Two questions I've never been asked by a customs agent before...

So I land in England (this was last Friday) the English gentleman who sat in row 30 with me for the seven hour flight was a delight and we continued to converse as we walked down the breezeway toward customs.  He was citizen and had not been required to fill out the customs form for entry so we said good bye as I made my way toward the customs line and he said, "I'll see you down in baggage claim."  It was about 6:30 in the morning and I knew he was excited to quickly gather his bag to arrive home in time to take his son to school that morning so I honestly didn't think I would ever see him again.  Sitting in row 30 meant there was already a long line of people who had already made their way off the plane before me.

I finally make it to one of the four counters. As it happened I was on the very end where there was glass over- looking baggage claim.  I smiled and handed the custom's agent (who happened to be woman) my passport and my customs form.  She glanced over it.  The only part I hadn't filled out was the address of where I would be staying.  The Captain (Brian) had e-mailed it to me in the event I wanted to mail some gear rather than pack it, but I couldn't find the email on my blackberry so I left it blank.  I had left that portion blank many times before, or just jotted down the name of a hotel, etc. and breezed through customs so I didn't think anything of it.  

Not this time.

She looked up at me and said, "what is the address of where you will be staying?" I explained the Captain of the yacht Armadek was meeting me at the airport and that I would only be in England for a week before we set sail to Cyprus.  Nothing reaction.  Then she asked, "how long have you known him."  I thought...hmmm that's quite an odd question, if not even a personal question coming from a custom's agent.  Unfortunately, I had only known Brian for three months...and I thought to myself in that split second...why would that matter?so why is she asking me this?  So I said, "for quite some time now."  No reaction.  Next response.  "Well how did you meet this man."  Now alarm bells were going off.  The truth is I met him on the internet, but the fact of the matter is that once you are in the sailing world there are dozens of well-known trusted sites that connect people from all over the world.  With the line of questioning I just knew I could not tell this woman that the man I was meeting was a man I met on the internet.  So I explained that I was positive he was waiting for me and that maybe I should call him to get his address for her.  She said, "I'll go talk to him, you can sit in the room over there and wait."

Not good news.  I didn't leave the counter...the odds of ever getting out of those little "custom rooms" and getting in the county seem to be slim. I thought, I need an address.  There is no way I came all this way and I can't get into England!  I looked below an my Row 30 was looking up from baggage claim with a look of "what's wrong...what's going on."  I motioned for him to come up the stairs.  Through the glass, I some how communicated I needed and address for my customs's form.  So he holds up his iphone and I frantically type into my blackberry some very foreign looking address.  "Thank you" I mouthed through the glass.  Whew! I have an address! It seemed like an eternity before she returned.  She had paged Brian and spoken with him by phone and verified not only all of my information but all of HIS information.

Later I learned, customs in England is cracking down on the high number of arranged marriages where the woman is then granted citizenship in the UK simply by marriage.  Who would have thought that a custom's agent in England suspected that I had agreed to an arranged marriage!!!!  We all have gotten a good laugh over that since.  

A few things I've learned

- We don't have the same humor as the English

- A store called Tesco is the equivalent to our Super Wal-mart

- Lindor truffles, Swiss and Belgium chocolate much more affordable here.  Thinking of stocking up.  Oh, that's right I already did.

- I love ginger beer.  Which is actually like root beer but made with ginger.

- Gammon steak is basically the equivalent to cured ham.

- I never realized provisioning a boat for six people was so much work and would require three spilling over carts of food.  If I never go grocery shopping again...I think I'll be fine with it.

Monday March 28

It's still Sunday evening...but I'm trying to catch up on my blog.  Alarms are set for o'dark hundred.  Yes, that's slang for long before the sun comes up...or just too plain early. (face lighting up into a smile even as I think about it)  That's like saying one can get up too early on Christmas morning, only difference there's time to nap on Christmas day. 

We will load up and drive the five hours to Shamrock Quay on the coast.  It's almost surreal.  I have been planning and preparing for this for three months and working on improving my sailing skills on vacations over the last two years, but after spending a few days with our Skipper and Captain Brian Dixon the amount of thought, time and planning he has put into this voyage is almost unfathomable to me.  Only a yachtsman or yachtswoman (in the true sense of the word) who has spent their entire life sailing or taken a "voyage" could understand.  

In less than two months I will have added over 3-thousand nautical miles to my sailing log.  I know I will have an entirely different perspective of sailing, weather reports, charts, and navigation but hope that no matter to what level I master sailing - even someday to the point it all comes as natural as breathing  -  that I will still keep my love for the built-in sense of order and discipline that's required for true seamanship.

Rugby - A real man's sport

A traditional English Breakfast

It's more like a feast!  

Saturday morning I rolled over and opened my eyes to be greeted by a crisp spring morning. The bed and pillows were so comfortable, consciously aware I would soon be sleeping in a pitching bunk at sea, I buried deeper under the covers to relish the feeling of the comforts of a bed that wasn't rolling.  I took in the morning air.  It was filled with the smell of breakfast...the smells that make you throw the covers back, jump out of bed, throw a sweatshirt on and head downstairs to the kitchen to see what's cooking.  

My other two crew mates who were also staying with the Captain and his family were already up.  The entire family was up...they had graciously let me sleep off my jet lag and breakfast was served.  Brian's wife Jill had prepared every mouthwatering dish you can possibly imagine.  English sausage, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, potato cakes, croissants (I had two) toast, fruit, and pastries.  

Since then, we have had roast, yorkshire pudding, fresh scones with fresh creme and strawberries, apple pie with fresh custard, rhubarb pie, berry trifle filled with an extra layer of custard, and crumpets.  Jill has been the most amazing and welcoming hostess.  It has been a complete joy to spend the last three days in their home  along with their daughter Rachael and son Mark. 

If it had been up to me and not the English half of my ancestors, I don't think I would have ever made it to the colonies. 

The Dixon family made this a birthday to remember

Have been trying for an hour to figure out why the blog keeps wanting to turn the pictures sideways and now my computer battery is about to die...but I promise I will get this figured out so you don't have to turn you head to see my pictures for the rest of my adventure.  My birthday was so special this year for so many reasons and will write all about it tomorrow.  

Day 2 - Customs and meeting the Captain's family in person.

An eventful 24-hours!  Will write more later tonight as the Captain and family along with two other crew members are taking me out for a birthday dinner in about half an hour so just jumping in the shower.