So as we listened to Big Ben chime midnight on the TV at Lizzy's house as we've done for as many years as the kids can remember it hit us that this is THE year we've been planning for. This is the year we will move aboard our boat Laurin and take her to the Mediterranean for a two year adventure. It's all getting a bit real!
Laurin is currently out of the water for the last of a steady stream of upgrades and it never ceases to amaze me how our family is happiest when we are with out boat.... even in cold damp weather when she's not even on the water. For the past month we've been fitting new hatches while the kids ride their bikes in the boatyard, chill out in Landy with an iPad, or hassle our good friend Bru on his boat Pagan.
Initially we weren't sure if we would refurbish or replace the hatches as they seemed really solid with just crazing to the plastic; but then parts of the castings started to break and I became worried about not being able to open them from the outside to extract the kids from their cabin in the event of an engine or galley fire. They were a tricky size to replace but the lovely people at Houdini made us some aluminium plates so we could fit new moonlight hatches. These let so much more light in than the old ones. We were very pleased to finish this as it was the last major job (despite sticking two of the plates down the wrong way round and having to cope with the gloopy sealant which appeared to be a cross between blue tack and candy floss which got everywhere).
Still lots to do both on Laurin, and clearing the house ready to be rented out. Facebook friends who are one year ahead of us told us the last month before departure is the worst.... I'm already feeling the pressure of all there is to do. Roll on June when we will be on our way.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete