Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

Tara has been a joy and light at the University for the last umm 3 years. Unfortunately, if you see what I mean, she has submitted her thesis and will move on down the road. I mourn her passing. Tara … Continue reading →

So, not much to say in this little text other than this has been a glorious weekend. I have spent it outside. Just wandering around but above all gently nurturing the Scaffie back to top condition. This will be a … Continue reading →

Before Ben leaves we take the Scaffie out of the water for her winter refit. She needs lots of Teak Oil, sanding, varnishing, scrubbing and general love. Don’t we all. We sail the Scaffie to the best harbor in the world, … Continue reading →

So the car goes in for its road fitness test. You will remember that this takes place every two years in Japan. The test is called the Shaken after Welsh 80’s pop star Shakin Stevens. Ben leaves – boo hoo, … Continue reading →

Oh no ! Ben is about to leave. I take a day off and we go diving. First we go to Sunabe and generally burble about amidst the amazing soft corals as what is found there We then go for … Continue reading →

So in honor of Jonah Lomu, Ben and I order a whole lot of food from the amazing: http://baticrom.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=20 This is Aladdin’s Cave. You can get what you want.  We want meat. Japanese food is wild but from time to time, … Continue reading →

Ben has no mastery over the Sun. In fact I would suggest that the Sun has mastery over Ben. The last time he was here he went diving on the first day and this happened. This time around he has … Continue reading →

Foul bottom. Well, yes, I know, but I am actually I am talking about the Scaffie. She has been in the sea since April and her bottom has attracted a lot of attention.  It is befouled with weed, slime, parasites, … Continue reading →

“No sun—no moon! No morn—no noon— No dawn— No sky—no earthly view— No distance looking blue— No road—no street—no “t’other side the way”— No end to any Row— No indications where the Crescents go— No top to any steeple— No … Continue reading →

In Okinawa you cannot buy gasoline in a plastic container. You have to have an expensive metal tank. This used to annoy me but what can you do?  As this narrative continues the logic for this will be revealed. The … Continue reading →