Gladlee of Guernsey

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 Volume 3 Issue 2

         

November 2003

EDITORIAL

Merhaba . . . .    

Welcome to our second edition of this winter and our apologies for the late publication. Social events in the UK just demanded our participation during November.  So as is usual there are lots of things being organised this year, perhaps even more than before and it is great to see so many people giving their time to teach, instruct, help others in such a huge variety of activities. Talking of activities, Christmas is closing in on us rapidly and plans are already underway to ensure another wonderful Christmas in Kemer. We just pity all those that have gone away and will miss our celebrations.

Yet again we would ask any of you out there for contributions to the Kronicle; serious, amusing or educational. Everything will be considered whatever it is. 

Finally, our condolences to Gonul and Hasan on the occasion of the death of Gonul’s father. We hope he is resting in a kinder world.
 
Ron & Julie
‘Gladlee of Guernsey’

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A new bra has been designed in Australia, it is coloured green and gold, has lots of support but no cups!

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Forthcoming Events:

Christmas & New Year
(please sign up as soon as possible)

A weekly list of activities is posted on the notice board.

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Halloween Party –31st October.

Thanks to Ruth and Martha for the great organisation.

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Thought for the Month
Life is circular. And so too is a roll of sellotape. Always let the sellotape stick back on itself between applications. For by so doing, you will enjoy the search for the lost end and you will appreciate that life, too, is circular.
   

The Lost Duck Saga

The yellow plastic bath ducks which escaped from a container in the Pacific, made their way across the North Pole and into the North Sea.  Some of the early arrivals made it to the Tyne where they took part in a children’s competition on the river.  However some of them escaped again and put out to sea towards Norway – they were obviously going to look for their brethren still arriving.

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Pause for Thought

 

Recently our Bosch detail sander broke down. The problem turned out to be the bearing clamps which had broken. Unable to get this repaired here in Turkey we took it back to the UK. Yes it could be repaired but the Bosch design meant that the whole bearing unit had to be replaced. Cost of the new part; £43.50. Plus of course VAT and the cost of doing the repair. Not willing to part with so much beer money we decided to check out the cost of a new sander. An amazing £9.99 which included a pack of sanding sheets normally costing about £5. (Admittedly not a Bosch but identical in design). How do they do this?

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Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other; “Does this taste funny to you?”

 

Guy Fawkes Night

The great English tradition of Guy Fawkes Night was continued again this year with a huge bonfire, excellent pot luck food and a great sing-along to finish the evening.

Many thanks to all those who helped build up the fire in the afternoon. To the marina for providing the wood. To Steve for the sing-along. And finally to everyone for the excellent food.

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Thanksgiving

Not being here for this occasion we regrettably don’t know much about the happenings. Thanks of course to Frank and Tari for the organisation. The Navigator staff for a superb meal (though we hear that the Turkey’s were

 
 
 

a touch on the small side having been bought fully feathered and obviously well ‘puffed out’.

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St. Andrews Day

Everyone seems to have been too busy enjoying the dancing to have taken any photographs of the night. Thanks to all those involved including of course the MC for the night, Tony from Ganymede. We thought it was wonderful that a party had been organised specially for our return from the UK?????

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The Panama Canal
(A future problem)
 
Trouble is brewing for yachties planning to use the Panama Canal in the future. As most of us know this is the only viable sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice versa for small boats. Cape Horn fills most of us with dread and the only other option is trucking across the U.S. Things are however becoming increasingly difficult for yachties with increased bureaucracy, increased fees and considerable delays in obtaining passage approval. Since 1998 the canal has been operated by the Autoridad del Canal de Panama (ACP) which is a government company charged with returning a ‘maximum’ profit. Yacht fees which are obviously significantly less than commercial shipping fees, are not sufficient for ACP to give any form of consideration to us. Although only 40 miles long most yachts to date have stopped half way in the Pedro Miguel Boat Club in the Miraflores Lakes. This is usually because of the time taken to get through the locks at either end. Other services for yachts are the Bilbao Club at the Pacific entrance and the
   
Panama Yacht Club at Christobel at the Atlantic end. Unfortunately the Bilbao club has now received an eviction notice and has nowehere else to go. The Christobel club operates on an annual lease which may not be renewed and yachts have been forbidden to approach the Pedro Miguel Club which will now have to close down.  There is one other club, the Flamingo which is very up-market but only has an anchorage. This anchorage has now also been closed down. No one quite knows why the ACP is taking such action against the yachting community though conspiracy theories abound. All suggestions to date have been ignored and the ACP does not now answer e-mails, letters, phone calls or requests for discussion.
Craig Owings, the Commodore of the Pedro Miguel club at Miraflores now thinks that world wide publicity is the only way left to secure this important waterway for yacht use and is asking all those who have passed through or contemplating passing through the canal should write in complaint to the authorities. The UK’s Cruising Association supports this appeal. A few web site/e-mail addresses follow:
 
ofasin@presidencia.gob.pa
(President Mireya Moscoso, Republic of Panama)
 
valerio@psi.net.pa
Jerry Salazar; Minister of the Canal.
 
aaleman@pancanal.com
Alberto Aleman Zubieta, Administrator of Panama Canal
 
presidencia@asamblea.gob.pa
V. Carlos Alvarado, President, Legislative Assembly of Panama
 
www.pancanal.com
General Canal website
 
commodore@pmbc.ws
Craig Owings e-mail address

 

 

Sea Fare

Hunters Chicken

15g or ½ oz butter
2 tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic – crushed
1 large onion – chopped
180g/6oz mushrooms
2kg/4lb chicken joints
6 rashers of bacon???
175ml/6 fl oz white wine
50ml/2 fl.oz chicken stock  
Tin of Plum Tomatoes
1 large bay leaf
1 tsp dried oregano

Method:

1. Melt the butter with the oil in a flame proof casserole
2. Add the garlic, onion, bacon and mushrooms and fry until cooked through.
3. Add the chicken joints.
4. Stir in the wine, stock, tomatoes, bay leaf and oregano and bring to the boil.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 40-50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
 
Serve with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable of your choice.

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Sunday Outings

White House – Ron, Julie & Trish

Chimera – Ron & Julie

Perge – Chris & Mary

   

Roman Bridge – Trish

Arikanda – Bob & Jean

Thanks to Trish, Chris and Mary for standing  in for Ron & Julie during their trip to the UK and for Bob & Jean who were somewhat ‘indisposed’ for a time.

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Self Service Laundry

After the initial problems with the self service laundry facility it is nice to see that things are now well and truly sorted out. Two washing machines and two dryers available for our use. Many thanks to the Marina Management for the provision and upgrade of this important facility. And of course to Brigitte for co-ordinating things.

 

 

   

CAPTION COMPETITION 

Not sure about Hasan’s idea for the new staff uniform!!

(Can you do better?)

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Beware – New Island

Currently unseen 8 metres under the surface.  An eruption of lava will solidify and soon emerge as a new hazard to shipping.  Last seen in 1831 when it spread outwards five kilometres wide and sixty-five metres high.  Known as Graham Bank and to be found off the tip of Ferdinandea – approximately 20 miles off the Sicilian coast. 

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SOLAS
What is SOLAS you might ask. Well it actually stands for ‘Safety of Life at Sea’ and refers to an international treaty signed by members of the International Maritime Organisation, a branch of the United Nations which includes all the world’s seafaring nations. Chapter five of the treaty refers to Safety of Navigation and includes details of procedures and equipment. Most of the requirements initially applied only to ships however in the year 2000 chapter five was re-written and many of the requirements now apply to yachts. Although each ‘Flag-State’ was allowed to have exceptions for some of the requirements, there are however minimal rules that apply. Basically these are as follows;
 
 

Passage Planning: There must now be prior-planning for every passage seawards and the following should be considered; The weather – get a forecast and plan to get regular updates on the way. The Tides – Check the tides and make sure your plans fit in with them. Limitations of the vessel – Consider whether your boat is really up to the trip planned and that it is suitably equipped. Limitations of the crew – Are you and your crew sufficiently fit and experienced to undertake the trip.  Navigational dangers – Think about the dangers you may be near. This needs an up to date chart and a good pilot book and almanac. Contingency plan – Consider bolt holes for weather, damage, illness etc. Contact ashore – Make sure someone ashore knows your plans.

Most of the above is just plain common sense to most of us but bear in mind that the above is now law! 

Another part of the treaty calls for all boats, including yachts, to fly a radar reflector at all times where practicable. A permanent fixture is obviously better – fit and forget.

Life Saving Signals must be able to be recognised not only by the skipper but also by the whole crew.

Misuse of Distress Signals.  Seems to be somewhat unnecessary but obviously has proven to be so. Basically don’t send up a red flare unless you require immediate assistance; not even for your birthday. Don’t press the red button on your GMDSS or play with the EPIRB similarly. If you do either accidentally then call the local coastguard and let them know. They will/should be pleased not angry.

Please note that the above rules may differ slightly in each country and should also be taken as ‘minimum’ requirements.

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Fat of the Land

Did you know that the Earth has got fatter round the middle over the last 4 years after getting thinner for the previous 19.  Thinning was thought to be due to melting ice-caps reducing weight on the poles but no one seems to have a theory about the fattening.

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Congratulations

Look closely. The very small print says “from everyone in Wales”. Now look closely at the photograph. Is this humour or just simple jealousy??

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SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers  license.
At age 20 success is . . . having sex.
At age 35 success is . . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 60 success is . . . having sex.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.

 

 

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