Part V Should I stay or should I go... (the Clash)

I like people watching. During my traveling days in international sales, I spent many hours sitting in airports watching folk drifting past me. Today, if I'm in a bar or restaurant, I still find myself people watching. So many couples sit across a table from each other hardly uttering a word. The younger ones staring intently at their phones, the older ones just staring into a void. I used to think they'd be deliberating... poor guy, sitting there all alone. Now I'm not so sure, maybe they're thinking lucky git. Some of my friends are in stale relationships, the spark has long gone; please God, don't let that happen to me.

Nothing much about sailing in this post you'll be gutted to read. But having left Salamander, I was feeling  disappointed last Friday. I'd arrived in Cascais in the early hours, having never spent time alone in a holiday location, I had no idea how much fun it was going to be. 

But I had a mission, find another boat to Las Palmas. I've tried all the usual marketing stuff here - posters, networking plus tinternet. So far no joy, but I have turned down two opportunities, but again, I won't go into details on here. I know more about the signs to look out for now in both skipper and boat - I will not be compromising.... unless she's pretty....😉

Early Saturday morning just before the match against the All Blacks - my hotel is in the background

I went to O'Neills bar to watch the rugby, had a few pints of the black stuff and then a few more. Met some like-minded souls who'd also enjoyed the game. I was still there when Saturday's football results came on the box, quickly followed by a text from my eldest son. 'Captain America' had scored his first goal for Chelsea, not just one but a bloody hatrick! So who's he I can hear you say?

If you read all of the CNN article below, you'll see that Captain America (Christian Pulisic) once played football for Brackley Town Saints with my younger son Ashley when they were just eight, so hence our interest. In January, he signed for Chelsea for a cool £58m. First one to spot Ash in the team photo gets a beer from me. 👍
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/11/football/christian-pulisic-journey-chelsea-dortmund-spt-intl/index.html


(Sorry folks, you'll need to copy and paste the links into Google because the Blogger software isn't child friendly) 

Anyway, folk kept drifting into O'Neils all night and a party was starting. A group of wild Irish girls were on a hen night and the place was rammed.

Nelson, Olga, Johnny, Lucy, Gunnar, Michael, Emma and moi

We were all a bit worse for wear when a particular song was played. I just had to join-in and sing it in my loudest, most awful voice.

 
So please take a few minutes to play the clip below and listen carefully to the lyrics - so appropriate for what I'd just been through... plus it's one of my all-time US favourites.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=john+b+beach+boys%2Blyrics 

(note: I didn't get into a fight nor did I have the fits but just about everything else...)


And then I was introduce to James and Andrea who were still quite sober when they joined me and my new friends. We had great craic (as the Irish will say) and went on to a club to see the night out.

the beautiful couple - Andrea and James with two of their beautiful dogs - Edmundo & Tommo in their beautiful home

J&A invited me to their newly acquired home some 20 clicks up the coast. I was to cook dinner for them and their daughter Ellis and her hubby Lewis on Tuesday evening.

It's so refreshing to meet a couple that are still very much in love. They have both semi-retired from successful businesses developing and promoting websites. We had a fabulous evening together and their three dogs were sooo gorgeous. I just cooked us a simple risotto, no frills but it went down well. Thanks again guys for a great evening and good luck Ellis & Lewis with your son to be born shortly.👶 Lucky blighter's gonna have the best grandparents and they'll spoil him rotten!

I rode back the next morning and enjoyed every bend on the twisty mountain road followed by the 8km blast along the wildest beech road on that coastline.

Just a few brave souls were out in those waves surfin'

I hired a motorbike last Sunday - it was easy to ride, plenty of grunt and loads of fun... I gave it back today having done 334km.

Perfect choice - a new Honda NC750X

My next post will not appear until I have some positive news on my next boat and voyage. Not sure how much longer I'm staying here in Cascais, I'll decide after the weekend. After all, this is supposed to be a blog about my sailing adventures not partying in Cascais.

Thanks for reading it - looking forward to reading more of your comments too. 

And that includes my GWR Ale Trail mates from Swindon; I know you can all barely write your own names but have a go, just keep it clean please - God bless 🐷 x

Hold the Press

I've just found a boat!!! It's a Gib'sea 37 sailing to Las Palmas in 2 weeks time.  

The skipper is a bit suspect, but she scrubs up quite well...

I'll keep you posted...