Spanish Fly

I have just spent 4 days on a Spanish Naval Vessel called the Alvaro de Bazan. This is one of the contenders for the new Air Warfare Destroyers that the RAN is developing. From the start the officers and men onboard were extremely helpful and pleasant. It is 140 years since the last Spanish Armada ship came to Australia so it was quite a privilege to be invited onboard. Lets face it, Haley's comet is more frequent.

Alvaro de Bazan was an Admiral in the 1500s. I couldn't help asking how the old Admiral died when I heard he died in 1588. I was assured that England didn't win the battle, it was the weather that defeated the Armada.
Dream on guys.

Notwithstanding that, what is it with Spanish food? Have they never heard of butter? Oil is at best a poor salad dressing, it certainly is not something that goes well on dry bread. And why do they put a tons of salt of their fish, I understand 140 years ago before the refrigerator, but now? come on.

One thing I learned on this trip is that the Chinese people are not good sea-keepers. In spite of the calmest seas the South Australian Bight has ever seen, our Chinese passenger was sick as a pig. Oh well, perhaps that is one less threat to Australia.

Finally I learned this week just how wrong the weather man can be. On return to work, everyone asked me how sick I was in the storm in the bight? What storm? I mean, if they can get it that wrong, how can you trust 'sunny skies at the weekend'. I will continue with looking out the window, it is the best forecasting method I know.