Happy St Patrick's Day from the bottom of the world!
We may be 10, 000 miles from the green green grass of home but that's no excuse to forget our roots, especially one that involves a party. At 53 degrees south, we are probably the most southerly paddies in the world to be celebrating St Patrick's Day. In true Irish style John and Giles, the two Belfast boys have dressed up in green (not hard on BP Explorer), painted shamrocks on our cheeks, dug out some of the black stuff and have been acting the eejit around the boat - just for the craic, lifting the spirits of the crew as we pass by the bottom of the world.
With our 1.5 kg personal weight allowance, I had been worried how we would be able to bring something to celebrate St Paddy's on the boat. Fortunately for us, some Ozzie leprechauns managed to sneak on board and stash away 6 cans of Guinness, a bottle of Jameson's whiskey and a big bar of Cadbury's hazelnut. A rather modest stash for 18 crew by anyone's standards, never mind the Irish. These are probably the best-travelled cans of Guinness in the world, brewed in Ireland, bought in Oz and savoured somewhere near Antarctica!
We don't have a fridge onboard, but chilling the Guinness was not a problem. At around -2 degrees C below deck, the boat is a fridge! As I sipped my third of a can, I was transported back to the cosy Hillside, my local with all my mates. I know they will be there today, probably drinking a fair amount on my behalf - Slainte everyone, Happy St Patrick's! (Giles)
As expected we have a few plastic paddies onboard. Actually Stephen travels under an Irish Passport and has been there 6 times, so he is more paper than plastic, we will give him honouree status for a day between the 2 true paddies onboard. Then there is Laura whose great-grandparents are from Kilkenny and Warren's grandparents who are from Co. Antrim. Even Goldie made an attempt to become Irish today by donning a fresh pair of green knickers! As for the rest of them, they are all want-to-be Irish, so they can get a sup of the black stuff and a sip of Jamie.
No one really knows what nationality St Patrick was, since he was brought to Ireland as a slave shepherd boy and later upon being freed returned to Christianize Ireland and thus save Christianity for the world. (So rumour has it.) The Italians say he is Italian, the Scots say he is Scottish etc etc, so for one day on BP Explorer, the German, the Italian, the English, the American, the Indian and the South African can all claim a wee bit of St Patrick and celebrate with the warm drink and a good laugh at our situation at the bottom of the world.
Anyway, happy St Patrick's Day to all the paddies in the fleet -we hope the Ozzie leprechauns have left you some gifts as well.
Giles Mackey & John Stewart
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