Nicki_Crutchfield
regular
Reged: 07/03/2005
Posts: 414
Loc: North Devon
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Having 'saved' Tilman for many years I have just finished my first. 'Triumph and Tribulation' has been a very good companion for the last week of rationed reading. I am deeply struck by his toughness and humility; his ability to devote an entire paragraph to a duff, whilst a short sentence will express his utter dissatisfaction with a situation or crew member. I found his lack of sentimentality to be, somewhat counter-intuitively, deeply moving. The concept of an aging, in fact old, man with an old boat plugging on with dogged determination, is stirring. The fact that he makes no disguise of his impending feebleness, but is openly defiant, struck many chords with me. I'm only 38, but already I sense that I am supposed to begin to think in an 'older' manner; to concede youthful thoughts and desires to the young, I don't, and, deliciously, Tilman, at twice my age, doesn't either. He does not allow time to dictate his actions. He remains young. The incredible pathos of the last page, is crafted by the delicate hand of a true master. A great man, and one of those whom I would have been honoured to meet.
I'm off to ebay to buy some more. True reading pleasure.
Nicki
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Twisterowner
regular
Reged: 23/07/2005
Posts: 3761
Loc: ally poor
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eBay Item number: 110213808847 might interest you.
"Adventures under Sail" by H.W. Tilman.
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Nicki_Crutchfield
regular
Reged: 07/03/2005
Posts: 414
Loc: North Devon
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thanks very much Twister owner.
Nicki
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stephenh
regular
Reged: 06/01/2002
Posts: 842
Loc: London UK
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Nicki - try
'The Eight Sailing / Mountain - Exploration Books' by Tilman - pub. - Diadem and after that
'The Seven mountain travel books', same publisher; 15 Tilman books for the price of two.
Usually available on Abebooks.
try :
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDe...26x%3D0%26y%3D0
Edited by stephenh (13/01/2008 09:09)
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Nicki_Crutchfield
regular
Reged: 07/03/2005
Posts: 414
Loc: North Devon
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Thanks Stephen. I'll check abebooks. One of my favourite sites.
Nicki
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AvastMark
regular
Reged: 28/11/2006
Posts: 304
Loc: Nottingham
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To share one of my favourites...I hope I don't spoil it for you...
If the navigator is asked by one of the crew where his ship is, he feels obliged to commit himself or a least hazard a guess. On the other hand, if he is not asked and he thinks he knows where his is, he should not let pride tempt him into announcing to a suitably awe-struck crew what sea-mark or cape they will presently sight and where, or as in this instance, what they will not sight. But every ass loves to hear himself bray. I thought we were too far east to sight Smith’s Knoll light vessel and rashly imparted this unimportant piece of knowledge to the crew. No one unkindly reminded me of this. It was humiliation enough to read later the log-book entry to the effect that we had left that particular light vessel close to port at 4am.
(Trimph and Tribulation, H.W. Tilmam)
I've got quite a few that I copied out and still love re-reading them
'The Eight Sailing / Mountain - Exploration Books' by Tilman. Best money I've spent.
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AvastMark
regular
Reged: 28/11/2006
Posts: 304
Loc: Nottingham
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I shoudl add, and you may already know, but if you google Tilman you'll find Bob Comlay's website http://www.comlay.net/tilman/
Great pictures and stoires.
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Nicki_Crutchfield
regular
Reged: 07/03/2005
Posts: 414
Loc: North Devon
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A great quote. And so true. Thanks also for the link. Lots of interesting material.
Nicki
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PARSONSHEATH
regular
Reged: 07/07/2003
Posts: 2133
Loc: Essex
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Read your notes and got the 8 Mountains book.
So easy to make assumptions of someone, and as I read I find a growing admiration for the sort of character this country once grew.
Whilst no climber myself my son in law has told me of his experiences of the climbs in Kenya and the Himalayas, and his admiration for the generation who did all these without the modern kit and books, and how understated all this writing is.
Will take me awhile to read, but then can go onto the sailing.
Edited by PARSONSHEATH (05/02/2008 22:36)
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AvastMark
regular
Reged: 28/11/2006
Posts: 304
Loc: Nottingham
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Those interested in Tillman's adventures may be interested in this expedition to Smith Island.
It was on the ybw homepage, but the news articles soon disappear.
http://www.smithisland.co.uk/da/49073
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