Sail away in your dreams

When you’re talking ships there was no greater than the Nautilus – well at least to my 10 year old self at the time. The deep sea submarine and  fabulous steampunk creation surfaced from the mind of Jules Verne, and Captained by Nemo - a would be underwater pirate with an amazing vessel, a loyal crew and a tragic story driving him to destruction. Yes our Nemo here was a complex character (of course or he would be boring and nobody wants to read about boring unless they are getting paid for it) and depending on your persuasion he was either a lunatic criminal and dictator of sorts or a rebel activist before his time seeking revenge against those who took his family while fighting a war to end all wars. But back to the Nautilus – by all accounts a fantastical vessel, powered by seawater, and created with technology well ahead of its time. The Nautilus makes modern submarines look like uncouth black puddings. When I was a child I dreamed about running away to join the crew of the Nautilus, to sail the seven seas with Nemo in a kick arse submarine, to start a new life 20,000 leagues under the sea! How easy it all seemed back then.