It was time to get back to Fethiye. I had a 40th Astor reunion to go to and Sally would shortly be back from Australia and as fortune would have it, we had Al and Lily on the boat and we couldn't really think of any two people we'd be happier leaving our kids with to look after...
At 10:35 on the 22nd October, we weighed anchor and left our safe nook and the surreal surroundings that are Olu Deniz and in a good wind set sail back to Fethiye. There were a number of yachts heading in the same direction all heaving over at 30 degrees all making heavy weather of the beam seas as we just sailed on through them all.... ya just gotta love a catamaran.
Thursday the 23rd and I was on a plane to London to catch up with some of the people I worked with at Astor Hostels in London and Portugal in the early '80's. We are all older, no wiser and exactly the same.
Alan Rivers still owns the show. That's Al in the middle and every 10 years he puts on a bash. This year trumped them all. Perfect size venue for 250 people. Twenties theme to which everybody complied, huge jazz band followed by Swedish DJ and great food, wine a beer. Thanks Al, it was well worth the journey.
Other than the great party, a few highlights...The Hotel I stayed in with the OTT name,
'The Grand Royale' was a nice surprise and I'd recommend it if you have stepped up from a youth hostel budget. Very nice cozy place in autumnal London with a comfy lounge and bar and that fully inclusive English Breakfast 'buffet'... simply no good for a 'growing' ex boarding school boy... four days in a row!
The poppy installation at the Tower of London, destined to be the most photographed art installation in history. There will be 888,246 ceramic poppies, all hand made and hand planted. Each one represents a British military death during the 1st World War. I found it particularly moving as I am reading Gallipoli right now, mainly because we we'll be sailing there next year. The appalling leadership and the absolute lack of sanctity for life by cognac swigging, cigar smoking, arm chair Generals at home lead to this daily slaughter. The final poppy will be planted on the 11th of November, the day the war began 100 years ago.
The Book of Morman's is a play you have just got to see if you ever have the chance. It is a laugh a minute.. literally.
And a meal at Ottolenghi's. Lily, who's mum, Joanna Seville is one of Australia's better known food critics and the person behind 'Good Food Month and the Good Food Guide' recommended it in passing before I left the boat and it just coincidentally happened to be on the agenda. This particular outlet is really for take away and the queue ran out the door. They have only one table that seats 12. There were 7 of us and we managed to somehow jag a place at the table. Alan's son Alex who arranged the aforementioned bash left early and is absent from this photo... if you just happen to be counting.
On Monday the 27th it was time for the long overnight slog back to Fethiye, the boat, the kids, the crew and of course Sally who I hadn't seen for three weeks. Whilst our time away was for two completely different reasons, we couldn't wait to be back on board.
And a meal at Ottolenghi's. Lily, who's mum, Joanna Seville is one of Australia's better known food critics and the person behind 'Good Food Month and the Good Food Guide' recommended it in passing before I left the boat and it just coincidentally happened to be on the agenda. This particular outlet is really for take away and the queue ran out the door. They have only one table that seats 12. There were 7 of us and we managed to somehow jag a place at the table. Alan's son Alex who arranged the aforementioned bash left early and is absent from this photo... if you just happen to be counting.On Monday the 27th it was time for the long overnight slog back to Fethiye, the boat, the kids, the crew and of course Sally who I hadn't seen for three weeks. Whilst our time away was for two completely different reasons, we couldn't wait to be back on board.
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