1800hrs 21 Aug 2005 UTC 47’59”N 007’15”W Ref 304
Just been overtaken by a big grey bulk carrier called Te Ho – couldn’t reads the port of registration but looked like Taipei – if that’s a port. No one visible anywhere on deck or on the bridge – probably watching reality TV in the backblocks somewhere.
We have been given a set of CD’s of John le Carre reading ‘The Constant Gardener’. Wonderful stuff – I’m glad he decided to be a spook and then an author rather than an actor because we may not have got the books. Gielgud, Burton, Conti, Finney, Fiennes, Sellers, Neddy Seagoon – all in there – and I bet he read in in one take. Having had a go at something similar with my 90 seconds of fame on the Beeb, I know how difficult that is. Bastard! I’m rationing myself to one CD per week – there are six – and will mix them with Kerouac, Potter (just to see what the fuss is all about – so far, not hugely impressed) and lots of others. Keycorp’s cd player – thanks everyone. And this time, I’ve got some Guardian weekly crosswords – forwarded from the Falklands after being sent in error to the West Indies.
Pete has cooked a stew with fresh meat and spuds to weigh down the G&T we’re sharing with my Mum in virtual reality. And we’ve got bladders full of plonk from Oz and Chile to help it down. There’s an old doggerel song from somewhere or other called ‘Life gets Teejus don’t it’ Well it do.