11/11/12 - Lord Nelson

Day 24 11th Nov
Howdy folks! This is Forward Port watch sending greetings! Did you sleep well? We were on the Midnight to Four watch. Older readers may remember instructional films of steel production with great furnaces spilling golden, molten metal with the accompanying explosion of sparks. Picture now this vision following in the wake of our ship, the gold of the metal transformed to sheet lightning in the breaking waves behind us, the sparks rendered by individual creatures disturbed by our unexpected intrusion into their world. Now conjure up the great unpolluted celestial sphere with the Milky Way spilling across the heavens and Orion with his sword and belt rising in the East. Jupiter here is bright enough to create his own shining path across the ocean. Were your dreams as magical as our reality?
This morning, Remembrance Day was a more sombre but equally inspiring occasion as we gathered by the fore-mast for our Remembrance Service. This was led by our Medical Purser, Steve, assisted by Neil and our Royal Marine disabled veterans Luke and Al, both injured in the Afghan conflict. Kirsten accompanied the singing on the violin; names of fallen relatives and friends were read out; and the two minutes’ silence was observed between the bugle calls of "Last Post" and "Reveille". Finally, a wreath of poppies, made by Sally, was thrown overboard. This moving celebration was held in glorious sunshine with our dear old Nellie surging along at 7 knots under full sail and with a following wind. (Forward Port watch: Kate, David, Nick, Tom, Agata, Alison and Nev)