EPL WIP (Work In Progress) Part II

Hi Everyone,

Tony has been kind enough to share another picture, this time showing the now completed interior with cushions on the bunk bed and Jessica's pink and white "coconut ice" box over the methylated spirits container (for the stove).

So far, Colette has confirmed 6 March for the dinner. If any of you do have a problem with this date, I am sure we can work around it.

Cheers

Jonathan

Jessica's EPL Immortalised !

Hello All,

I am very excited to share this picture with all of you. Tony passed it along and with his permission, I am posting it.

This picture shows you how far Tony has progressed with the EPL model. Notice how detailed it is. Tony has even made a tiny stove replica and he has said that although the cabin will be enclosed in the finished product, he will still complete the inside down to the last detail.

I can tell you that this model will be absolutely top class. It will be all the more meaningful given that Tony has built it from scratch (not a kit from a model store).

Re the Vics dinner, lets firm up a date. May I suggest the 6th of March. If everyone is agreeable, we can decide on a venue.

Cheers

Jonathan

Jessica's Drive Through Car Wash - Entry Price? Two Bluefins !

Hello Everyone,

I thoroughly enjoyed Jessica's blog today and had a chuckle at her car wash analogy.

I'm guessing that prevailing winds are slowing her down somewhat and at a leisurely 3 kt ground speed, she travels 30-40 kts less than her average 112 kts per day. Additionally, she's a bit off track, so really, its still hard to get a decent ETA.

I was flying over Westernport Bay this morning and was fascinated with the mirror calm water. You could actually see a very clear and detailed reflection of the sky (or in this case, clouds). I know Jess experienced something similar near the Equator. Of course, this area is protected by that large chunk of rock called French Island ! French Island is actually quite pretty and if you ever want to have some alone time, thats where you go. The resident population is said to be less than 100 people.

I'm looking forward to the Vics get together.

Cheers (and beers)

Jonathan

There's No Stopping the Jess-a-holics (and some more Dubai Pics) !

Hello All,

I arrived late last night from Dubai and its great to be home to the Land of the Blue Skies and Puffy White Clouds !

I got stuck into work today and had no time at all until I got home to find that things have changed on Jess' site. After looking at all the comms from Andrew, I believe that the "blackout" is only technical and that it will be fixed by tomorrow our time (or today if some of us read this the next day) and that all will be well.

Its incredible how close all of us are to this wonderful young lady and like most worrying parents, aunties and uncles, a day of no communication gets our heart rates up and our worry hats on.

So to get us into a more relaxed frame of mind (vertigo sufferers excluded !), please indulge me while I post a few more pictures of Dubai, this time taken from the "Burj Khalifa", the worlds tallest building. We were only 2/3 up at about 600m (~2000ft) at the observation deck.

Some of us have been communicating with each other as well as writing on this blog and its good to know that there are bonds of friendship crystalising and if not anything else, we certainly are enjoying each others company.

Cheers

Jonathan

Jessica Officially Homeward Bound (....and Some Images of New and Old Dubai)

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe how quickly Jess has reached midway up the Atlantic, or is it just the days passing by quickly? It just occurred to me that at the very start of Jessica's adventure, I knew next to nothing about sailing, although I was always fascinated by it. Talk about flying and you can't stop me ! After meeting some of you experts, I now have a rudimentary understanding of what its all about.

It is such a pleasure to see how well organised we are and how nicely the trip is taking shape.

By the looks of it, Jessica will be back in Sydney early to mid May so nailing down accommodation and flight bookings looks like being a moving target until possibly March. Any thoughts on how best to get an ETA window?

Cheers

Jonathan

PS : Here are some images of new and old Dubai. The picture showing the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building is against other buildings about a mile in front of the BK. These buildings are about the height of the Rialto or Eureka Tower in Melbourne so that gives you some perspective. The BK is about 2,800 ft tall ! The other pics are taken in a historic section of Dubai showing the original desert architecture.

Jessica - Half Way Across the Atlantic !

Hello from sunny but cool Dubai,

I have read with interest comments from most of you and its really great that we are so protective over Jess. The good news is that we are all in a positive realm and moving forward with the very exciting Sydney trip.

To all first timers on this blog from near and far, a very warm welcome. We hope to see all of you in Sydney.

Sam, that spa idea sounds great but could be expensive in Sydney. I will have a talk to my wife who I am visiting in Dubai at the moment (she is here on a consultancy contract with a large hotel chain). I know she has an associate in Sydney who can point us in the right direction.

Tony, when I return on 8 Feb, I would like to meet you somewhere on the peninsula and Sam, I am in Perth on 11 Feb for the day only (on business) and if you have a bit of time, I would like to catch up to have a chat about the trip.

Cheers

Jonathan

Australian of the Year?? What about Australian of the decade, or even the century !

G'Day to All My Fellow Jess-a-holics,

I couldn't be feeling any prouder of our intrepid, courageous and incredible Jessica Watson. I have this great sense that we are living history.

Jess has not only caught our imagination but has entered our lives in an incredibly profound way. She is the girl next door, an everyday Australian with extraordinary capabilities who not just thought and dreamt about doing something, she is actually doing it.

At age 52, I am a strong believer in the fact that life's too short and from a personal point of view, I have embarked on a few much delayed things that I have always wanted to do. But it pales in comparison to what this young lady is accomplishing.

I thought I would start a new string in tribute to Jess' accomplishments to date and I would like all of you to join me in paying tribute to Jess in your own personal and special way.

Bruce (Watt), Thank you for watching over Jess the way that you are. I am glad Andrew has responded well and deleted the negative responses.

As to some progress with the Sydney trip, I have a T Shirt supplier already engaged and will receive a quote in a few days. By all estimates, each T will cost no more than $10 each after printing on the designs and names/tags. You can imagine the retail margins on similar quality T shirts that sell for upto $50 and sometimes even go into the 3 figures if it is branded !

I understand some of the challenges we may face getting on a boat to greet her at the heads but lets continue to keep that idea alive and look at various ways to approach the issues.

I am travelling overseas from this Thursday until 4 Feb. Not that that will prevent me from checking in here and on Jess' blog every day ! I'll find a a way !

Cheers

Jonathan