Non Commodore

As of 9th April 2016 after three years I stood down as Commodore of Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club.  My second venture into the world of volunteering, the first being VSO in Sri Lanka.  Check out http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/ to see what's happening at the club.

NSSC Cadet week 2013, first one as Commodore, the sun shone all week and the wind was enough and not too strong for a change. A successful week for all concerned.

 NSSC Sailing Week 2013, all week on the sea, camping out and parting every night. Over 30 boats of all descriptions racing.  Below the River Race along the Sussex Ouse, Joe and I coming second, great fun.

NSSC Topper Open 2013

London 2012 Games Maker

My stint as a games maker at the Royal Artilliary Barracks, getting up at 4am catching the 5am bus from Crystal Palace for a 5.45am start.  The joys of volunteering, despite the early starts it was a brilliant experience, roll on Rio.  I managed to get tickets for the stadium so experienced the noise from a full house and do the mexican wave.

Rhossili - Cat sitting for last time

Alas Sophie the cat has passed away so my services are no longer needed.  I collected masses of driftwood for Adam, dried by the woodburner.  

Saltburn

Sailing Again

Duardinez
Treburden harbour sill as tide comes in

Sailing again

Alderney, the Zig Zag path
Alderney
Alderney
Alderney, Bray harbour
The Needles Isle of Wight

Cat Sitting in Wales again

Ciaran who I met in Sri Lanka and I at Rhosilli beach, a long walk so you need a pint or two afterwards.

Returned Volunteer

I have just been back through the blog whilst the weather is cold. I get enquiries through VSO about my experience from new volunteers. I have added a few bits about the VSO process and done a bit of housekeeping.

I have put retrospective comment or info in italics I hope that helps, I will continue to add as I think of things.

I hope any new volunteers find the information useful. A big part of the experience is finding out for yourself and everyone is different.

I cannot really go into detail about my placement other than to give general information and to say I had a great time and that I am currently on the VSO books looking to go again for a short term placement.

I am still in touch with lots of the people I met both from VSO and other voluntary organisations.

Red roof

Flying lesson

Took off from Shoreham airport in a PA28 Piper Warrior, we flew along the coast to Beachy Head Lighthouse, inland for a bit and then circled around Seaford taking photo's.

Cherbourg to Newhaven

The journey home, ended up mainly a motor sail as the promised Force 4 wind never appeared. A long day but sunny and calm, not much freight to dodge along the way.

Granville

Very tidal marina, + or - 3 hrs of High Tide. The area outside the Marina sill dries as you can see from the top picture. The first night there a motor boat tried to get out too near to the sill going dry and got stuck on it, made for a nights entertainment.

Ended up here for 2 days due to bad weather, pleasant town some beaches and a tidal pool which I had a swim in. On the way in we sailed through hundreds of jellyfish so I steered clear of the sea.