"ATHENE": The Odyssey Continues
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INTRODUCTION
Using my Log book as an "Aide Memoir", I was able to recall events and experiences, although, accasionally, time had smoothed the edges and/or enhanced the narrative with memories of similar experience that were outside the purely chronological time scale.
"Odyssey" is based firmly on our experiences during our cruises so I have employed similar techniques in an attempt to write a more readable and enjoyable book, without deviating from the basic veracity of the events described.
To take an example!
Jean and I moor up at the end of a long, tiring day. Water conditions
have been poor, many locks unbalanced and difficult. Now, the day
is over, fenders are down, mooring lines secured, we can relax and
treat ourselves to a drink. Whiskey and Dry ginger for Jean, Vodka and Lime
, for me. Long, cool drinks, not trebles with a splash!
The brunt of locking has been taken by Jean, (she is steadfast in her
refusal to steer the boat.) and so I prepare an evening meal. For
me this is also a pleasure, not a chore.
I love cooking!
After we have eaten, we relax and talk over the events of the day. Now
the elements of hard work and difficulty fade as we recall the beauty
of the scenery, an amusing conversation with a group of gongoozlers
or the antics of the wildlife. Into the discussion are added memories
of similar days and events. When recalling the conversation maybe three
years later, what I remember is the over-riding sense of pleasure,
fulfilment and joy that we felt, even though that may be enhanced by
events that themselves were not integral with the day.
Details are acurate, if selective, and where the chronology is not perfect I hope the remembered impression makes a more powerful and emotive impact than a mere factual diary entry.
Similarly, when we have had, a "bad hair day", other events may be recalled and computed, while the more pleasurable elements of the day are suppressed. That period may well impinge on my long-term recall as a sharp reverse spike on our graph of life, rather than a peak.
It is impossible to spend one's life cruising the waterways as we do, without feeling constrained to comment on a wide variety of subjects that have left a lasting effect on our way of life.
I always seek to ensure that my remarks cannot be misconstrued or regarded as being put forward as universally valid comments on particular aspects of life.
They are, my thoughts and feelings, tempered by experience, which is often the best yardstick to measure life against.
Faced with serious, antisocial behaviour, I have often chosen to pass comment, usually in such a way that, only the perpetrators of the offence are liable to recognise themselves, if indeed they are capable of judging their activities by the yardstick of other people's perceptions.
Early sales figures and feed-back from "Anatomy" have prompted me to write a sequel. I hope "Odyssey" will prove to be a worthy successor and that it will find a niche with those folks who enjoy boats and boating and are open-minded enough to share, another boater's concepts of "life afloat".
If you are a boater, "Good Cruising" if you are dipping into this book out of curiosity or because you've nothing else to read, I hope your appetite will be whetted to find out more.
Somewhere in England
Athene; Anatomy of a Dream.....................Auto-biographical.
The Idylls Of An Unrepentant Romantic......Poetry Anthology.
Poetry Today (Penhaligan Page),
have also included the following poems in Anthologies:
To my love.................................in........."Nothing left Unsaid"
An early start..............................in........."Life"
Contentment of Life Afloat..........in........."Windows of the Soul"
To a Hunting Barn Owl...............in........."A Special Place"
To a Narrowboat Cat.................in........."A World for tomorrow"
Mallards.....................................in........."The Poetry Today Book Of Sonnets"
Love Changes Everything............in........."Poetic Soul"
Pollution......................................in........."Poets in Harmony"
Dawn on The Canal.....................in........."Timeless Rhymes"
"Athene"; The Odyssey Continues, picks up where the previous book left off, with the pair moored at Lichfield. It follows them through two more excitement packed, year-long cruises around England's Waterways.
The quircky style remains the same, new canals are explored and a rich fund of witty anecdotes flow from the author's exuberant pen. The telling quip!, the passionate aside!, the fraught experience!, are all recounted with the intimacy of a fire-side chat. A rich vein of humour pulses through its pages but the writer never shrinks from the serious, heartfelt comments if he is so moved!
"Anatomy" must have been a hard act to follow for a new writer but "Odyssey" picks up the torch and carries the genre to new heights!
Looking for a jolly good read?
Your search is over, this is the book for you! Buy it now!
The author has now retired and the books are no longer available, You may beable to obtain a copy on line from:-
