Paddling with Peter Duck

Two sets of visitors on board PD within a few days of each other. The first were Cassandra Jardine and Martin Pope working on the splendid article in the Daily Telegraph Weekend section which never ceases to amaze. Conditions were really unhelpful and the article is a tribute to their tenacity and professionalism.

The second set of visitors were presenter John McCarthy and Kevin Dawson of Whistledown productions for Radio 4. Conditions this time were ideal: we enjoyed a little row and little chug-chug and then a late afternoon sail - with continuous relaxed, enjoyable conversation.  It's only sad (for me) that their professionalism will be employed into distilling this delightful session into rather less than 5 minutes as PD takes her place in the mini-fleet of Ransome vessels to be featured on the programme. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012wzfl

Must say thanks to John Smith Waldringfield harbourmaster for finding PD a mooring over the busy half term week thus making access so much easier than to our normal muddy home in Kyson.

SSB published

No secret that there have been many set backs and disappointments along the way but this week was dream-come-true time. Ned and Bertie helped me sail Peter Duck to St Katherine's Dock (London) last weekend and this week there was the chance to spend time with many friends old and new, celebrating the official publication of the Salt-Stained Book.  The room's still rocking gently after the final leg of our sail home - left Queenborough (Medway) 0330, back on the mooring at Kyson 1330. Then all the packing and rowing back up river in the POURING rain. Water water everywhere.

http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2011/06/ransomes-days-revisited.html

 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/528938/in-ransome-s-wake

http://www.janneedle.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rose-prince/8582714/Rose-Prince-Children-should-be-given-the-freedom-to-travel-alone.html

S & A - or H & S?

JJ learning to sail. Waldringfield 1959Lots of chatter last week about the new BBC Swallows and Amazons adaptation that has been under discussion for so long. In an effort to catch all consituencies the BBC spokesperson claimed that it would be an antidote to the "health and safety obsessed generation" AND "a white-knuckle action ride". Seems to me that neither of those things bear much relationship to the book. Days are spent doing very little (as holiday days should be) apart from catching a few perch and Ransome is also well aware of safety - as when John realises how stupid he has been tacking through the rocks in the dark. Trumpeting the fact that the children will not be wearing life jackets seems likely to miss the main point.(Which is that safety is not something to be taken for granted. It depends to a great extent on the individual taking responsibility, developing their skills and also being aware of risk. Good, well-maintained equipment also helps.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/may/17/bbc-films-swallows-and-amazons

The Tear-Stained Book

Fabulous appreciation of the Salt-Stained Book by author and sailor Jan Needle. It was sent in an email but we have Jan's permission to quote:

After this brilliant adventure, you managed a heart-warming and tear-inducing ending. It really is a wonderful book.

It’s also a fantastic tribute to Arthur Ransome, and I’m sure he’d have loved it. The sailing is perfect – light touch, technically delightful, and thrilling when it needs to be. The duel between Polly Lee’s junk-rigged wonder, a Mirror dinghy and a moron in a high-speed launch is masterful. The Hullabaloos live on…

 But it’s the children who are the best. Needy, bright and under constant threat by apparently insuperable odds, they have almost no one but themselves to fight their fight. Like Ransome’s children they are doughty, but unlike his, they are up against forces that are modern, dark, and genuinely chilling. Donny and Anna are heart-breakingly real. I’m dying to read the sequel.

If anyone tells you you shouldn’t have done it, tell them to grow up. This book doesn’t detract from Arthur Ransome, it enhances him. I’ve still got the postcard he wrote to me when I was a poor young sailorboy, and his spirit shines through it. After your book, I’m going back to reread his. And any child who liked Goodnight Mr Tom will love it too. It’s terrific.

Jan said that the ending of the SSB almost made him cry - that's nothing to the way Julia felt when she read (and heard) such wonderful words.

The Last Englishman by Roland Chambers

'Divided Loyalties' Julia's review of Roland Chambers's account of Arthur Ransome's time in Russia appeared in the Guardian on Saturday August 15th 2009. We read it it eating water buffalo burgers and icecream at Fairport's Cropready Convention which was a brilliant weekend in deepest Oxfordshire. BIG THANKS to Andy Farquarson for inviting Francis and encouraging him to bring the rest of us along as well. Even Dottie the dog had her first taste of camping and great music from The Churchfitters, Nic Kershaw, Ralph McTell, Richard Thompson (Francis's all time hero) and Fairport Convention themselves. We came home decked in Karma-gear and strumming a ukelele.

But back to Ransome - Claire Armistead's interview with Roland Chambers is a podcast on the Guardian Books website and is very well worth a listen. Click here

Click here to read Julia's review