Race 5 - Day 13
Crew Diary - Race 5 -Day 13
04 January

Philip Siddle
Philip Siddle
Team Qingdao
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Conversation Hour

Hi All,

I’m writing this blog sitting in the galley while our Mothers Frankie and Keith prepare lunch, or should I say galley slaves, Keith wearing a crash helmet and Frankie looking like all he wants to prepare is Chinese 2 minute noodles not the fare that is getting whipped up in very trying conditions, with the wind blowing 30 knots outside and a hot northerly. The temperature below is hitting 40 degrees plus, with yours truly creating puddles of sweat on the Dell laptop, I suppose we will find out how good these things are! Back to the title of the blog ‘conversations’, I think back at the conversations we had on board when we first joined the Clipper Race and how polite and proper they were as we got to know our new friends and now the level and subjects of the conversations has wildly shifted. As we get to know our new friends on a different level, I have said to a number of people as they commence to tell one of their life stories that I promise not to tell anyone, but it's the people that I tell that let me down so badly but they are all willing to have the most amazing and funny stories, especially when the weather is more benign.

It really is the people that make this trip what it is and how you all bond together for a common goal, if that's getting to the next pub in one piece or pushing yourself and your watch to achieve that little extra, everyone has their reasons for doing the race.

Enough rambling, a big shout out to my beautiful wife Karen who has whipped up the Qingdao supporters into a frenzy with a big contingent coming to Airlie for the next pub crawl, I mean stopover. To my boys and partners and grandson Carter, Grandad is coming very soon to give you the biggest hug that you have had in your short life love and miss all.xx

Phil.