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Salt in the Blood

Two Philosophers Go to Sea

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Salt in the Blood

By: Patrick Dixon, Sheila Dixon
Narrated by: Patrick Dixon, Sheila Dixon
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents Salt in the Blood by Patrick Dixon and Sheila Dixon, read by Patrick Dixon and Sheila Dixon.

“Everything creaks and bends in heavy seas – what will not bend will simply snap. So many times I wondered how much load we could carry in a powerful storm without breaking apart. If we flooded any faster I would drown in seconds.”

Patrick Dixon spent years working as a doctor at University College Hospital, while his wife Sheila was a magistrate – high-pressure careers that demanded long hours away from their home, family and passion for sailing. It is a frustrating story many occasional sailors can relate to, but unlike most, Patrick and Sheila realised early enough that they could only bend so far before something snapped, they could only take on so much before they drowned.

This is their story of how they made changes (some more challenging than others) that they knows other sailors could make too, regardless of where they are at the moment – how they changed their priorities but managed to sustain a new career that fitted in around life rather than the other way round.

It is also the story of their personal journey, both physically (across the Atlantic and to little-visited corners of the Mediterranean) and metaphorically – how a doctor who treated cancer patients coped with a partner facing the same battle. Neither of them wanted to let that flood things either.

Through their personal story, with plenty of mishaps that led to insights (both about sailing and life in general), and encounters that turned into opportunities, Patrick and Sheila explore the importance of prioritising the right things in life, and the simple benefits of travel. The book is packed with inspiring but practical advice for all those who have salt in the blood.©2021 Patrick Dixon and Sheila Dixon (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Sailing Sailing & Boating Travel Writing & Commentary Water Sports Sports
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Amazing sharing a friend’s journey in life and their experiences at home and at sea

Amazing journey and experience

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An interesting tale, unfortunately ruined by painfully condescending narration by the patronising God bothering authors. Would recommend buying the book rather than audio book.

ruined by narration

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Patrick and Sheila have managed to weave the philosophy, Ingenuity, bravery, Resilience and creativity of their lives told through many sailing adventures and many other anecdotes. Great book for sailors and all others. Malcolm

Philosophy of Sailing and life

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I tend to love anything to do with sailing, even if the writing is a bit 'iffy'. This book however drove me to fury so often that I had to stop about 6 hours in. I am sure the authors Business Strategy books are excellent, but this book most definitely is not. The writing is stilted and doesn't flow, the performance (by the authors) is infuriating and the tale itself, well, where do I go here?!! I'm a sailor of nearly 40 years experience and I am stunned these two are still alive. If you want a difficult lesson in how not to do anything on. the water, this is the book for you. Blind stupidity and appalling lack of 'situational awareness' is a running theme throughout (Example; colliding with a breakwater because the skipper decided to put the autopilot on 200m from the obstruction while pointing at it to go and tidy up some fenders), while somehow they manage to shoe-horn in some forced spirituality into the tale as well. I wish them both well of course, they are 'fellow boaters' but PLEASE PLEASE, DO NOT WRITE ANOTHER BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT.

Sailors Avoid. I tried so hard to like this...

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