Sarah's Search for Success

Four Countries in One Day

Happy New Year, and what a great start I had to the New Year, too!  I had the great pleasure of being at the Happy House, where we joined the folk in the town square just before midnight to toast the Austrian New Year in with gluwhein and enjoy the amazing fireworks.  We gradually made our way back to the jacuzzi to toast the UK New Year with bubbly, followed by more fireworks let off by Tony.  Hmmm, rocket smoke and jacuzzi steam - an interesting combination!  And I can testify that you can get 10 people into an 8 person jacuzzi, as long as they're all good friends.  New Years day we had a bit of a lie-in, and skipped the usual rebounding to start with a leisurely breakfast followed by a good film.  Tony and Nicki suggested going to the Czech Republic for breakfast the next day (as you do), which we all thought was a great idea, so early on the 2nd Jan, we headed for the border, only to find that they had some strange rules for the South African member of our party.  Even though she had a Schengen visa, they said she could only come in on transit and would not be able to return the same way.  So we decided to go back via Germany.  Made for a bit of a magical mystery tour and a much longer day, which was entertaining!  Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and back to Austria - four countries in one day - someone ought to write a song about that...?!

Green Greetings!

Instead of sending Christmas cards to everyone this year, I sent eCards and bought a couple of acres of rainforest, as you do.  Last year I did the same, although just the one acre that time - I'm going to see if I can double it each year.  Last years acre was earmarked for the Fundacion Jocotoco Rainforest Project in Ecuador, and it only turned out that my lodger had been there whilst travelling around South America a few years ago, so I even got to see photos - how cool is that?!  This years donation will go to one of the World Land Trust's latest projects in Ecuador, Brazil or India.  One of these days, not too long from now, I plan to spend some time travelling around Central & South America myself, so hopefully I'll get to visit "my" acres, along with working as a volunteer on a conservation project somewhere along the line.

Serious stuff aside, click here for an alternative "Green" greeting *grin*

Have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, a Cool Yule, or whatever you are celebrating even if it's just a break from work for a few days!

Inspiring People

I have just read an article about Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who, at the glorious age of 67, has just set off on the Velux 5 Oceans - the longest, toughest and most dangerous single-handed round-the-world yacht race.  For those of you who don't already know, RKJ was the first person ever to sail single-handed round-the-world back in 1968/1969 (it takes a long time!), winning The Sunday Times Golden Globe.  In fact, he was the only person to complete the race, after 312 days at sea and numerous hair-raising moments.  I read his book about the race many years ago, A World of My Own, which is a great read: RKJ is the master of the understatement to say the least!  As an aspiring sailor at the time I was greatly inspired by RKJ, and although my sailing career was rather brief in comparison, I did manage one ocean crossing in the year or so I lived and worked on yachts, sailing across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to St Lucia in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers.