The Unintentional Mariner

I think I mentioned earlier that we had acquired another boat?  A big old ex-fishing vessel, the erstwhile Fundy Explorer was gifted to us because her owners (the GC’s young cousin and his business partner) were, I’m sure, too embarrassed to actually accept payment for this mouldy old scow.  My clear vision of her peeling… Continue reading Mostly harmless

  It’s a year today that we sailed in to St Pierre; ushered by dolphins and with the air clear, clean and crisp. Looking back on the year I can now see that winter is in fact the natural state of these islands.  Like Oman in reverse, where a few short days of glorious chill… Continue reading An Island Year

It really is quite odd, I know, that I keep turning up in Germany.  The reason is that my horse is there; and the reason for THAT … well, it’s at least a four year story. Probably the story really started 10 years ago when I bought A’bientot in Jordan – a whim of a… Continue reading A Horse’s Tale …

OK first up; I’m going to warn you that if you are sqeamish about meat, or blood, or are a vegan or anything like that, this is NOT a post you’re going to want to read.  So go away now and don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. I have to admit to being a… Continue reading Rabbit Redux

Of course as a tiny island the whole story of human occupation of St Pierre is about sailors; fishermen and their families.  From the earliest summer visits by the Mic’maq to the cod fishermen of the 16th century it has been the sea and what it can give that created the entire raison d’etre for… Continue reading Une femme de St Pierre

I have been meaning to post about walking in St Pierre for the longest time and somehow other things get in the way.  As the vast majority of the island is both wild and totally accessible by foot, walking is one of the (admittedly very few) of the so called tourist attractions and there are… Continue reading Walking on Sunshine

I’m feeling just slightly chuffed because Artemis has called to ask for my apple jelly recipe!  Not just because it was good and she wants to make it; but because it’s a very special apple tree that made that jelly. We have a block of land that overlooks Ile aux Marins and the harbour; on… Continue reading Totes Jelly

So; I live in a place where my hairdresser (who has perfectly foiled highlights and beautifully manicured nails, of course) brings me a hostess gift of confit lapin when she comes to dinner. That she hunted herself, on Miquelon. I’ve always known that Artemis was a dedicated huntress. Our first dinner invitation; on our first… Continue reading The Hunting Hairdresser

There is something terribly strange about flying the same amount of miles in a few hours that it took you six weeks to sail, it really messes with your head.  I’m not sure if it’s a return to the real world or absolutely the opposite; a descent back into madness.  Either way, sitting in that… Continue reading Deutschland, Deutschland ..