Whilst this is something of a melodramatic Victorian view of the world, there are aspects of it that sum up for us where things are. Have a safe, peaceful and happy Christmas and mat 2011 be better than 2010. Cheers Sailor All day we fought the tides between the North
Head and the South,
 All day we hauled the frozen sheets to scape the
 storm’s wet mouth,
 All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and
 dread,
 For very life and nature we tacked from head
 to head.
 We gave the South a wider berth, for there the
 tide-race roared;
 But every tack we made we brought the North 
Head close aboard:
 We saw the cliffs and houses and the breakers 
running high,
 And the coastguard in his garden, his glass
 against his eye.
 The frost was on the village roofs as white as 
ocean foam;
 The good red fires were burning bright in every
’long-shore home;
 The windows sparkled clear and the chimneys 
volleyed out;
 And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel
 went about.
 The bells upon the church were rung with a
mighty jovial cheer;
 For it’s just that I should tell you how (of all days
in the year)
 This day of our adversity was blessed Christmas
 morn,
 And the house above the coastguard’s was the
 house where I was born.
 And well I knew the talk they had, the talk that 
was of me,
 Of the shadow on the household and the son that
 went to sea;
 And, oh, the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind
o f way,
 To be here and hauling frozen ropes on blessed 
Christmas Day. Robert Louis Stevenson ... View more