am wouldn't that be a wonderful wheeze if we could all be a bit more sporting." "Yes Dazzer" she said, "Apart from those Ausie bastards who keep beating our chaps at Cricket!"

Then my mate Dai called from the kitchen and Cath, his mother (who looks just like our beloved Monarch) said, in her lovely Welsh accent, "Daren Love, were leaving now I think the baby is tired"

Back to Savannah

I arrived back at the big yellow house in Savannah at around 10pm last night. It was a very tedious, cramped, transatlantic flight followed by a short hop from Atlanta down here to Savannah.

My room at the house is a lovely airy space, with big windows that open out to the garden. There are high ceilings, a big comfy bed with clean white linen and a few personal items scattered around that make it feel a bit like home.

It really is not home though and as I sat here last night I already missed the sanctuary of my small flat back in Mid Sussex. I was wondering how I would put my visit home into words.. Now that I am back here I can easily reflect on the trip. I had a great time with family and good friends, it was too short and I was sad to leave. Funny though, because I am not sad to be here.

Blokes with Josephine

blokes with josephine
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Me Paul and the Queen of France's very lovely convertible Jaguar.
No hand cream necessary. Merry Christmas.

You Bastards!

hand cream
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

From all appearances this looks like it has been quite a good Christmas holiday!

Thank you, for all of the hand cream but how am I supposed to vet my romantic interests if everyone I know gives me a potof cream!!? I might have missed out on an opportunity here somewhere.

However. I am so slow on the up take, that if you are seriously interested, in any romantic attachments with me, you would have to show up, a) with hand cream, b)a wry smile and c) on top of that lend me and my mate your convertible Jaguar.

I know. Now I am just being silly!!!!

'Screw you guys! I'm going home!'

Eric
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

It is time to go home for the Christmas Holidays to see good friends and family. I am very excited.
I share the sentiments of the South Park character. I shouldn't really leave work at this busy time but what the hell.

A Seven Summiteer!

I received a text message this morning at 3am from an unknown British mobile telephone. Message said, ‘Cliff is on the Summit!!!’

I have been listening with interest to the Audio Blog that has been charting the progress of my good friend Cliff, who is a part of a small expedition of mountaineers that are down in, Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea, to Climb Carstensz Pyramid, the tallest mountain in Autralaisia.


By achieving their goal of reaching this remote mountain summit, enduring both the physical and political barriers before them, our friend Cliff has now entered an elite group of mountaineers that have stood on top of the seven highest summits in all seven continents. A Seven Summiteer!

Mount Kilimanjaro Africa
Mount Danahli North America
Mount Aconcagua South America
Mount Vincon Antartica
Mount Elbrus Russia/Europe
Carstansz Pyramid Australaisia
Mount Everest Nepal

As I lay awake looking at the message on my phone I just thought WOW! Good job Cliff.

I wonder how Cliff is feeling about that? He is probably just shrugging his shoulders and wondering, 'what will Ness make of this penis gourd that the Dani Indians have attached to my manhood.'

Fancy Wires

fancy wires
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Once in a while I have to include something about work. Work, believe it or not takes up most of my time and 6am starts are wearing a bit thin.

This week some of us started to put some things back together on the boat. That is an exciting u- turn and beats the normal taking them apart.
Our merry band of audio visual geeks are also nearing completion with the new system. Pictured here is part of their artwork.

Biking

Biking
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Most weeks a few of us are managing to get out to a nearby park to cycle six miles of winding off road trail.

This week was no different. We piled into the crew van and met up with some of the guys from the local bike shop.

The invite had said, 'Race'. I saw it myself. This was a loose description but we entered into the spirit of the event, which was actually more social than cycle.
However we managed to complete three laps of the track and drink half a cooler of beer.

Pots of Hand Cream

I have rough hands! What can I say? I have always had rough hands....

This really doesn't happen often and I have to say that, it has been quite a while now, since the last occasion. However. Normally, if a young woman gives me a small pot or tube of hand cream this is a good thing! It is not exactly an open invitation to liberate her of her underwear immediately, it is more of a subliminal message saying, "If you are thinking of liberating me of my under garments, you had better put this on your hands first!"

It seems that not all patterns are bad...

So. Any girls, brunettes in particular who are looking for a perfect gift idea for my good self should read on.

One small tube or pot of your favorite remedy for dry hands will be welcomed with a huge grin.

I will think its Christmas!

Carrots and Beer

beer and a run
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

Since I arrived here in Savannah I have run endless laps of Forsyth park, enjoying the trees, tranquility and other scenery ( I can hear you! When will he shut up about the park?) As well as running around the park I have also been entering the odd 10km race.

You might think that I do this for personal fitness and pleasure. It is kind of true but I have to be able to keep up with my good friend Clifford when I get back to England. He will say, "Run much then?" I'll go, " Na!" Then he will take me up over the Sussex Downs near to his house, over hill and through dale, for more than two hours, expecting me to keep up with him, while calmly chatting all the way.

Anyhow, as per usual my friend Debbs was up for a challenge and something fun to do on a Saturday morning. The Savannah River Bridge run was our activity of choice for this weekend. In preparation we stayed in the bar on Friday evening, saying farewell to some of my crew mates untill 2 in the morning. I found some inner strength to get up to be at work on the boat at 6am, did my few work duties, drank an inordinate amount of water and a coffee and then made my way to the start.

The sun was shining and the sky was blue, the 3000 strong field of runners was all milling about waiting for the starting hooter. The usual tension and anticipation of the event ahead could be felt in the atmosphere. We were soon off!

The suspension bridge is the only hill in Savannah and before too long I knew that the climb would be infront of me. What I needed now (apart from more sleep, and less alchol in my blood stream) was a carrot! No. Not an orange, ground vegetable but a firm, female, bottom in a tight pair of running shorts, who was running at a reasonable pace. This is a distraction technique used effectively through a number of marathons and runs with my friends Dai and Cliff. I'm not sure that it really works but we always give it a go and normally enjoy it.

So, after what felt like a long 49 minutes I crossed the finish line. I was warmly welcomed by Debbs and Mel who had finished their 5KM ahead of me and also by Tara who was an enthusiastic supporter. She was quietly enjoying all the sporty men, declaring that she would come to these kinds of things more often!

Normally these kinds of events give you a banana and a fruit flavoured power drink at the finish line. Not in Savannah! The race was sponsered by Michlob, a beer company! The picture is of me and Debbs getting our post race beer. After that, we all went and ate a big greasy breakfast out in the sunshine. Ha ha. You will see too, that the trees are still green here!

The boat!

The boat!
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

This is where I work... Pretty cool isn't it! Its no sailing boat but its the finest motor boat I have ever worked on (Its the only one actually. Don't tell anyone!)
I downloaded the picture to give me some motivation to stay on here after, once again, we heard that the deadline for sailing was pushed back all the way into February.
Looking at the positives, although we will miss Carnival in Rio we will still make it to Monaco, for the Grand Prix and to Cannes, for the film festival. All of which are nearer to home than Savannah. The extension also means that I was able to very slyly negotiate some leave to visit home over Christmas. The other good thing is that, the by product of working a long yard period in Savannah, is a wonderful circle of new friends and an interesting social life.