Dee still running on adrenaline

by Dee Caffari on 20 May 2006 RECEIVED AT 23H11 ON 19TH MAY 2006

Aviva and I have returned to UK waters with a wet and windy forecast, making life generally miserable, however we are so excited with the accomplishment of Thursday and having some company onboard that there is very little that can dampen our spirits. Unfortunately for my three fellow companions onboard, they are experiencing the cold and the wet while I take a break from the constant responsibility for the safety and welfare of Aviva and myself.

It has been fantastic to be looked after while I get the chance to sample the delights of the food and drink that came onto Aviva after the finish line. I feel as if I have not stopped eating since I began raiding the food bags, but there is so much variety that rather than making the decisions it is easier to sample it all. I have indulged myself in cereal with fresh milk, fresh fruit and toast with marmite as well as diet coke and orange squash. I have now even eaten fresh meat and vegetables. The boys have really pulled out the stops with the menu plan but I should have always been confident as the guys were always going to make sure they had enough to eat.

The most surprising thing for all of us is the fact that I still have not had more than one and a half hours sleep. I think it is the adrenaline still running high from yesterday's activities. The boys have all had regular sleeps and have been dozing at every opportunity they have found in between me talking at them. Unfortunately for their eardrums, I have not lost the verbal diarrhoea that ensued since their arrival onboard. I am sure that as I start to calm down and prepare for our arrival into the Solent on Sunday, I shall be able to get some more rest, otherwise I will really be running on fumes.

The problem we have with the terrible weather we are enduring is that it is constantly raining and with four of us getting wet and coming below on a regular basis, Aviva is looking a little messy and damp. The good news to help dry out our clothes and the floor was that I fired up the heating once more and it worked first time.

We will have another fierce day at sea tomorrow and then by Sunday we will be thankful that we have returned to the shelter of the Solent once more.

Dee & Aviva