Red Széll

Indeed, aren't we just?

Yes, I have long been an armchair adventurer as far as books are concerned.

They can take you all over the world.

without you actually having to leave the comfort of your own home or pack that pesky suitcase.

But also, and I'm sure we'll come on to discuss this, every so often they can just act as a spur to you to get your walking boots on and take the rucksack and just go out and explore the world and broaden your horizons.

Absolutely.

I mean, it's that old truism.

We go there so that you don't have to.

And, you know, the attrition rate for some of those early explores was immense.

Spoiler alert, James Cook died on his third voyage around the world.

And he...

But he broadened the horizons of of the whole human race.

He discovered places that arguably had never been recorded in written literature beforehand.

And yes, he I mean, he arguably inspired the British Empire to push out to the four corners of the world.

Was that a good thing?

Well, for good or for bad.

Yeah, I guess if he hadn't done it, somebody else would have.

Got to remember the Portuguese and the Spanish and rather notoriously, the Belgians were doing the same, roughly the same time.

So and the Dutch, of course.

So, yes, everybody was at it.