Hiding

Extraordinary squalls that arrive without warning have been raging through since last night.One minute the sun is blazing and the mercury up to 20 odd degrees and another; the heavens open, releasing rain drops the size of small mammals.
I'm amazed we've lasted this long on the boat. The sound of the lazy jacks grazing against the mast last night almost drove me to distraction and there was absolutely no way I was venturing out to move them, so I resorted to shoving my earplugs as tightly into my head as I could.
We appear to have smoothed things over for now with the flat, estate agent firmly put it his place (though far less violently than I suggested). With 2.5 weeks to go, I'm past caring.

Why I want to sail away

I have a list of people I'd like to line up against a wall and beat with a wet plank today.
Not least the estate agent handling our new flat who thinks he has the right to shout his client's demands at us down the phone; whilst making threats to offer the property to somebody else if we don't comply. I am rather inclined to let them go ahead, if they think they can find another buyer and complete by 17th July.
Alas, 10 weeks into our purchase and despite going along with things without making a fuss, despite significant delays and incompetencies on their behalf, we find ourselves on the receiving end of yet more unreasonable behaviour and are sorely tempted to tell our vendor and the estate agent in particular to shove the property where the sun doesn't shine.
It may well be time to remind a few people that we are not in this for their benefit alone and if that bastard picks up the phone to yell demands at us once more, I shall be trotting up the pontoon to his office in order to tear him a new a***hole.

Rant over.

Fuff out.

Another new friend

Bastard the duck. Aptly named due to an uncanny and rude tendency to jump out of the water onto the pontoon, right next to us and quack loudly/peck the boat until fed.
I'll never learn..

Round the Island Race 2007

Summer Solstice

Tada!

Lovingly created with a force 6 on the nose and washed down with freezing cold beer.

Boat Nosh

This rather insipid looking mush is soon to be transformed into lovely golden little patties.
Corned beef, mashed potato, onions and garlic, salt, pepper and a little butter.
Mixed up into aforementioned mush and fried in olive oil.
My fave boat food.

Rude weather

Blowy. Very blowy.
Boat lurching, line snagging, halyard clanging, fender squeaking, rig wailing, bastardy blowy.

Water, water everywhere

I have just been reassured by the bod hosing his boat down outside that 'ey up, sun's coming aat' ; i.e. it's going to stop raining soon.
Good news for repeated balancing acts whilst getting the cover on, cover off, cover on and so forth for most of the day.
As we are more or less marina bound for the time being, we've decided to replace the toe rail with some smart stuff (the bit round the edges of the boat that stops one's foot from skittering over the side).
I foresee a lot of bad language, scowling and brow prodding; though the end result will be lovely and I'm told I'll only need to hold a screwdriver and vacuum occasionally. Digging the old one out will be fun (insert raised eyebrow).
We're also going to move into our new berth this weekend, which is far more private than the one we are in; a welcome development.
Currently, we're very close to the main thoroughfare and far too many nosy people keep discreetly peering at us whilst posing the odd innocuous question, trying to figure out what we're up to. An easy answer to this would be of course to ask straight out, especially since we have known most of them for years; however this isn't really something the British do, so I'm more than happy to keep them guessing.

Yay

The outlaws aren't coming here afterall, so we went out for a curry to celebrate.
Is this a sign?

Outlaws

Oh yes, something about hills and prophets coming to mind here.
They have decided they want to meet us on Thursday for dinner.....
After having successfully avoided them for a good while, I'm going to have to find a way to handle this unfortunate and unexpected event, or be dead for a day.
I'm leaning towards the latter for now.

Peg Leg

I'm no longer feeling guilty about feeding my new friend, as he is missing one of his feet, which must surely put other ducks at a distinct advantage and as far as I know, they don't operate a handicap system.
Strangely enough, he can swim in a straight line.
Mullet circle underneath him, not unlike sharks, picking up the crumbs he misses. He isn't fazed by them, as the worst injury one could inflict would probably be no more than a very nasty suck. When they clean the slime off boats with their soft mouths; leaving long clean stripes (inefficient gits), it sounds as though they're blowing kisses.

Lazyitis

The tiniest breeze has just picked up, providing a welcome waft of cool to a very warm, still and humid day. Until now, the only activity I could possibly muster the energy for was breathing (slowly).
There are a few people in our marina who live onboard their boats. With the exception of one that charters (owned by a couple who remind me of Ratty and Mole of Wind in the Willows fame); all seem to be pretty chilled out chaps who appear to be more than content to float about and potter with hoses and deck brushes to pass the time, when not reading or drinking vast amounts of rum.
Not having a TV is absolutely wonderful, though we have started to watch the odd DVD in the evening; which is bizarre in a funny way, and also keeps Fur happy, as he gets the chance to faff around with gadgetry nerd stuff in order to get the bloody thing to work.
Tomorrow is definitely boat sorting day. We've piled far too much junk onboard that we don't need and although we've winged about being too low at the bow all week; I'm feeling confident that we'll stop procrastinating and get something done about it. If it's not too warm of course..
I've also made friends with a drake who turns up whenever hungry and quacks/shouts alongside for food. Although he's a lovely fellow; I do feel slightly guilty about feeding him; as I'm convinced that the energy rush he gets from the bread, must be significantly fuelling an ongoing quest to have his wicked way with a reluctant little mallard, whilst almost drowning her.

Liveaboards

The sun is shining, the breeze is filling the boat cover and trying to cast us off and so far, one week onboard has passed pretty well.
The absence of any routine is doing us the power of good; perhaps we should buy a big boat and forget about houses. Far less complicated and much more fun.

Bunnies, bunnies, bunnies

Sitting at the table in our favourite curry house tonight with friends, trying not to whimper whilst noshing through a molten leaded dhansak; I felt happy and content.
All of the changes during the past couple of months seem to be a part of me at last.
We are currently staying on the boat (hooray for wireless and waeco fridges) and waiting to complete on our new home. It has all been feeling like a millstone at the very least.
Though we are likely to be in 'limbo' for a while yet, I'm getting used to the idea of allowing things to take their course, without losing the plot.
A first for yours truly.
Long may it last.........

(The above does not exempt the procrastinating tosser who has been messing us around, however).