Happy Easter

Gorgeous sunny day here at the top of the mountain. It's crisp but the sun is shining and we,re off to das bot to take off the sails and get her ship shape for haul out.

Thats been delayed this week, not due to us but to a queue at the boatyard which is somewhat frustrating as she has a spanking new engine waiting to go in. Hey ho, that's sailing for you. I can,t believe it's Easter, the year has flown by.

On the barrier reef front it's now got water in and a number of other gizzmondos fitted. Included in that list was a silencer as it was a tad noisy! That was fitted yesterday.

We have numerous water testing kits and the first coral salt adding session didn't do well as the wrong salt ratio was added much to das captains frustration. I think it's almost ready for the live rock to be added, or I could be wrong.

Sometime in the distant future we may even end up with fish in it...

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Hard As Nails

This is what is going on our newly sanded floorboards. Oh the power of the Internet. After refurbishing all the interior wood last year, it's fair to say that the floorboards were looking beyond shabby chic.

A good bit of market research on the Internet, a YouTube video found and a job that he thought would be a nightmare has been a relative doddle in comparison to the arduous labour of last year.

Das captain took them up to his dads garage last weekend, armed with the turbo sized heat gun and 'recommended tool' and in the day had stripped the lot and sanded them down ready for varnishing. No wonder he came home with a skip in his step.

This is part two which has gone out of the window this weekend due to the Great Barrier Reef arriving. Guess this will be an Easter job and then they,ll be as good as new.



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It's Arrived!

Yep and it's not the snow! At half seven this morning and a rap at the door signalled the arrival of the Great Barrier Reef arriving at the top of the mountain!

Somewhat bleary eyed as for a change I was asleep, I came downstairs to see das captain supervising the barrier reef couriers and the epic packages.

The living room has been turned upside down and I have left das captain assembling his new toy after some welcomed assistance in the first phase.

It's huge to say the least and at least a week a way until the barrier reef comes to life.

I've just had the smoke signal to come back home which means there are no leaks and the house is back to a semi normal state!
Next phase is installing the water treatment centre....more updates to follow, this is what it will look like when all done! Trust me this is a miniature version compared to the real deal!




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Operation Nemo Update

One would think Plymouth Aquarium is relocating to the top of the mountain by the amount of kit that has arrived on a daily basis this week. The actual fish tank et al is not due until next weekend!

The latest deposit arrived yesterday, a ton of Coral Pro Salt but this week we have seen the arrival of a humongous water treatment system, humongous spare water containers and thankfully an equally mega humongous storage box for the garden!

The old tank is still here but is going to a good home hopefully this week, the deal breaker was that is was gone before the new one arrived.

On the bot front we have a date for haul out, so the sails are coming off to be cleaned and operation floorboard restore has begun. The new Arnie style hot air gun is about to be put to good use, that was a parcel delivery from last week.

Lord only knows bar the tank what else will arrive this week, it's like Christmas every day at the mo for das captain!


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Happy Mothers Day

On the bot front, das captain has been busy. Yanmar has won over Volvo and a new bot engine has been ordered and should be installed sometime in April. So looks like haul out will be in three weeks time. Das captain has wasted no time there, it will be piece of mind as the engine has been troubling us on and off for the last two years. Red Snapper won't know herself!

The new all singing all dancing heat gun has arrived too, to help with blasting the floor boards ready for sanding and then re-varnishing to bring them back to new. The test run on an old board came up trumps. Whilst it it will a labour of hate, the end result will be worth it.

We have a houseful today for lunch as a gaggle of mothers gather for lunch cooked by my good self. Ma, Pops, the inlaws plus sis and ELG are coming over for some culinary delights.

The promise of yet another big freeze (yawn) hasn't materialised yet. That is heading our way now on Monday when the Siberian front hits us big style so the journey down from North Devon should be ok for our family late lunch. Should be fun, have a good one everyone.

Love ya Ma x









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Reunions

Still reeling well laughing actually from a cracking night out. Our buddies are back from their 3 month tour of Asia so we had a night out in Plymouth and a sleepover on das bot!

We came down to see Micky Flanagan the cockney comedian on his tour. Fi & Simon got us into him on a lazy New Years Eve pre party chill out afternoon by watching his last tour DVD....it was hilarious and we have been hooked ever since.

So when I saw he was on tour and down in Plymouth, tickets were booked within a microsecond. So two weary travellers joined us last night aboard a very gorgeous looking RedSnapper despite the winter elements and after a few cheeky beers we headed out.

We weren't disappointed it was cracking and my sides still hurt now. It was followed up by an equally cracking ruby murrey with lashings of wine and beer and tales of their Far East oddessey.

Pre wine and beers...honest!


We fell into berths around 1am very happy floating caravan campers. Great to see them again and a perfect reunion.


After no rain for over a week, guess what it's flipping tipping it down here...typical so not much chance of a sail today. So new boat engine search is underway instead.....

Haul out is due at the end of the month, not much maintenance to be done other than the norm and nurturing the floorboards and off course a new engine if we can get one at a decent price...mission on.




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The Racous Quirky Birds

What a night.....I am still laughing now!

Put twelve ladies in a restaurant with a birthday to celebrate with cracking food and copious amounts of alcohol then it's a guaranteed recipe for success!

So to Ottery St Mary last night to the Rusty Pig, a fairly new restaurant owned by the lovely Rob where dinners ( we were the only ones) sit around an oak table in open plan, so you can watch the gourmet delights being cooked and have your food personally introduced.

The food was just stunning ( thanks a million Gaynor for that treat), four heavenly courses.

Who would think that duck would go with cabbage soup, lovely crab done several ways, piggerly delicious belly pork and a yummy pud.
You bring your own wine (good old tesco direct delivery) and then obviously a reason to celebrate which we did Gaynors 60th birthday.

Rob and his sous chef coped admirably with our raucous table banter which got worse as the alcohol flowed and the night wore on. You can't beat a good girly night out and this was no exception.

Carriages came at midnight for the trek home back to Exeter, I am sure there will be some sore heads this morning and so e cracking stories to retell back at work tomorrow.

The lovely Rob




The birthday girl




Yummy




The raucous gang








Lush lush lush




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