REFLECTIONS.....

Hi Dave, this is a picture of a male Great White, that is breaching. He has jumped clear out of the water. He is about 4 meters long with a dark grey, almost black top and a small strip of white under-belly. The sea is grey and so is the sky. You can tell he is a male, because on his underside are two claspers, penises, which sit close to his tail. They have two, because sometimes one drops off. I guess oral sex can get a bit dangerous?


It's nearly two weeks since I arrived in Gansbaai and how the time has flown. Every day I have the privilege of seeing one of the most formidable creatures in the ocean. I am usually up at 5.30am -6am and take a gentle stroll to the Great White House [Original!] Then the prep begins for the boat, afterward a quick cup of coffee and once the guests have been briefed, it is time to put on their life jackets and walk to the boat. The life jackets we give them are orange, which the sharks go crazy for. Crew and volunteers get the blue jackets. Suits me. We have been told that if the boat was to capsize or catch fire, that we are to jump over board, interlink arms, wrap our arms around our knees and clasp our hands together and wait, just bob up and down and wait, wait for the 4 meter sharks to notice the bobbing bait and suffer the consequences. I won't be linking arms with a person in an orange life jacket, I will demand to be surrounded by a sea of blue !!

Two days ago, I was in the cage and had the great pleasure of meeting 'Betty', she is a 2.7 meter shark that is very inquisitive and took a great interest in the cage. For the first time, I was able to get a close view of a sharks eye. She came from the left and slowly glided past me, there was definitely something registering in her eye, it was wonderful to see. Another group of volunteers from a rival company were out yesterday and while in the cage, were paid a visit by a small female seal. She had obviously got lost as they were a fair distance from shore and quite some clicks form Dyer Island, which is home to hundreds of seals. She decided that the safest place was inside the cage, so began to huddle close, mainly up against the female volunteers, apparently giving them little kisses as she swam around. The volunteers were just thrilled to have this up, close encounter. However time was running out and it was now time for the skipper to take the boat home. The water was now nicely chummed and the sharks a plenty. The cage was lifted and the little seal forced from her safe haven. She swam around, seemingly safe, then as the engine of the boat [ the electro magnetic pulses for the engines make the sharks a little frisky] was switched on, the water began to stir. The boat moved slowly off, with 25 pairs of eyes glued to this seal and her fate. Then the screaming began. 6 meters below this little girl, who seemed oblivious to her dangerous environment, just happy to interact with some humans, a shadow began to grow in size. The seal turned towards the screaming, clearly thinking she was being appreciated and adored, when Bang! the little seal was no more. The little black bundle, disappeared into the gaping mouth of her nemesis. The blue water turned quickly to red, as nature struck her cruel blow. The teenagers on the boat loved it and cheered, however, I was told that the older folk, the ones who perhaps have started to connect to their own mortality, were less than happy and some even wiped away a few tears.

3 days ago we had the privilege of helping the local kids clean up the beach. We were driven to their school. Fairly basic, though in shape resembling a UK Secondary school. The kids were very shy and I tried my best to make them laugh, singing to them and basically acting like a fool. Don't think I had much impact, which damaged my ego slightly, though served me right. These kids seem bright and when I asked what they would like to do when they got older, most of the answers were, doctors or lawyers, with a few wanting to sing like Beyonce. Wouldn't we all ! The clean up trip lasted about two hours and am pleased to say that the beach we were working at was fairly devoid of litter. Condoms were on the list which I thought a little inappropriate for youngsters to be picking up. None were found. The kids here have a rough time when it comes to education, though in this town a new school has just been built, with much better facilities. However compared to UK schools, they pale into insignificance. I believe the teaching is good, that is if they can keep the pupils at school long enough. There is a massive business in Abolone poaching. 1 kilo of Abalone can fetch 500 rand on the black market, approx 50 pounds. It is possible in a single night trip to pick up over a 1000 kilos. The cut on that is massive and is a massive lure for these kids.

We have some real characters here. Some of the ladies have taken a shine, which has been a little difficult at times, though it may just be my imagination! Some of the men are living in the stone age and skippering the bloody boats !! If anyone raises their voice at me on the boat, I switch off and ignore them, until they change their tone. It seems to work. Was brought up on boats and must be a reaction I learnt at a young age. Though I loved it when dad was screaming at me, as it meant I had all the attention and I could shout back! His bark was worse than his bite. Used to make me giggle, much to his annoyance. We have three crew on board the boat. Two colored guys and one black guy. Warren, Benz and Clarence. Great fellas, who have clocked up some considerable time on the water and know their stuff. Benz enjoys getting me to chum, as it is his job. I am actually getting rather fond of mashing up fish in a bucket and getting my hands and arms covered in the stuff. It fazes me not to finish my chumming, then reach for a fresh cheese and ham sandwich and eat, while stinking of fish. Henne our skipper is delightful, a real gentleman. He did a seaman ship presentation a while ago, and got a little nervous, sweating slightly. It was great to see this responsible tough fella look a little vulnerable. Wanted to give him a hug but thought that might not go down too well. Or tell him about the Paul Ryan anchoring method. Hello Paul. Bollocks !! [sorry, in-joke!]

Being away has brought up different emotions and shadows that I probably wouldn't have given the time to, back in London. So it is not all fantastic. I am enjoying the challenge of this journey and the insights it is showing me. I miss my family and Ollie and of course all my wonderful friends. I have the chance to be with my self and get comfortable with that. It feels good to have been able to give that gift to myself and I hope I become a better man for it.


Well, that is enough writing for today. I will post some pics relating to this entry, hope you all enjoy. I have 10 followers on this site so far, if you are reading, please join them as it is very comforting for me to see who I am writing to.

Love you all and feel blessed to have you in my life. Over and out. xx

PS: Steve, read the beginning of the blog [leaving London] and you'll read who Dave is.