So I have other stuff to post, and will do shortly (yes – don’t call me shortly – Naked Gun) – but here I sit in our place in Battersea drinking tea with Bernadette, listening to Classic Fm and starting the dual processes of acclimating myself back to the real world (at least until next Wednesday when we begin the serious  Yacht Master training) and also the process of reflecting on what I’ve just done. I’ll share those thoughts with you – if you are interested – but I’ll take a few days to mull things over.

I can tell you that I was never been so pleased to arrive somewhere as I was last night at shortly after 9.00pm when we pulled into the lock at Chatham – less pulled and more dashed at a crazy speed (the tidal flow was at its strongest and to get into the gate – we had to power across and through the gate grinding to a halt on the right hand floating pontoon to sit and wait while the lock filled). Simon was trying to blast out Going Home from Local Hero as we entered! We made it – no colateral damage to boat or crew. This was my last time at the helm of Tonic (and to the end – her throttle both stuck open and she wouldn’t shift gear when asked to – saucy minx!). I took her out of the birth many weeks ago and here I was putting her back in.

While in the lock and from above me there was shouting going on and looking up – there was Bernadette leading the welcome home party (well, 3 of them, Benradette and our great friends Les and Debra – who have provided incredible support through the preparation and execution of this crazy plan of mine). I was so excited to see Bernadette and gang waiting there. We all had a great night in the Italian(ish) restuarant right there by the locks – welcome party and crew. We might have enjoyed anything at that point – but what we had was excellent. We celebrated what had just happened.

So more to follow from me on the two last passages, the arrival, reflections opon what’s just happened, a piece on the people of Tonic (which I think you’re entitled too, having stuck with this blog) and finally a piece on comfort zones! Until then – see the map below which shows what we just did!

Thank you God for getting us around and allowing us to keep some of our sanity. We didn’t exactly circumnavigate the globe, but we did something that not many folks get to do and it challenged us to our cores – both personally and skillwise. It certainly was a better option than sitting on my ass pondering my time as a CEO – from the comfort of my home. I know already it has made me think a new about my relationships and what’s important – what is most definitely of value and may be what I don’t want to do next. It’s also re-established just how privilged I really am and how others seem to leads a perfectly satisfying life with so much less than I have – or may be that’s why they have such a satisfying life. Since I left home – the world has continued to do crazy, cruel things. People have been killed out of hate – Dallas, Baton Rouge and now a defenseless, dedicated 83 year old priest in France – this is just so obnoxious. It also hits home – I have a Brother-in-law who is an Anglican Priest in a church in France – and clearly vulnerable, not because of what he is or what he does, but because of what he’s not. There is no circumnavigation long enough to go and fathom this shit out. 

I’m drifting into my reflections, which I don’t want to do here and now. May be I need to go and circumnavigate something else so I can think about that!

BUT –  The biggest question for me to answer, is one which I did ponder ahead of this: Has this been life changing?  Well – we’ll see, won’t we.

Pip pip

SeaEO