SAILING LESSON 3
Magic and mayhem on the bay for our 3rd lesson. Again our instructor was Mike who, as we learned this week, is about to split with his long-time partner and sell his house. Not that, that information had much to do with our lesson but I think I have retained more about our teacher than I have about how to sail. The day was a beauty, almost cloudless, a light breeze that picked up out of the harbour, pretty much what you’d imagine when you picture perfect sailing conditions, if you weren’t actually a sailor. This week J almost capsized us. She was on the till or tiller (can’t remember the correct term) and was in charge of a jibe. She turned the boat, slipped and kept the boat turning instead of correcting and we were up on the side almost vertically. Mike launched himself to the other side of the boat to put some weigh on the up side and we laughed hysterically. It was even funnier when he screamed at us to “stop laughing”. Apparently you can’t laugh until the situation is balanced again. I don’t know if that one is in the rule books though. But I reckon I’ll remember it even if I forget to follow it. Soon after lunch J became sea sick and we headed in. So all in all a memorable day.
This week was also my last french lesson for the year…I am for the first time in my life going to repeat a year. Maybe I could follow in school’s footsteps and request same sex class next year to see if I improve.
Reading at the moment…FREEDOM by Jonathen Franzen…A look at modern day love marriage and relationships apparently. It’s a bit of a bizarre take on that compared to my experiences but I am really enjoying it. Maybe because it makes me think my life is blessed!
Drinking ….usual sav blanc
We are SAILING
Into my second year of learning french…which I must say I am still finding tres difficle….I have tackled the next on my “always wanted to do” list. Sailing. A girlfriend and I signed up for women learn to sail lessons at the Royal Qld Yacht Club. Our instructor was an accomplished sailor but at 18 giggled a lot and while we learnt to jib and tack and something else with the big mainsail when it swings around…we didn’t get a great understanding of how we were actually moving forwards and in the case of when I was steering..zig-zagging. Regardless it was great fun…The weather was clear after weeks of Brisbane rain and we did get some burts of sunshine…So while the hubby’s were at work and the kids at school and childcare ..we enjoyed some freedom. Of course we had to rush back for school pick up..SO to add to my chores of cooking cleaning and chauffering…I am now a sailor and bi-lingual…well one day…I’ll be able to sail into Marseilles and speak to the harbour master and be understood.
From fulltime to french
What do you do when you’ve worked fulltime for your entire life and then make the massive decision to be a stay home mother and wife? Why you study french of course. Bien Sur.
Well that’s me…but for anyone the french part could be anything…going to the gym or reading or learning to dance. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and like the movie Dead Poets society I have Carpe Diemed…Something like a bucket list and at the top is french…I also have on that list learning to sail, taking wine and champagne courses and opening a book store…for now french it is.
That is because (despite that I should say being a wife and mother is rewarding and wonderful etc)..it’s boring!!! Yes it is busy and the efforts of being at home for homework, dinner on time and less fattening take-outs, the kids are collected from sport and computer monitoring is under control ..it is boring. Some might argue that learning french is boring, but it is on my list…and it feels good to make a tick on that. C’est super.
Karryn Wheelans 