Ellen Macarthur Trust

Back in Blighty

Back in Blighty
 
After seven weeks out of the country, we touched down at Gatwick at 0930 this morning (Monday 18th).  British Airways went out of their way to give us a great homecoming, including seating us in Business Class for the overnight flight back from Antigua - first time in my life that I've laid out flat on a plane to go to sleep, a surreal, but most welcome experience. Then at a freezing cold Gatwick this morning, I was met by Lucy and Kate from my PR agency KTB and by Mike from my Mar/Comms agency, Slipstream Studio - thank you guys for getting up so early on a Monday morning, it was great to see some familiar smiling faces. After a quick photoshoot with some BA Ambassadors to celebrate my homecoming as a winner of the BA Great Britons award, it was off for a lovely lunch at the Albermarle Hotel (Lancashire Hot Pot for me) before making our way to our hotel here in Shepherds Bush in readiness for a BBC Breakfast appearance at 0845 tomorrow morning - don't forget to set your VCR's or whatever they are called these days.
 
Since my last blog written in the BVI, I've had an eventful few days, the highlight of which was on Friday night, last week.  At a reception at Government House, Tortola, held to celebrate the Atlantic crossing, the Premiere (like our PM but more laid back), the Honorable Ralph O'Neal announced that he had personally given his approval, with the unanimous support of his Cabinet and the Governor, David Pearey, that Elaine, Tim and I each become Honorary "Belongers" (citizens) of the British Virgin Islands, an honour previously only bestowed upon two other persons, one being Lawrence Rockerfeller. It came as a complete surprise and the significance was not lost on me. It is a HUGE honour. My visit to the Virgin Islands was quite timely and I hope it has helped to raise awareness and open a debate on issues regarding disabled people in the BVI in general, as well as help to raise awareness of the wonderful disabled sailing programme run by Colin and Alison Bramble. Coming from a country with a more developed infrastructure for disabled people and, dare I say, more enlightened attitudes to people with disabilities, I sense the frustration of a few committed people in the BVI who are trying to bring about change and change attitudes, both in education and recreational activities, despite tackling ingrained attitudes, particularly attitudes concerning the integration of disabled people and non-disabled peoplefs - I saw so many wonderful, well meaning people on the islands and identified many opportunitues where, with a little more resources, change can and will happen for the benefit of the entire community - it would be great to think that my visit to the BVI has left enough of a legacy whereby it benefits the lives of disabled people throughout the islands - and perhaps I can help personally in that respect if needed - I certainly intend to monitor the situation and do what I can to help.
 
 
Earlier that day, I was taken SCUBA diving by Mike Rowe and his latest Dive Master, Megan, on the simply jaw-droppingly beautiful Cooper Island CLICK HERE (where we got to meet new owner Colin and his lovely family) - it was the first time I had SCUBA dived since my accident so overcoming the fear of breathing underwater was not easy - it went against every fibre in my body, especially as previous face-down in the sea escapades have necessitated a degree of breath-holding skill for life preservation, if nothing else.  It was great to feel weightless for so long and to just relax in the warm sea water, getting up close to the marine life and enjoying a long-overdue bath. A hearty lunch of rum punch, conch fritters and chicken roti left me only a few blinks away from an inpromtu afternoon snooze but the rough jouney back across the Drake Channel was enough to re-awaken me from my soporific snooziness.  It will come as no surprise to regular blog-readers to learn that I spend 28 days crossing the Atlantic with long spells without a puff of wind but I arrive in the BVI, it rains nearly every day and then, the day we decide to go SCUBA diving, it blows 20 knots + and visibility is so bad due to the rain, planes can not even land on neighbouring Beef Island. Is it me?????
 
Will sign off now. Elaine been dispatched to Chinese take-away - mmm, chicken curry and chips!!!!!!  I've been dreaming of this for a long time, I hope it lives up to the expectation.  Thanks for all your messages.