Discover life: The diversity of topics

Was I alive today?

Yes!

What new things have I discovered about life?

We moved the boat today (for landlubbers: we moored it somewhere else). This is better for the winter, as it saves us having to walk long distances, which always carry the risk of slipping and hurting oneself. I am very grateful that the Boat manufacturer which made it possible before winter – with the first major storm, Xaver, looming tomorrow.

By the way, I’ve learnt a bit about ship rigging and now know what a spring is (a Mooring line, (which keep the boat steady lengthways) – there is a bow line and a stern line (one at the front, one at the back), which are positioned so that the boat cannot „drift“ forwards or backwards. On Saturday, I want to learn a few basic knots so that I can manage more on my own later on.

What new things have I discovered about myself?

I love it when I have to get to grips with a wide variety of topics. Two days ago, I had a long chat – about an hour – with Helge, who’s currently doing some building work on board, about the correct height for urinals – because that’s important when planning the ship’s toilets. I learnt a whole host of new things about men’s urination habits – a subject I hadn’t really given much thought to before.

And then I’ve been reading a lot about Coco Chanel – because this spring I’ll be publishing a short biography of this fascinating woman as part of our ‘World-Changers’ series. She was the daughter of a pedlar – and went on to play a decisive role in shaping 20th-century fashion.

Urinals and Coco Chanel – an intriguing mix of themes – I love it!