Back in Harness

Well, I have now been back at home for a week. I still dream that I am on the boat at night but now manage to feel the edge of the bed and not leap out to deal with dragging anchors or whatever. That is a relief for Audrey of course.

Getting back into the routine of work has been a bit more challenging but we need to keep plugging away at that for now.

Today was more fun with a run down to Bursledon and the rash purchase of a Rutland 913 windmill. We had a bit of heart searching about it and as Force4 are offering a good deal on the complete kit at the moment it seemed sensible to get it now. We wondered if we should spend the extra ninety quid on the newer 914 but feel that the 913 should be able to provide for our modest needs.

Another purchase has been Lynn and Paul Chandler's harrowing book about their year and a bit in captivity courtessy of Somali Pirates. I am reading it on the tube to and from work. Although you know it has a happy ending it is still very difficult reading and a salutory lesson in how badly the whole thing can go wrong. They are working hard on getting Lynn Rival back in shape ready for more cruising. The book can be purchased here:At Amazon as well as other bookshops etc.

Plans for the future are still quite nebulous but we are currently favouring the idea of heading up the Mediterranean coast of Spain to France and then through the Canal du Midi with a planned winter over in La Rochelle before repeating the Atlantic coast of Iberia more slowly

It is strange being so far away from the boat and not being able to get down to see her simply by jumping into the car. We hope to get down later in November for a long weekend, as much for Audrey to get a look at her winter home and "do" the Gibraltar thing.

I am going to work on getting some sort of online photo album up so can then present all the indifferent as well as better pictures to an advisedly indifferent world.

Reflections on being back have reinforced more than ever the motto I read a while ago that runs: Live slowly, Sail fast

Finally, you will note that I have skillfully found the tick box that allows paragraph breaks to be inserted into text. I will have to see if I need to go back and edit previous posts or if this is a global setting. Thank you blogger!