Tuesday, August 04, 2009

ABC Wednesday

C is for Castaway

Robinson Crusoe, Gilligan's Island, Alexander Selkirk - all famous castaways, - some of them fictional but Alexander Selkirk an actual castaway from an English Pirate ship.

Three hundred years ago, after a disagreement with his Captain, William Dampier, over the seaworthiness of the ship he sailed on Selkirk demanded that he be set ashore. He was, and although he had second thoughts, the ship sailed off and sank.

Probably just around the next reef!

Selkirk remained in isolation on his island for two years, and was eventually rescued by his former Captain who had survived the sinking of his ship and was back to harassing the Spanish gold ships.

Selkirk went back to pirating, looting Spanish ships and profiting mightily from his activities. Eventually he left the sea and got married, but domesticity was not his cup of tea, and the adventures of the pirate ship lured him back to the waters.

News today of another volunteer cast-a-way. Smoker Geoff Spice is going to great lengths to give up cigarettes by casting himself away on the 40 acre island of Sgarabhaigh (scar'a vay) for thirty days. Other than some sheep Mr. Spice will be on his own and he will be searched to make sure he doesn't have any cigarettes before being let on the island. One desperate phone call will not result in his rescue, - nor two. It will take a third phone call to activate his removal from the island.



To stop him getting bored he will take a guitar, which he hopes to learn to play, an iPod, a mobile phone and a computer (powered by a photo voltaic solar cell with a wind-up handle as a back up to generate electricity.) A castaway on scaravay.......


Tomorrow I am going to work at The Bargain Centre, a place where castaways have another definition, more or less. Some pretty fine castaways from bulging closets are offered for sale at diminutive prices, and in these unhappy economic times the shop gives a whole new meaning to 'castaways'.

13 comments:

Rinkly Rimes said...

What an interesting theme! Here we call the clothes you mention cast-offs. The idea's the same though.

Regina said...

I agree with Rinkly Rimes. Very interesting.
Nice photo too.

Rune Eide said...

Castaway with a portable PC??? Hmmmmm....

Mara said...

Does he have a filled fridge as well? What a way to be 'cast-away'!

Roger Owen Green said...

Castaway to quit cigarettes; a good idea!
Love the Selkirk story.

Rose said...

This is a desperate way to give up smoking, but I hope it works for him! Pretty funny that a modern castaway has to have a cell phone, I-Pod and computer with him to survive:)

Jay said...

How interesting! So Selkirk was vindicated - I wonder if his Captain valued him a little more as a result, and that's why he came back for him?

I want one of those wind-up handle/solar cells for my laptop!

Joy said...

I think Selkirk would be more resourceful than the smoker who seems to have taken everything but cigarettes with him. Hope he manages to quit the habit after all that.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post. I love it. So nice to meet you Miss Shirley! Thank you for volunteering. I always thank the volunteers at our Thrift store profusely for their service. It is much appreciated!

Unknown said...

I do love all those story when i was still a boy.Thanks for droping by and have a wonderful day:)
Nice photo too.

Jama said...

What an interesting history!

Tumblewords: said...

Amazing bits of information! The 'hope I quit smoking' castaway sounds like he's on vacation. And the pirate that went right back to looting - a strange story! Clever post!

EG CameraGirl said...

Great information about Selkirk. I'd never heard of him before. Interesting about Geoff Spice. Seems like a drastic way to give up smoking. Hope it works!