Getting Ship Shape

Looking good both inside and out...they have really cracked through the job list this weekend!















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Oh To Be 11! Happy Birthday Eleanor

Doesn't time fly, you have gone from this




To this




Great day yesterday doing all things girly despite mummy thrashing us at bowling!
So 11 today, what a blast we have had together, you never cease to amaze me and I love the time we spend together.
So Pucas-Pidley have another great yr and Happy Happy Birthday!




Love Aunty Birdy xx
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So Needing A Holiday.Com

Not long now and boy I can't wait. I soooo need a holiday.

The revised bot list has been made and it's all go go go go. Steves dad is lending a helping hand so we can launch her on the 19th as planned. The boys are down there today. Das captain finishing the varnishing and Bob is keel priming and on on engine duty.

We have soooooo much to do between now and then but the finishing line is in sight.

Hull polishing in on my list amongst other things but that is two weeks away yet. It,ll all get done and we,ll launch come rain or shine on the first day of our hols.

After that it will be a few days of getting her ship shape in her berth, sails on etc etc but what the heck we,ll be on holiday and then be able to swail away.

Dont mind where we end up or how far we go, it'll just be nice to be on the water and have that freedom.

Until then its work work work..................

Respite today though as I am indulging a very special neice who is 11 tomorrow.


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Pancake Day & What To Give Up For Lent

Tuesday (also known as Pancake Tuesday) is the day before Ash , the first offical day of Lent.

Pancake day is observed mainly in English speaking countries, but has connections in many others, mainly associated with tis links to Easter, therefore its date changes on an annual basis.

The day is mostly known for eating  pancakes before the start of Lent. Pancakes are eaten as they are made out of the main foods available, sugar, fat, flour and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the fasting ritual that you associate with Lent.

So how did the pancake come about..........................

Shrove Tuesday was once known as a 'half-holiday' in England. It started at 11:00am with the signalling of a church bell.^[

The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olny was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells  ringing for the church service.

In a panic she raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake. The pancake race remains a relatively common festive tradition in the UK, and England in particular, even today.

The tradition in  Olney today, a pancake race , is still going strong.

So we,ve had New Years resolutions............now its what to give up for Lent........................

Ode to Cider

Say no more....happy days celebrating my birthday over a lazy Saturday lunch.




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Birthday Girl

1970..............what a fabulous yr, the start of all things glam rock, which brough wild hair, garish nail varnish and all things platform. It also brought ABBA later in the decade!

1970 brough  about the Space Hopper, Raleigh Chopper bikes, the record player and cassette recorder plus Ken & Barbie......................the TV albeit in black and white was becoming a common household item.

On February 17th 1970 , Joni Mitchell was playing her  final concert @ hte Royal Albert Hall, not that my mother would have been watching and paying attention as she was in the midst of a joyful labour giving birth to me!!!

Pops was away on military duty, whilst ma did hers and promptly gave birth to Sid! Thankfully common sense prevailed and I was duly named Bernadette after the Four Tops song.

Doesnt time fly......................42 yrs years later we still have wild hair, garish nail varnish and platforms of a different kind.

Thanks for all the lovely messages, I am off for lunch and a spot of shoppping, quiet evening in with this das husband and then swooper lunch tomorrow with family and friends.

Happy Days

When we got married all those yrs ago on sandy shores I wanted a memory of the day for everyone that dug deep in their pockets and joined us on the big day.

I came up with this which survived the journey unscathed and in one piece much to mine and everyone's surprise and more surprisingly is still in one piece now.

It was a great way to capture the day and every week when it gets a dust off it makes me smile.




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Fruits of Das Bot Labour

Just had this from das captain as he is putting on layer number two out of five coats of varnish!

Looking good for first coat so with five she is just going to look swooper!






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It's Raining, It's Pouring...

The artic conditions continue here but touch wood we have missed out thus far on a dumping of the white stuff. Not so lucky elsewhere across the south of blighty.

Torrential rain again overnight which is still coming down this morning but hurrah no snow.

Hopefully then it, ll be business as usual @ work and no more chaos than normal but more importantly it's business as usual on the bot work front this weekend.

The other 4 coats of varnish will get on and das captain can heave a huge sigh of relief and think job done!

We sooo need our holiday and even if it's blowing a hooley I don't care...being back on board RedSnapper is r n r in itself.


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Happy 6th Anniversary To Us!

Not at home today as am away with work.  Can,t believe that its six yrs ago that we got hitched....................happy anniversary das captain to us!

Marathon Bot Session

You know that feeling when it all comes together..yesterday das captain had one of those days.

After a few missed weekends and being hammered by the weather he set off like a man on a mission.

I was doubtful he could start to varnish, fearing it would be too cold but no, after finishing the sanding and sorting out the dust pit that had gathered he was off and didn't stop until the job was done. Layer one done, only another five to do!

A very late finish indeed, knackered but chuffed he wendered his way home.

The finishing line is in sight now on the interior.

Lets hope the Siberian weather stays well away so we can start to bottom paint and polish.

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Phew......

A flurry was followed by a heavy flurry and then it warmed up and down came the rain @ the top of the mountain.

Phew.....couldn't face the mayhem that would have followed @ work as every man and their dog plus high heels ventured put onto the pack ice!

Have a busy wk ahead , Bristol, Taunton and then back to good old Exeter.

On das bot front, work has recommended after the winter wonderland deluge yesterday.

As for me I,m off to work!


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It's.......Snowing!

It could get very festive today @ the top of the mountain. It's been absolutely freezing the last few days and we have woken up to snowflakes dropping this morning. Siberia is tropical in comparison to here.
Here,s hoping it's just a small flurry otherwise the general carnage that will follow is just not fun.




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Sunrise

What an amazing way to wake up to the world yesterday. This was the sunrise from my office....simply stunning.




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