Diary 1.7.1883

Sunday July 1

Fine morning to begin with but we had a very bad shower about 1 o’clock but it has taken up again. We have been on deck all the afternoon John Edwin went to Church on the poop. We have sighted Solitary Island, we could see the lighthouse when it got dark.
(The original construction of the lightstation began on 11 July 1878 and took thirty workers more than 2 years to complete).

The Light from South Solitary Station

Diary 30.6.1883

Saturday June 30

Fine morning, we had to turn out until 4 o’clock because they have been cleaning extra ready for landing. We had to have dinner on the deck. It is very warm again. Emmeline has cut two more teeth, corner ones on the top of her mouth, she has had a deal of pain with them. They have got the canvas swung over the side so surely we shall not be very long now.

Abandoned in books

"New York Underground: The Anatomy of a City" by Julia Solis.
In this richly illustrated historical tour of New York's vast underground systems, Julia Solis maps out the anatomical foundations of the city – from the bowels of Grand Central Station, the labyrinthine ruins of the Old Croton Aqueduct, and the old gang tunnels that run below the streets of Chinatown to the dark crypts of the city’s first cathedral – St Patrick’s which opened in 1815.

Brooklyn Anchorage
Many would have seen the Brooklyn Bridge episode of the “Seven Industrial Wonders of the World” on TV or DVD which explained the building process which started in 1870 and finally opened in 1883. As part of the construction there are the Brooklyn and Manhattan Anchorages - the approaches to the bridge which have huge vaults below. These vaulted rooms served a multitude of functions, including cultural events which since the security concerns after 9/11 have been cancelled.

The creepy passageways of Seaview Hospital a Staten Island tuberculosis hospital.

The hospital opened in 1913, and some parts are still in use, but now as a hospital for the elderly. This passage way is between the morgue and pathology department. This is very reminiscent of my earlier post on the New Jersey TB hospital – Essex Mountain Sanatorium - A classic abandonment.
There is the strange artifacts of abandoned train stations – tracks to nowhere, and the work of the city’s underground graffiti artists.

Water pipes of the High Street Tunnel

New York Underground was timed to release in the centennial year of the city's subway system. It takes readers through ingenious criminal escape routes, abandoned subway stations, and dark crypts beneath lower Manhattan to expose the city's basic anatomy. While the city is justly famous for what lies above ground, its underground passages are equally legendary, and tell us just as much about how the city works.
This last picture is not from "New York underground", but from a childrens book "Moon rock" by Boriana and Vladimir Todorov, I thought this tunnel picture reminiscent of the High Street Tunnel.

Diary 29.6.1883

Friday June 29

Fine morning but we are not going much, I am beginning to think we shall never get there. We have been on the deck nearly all day, Emmeline cries when we want to take her down.

Diary 28.6.1883

Thursday June 28

Fine morning but we are standing still. There was a concert last night for the benefit of Mrs Hutton that lost her husband, and coffee was given out at 10 o’clock. The captain is giving us a treat this morning by taking us out for a row in the boats, it is dead calm the sea is as smooth as a table top hardly a ripple to be seen.

Diary 27.6.1883

Wednesday June 27

Very fine morning but we are not going any. There is a treat for all the children today in the cabin, they have all to take a tin with them for their tea. Emmeline went and they had tarts and jam and bread and a packet of sweets and nuts to come out with. It looked a bit like Whitsuntide to see them all standing round the cabin door until the bell rang for them to walk in. The Captain was dancing for them, he is very fond of children, it pleased the children very much.

Diary 26.6.1883

Tuesday June 26

Fine morning, plenty of washing going this week, they are giving fresh water for us to wash all up this week for landing, but I am very poorly. I cannot wash I do not feel as if I had any strength left in me, I think it is in the poor food that we get, it does not seem to support us at all like we got at home, I live mostly on sea biscuits, I cannot eat the bread and the meat makes me have diarrhoea.

Diary 25.6.1883

Monday June 25

A very fine morning, the wind has almost gone. Yesterday was the roughest day we have had, we shipped some terrible seas, they came thundering on deck and made the ship fair tremble again.

Lat. 35.8S Long. 155E.

Bundaberg 797 miles away.

The right to read

Diary 24.6.1883

Sunday June 24

A wet morning with plenty of wind to knock us up and down, the sea is against us and it is washing the deck every now and then and makes her give some most unpleasant rolls. Lat. 38.2S Long. 155.32E distance 190 miles. Bundaberg 850 miles off, we went forty miles out of our way yesterday, I suppose you will be having some fine summer weather at home now.

Diary 23.6.1883

Saturday June 23

Wet morning, very windy, but we are glad to say we have got into the right track again, the Captain says he will land us next Thursday that will be fourteen weeks that we have been on the water. You will have looked into the newspaper many times to see if we have landed, we often talk about you and say Harry Fieldmouse will have been to ask Barron the agent if he has heard anything of the Nairnshire. We have not such a good log, 110 miles, Lat. 40.53S Long. 152.56E, distance from Sydney 430 miles, distance from Bundaberg 1006 miles.

Diary 22.6.1883

Friday June 22

Very rough day it is making the tins fly about, today we cannot sit without having hold of something, it is rocking from one side to the other, it makes it very inconvenient for us. I am very sick today again but am glad to say John Edwin keeps up very well on the whole. We are still going in the wrong direction. No log today, a very strong head wind.

Diary 21.6.1883

Thursday June 21

Still a very strong head wind, had to tack about and lay to all day, the ship was rolling all night and is still keeping it up with signs of a very bad night, the sea is breaking over her on both sides, tons of water must come over at a time it makes the ship tremble from end to end, it is sometimes two feet deep on deck. I have been on in the day time when it has come over and been above knee deep, of course I got out of the way by climbing up ropes and steps that lead up on the poop.
Today is my birthday (written by John Edwin), I suppose my mother will have remembered this day with it being my birthday, I did not think I should have to honour it on the “Nairnshire”, I thought we should have landed by this, it is a long voyage for us but we have to try and console ourselves with thinking we shall not be so long now.

Diary 20.6.1883

Wednesday June 20

A very fine and calm morning, we were up on deck nearly all day. Emmeline cried when we wanted to bring her down stairs, it is so dark we can neither see to sew nor read, we are not going as we ought the wind is in the wrong direction, it is a head wind. Lat 42.50S Long. 150E. Distance 151 miles.

“Little Meg’s children” originally owned by Emily’s younger sister - Mary Ellen was probably brought out on the “Nairnshire.

Diary 19.6.1883

Tuesday June 19

A very rough night the main sail was blown into ribbons by 7 o’clock, we had to go along without main sail until this morning which made the ship to roll a good deal, the sea was washing the deck most of the night so you may think we did not get much sleep. Land in sight this morning on the weather bow, there is a very large rock very plain called Pedria Elanie off the coast of Tasmania, in the afternoon the mainland was visible, it is very pleasant to see land again. We hope to arrive at Bundaberg in about 8 days now, distance today 246 miles. Lat. 43S Long. 145.35E

Diary 18.6.1883

Monday June 18

We have gone well all night, it is fine this morning but the water keeps coming over the side so we cannot go on deck today. The Doctor is giving blackcurrant jam for the children that have the cough, Emmeline is a little better. We are thinking of getting to Bundaberg next week so we are busy getting our clothes done up a bit, I have often heard people say anything is good enough to wear on ship board, we have found that out for ourselves. If we sit on the deck in warm weather we get our clothes covered with tar, in wet weather they get dirty with going up and down the stairs. Lat. 43.50S Long. 140.43E. South Cape of Tasmania 277 miles off.

Diary 17.6.1883

Sunday June 17

We have had a very rough night it has been so stormy and windy. I am glad to say Emmeline is mending again, I hope she keeps well until we get onto land. It is fine today we have been on deck about two hours with Emmeline. The Captain gave her two figs, he says she is keeping very well. After tea the moon came out, that was about 6 o’clock, it would be 9 at home, so we both went on deck, it was a very pleasant night almost like day. Lat. 43.33S Long. 135.32E. 224 miles.

Best Childrens Books of all time

Booktrust in Great Britain polled 4,000 people to find the best children’s books of all time.
The top 10 were:
1 “The lion, the witch and the wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis (1950)
2. “The very hungry caterpillar” by Eric Carle (1969)
3. “Famous five” by Enid Blyton (1942)
4. “Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne (1926)
5. “The BFG” by Roald Dahl (1982)
6. “Harry Potter and the half-blood prince” by J.K. Rowling (2005)
7. “The Faraway tree” by Enid Blyton (1943)
8. “The wind in the willows” by Kenneth Grahame (1908)
9. “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll (1865)
10. “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson (1999)

I’ve included the year each title was first published – is this an indication of the age of the respondents, the long-life of the entries, or was this the ‘golden age’ of children’s literature.
The recent film release of “Prince Caspian” could only help the C.S. Lewis cause.
“Very hungry caterpillar” is always a perennial favourite, and the highest rated picture book.
“Famous Five” I guess is on as the whole series, possibly too the “Faraway Tree”, but Enid Blyton is the only author to figure twice in the Top 10.
Again “Winnie-the-Pooh” could be a book/series entry, and is helped along by the Disney films and toy franchise.
“BFG” always popular with both male and female audiences.
The only Harry Potter entry, and the only one from this century.
“Wind in the willows” and “Alice” the two oldest entries, have lived on as countless films, live productions, sculptures, ice shows, etc.
“The Gruffalo” was a surprise, not as well-known as some which missed being in the Top Ten.

Diary 16.6.1883

Saturday June 16

Today is John Edwin’s turn to scrub out, it comes every four or five weeks. The get a bottle of porter for doing it, he gave his away, the place has to be kept clean. I think there is nothing striking today. Distance 208 miles.

Diary 15.6.1883

Friday June 15

Very cold but fine, but did not keep so all day, began hailing. I have been making a pie of our tinned mutton. We get flour to make plum pudding of, but we make ours into cakes and pies but we have no baking powder so they are not so light as we have them at home, still they are better than the bread we get here. We are pining for the want of good bread but we will make up for it when we land. Distance today 235 miles.

Diary 14.6.1883

Thursday June 14

Showers again, we cannot get out on deck it is so cold. There are a lot of the children that have whooping cough, I am afraid Emmeline is going to have it, I have asked the Doctor for some medicine for her. The bottle of oil of almond and syrup of violets that our Willie (William was Emily’s younger brother) bought me when I got our box the cork had worked out and it had all run out, or it would have done her good now if we had it for her cough. Distance 241 miles.

Diary 13.6.1883

Wednesday June 13

Fine morning but turned out very showery, we have plenty of hail stones here. We get corned beef today, it is the best dinner we have had all the week although we have nothing with it but bread and tea if we can get it out of the cook. Emmeline is a year and ten months old today the 13th, she will soon be two years now. Lat. 44.8S Long. 114.13E. 153 miles.

Diary 12.6.1883

Tuesday June 12

In bed when the porridge came, it is my day to wash but I got such a cold the last time I have done a few every morning when we have done washing ourselves. I only wash Emmeline’s pinafores and pocket handkerchiefs. There has been a lot of the men showing the Doctor the meat is not good with being kept so long. He says he cannot help it so must have that or nothing, it will be a blessing when we are at the journey’s end. Today’s log Lat. 43.10S Long. 111.4E 96. Cape Chatham Australia distance 549.

Diary 11.6.1883

Monday June 11

Very stormy morning, we do not get much sleep with Emmeline being so bad with the diarrhoea we are up five or six times in a night with her, I shall be glad when we are off with her, there is so much boiled beef and mutton it throws us all out with our bowels, but we must either eat it or nothing. 186 miles today.

The Airport novel

The criteria for an Airport novel is simple. They must be fast paced, easy to read, relatively engaging, and not involve too much complex thought.
The reader should be able to maintain an interest in the book even while standing in lines, waiting for baggage, and waiting for delayed flights. The Airport novel should also be able to last the distance - the read needs to take longer than a couple of hours. These books are pulpy, easy to carry, and easy to discard after finishing them. Chances are, most of the books in the newsagent at your airport will fit into this category
The Airport novel genre is fairly unique in that it is not defined by solely by its content. This genre contains novels that are suitable to be read while travelling, and fit into a certain criteria, it will most likely also fall into at least one of the following genres: Thriller, Detective fiction, Crime fiction, Legal thriller, and Historical romance.
The genre of Airport novel is fairly derogatory. It infers that the book is of little more value than making a boring travel experience mildly less boring, and offers nothing thought provoking or philosophical. It's like the junkfood of literature, if you will.
Top 10 most popular Airport novels
1. The Firm by John Grisham
2. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
3. A Time To Kill by John Grisham
4. Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
5. Map Of Bones by James Rollins
6. Mary Mary by James Patterson
7. N or M? by Agatha Christie
8. A Thin Dark Line by Tami Hoag
9. Dust To Dust by Tami Hoag
10. Trouble by Jesse Kellerman
from http://www.illiterarty.com/genre-airport-novel

Diary 10.6.1883

Sunday June 10

A very bitter cold morning, no service again today nothing so that you would know Sunday by, only the more respectable of the passengers are a little tidy up we do not forget it’s Sunday for we feel so much out of place having no Chapel or school to attend, nothing to do but to lounge about on deck or sit below, but we rejoice to know that God our maker is not the God of the land only, but the Lord of the seas also, and we can lift up our hearts to Him in prayer from this ship on the high sea and He will hear. Distance today 170 miles.

Diary 9.6.1883

Saturday June 9

A very mild morning, the sun is shining. Very pleasant on deck, if we had been in sight of land we fancied ourself at Blackpool or Skegness. The log today Lat. 43.50S Long. 100.51E distance 226 miles.

Diary 8.6.1883

Friday June 8

The sea is still very rough and the wind astern which makes the ship roll very much and that is not very pleasant, we cannot sit nor lay still in bed without we lay on our backs and when we are eating we have to hold our plates all the time. Lat. 48.13 Long 95.43 distance 249 miles.

Diary 7.6.1883

Thursday June 7

Another wet morning the sea washing over the deck all day, a very heavy sea all day obliged to stay below most of the time. Ruth Emmeline has not been so well today she had the diarrhoea all night, we think it is her teeth. Lat. 40.44S Long. 90.12E distance 235 miles.

Diary 6.6.1883

Wednesday June 6

A fine morning but still very cold and wet, it began to hail in the afternoon. We thought we had plenty of cold weather in England but it is nothing to compare with what we have now, the hail stones are as large as nuts.
Emily Ann has had the backdoor trots with the pills and port wine, she only took three doses of it and then sent it back to the Doctor, then he gave her arrowroot and I had to begin making gruel thrice a day. Lat.43.22 Long. 85.5E distance 263 miles.