Some readers of this blog may not know that it is called Natural Adventures because it was started as a digitisation of an adventure I had to the Falkland Islands in 1988 when I was a young man. I was a fisheries scientist working for the Falkland Islands Government and at this point in the Journal had spent several weeks at sea on a Japanese squid jigger called the Koei Maru 30.
For context, it might be worth reading chapter 1, āAn ill windā.
The adventure continues⦠(prompted by Cannibalrabbit to post about the Falklands again)
Thursday 7 July 1988. Koei Maru 30
Once again we aren’t fishing – Today I think it was more of a holiday than bad weather, although the waves are quite big.
It has been a newspaper reading and letter reading day. It is weird, but I am loitering in late May and early June at the moment – London marathon and things like that.
I suppose Wimbledon is happening round about now. I feel detached from summer, it snowed for a while here today, so I find it difficult to connect.
Africa still calls. I yearn.
17 days and I will be home – Yahoo.
In reading my letters I discover that my mother writes excellent letters, they are a real inspiration. Alex too wrote a very good letter indeed.
Is Jasper really getting hitched? I sincerely hope not. Getting married has to be a questionable act.
“Girl you really got me going” – The Kink

Friday 8 July 1988. Koei Maru 30
Spoke with John Barton this morning – it seems he wants me back by the 15th or so, that is fine by me, but when I broke the news to the Fishing Master he was not at all pleased – sometimes he is such a miserable sod.
The weather is still pretty poor, although there has been no snow or rain today.
There is so little that I can write about these days, I think boring is the phrase or word I would use to describe my life at the moment.
I pity Phil having to take over from me – I reckon He’ll get a pretty hard time of it.
Saturday 9 July 1988. Koei Maru 30.
Well if we do get into Port Stanley on the 15th then this is probably my last Saturday ever on the Koei Maru 30 – a joyous occasion, since each day of the week I spend here will now be my last of that day. I am scoffing my rations accordingly but will leave a few bits and bobs for Phil.
Why am I so bloody organised? I have devised loads of forms for Phil to fill out while he’s on board and have given him tons of info about how to get by. The truth being told, I don’t trust that he’ll do as good a job as me because he probably doesn’t give a monkey’s.

I have rediscovered my 0.70 Rotring pen which I used to often use for my lecture notes and diary etc back at Newcastle. Oh God, I miss my undergraduate days, they were a lot of fun and very exciting. The thing I’ve noticed most about being here is that I am not a kid any more and I can never be again – this is my biggest regret in life. If I had a wish, I would wish I could begin again – suffer the pains of school, puberty, embarrassment and the joys of discovery, adventure, exercise, childish fun.
It may sound pathetic, but I also consider a lot how good it would be to be a father – my time will come, but I am very excited about having children and being everything they could want from a father. Enough pondering. (Little did I know)