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Women on the Water

2/28/2018

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SisterShip Magazine

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First launched thirty years ago, SisterShip Magazine has been taken out of drydock, refitted, and is now ready to set sail. Our team has been busy in the ‘shipyard’ and we are about to untie the lines. We would love you to join us on our voyage!
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Our website will be revealed soon, follow us on FB to receive up-to-the-minute events. Issue one is well on its way - here's a taster, straight from our wonderful contributors.
You will laugh and you will cry - bring tissues!


What would you like to see in SisterShip Magazine?
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Connections Across The Globe

2/16/2018

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A lady from  Lake George, New York, wrote to me the other day with a thank-you.

I find it extraordinary, especially when I am tucked away in a rural hide away on the far south coast of NSW, Australia. 
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What is more incredible, is that she found something on my blog from years ago that helped her son. 

Here's what she wrote:

My son has been a scout for about a year and a half now. He has became a great leader and has learned so many life skills already. His scout leader just started a section on knots, and Jacob’s father realized he is struggling with the boating knots. My husband, who was a scout many many years ago,  asked me to look up some good web pages to help him, help Jacob. I was pretty shocked with how many knots he remembered. Haha. I came across your page (https://jackieparry.com/links-2/) which had ways to tie and was a huge help.

Jacob and my husband found this page(https://www.hmy.com/a-scouts-guide-to-boating-knots) with so many different types of knots, and ways to tie them. It gives a wide variety of common knots, how knots are used on boats, boat safety, and tons more of great information! Jacob and his father asked me to tell you how much of a help that both these pages were, and that you should add the second one to your page! It helped my family and ton, and can maybe help other scouts having a hard time. (:
Thanks again for the help! 


Isn't that grand? Thank you Marie for the lovely message and the back-story too, I wish Jacob all the success in the world - it's amazing where beginnings such as knot-tying can take you.

I regularly receive beautiful messages about my books, and I know that thousands of people read my website each week - but to receive a thank-you with a story attached is a wonderful gift and appreciated.

I wonder who else my website has helped?
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Happy NUDE Year!

1/2/2018

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Yeah, I want to strip!
​
No, no, not me…. Uuwegghhh!
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Strip back what ​New Year means!
My timeline has been full of lovely (and appreciated) New Year well wishing.

But for me it’s different.
Well, in this case, it’s not different.
​
What?
Okay, let me start again – the inspirational thoughts for a new year are my thoughts every day.
They don’t change because December turns in to January and 2017 flips over to 2018.

Every day I try to live by grace, inspire, motivate, and encourage.

Every day, I am:
  • following my dreams
  • having a fantastic life
  • the happiest I have been – ever….
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My boys came home.
So, there is nothing new to do… except, to look back on what I’ve achieved:
  • Sold our Dutch barge
  • Moved back to Australia from Europe
  • Co-founded a new exciting business (launch coming soon!)
  • Got my boys back
  • Moved onto our land we purchased several years ago
  • The land was completely bare, so we’ve
  •                 Installed a site office
  •                 Built a shed
  •                 Built a barn (after taking it down first from another location)
  •                 Installed a container
  •                 Started building our house (house design/drawing plans)         
  •                 Built three big vege patches
  •                 Installed water tanks, plumbing, electricity
  • Sold lots of books
  • Did a successful talk at The Gathering (Women Who Sail Australia)
  • Sat on the panel (and had a great time) at The Gathering
  • ​Started designing merchandise
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At The Gathering with lovely friends, Shelley and Linda.
  • Wrote a navigation course (coming on line soon)
  • Started writing two new books (both on hold!)
  • There’s more… but I can’t remember… feeling a bit tired! ;_-)​
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Joe joined our family (and survived a horrid injury!)
​I wish you all a healthy and happy life…. every day.
I know my limits, I choose to ignore them. T-Shirt
I know my limits, I choose to ignore them. T-Shirt
by UnravelTravel
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Travelling Bibliophiles

10/22/2017

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Many travellers become bibliophiles - the smart ones that is.

I've recently connected with a lovely couple, Scott and Ally who are embarking on a new adventure.

​Bet you can't guess what it is...

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They are documenting their journey as "new boaters, but already they own a wealth of information.

Take a look - their website is fun and informative.

As with all people who are brave enough to catch their dreams, I wish them fair winds and following seas.
Don't follow your dreams - CATCH them!
Don't follow your dreams - CATCH them!
by UnravelTravel
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Navigation - Paper Charts or Electronic Charts?

9/19/2017

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I've read a few sailing forums recently where people say "paper charts are unnecessary."
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As a commercial skipper who's worked internationally, a recreational sailor (circumnavigating the planet one-and-a-half times, plus many inland waterways), and maritime teacher, I'd like to explain why you shouldn't just rely on electronic equipment AND why it is prudent to have several options.
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Extract from Cruisers' AA (Accumulated Acumen):

GPS (Global Positioning System) - Errors

GPS contains errors and therefore your position should always be checked via other methods.
Errors that occur within the GPS unit:
  • Systematic: Some errors are caused by the changing satellite geometry. This is called Dilution of Precision (DOP). For a three-dimensional fix, you need four satellites. Ideally, one of the satellites should be directly overhead, with the other three separated by 120 degrees of azimuth. An arrangement other than this ideal situation will cause DOP inaccuracy. A good value of HDOP (Horizontal DOP) is between two and four, values in excess of this size are of poor accuracy - you can check the values on the GPS.
  • Environmental errors: Moisture and salt in the air, poor weather conditions or lightning.
  • Ionospheric delay: Signals from satellites bend on entering the ionosphere (aka refraction) and their speed varies. (The ionosphere is the outer region of the Earth's atmosphere).
  • Multipath error: A satellite signal may be reflected off the water, or off metal objects on board your vessel. This may cause the GPS receiver antenna to receive the signal by two or more paths.
  • Receiver errors: Mismatch of satellite signals.
  • Selective Availability: SA is the military’s ability to scramble the GPS readings. At the time of writing, the USA is not scrambling the signal (the SA was turned off in 2000). DGPS (Differential GPS) was developed to reduce SA.
 
Common errors in using the GPS:
  • Offset: The main position fixing error occurs when using the GPS in combination with older charts. The correct offset from the chart needs to be applied to the GPS reading (see ‘Chart Errors’ earlier in this section for full details).
  • Ensure your GPS settings match the spheroid of your chart. The GPS operates on a spheroid called World Geodetic Spheroid 84 (WGS84). In the past, charts have been based on various spheroids, e.g., Australian Geodetic Datum 1966 (AGD66): You must check your chart to find out whether it is based on WGS84 or AGD66 and set your GPS accordingly.
  • Magnetic or True: You can select Magnetic or True settings for bearings and courses. Ensure you have selected your preferred setting before completing these calculations. (See ‘True to Compass or Compass to True’ under Charts, earlier in this section.)
  • Measurements: Are you reading statute miles or nautical miles for distance? Check your unit is set to nautical miles.
  • Measurements: Are you reading knots for speed? Ensure your GPS is set correctly.
  • Measurements: To reduce errors, check your GPS is set to degrees, minutes and decimals of a minute instead of seconds - to match your charts.
  • Location: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mounting your GPS. Obstructions can affect the signal and the GPS unit can affect the ship’s compass.
  • Input Errors: Double check the co-ordinates that have been inputted into the GPS. Ask someone else to read and check the numbers too.
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​Electronic charts: are fantastic, but they can have errors. They are an aid to navigation and should not be completely relied upon. Use electronic charts in conjunction with paper charts. You could lose your electronic charts with a flat battery or lightning strike, but you won’t lose your paper charts this way.
Zooming right in to every area may reveal all reefs and obstructions. BUT not zooming in enough may hide them. (We used two version of electronic charts as a backup/double check - at times they were spot on, other times they were off by a worrying distance.
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Paper Chart Errors
Chart Errors: If you are using very old charts you may find that the GPS co-ordinates put you on an island. In this case, the GPS is more accurate than the chart. All positions will need to be offset by the amount given in the title of the chart. Every modern chart will have a note stating whether the GPS co-ordinates can be plotted directly or an offset is to be followed. This is a good example that, shows that you must check all the information provided on the chart very carefully.
 
For example (1): Chart AUS 252 Whitsunday Group. Under the chart title it states:
 SATELLITE DERIVED POSITIONS
Positions obtained from the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the WGS 1984 Datum can be plotted directly onto this chart.
 
Example 2: Chart AUS 802 Cape Liptrap to Cliffy Island, states:
 
Positions are related to the Australian Geodetic Datum (1966)
(see SATELLITE DERIVED POSITIONS Note).
 
Next to title it states:
 
SATELLITE DERIVED POSITIONS
Positions obtained from the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the WGS 1984 Datum must be moved 0.09 minutes SOUTHWARD and 0.08 minutes WESTWARD to agree with this chart.
 
 Making the corrections: In the case of chart AUS 802 the correction would be as follows:
 
GPS (WGS 1984) position
39° 00.00’ S
146° 15.00’ E

 + 0.09’ S
----------------
+ 0.08’ W
-----------------
 39° 00.09’ S
146° 14.92’ E
 
Corrections vary: Some South Pacific Island charts will note corrections that can be a nautical mile out! 
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Personally
I would not go to sea without paper charts and I'd certainly use electronic charts as well. However, understanding all the limitations of all types of charts, and GPS limitations is just as imperative as buying the right gear.

Oh, and I'd take a seaworthy vessel of course, too. (And a sextant).
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It's a Horse's Life!

9/1/2017

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Horses Rule Okay?

I treat my horses better than I treat myself.

In fact they have me pegged as their domestic servant, and I think they’ve nailed it.
 
Pedicures
They have a regular pedicure, performed by a professional. The closest I get to beauty treatment is discussing the possibility with the farrier.
 
“How much  does it cost for women to get a pedicure these days?” he asked while rasping at Charlie’s toes.
"No idea, the horses have one, I don't."
"Well I'll do one for you,"
he offers.
"I don't think your tools are up to the job!"
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Farriers file. Not sure it is strong enough for my nails!
Beauty Products
Years ago I painted one of my horses feet with Stokholm Tar. He was bare-foot (like ours are now), as he was terrified of being shod. Horses have nail varnish after pedicure. I’m lucky if my nails see a nailbrush once a week.

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Nourishment
The horses have all the food they need roaming 70 acres. Their menu consists of many different types of grass to fulfil all their dietary needs. They drink spring water from the creek.

We drink plastic tasting rain water from the new tank, which is sometimes smokey-flavoured when we've had the fire on and the smoke has 'flavoured' the roof (we catch all our own water).

As far as food is concerned, sometimes we find time to stuff two-minute noodles down our throats.
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More Beauty Treatment
The horses are groomed, mane and tails are combed, we scratch their itchy spots and they’ve even received a soft massage from Noel (he’s a trained masseur).
​
It’s pretty rare for me to brush my hair more than once a week. That’s all I’ll say on that topic!
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Treats
Carrots are a big favourite here. They are regulated and only given after schooling as a reward. Our treat is a big Saturday where we may just manage to stay up to 8:30pm

Love
The horses receive pats, rub downs, plenty of praise and a lot of love.  They are told they are good – (particularly hard to do when Charlie takes twenty minutes to catch sometimes). Noel’s endearments to me are in the form of “pesky” or “nutcase”. And occasionally we’ll get to have a cuddle.
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Dental Treatment
I check their teeth and they are rasped when necessary.
There is no dentist for us unless we are in screaming agony and about to die of pain.

Healthcare
The boys receive appropriate jabs to maintain their health and well-being. The closest we’ve come to this is injecting coffee.
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Work
At the moment the horses are living a life of riley. Fortunately, our land is hilly and they enjoy a few good gallops each day. They walk many kilometres, up and down, selecting the best grazing each day.

When Noel is chopping wood for the fire, they stand in the sun and watch. When I’m using the Trimmer-on-Steroids (the Trimmer, not me!) to kill the bracken, they wander off to another part of grazing, quite put out that I am working where they want to eat.

Endearments and Encouragement
The boys are encouraged to try something new (I’ve just started in-hand schooling) – with lots of ‘good-boys’ and pats and 'you're so handsome!'

I can’t remember when I’ve said to Noel he looks nice, although I did tell him his hair needed a cut the other day.
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Yup, they’ve got it all – health, care, food, love, fun – regularly and top-notch stuff. Whereas I seem to stumble from one disaster to the next, with hunger pangs.
 
But their hoof-beats are my heart-beats, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hoof Beats are my Heart Beats T-Shirt
Hoof Beats are my Heart Beats T-Shirt
by UnravelTravel
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Read more about our boys here - and our extraordinary journey together.

(Available in paperback, audio and kindle. If you'd like a paperback an live in Australia, let me know it's easier to purchase directly from me).

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And the winner is.....

8/2/2017

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But there's more than one winner... read on...

The winner of my audio book "A Standard Journey - 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent" is Jamie McCauley!

Congratulations Jamie, an email with the details will be winging its way to you very soon - thanks for entering.
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Random winner selected via RaffleCopter
More winners!

Thank you to all those who entered. I used RaffleCopter to choose more random winners, each of the names below will receive a kindle version of A Standard Journey. An email will follow soon. Congratulations and thanks for entering!

Ines Thomas
Anna Murray
Linda Carter Bargainer
Robin Whitaker
Pat Ellis
Mandy McLean

For more information on my stories and to read an excerpt, click here.
You can listen to an excerpt of the audio book here.
Addendum!
The competition was for one audio book, but 'two' were advertised in error - my error so I've selected a second random winner via Rafflecopter (dismissing the test entries) - Congratulations Robin!
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Horses Change!

7/26/2017

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Ordinary People, Extraordinary Journey - win an audio book!

A Standard Journey is about five adopted Standardbred horses.

Each one with a unique, strong character, each horse changing before our eyes from lost, fearful creates to magnificent beasts with a purpose.
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(l to r) Dom, Stevie, Spirit, Ned, Charlie
Trekking in the Australian bush with our gear on horses' backs was one of the most challenging things I've ever done.
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But also the most rewarding.
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Saddle up and hang on.... it won't be anything like you imagined... it certainly wasn't for me!
Enter here (below):  Note: Click "I visited" once you've clicked on an option (tweet or FB visit) to ensure your entry is recorded. For the tweet, just copy the URL of my webpage and put it in the box) - thank you.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read more about the story here. Listen to an excerpt here.

View many other great audio books here. 
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Cool Beachwear Look

6/14/2017

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New Ways to Tie Your Sarong and Look Great!

A colourful (and rather lovely) friend of mine is always celebrating life.  

We are kindred spirits - loving all things travel, sailing and writing.
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I've got a copy of Linda's latest "Salvage in my Sarong" and Linda has my latest "This Is It"
Linda's latest FB post is announcing a get together with some of her buddies...  "Wear your Sarong!" she says!
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Linda is an artist too, (click on the links below and you'll find some of her colourful work) and her books are linked to sarongs:

Sailing in My Sarong, and
Salvage in my Sarong

I've read her first inspiring book and I am about to read Salvage (I've had a sneak peak at the first page and it has sucked me right in!)
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Her recent sarong-gathering, champagne-sipping (probably, knowing Linda) -party inspired me to share these fantastic sarong tying ideas.

Check out One World Sarongs for beautiful sarongs... these ideas and 1,800 more are included in my first book Cruisers' AA (accumulated acumen). Available at Amazon or contact me directly.
​
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A great horse changes your life!

6/2/2017

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But the truly special ones define it!

A few weeks ago I posted a wonderful video of our three boys enjoying life and coming when called.

Here it is again - cue Black Beauty music! 
Since then Joe has joined our family. It’s been a month of hell with us almost losing him by a nasty gash in his leg.
 
I am thrilled to say he made it and now he joins the other three ‘inmates’ in a daily run!
​
But first he had to go through some major crossing-creek training.
 
Initially the idea terrified him, but with patience and trust, we finally got there. This is the first time he did it by himself!

He's one clever boy!

#HorseBloggers

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