Not quite the way we planned!

So the plan for February half term was to meet Mum and Dad half way up the A1 and transfer the kids so they could have some northern family time while we decorated the bathroom and got a few more jobs done on Laurin. A guy was coming to buy our old anchor chain from us on Sunday and the surveyor was due Monday.  Well, we only got as far as Cambridge before Landy started to make a horrible noise. Patrick wound the window down to try to hear better and the window electrics promptly failed leaving us with a near gale blowing through the open window, however this was quickly overshadowed by Landy losing power and us gratefully managing to limp off the A1 and into a lay-by. Called the RAC and we were actually pleased when the operator said that it would be about an hour before they could get to us... that would possibly enable Mum and Dad to drive the extra distance to pick the kids up. Eventually RAC called to say they were sending a low loader without sending a diagnostics guy first as they were pretty sure they couldn't fix it on the roadside. Mum and Dad arrived just as Landy was loaded onto the truck and we did a very quick handover of kids before heading back south. (Suppose it's one way to reduce the diesel bill). With Land Rover delivered to our lovely mechanic Tim we were now without transport. Time to reevaluate the week's plans! We soon hatched a plan to get the bus and train to Laurin on Sunday then stay on Bru's boat Pagan before heading home after the surveyor's visit on Monday. We spent the rest of Saturday test driving my work shopping trolley in order to pick up decorating supplies for later in the week. Patrick was decidedly unimpressed with the spotty trolley and has insisted on plain black if we buy one for Laurin!

We looked even more silly Sunday morning when we loaded the trolley, a rucksack and 3 two metre lengths of wood onto the bus and train but we needed to make best use of our child free time. Over the couple of days we fitted the new prop protector as well as making progress on 3 new shelves and refitting the cupboard door in the heads. We also spent a lot of time talking to the surveyor getting as much value out of his expertise as possible. Happily he gave Laurin a clean bill of health with just a couple of advisory items for us to address if we choose. Bru gave us a lift home and we spent the next couple of days giving the bathroom a new coat of paint and researching travel insurance as well as planning out what what we need to do when over the remaining 3 months. We were then very relieved to hear from Tim that Landy just needed an injector changing and would be home in time for the run up north at the weekend to retrieve kids.

Time is a ticking!

Reality is starting to hit as February half term approaches. Kids are being packed off to grandparents to give us some child free time to work on preparations. My plans to spend all week working on the house have been scuppered by Patrick not being able to carry over as many holiday days as we'd hoped and having to take them next week too. He votes for spending time on Laurin so we'll be doing a bit of both.


The electronics ordered at the boatshow have arrived and Bru has fitted the new wheel pilot drive. The enforced choice of the 7" plotter has meant that it actually fits in the panel to port of the speed, depth and wind instruments. This was an unexpected bonus as it leaves more space under the sprayhood for a kind of mini, on deck, chart table. As Bru was doing his magic we attacked some woodworking jobs, fitting a shelf for the printer, making a mount for the kedge anchor to sit on the back of the boat, and various other little jobs. The new sprayhood and stackpack are now ready, just waiting for tabs to be put on the sprayhood to attach our new solar panel to and we also got our outboard repaired and serviced with a remarkably quick turnaround by Mr Engines Dunn.

Next week we've got a surveyor coming to do an insurance survey as it will be due while we are away, and a tonnage survey so we can get part 1 registration as our SSR registration is no longer suitable due to the length of time we will be out of the country. Guess the first job this weekend will be to have a tidy up then!