Sailing The Blackwater: Whirling Lows To The North

At last there is some sign that high pressure may push the whirling lows to the north, and with the Maylandsea Bay pre Easter sailing now at last only three weeks away thing are on an up. It is unclear at this point if MBSC will follow set courses and back-to-back racing or not. We do know that there is a rumble in the bowels of the club and maybe this is a good thing for it may be that change is what is needed. As the sun moves up the hill a feeling of desperate need to feel the salt is rife.
For the other reader, the non-sailors did get to The France Show 2008. It was a bit of a disappointment. The entry fee had dropped to £8 and the place was packed full of the very bloke one would wish to
(Above: this Swedish star sorted Shacko life out with the use of magnets) escape from. The traffic meant five hours in the car travelling to and from the peace of the Tuscany Hills of Essex to the Zoo of the suburbs/docks/central London. There are too many people/motors to the square metre. Their ability to stand one on top of the other and queue around a block of exhibitor’s stands for a UK banger in a roll is not dissimilar to what happens abroad. What is the Brits frenzy to get a free sample about (its free!) and when you ask one to buy a bottle he looks at you like your mad. Who would put food in his mouth when ten or twenty bods had just had their fingers on it (a Brit). The show feature was over whelmed with families hovering to whip the seat from underneath you before you got to see it. Needles to say we did not get to eat. I fear that the show has gone forever; although it will be easier the sell stand space in 2009 to the French, but it is un-lightly to talk Franch. It should be said that it is an estate agents show to sell France to the Brits and what do you expect from estate agents as a show? It was a bit sad but I can remember the good show with the smells of onions, fromage, smoked garlic, and the sounds of the wine makers and people wheeling out boxes on little trolleys. Is Frarnch to fill up with Brits? Will the restaurants only open Friday to Sunday?
(When sailors meet Cancans do they do turns?) Will Frarnch become like North Norfolk nicely painted and empty? Well I can tell you that having seen south London’s A205 (curtsey of the Sat.nav.), the Blackwell tunnel, the A13 and the A127 life is for living and living is not as seen on the way or in London.The Dog and Duck is a luxury, like salty mud, wind blowing your hat off, the sound off the wading birds leaving the mud banks, the sight of the incoming tide, and time to see time pass.