My universe

I have been on Akka now for 8 weeks! 2 months is a long time to spend in one place and it is strange that I don’t feel locked in. If I had to spend 2 months in a room of about 3m x 5m I would go crazy. But here on Akka I don’t mind at all. Sure enough I move with my room about the archipelago, get off now and again for walks, shopping, sightseeing or just looking around, but it is amazing how that confined space does not fence me in at all.

I notice however, how concentrated my mind is on tiny aspects of Akka. If I had to explain to a visitor the toilet, I could talk for hours. How the light switch is funny and that it sometimes sticks and although you have just operated it nothing happens. How the toilet paper must not be left in the basin while sailing as the water from the down pipe comes up when heeling to port and what the tinfoil is for that is hanging on the back wall. All these tiny things would go unnoticed to a visitor or would be inconsequential to her, but for me these tiny things are my current universe and it is a strange feeling to notice that I don’t mind, that I am actually happy living in that confined space.

I have also noticed how the concept of time has changed. It is the messing about that takes a lot of time but it is essential to do the messing about before you actually do things. The boat is almost 40 years and you want to be careful what you are doing. It should be a solution that lasts, can stand up to the job for another 40 years, and must be done with the tools and spare parts you have on board. Not always easy to achieve and I find it takes a lot of mental attempts to find the right solution before you actually do the job.

A few weeks back I got fed up with the starboard cockpit lid to fall on my head every time I searched for something inside. So I decided to get a piece of string that I could hook over the cleat to prevent the lid from closing. I did not want to drill any extra holes (I hate drilling holes into a boat). It took me 2 hours to attach a piece of string to a bolt!

Glory days!