¡puɐlɐǝz ʍǝu ɯoɹɟ ʎoɥɐ

[anteros_lmc]

Hello from The Far Side Of the World!

Arrived safely in New Zealand last weekend. I still can't figure out exactly how many days I spent on that damn plane but I did remember to text sarlania when I passed through Melbourne. I spent most of the flight watching Pirates of the Caribbean films on the basis that they were the only thing on offer with boats and sailors in; and reading charliecochrane's Lessons in Power which I thought was excellent.

Since arriving in the Bay of Plenty I have done a great deal of nothing. The main reason for this trip was to let daughter spend time with family so we haven't really done any traveling, we did the big tour down to South Island last time we were here anyway. Highlights of the holiday so far have been the gorgeous view of the Pacific from FiL's farm, daughter's birthday party, wine tasting at the local winery, and the discovery of an antique print shop with the most eclectic collection of prints I've ever seen. Partner and I spent a very dusty afternoon rifling through the collection and came away with a fine collection of boaty pictures and some very fetching prints of men in breeches. We also went to see a Super 14 rugby match tonight, the Hamilton Chiefs played the Natal Sharks in torrential rain on over on the west coast. It was a pretty scrappy game given that neither team could hang on to the ball because it was so wet but it was very entertaining to see some proper kiwi rugby and both teams had pretty players.

Low point of the trip has been mosquitos, sandflies and weird family dynamics, but the less said about that the better.

Age of sail related landmarks are few and far between here though I did spot a farm called Archie's Orchard just up the road and the 50 cent peice has a lovely image of Endeavour on it. Otherwise that's it. I haven't been idle though! I've fnsihed reading Escape from France which is amazing and inspiring and Flying Colours which is less so :/ and I've also written one and a half fics which I'll inflict on you when I get back.

I've only got occassional internet access here but I have managed to keep an eye on LJ and was imensely entertained by esmerelda_t's post about dreams on following_sea. I very rarely remember dreams of any kind and the only Hornblower character I have ever dreamt about is Mr Bush! (wtf?!) But what do you know, last night I actually dreamt about Horatio and Archie!! I was below deck on a ship with them, Horatio was doing up his jacket with Archie standing behind him, the ship lurched and I caught Archie round the waist to stop him from stumbling. They were both wearing 1920's style uniform jackets but still looked very smart. When I went up on deck the dream had turned into a film which partner and I were watching. I asked partner what had happened to Archie and he said he'd been eaten by a crocodile (!) The end. Don't even begin to analyse that one ;)

Hope you guys are all well, miss you all and will look forward to catching up properly when I get home.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_likimeya/]

*waves* I hope you'll be all right in spite of all the blood that's rushing into your head right now. ;)

I don't think Archie was eaten by a crocodile. Your partner killed him out of jealousy, which, I'm sure, reflects your subconscious(?) feeling of guilt about spending so many hours fangirling over Archie. *dr freud*

[joyful-molly.livejournal.com]

It must be terribly exhausting to stand on your head all day! :-D Enjoy your time in NZ, and return safely! *hugs*

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Safe travels and enjoy NZ! (And Flying Colours in spite of the sad aspects.)

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

How on earth did you do that upside-down text effect??? (Yes, this is the first thing I ask, of all questions!)

Glad you made it to the far side of the world safely. Were there any line-crossing celebrations when you reached the equator? :) It sounds exhausting to be on a plane that long, I'm impressed you didn't go mad from boredom. Although if wine tasting, a rugby match, and the discovery of a print shop qualify as "a great deal of nothing," I would very much like to do that kind of nothing! :D

Interesting dream ... *puts on Wise Dream Interpreter Face* Clearly, it means that you are afraid to lose the things you value, as shown by a) you catching Archie when the ship lurched and b) Archie later getting eaten by a crocodile. Evidently Archie is something you wish to save or preserve! (Well ... who wouldn't?)
... I've been interpreting a lot of my friend's dreams lately; hence the compulsive analysis! (Even though you did say "don't even begin to analyse" ... whoops.)

Have a lovely time on the rest of the trip; hope you get some travel in and get to that Maritime Museum! :)

[shezzawatto.livejournal.com]

If you're upside down, I've got the blood rushing to my feet. Currently hanging around Vancouver airport with hubby waiting for connecting flight at start of 7 week commission (Canada, France, fleeting visit to UK, Ireland then home via Singapore). My body clock says it's 4 in the morning. The clock here says it's 10 AM the same morning I left. All of us in Aus & NZ can really relate to the long haul flight thing. It's reality for us wherever we want to go.
Glad you're having a good time.
PS Love the subject line! Wery impressive.

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

Very impressive indeed - but aware you have such talent in that regard as many others.

Hope you will get to see just in passing that one of 'our' middies histories is now up on Following Sea - don't expext you to read it at this point in time however- reading upside down can cause grevious symptoms!

Mr Bowles and the Captain have had the charts out as they thought they might sail over to find you and provie an escort home...

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Glad you're having fun.