A huge white whale in the depths of the ocean.


Charged by Yojo, Queequeg’s wooden idol, to seek a ship for the two men, Ishmael lights upon the Pequod, a ship “with an old fashioned claw-footed look about her” and “apparelled like any barbaric Ethiopian emperor, his neck heavy with pendants of polished ivory.” Ishmael also calls the Pequod a “cannibal of a craft” because it is bejeweled with whale parts. On board, he makes a deal with Peleg and Bildad, the ship’s Quaker owners, who are characterized as conniving cheapskates and bitter taskmasters. Although Quakers are generally pacifists, these two have dedicated their life to the bloody slaughter of whales. Evaluating what lay Ishmael should receive (his portion of the ship’s profits and his only wages), Peleg finally gives him the 300th lay. At this time, Ishmael also learns that the ship’s captain is the mysterious Ahab, named after a wicked biblical king. Although Ahab has been moody and secretive since losing his leg in an encounter with the great white whale Moby Dick, Bildad and Peleg believe in his competence and they believe him harmless, since he has a young wife and an infant child waiting for him at home.

 


Ishmael and Queequeg settle at the Try-Pots for the night, an inn owned by the cousin of the Spouter-Inn’s owner. Ishmael is disturbed by an old topmast above the inn that looks ominously like a gallows. Everything on Nantucket is touched by the sea: the milk tastes of fish, and the innkeeper’s wife wears a necklace of fish vertebrae. The two friends have a supper of hearty chowder.




OK so that was a slightly childish title. This is in fact the 14th chapter of Moby Dick - Nantucket. Please give it a listen and enjoy the heck out of it.

 Chapter 13 it is!

It's been a while but here's the next chapter from Moby Dick, Queequeg and co head aboard a passenger amidst a terrible storm! 



Viking Helmet with wings


A short excerpt from the novel and audiobook by Shona Richmond, look her up on Audible or Amazon.

 

 I've been a busy boy narrating a series of books  by Shona Richmond based in Norse and Viking mythology. It's a fascinating series exploring the escapades lof the Raghnall family, a dynasty of Irish-Gaelic warriors struggling to emerge victorious in a blood-thirsty era of survival and empire building.



Canon cinema camera

I made this short film in lockdown while bored!! Was quite tricky setting up the camera and sound and then doing the lines etc but fun and it kept me entertained for an afternoon.