Ouch!

The ouch is not from physical harm, although having air puffs blown into my eyes yesterday in the dark was not the most pleasant of experiences but from the having to buy a new pair of glasses!

My old ones are lost and after several wks of thinking they would turn up somewhere I finally gave up, bit the bullet and went off in search of a new pair.

The whole experience was surreal from the assassin eye puffer to the camp Allan Carr lookalike who assisted me in choosing the new pair.

I am still laughing now at him cocking his hip and pointing his finger straight at me followed by him excitedly clapping his hands as he said " that's it....these are the ones"!

He was right and then came the ouch.....

A boat may be a tax on being stupid but its cheap as chips in comparison to buying a new pair of glasses even with an NHS discount card!




Hey ho, on the boat front we have a poorly captain, it's sniffle city at Roffe towers as he has caught manflu.....again

All boat operations were temporarily suspended yesterday so the varnishing marathon still awaits.


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TGI......Friday!

Yep...... and phew...hectic week in lubber land and a full on day today.

Off out with the girlies for some post work r n r tonight... a good old catch up over chilled vino and swooper supper, lovely.

I shall be a complete boat widow this weekend. Das captain is sanding and then varnishing til he drops and the work is done.

I have offered assistance as the dutiful wife that I am but have been politely told I would be more of a hindrance than a help!

To be fair I am rubbish at varnishing and as I was then more diplomatically told,my skills are more suited to polishing and anti-fouling!

So will post some photos of operation interior once done although my boasting of spring has managed to drop the temperatures to one degrees....far from the ideal temp to varnish!


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Daffs Galore

It may have been a cold, drizzly and generally grey week weather wise but the front garden is sprouting at a rate of golden knots!

In September my father in law laid some new turf in our front garden for us and at the same time buried some treasure.

We have daffs and crocus springing up everywhere which as you walk outside the door every morning brings a smile and a warm feeling in the soul.

Spring, despite the drizzle is well and truly here.


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Location:Exeter

Das Captains Curse of the Chart Table!

It wasn't a good day to start with for Steve yesterday when he went to das bot!

He had a master plan that was scheduled over several hrs over the course of the day to finish sanding, tidy and start to varnish.

He left with the rallying cry of I don't know what time I'll be back and an hr later I received a text to say he was thinking of plan b!

The interior sanding project which has almost driven him insane, had run into a problem.

What started as a good idea has been drawn out over many weeks.

As I have said in previous blogs it will look amazing when finished so he just needs to hang in there!

Yesterday he thought the finishing line was in sight but forgot to leave the heating on when he left last weekend. Oh noooo!

On arrival yesterday the chart table was wet so all sanding was halted and plan b had to go into action!




This was plan b and mission on again. I do believe there won't be any bit of wood that has not been sanded by the time he has finished! By his own admission he has lost the plot!






There is plenty more work to do but felt his pain! It's looking good and can't wait to see it.....I can see the hull polishing finish line almost in sight!

Well not a few weeks yet.



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Gong Xi Fa Cai !!! To All My Malaysian Friends

There are lots of cool things about going to Malaysia at this time of yr apart from the amazing scenery and tropical weather and this is one of them..............Chinese New Year.  Another yr has gone by and on Monday the celebrations will begin.

Whilst lots of people head back to the Malaysian mainland to spend the festive season with family, those that remain make the most of it and really know how to party and celebrate the coming yrs good fortune.

The colour blaze and decor around Langkawi is amazing and the kindness shown by everyone can be extraordinary.  We,ve had some great night with family and friends and as always have ended back in Cactus, drinking Tiger beer and being blasted out by firecrackers.

This year is the yr of the dragon which epitomises the yang (male/warm) energy.  The dragon, the only mythical creature among the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, is regarded as a symbol of might and intelligence.

In ancient China, the dragon was associated with the emperor. Boys born in the year of the dragon, especially, are said to be destined to be successful and wealthy.

Traditionally, it is believed that female dragons, while wise and talented, will face some difficulties in their lives, particularly in the area of romance.

Famous people who share this yr include  Salvador Dali, Joan of Arc, Al Palcino and the gorgous Matt Damon. 

These dragons are profoundly loyal to family and will lay down their lives to protect their brood, as well as being eccentric and indulge in iddle gossip!

The chinese are deeply supersititious, here are some must do's and dont's on the build up and during New Year that  I have found.

• It is important to have the house completely clean before New Year's Day for good luck in the coming year. (did that on friday)

• However, never clean on New Year's Day, as it signifies sweeping all of your good luck out of the house. (day off......whoop)

• It is best to wear red coming into the new year, as it is considered to be the color that brings the most luck. (its cold so wearing the scarf will do)

• Opening your windows is said to let good luck into your home. (brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)

• Sharp objects aren't supposed to be used during New Year's Day because it symbolizes cutting of good fortune. (das captain can take me out to dinner then)

So troops have a fab time, enjoy the celebrations and send my love to all xxx

Domestic Slavery to Banging Tunes

Hectic week, on call last wk and weekend and have been away on a course @ Dartington Hall which was great fun, although I won't be taking up Tai Chi any day now. Not sure starting the session post dinner helped the cause.








The sun is shining here today and the frosty mornings gone but I have mooched around this am watching daytime tv. It's hilarious and feels a real indulgence on a school day!

Need to get a motor on now and require some motivation to do it, so the iTunes is set, Hoover out and I am ready to go.

Just done a quick reccy to see what neighbours are about for volume control levels and have the all clear to blast out. Should get this done in next to no time.


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Location:Roffe Towers

Brrrrrrrrrr

The daffodils and crocus may be sprouting in the garden as the early sign of spring but it's a tad cold @ the top of the mountain again this morning.

Woke up freezing this morning and glimpsed outside to find a hard shining frost. Nooooooooo!

It may look pretty but I am wrapping up warm this morning as I head off to work.

Ps on the return journey home it's no different...a tad icy coming back up the mountain tonight and central heating on full blast!

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The Annual Malaysian Migration

Whilst excited that swailing time is nearly here again, I have to confess to a tinge of envy at the mo as well.

It's currently the annual migration to the far east aka Malaysia aka Langkawi. I just love it there. The karma is cool, beer cold, food amazing and friends swooper.

Very fond memories indeed, it's a real attachment to the place.

Family holidays and then das captain and I got engaged shortly after a brief reunion there. Plus not forgetting, we got hitched there and had the most amazing three and a bit wks of my life with our nearest and dearest.

It was swooper duper and soooo much more.

Whilst its mild here weather wise I am yearning for some winter tropical sun and all my good friends out there.

Not to be this yr but looking forward to hearing all the antics over Skype calls in the next few weeks.

Ma & pops landed safely and are currently a few days in on their eight wk jolly!

Have a tiger for me, and sending lots of love to everyone!

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Mission On !

I feel like an excited child....tentative date for bot launching set plus a two week swailing holiday for the two of us to follow it!

Target date mid march so it really is mission on. Das captain has set off today for a weekend of boat chores with his dad. It's time to get that interior finished so work can focus on getting her bottom painted and ship shape to go.

I am looking forward to that familiar smell of anti-fouling and the banter as most of its land in my hair and hands.

We,ve ordered a new headsail today so she will look ubber smart and swail better this yr.

In five wks it,ll be here after wending its way from the sail factory in the philippines...fab service.

So here's hoping the good old weather in blighty stays mild for the next month so we can crack on. The photo is the sun setting on our March swailing holiday last year....bliss.





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Location:Home

Manflu

It has been the season of ailments for my family over the last few weeks as one by one they have fallen to some kind of viral blast. First the in- laws which wiped out their Xmas with us, then my ma who has not been grand over the last wk. Not great when you are about to head off on Wednesday on a long flight for an eight wk holiday in the far east and now das captain. It's not much that keeps him away from das bot but old red nose is feeling a tad poorly so all bot work is temporarily on hold, whilst he is dosing himself up on the numerous potions he has gathered over the last 24hrs. I arrived back home yesterday to a house resembling a tropical location as every form of heating was on at full blast and him wrapped up in numerous layers of clothing including a fleece! Oh well, I am sure he will survive just need to get through these next few days....on the plus side the boatyard have told us we can be launched mid - march.....swooper duper, now that should be the ultimate get better soon news. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Roffe Sick Towers

Wild Woman Of Borneo

Hair.......mine is a nightmare, thick, grows at a rate of knots and is high maintenance. For the last two weeks I have been sporting a slightly unruly look and no matter what I did the beast could not be tamed! At long last my appointment has arrived and I am sat being totally pampered. The end result should have me being presentable again to the outside world, well at least for a few weeks! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Exeter

The Windy City

It has been blowing an absolute hooley here the last two days. Lashings of rain and huge gusts of wind, which has been a tad noisy here @ the top of the mountain.

Whilst I braved the elements shopping with the kids yesterday (we had a swooper time), das captain made an SOS visit to the boatyard to check on das bot plus my father-in-laws who also keeps his boat there.

The visit was necessary after watching the local news on tv yesterday where a garage roof had blown off right next door to where our beauties are parked.

Thankfully both bots are ok, RedSnapper remained snug as a bug in her cradle, Bobs some chocks had come away but the boat remained intact.....phew.

Looks like the weather is here for the next few days...reminds me of the summer we have just had!


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Location:Exeter

I Ho I Ho It's Off To Shop We Go!

I have two sleeping beauties still upstairs after a late night watching movies......just love Kung Fu Panda!

Yes it's that time of yr again, the day before E & G go back to school so it means one thing only, the annual shopping with aunty birdy and do lunch trip! It's become an annual event and one they haven't grown out of yet, although I know that day will come. E last night said never....we,ll see.

So after a hearty breakfast we,ll be off to hit the shops and find out what billy bargains can be found to spend their Xmas dosh and vouchers on. After a pit stop for lunch we'll be back out there again for round two and then all sent out it,ll be back here for the fashion parade.

I look forward to it as much as they do, we have a real giggle. Das captain won't be joining us, he is off to work after his serious duffing up from them last night.

Right must go.....I hear movement and laughter from upstairs.....we,re off!

Happy New Year

What a fabulous night, lots of bubbles, fab food and most importantly great company.

Das captain and I have never been a great fan of New Years Eve but took up the kind offer of a weekend in Dawlish.

Must have been the sea air as we even ended up in fancy dress! After some drinks @ home we headed into town and navigated out way around the few pubs that are there.

There were ten of us in total and were one of the few groups that were in fancy dress so made headlines wherever we went.

After the clock struck twelve we headed back home for the firework display and more disco dancing.

I crashed early and missed most of the excitement and inevitable decline of the revellers!

Up bright and breezy yesterday, more fireworks as I missed the ones the night before, and then we headed home.

It was operation take down Xmas tree and put the new tv we had bought in the sales the other day.

It was less traumatic than I thought it would be although it was hilarious when das captain was puzzling over why it wouldn't switch on to realise it wasn't switched on!

So that's it all over for another yr...and what a great way to see out 2011. Here's to a fabulous 2012 and lots of swailing, the countdown to anti-fouling has well and truely begun. It won't be long now and there,re be halcyon days like this trip in the photo below.




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