Arts
Crossing the Atlantic, Arrival
Every morning the Chief engineer and his #2 would be having breakfast. He was a cheerful Ukrainian man and I always used to ask him, tongue in cheek, if the engine was still OK. On [more…]
Holiday
Arts
Crossing the Atlantic, At Sea
I unpacked my belongings and noticed that outside of my cabin windows was a little orange motor boat that was lowerable down to the water via a crane that swung the thing away from the [more…]
America
Crossing the Atlantic, Departure
Over the years I have read many books regarding the Battle of the Atlantic and the role of the U-boat. This was largely due to a guy I once worked with suggesting I read a [more…]
America
Mississippi Valley
Last time I left you we were crossing the de Soto bridge from Memphis into the badlands of Arkansas. Even though I didn’t see the river again for another few hundred miles you’re in the [more…]
Arts
Manouche – Part Two
After leaving the Manouche, I stayed in London for about a year, putting some money together, and surprised myself by getting married to a Colombian lady. While in London, Beudjeu and I still wrote to [more…]
Arts
Manouche – Part One
Ernesto sang a beautiful haunting rhumba from his native Brazil, and then Chocote took the guitar to accompany Memé’s singing. Chocote’s big labourer’s fingers were transformed as they danced nimbly around the chords, his other [more…]
Holiday
WG’s Summer Cruise, June 2026 – Part Five
Thursday 25th June – At sea Do you ever get the feeling you have done something wrong and you actually haven’t? Well, the information to put the clocks forward to European time went out yesterday, [more…]
Holiday
WG’s Summer Cruise, June 2026 – Part Four
Saturday 20th June – At sea, heading for Gibraltar Today is my birthday and I am sure you all know the saying, “You are only as old as you feel.” Well, today I feel old [more…]
Holiday
WG’s Summer Cruise, June 2026 – Part Three
Sunday 14th June – At sea, off southern Portugal and into the Mediterranean When your intrepid diarist woke, it was still dark, but a tap on my iPad screen revealed it was 06:45. Then I [more…]