Generally, I am a paperless person. Being a global nomad, paper is heavy and impractical. I have found many ways to avoid paper – making notes on my iPhone, taking photos of documents and leaflets rather than taking them with me, and of course the awesome Cardscanner iPhone app to reduce the clutter of business cards.
But once in a while, some worthwhile bits of paper come into my life…. Herein follow some general updates, in which paper plays an unusually significant part.
On Saturday I was at Broadcasting House for BBC Radio 4’s Excess Baggage. If you missed the live show, you can still listen to it online here.
Great fun was had by all at the Ocean Rowing Society Dinner at London Rowing Club on Saturday night. Back in 2004, just a few weeks after I had decided to row the oceans, I went to the Ocean Rowing Weekend in Torquay and had a long and informative conversation with rower Graham Walters. On Saturday we once again talked at length, during which he conceded that there is no longer very much he can teach me about ocean rowing. It gave me a pleasing sense of having come full circle – literally (around the world via the 3 big oceans) as well as figuratively.
I also received four Guinness certificates for my four world records, which have now been confirmed as:
– longest row completed by a solo woman
– first woman to row the Pacific solo
– first woman to row three oceans
– longest total time at sea by a female ocean rower
Yesterday (Sunday) I went to a fascinating talk by Jeremy Naydler, author of Gardening As A Sacred Art. He described the “beautiful uselessness” of ornamental gardening as an antidote to the prevailing view of nature as a resource to be pillaged and exploited for mankind’s benefit. Very thought-provoking. It also turned out that, by strange coincidence, his father was the author of a book about ocean rowing: The Penance Way, about Hoare and Johnstone’s fatal voyage across the North Atlantic in 1966. It reminded me how very happy I am NOT to be doing the North Atlantic next year.
Last night I dined in formal hall at my old college, University College Oxford. I was delighted to find George Cawkwell also dining at high table. George is now 92 years old and retired from active duty as a Classics tutor, but is still as sharp as a tack. A great testament to the virtues of living an engaged and active life.
And finally, some exciting news. An invitation from the Queen (via the Master of the Household) to attend an event on 8th December at Buckingham Palace, to be attended by explorers and adventurers to mark the centenary of the death of Scott of the Antarctic – another in that fine British tradition of adventurers who died on expedition. Maybe it is just as well that I quit rowing while I was ahead – and alive.
Fantastic news Roz……….the Queen is a lucky lady 🙂
I went to the palace to visit the queen
My heart in Bolinas and Chrissy Field Green
Bare foot on sand, I danced in my peace
From light of Mauritius to history’s crease
Row Roz Row!
btw.. if you like what she is doing, please share this post and stay tuned for more good stuff!
~Jay
Congratulations on the invite Roz. What are you going to wear?
Congratulations Roz, you are my inspiration! My ocean may be different, but your courage helps me to keep stretching myself. I cannot express how proud I am of you! All I can say is you totally rock! I miss you.
Russell
Hi Russell – I hope to be in Vancouver at some point in spring 2012 – looking forward to catching up with you then! Miss you too!
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
That is just so cool. To see the Queen. You deserve every bit of it. Congratulations, Roz! Great news.
Congratulations on collecting some special pieces of paper and on a Royal Invitation!
The queen can have your head chopped of, so curtsy and mind your
manners-
Pondering the significance of these papers …
There is a young lass who’s understated.
Ne’er her remarks be deemed as inflated.
You say what you think,
Your eyes never blink!
Now that you’re done, I’m over-elated!!!
Roz, savor every minute of your time with the Queen – oh and tell her UncaDoug of Rozlingham says “hey!”
🙂
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
Congratulations Roz, did you know that the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II were married on November 20th 1947? Wish them a happy 64 years anniversary!
Row Roz Row!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh
I did not know that. 64 years together. Amazing!
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
Roz is the Queen of the Sea….we love and admire her Courage and Vision !
Row Baby Row !
El Capitan 🙂
Well, it sounds like Rita may have you home for Christmas Roz???
The Queen has done a fair bit of travelling over Oceans too, but probably rarely got wet.
Well done on the paperwork – many more to come!
btw, it’s starting to get hot again in Perth, are you sure you wouldn’t like Christmas in the sun instead of the cold?
Good to hear from you, Pippa. I’m sure Perth is lovely at Christmas, but I actually quite cherish the opportunity to hunker down and eat rich Christmassy things on a cold, dark night in England!
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
Congratulations – Dame Rosalind of the Oceans
Roz, very exciting news!
I’m reminded of a Joan Rivers joke about getting to meet the Queen: “I met the Queen, I didn’t know what to do – do you bow, do you curtsey, do you give her a tiperello? The only place I’d seen her was on a stamp so I went up and licked the back of her head.”
Congratulations to you, Rock Star!
Teehee! 🙂
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
Roz,
We knew you were a class act years ago! Glad the Queen finally figured it out. However, the important bits of paper are those from Guinness (at least according to the boys I teach). Cheers from the States!
Abigail James
Roz; we’re so proud of you. Those of us fortunate enough to have met you especially so. But everyone else, those who have followed you only on the internet, they are the majority of your followers and deserve to be proud also because without them your message would not have succeeded nearly so well.
Thank you for your fortitude, your achievements and your grace. We look forward to more of the same!
Have you heard from June, Roz?
I saw June a couple of times while I was in San Francisco during October. She was on great form!
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
I think the Queen should give you a knighthood (or whatever they give females) and a village overlooking an ocean: “Rozlingham” has a nice ring to it!
Congratulations, Roz, you deserve all the honors in the world for what you have already accomplished (and at such a young age) not only in terms of rowing oceans, but opening hearts and minds to that “one oarstroke at a time”. I’ve seen the Queen twice in my life, but never up close and personal. The first time I was 5 and in a yellow-and-white checked summer school uniform dress outside my London school–it was the year of the coronation. The second I was 40-something and she drove past my house in Vancouver, B.C.–wearing yellow.
Have a marvellous time at the reception!
Men get to be knights. Unfortunately women get to be dames. Nowhere near as cool. But I don’t suppose I would complain!
Roz Savage
Ocean Rower and Environmental Campaigner
First Woman to Row Three Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2010
Author of “Rowing The Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean”
https://www.rozsavage.com
Episode 55 “Slow Food and Fast Living” is now online!
http://rozroams.squarespace.com/podcast/2011/11/2/episode-55-slow-food-and-fast-living.html~Jay
Congrats Roz on all of the records and the special invitation!
Congratulations again and WELL DONE!
Jim Bell (Australia)
Hullo Roz, Congratulations! …on both accounts, your epic journey and your invitation to meet the Queen. 3 Oceans, what an amazing way to see the world ! God bless.
Roz, have a wonderful day of anticipation, and enjoy the butterflies … can hardly wait to hear all about your day ;-D