Maaate!!!

Here we are again, still raining like you would’t believe, in fact I’m sure there’s more water above than below!! Still doing crosswords, sudoku and reading so in itself it’s still been an interesting week, the forecasts say that tomorrow will be the start of  better conditions so we hope that by Monday when we should have the solar panels fitted we may be able to at least get off the mooring. Until then we are forced to just relax and drink and eat, Oh dear never mind then! It’s difficult to believe that poor old Victoria seems to be the only place in the country where it’s not pissing down. Anyway what will be will be and we will continue to make the best of it, we’re still having a good laugh so all is not lost. Take care all and catch you later.

Batten down the Hatches!!

Sitting On The Dock in the Bay!!!!

Rain rain and more bloody rain, oh yes and add a heap of wind!! That about sums it up so far, my adventures therefore have been pretty much restricted by this crappy weather as it would be madness to head out to sea with conditions as they are. Oh well worse things happen at sea!!  If things stay as they it seems likely that after the bits and pieces now under way on the boat are finished, probably Monday, we will head back to Coffs. No matter it’s all part of lifes rich tapestry and there will be other times to take on the elements, so unless there is a change for the better this blog will be wrapped up in the not too distant. So keep dry and check us out tomorrow.

Avast Landlubbers!!

The sun is not quite over the yardarm, no matter it’s hot sticky and time for a cold beer regardless. At this point our efforts to get the little and big jobs done on the boat as usual are going to take a little longer than first thought. We have a new Bimini (I think that’s what it’s called) or as an ordinary person would call it a nice canvass cover over the deck area by the steering wheel! All very nice and fitted this afternoon, however although today we have picked up the solar panels it would appear that the brackets to mount them won’t be ready until Monday, so it looks as if we’ll be loafing around the town and marina for the weekend. Such is life so we will deal with it, the weather was also supposed to turn a bit iffy but to date there is no evidence that it will, rain was predicted today but Gren and I managed to fit in 9 holes of golf at the local course and it was bloody boiling and has continued on this afternoon. Time is being filled quite nicely with crosswords, suduku, reading and of course drinking, to say we are fairly relaxed would be an understatement!! Gren is currently in repose having dropped a Valium in an attempt to free up a crook back, I offered to walk up and down on it but he didn’t think that it would help much. Not too sure what dinner will comprise of tonight, last night Gren managed to put together a chilli tuna and spag dish which certainly aided the consumption of a few beers and a bottle of Grigio, I suspect that a Thai take away may well be on the cards. It’s sometime since I have been in Mooloolaba and like most of the Sunshine Coast it continues to grow at an enormous rate, all very cute and that but too bloody hot and too touristy for my taste, for some peculiar reason Coffs remains my preferred place to reside. So unfortunately as yet I am unable to recant any stories of my heroic deeds on the ocean as there aren’t any, however as sitting on my arse with a beer in my hand is a pastime and skill with which I am well practised I am as yet not distressed by our situation. I have however discovered that there are an amazing number of people who actually live on these water caravans and some of their stories are quite incredible, last evening we had a long conversation with a woman, Margaret, who is a doctor by trade but has also recently captured the single handed around Australia record in her 30 or 40 odd footer, having been in serious difficulty off the south west of WA losing her rudder and having her craft “knocked down” a term which I think means the mast actually ends up in the water!!! All very scary, others have tales of cruising around the globe with relatively few anxious moments and of visiting the most amazing places. So the experience is proving very educational, as with all areas of life each has it’s own jargon and sailors are particularly adept at comming up with phrases which appear to have no logical connection to their actual meaning, I mean what’s wrong with the arse end of the boat why stern?? Lough, sheets, halyards, lazy jacks and it would seem and endless number of other peculiar terms which I’m sure will ever remain a total mystery to me but will undoubtedly add to the richness of the journey. So folks that’s all for now, something about a number of bells and it being my watch????? What can happen when secured to the dock??? Maybe the odd stray Somali Pirate ay be lurking and I’ll have to repel boarders, I’ really glad I paid attention during Pirates of the Carribean!! So goodnight and sleeptight.

All Aboard

First night done and dusted, after the usual boring drive up to Mooloolaba, it was bloody boiling!! We arrived in good order at the Marina, it was a relief to exit the car and head down the marina to the boat and with a great cool breeze we stepped aboard Osiris. Not knowing what to expect it was a really pleasant surprise, she is a beautiful craft as Python would say Luxury!! She’s a cracker. After throwing everything into place we went for the essential supplies, beer, wine and the odd bit of food. Once all settled we spent a few hours relaxing with a few beers feeling that all was definitely all right with the world. Dinner was a great fish and chips from a great place next to the marina. The evening weather could not have been better and was aided by some more beer and the odd vino! I was a little apprehensive about how I would go in the sleep department as a mild claustraphobe sleeping in a horizontal broom cupboard did cause me some mild concern, however at around midnight I hit the hammock and apart from the fact that the heat was a little oppresive, managed a good night. Awoke to a great morning at about 5.30 made a cuppa and wondered what the poor people were doing. Today Gren is getting some things organised for the boat so it will be a quiet day, the weather at sea is a bit up and down so it’s not likely that we’ll actually set sail for a day or two which will give me a good chance to work everything out. The Osiris has everything that opens and closes and is right up with all the latest techno stuff. she has automatic everything and it would appear that I wasted my time bringing my sextant as she can almost sail herself. Punch in where you want to go and sit back and relax, auto steering takes over and you just enjoy the ride, so I look forward to heading out into the wild blue yonder. It is really an up market mobile hotel room without the room service. So that’s about all there is to report at this point but hang in there I expect the fun to start in the not too distant and look forward to passing on the experience as we go. So don’t work too hard and we’ll be in touch.

Ahoy there!

Well it’s time to pack the kit and prepare for the off, tomorrow Grenville (neighbour)  and I head up the coast to pick up his cruising yacht in Mooloolaba for a couple of weeks on the briney! This could get quite interesting and although Gren is a very competent and experienced sailor, yours truly can only be described as a complete knobhead regarding port and starboard etc. However as always I’m keen to try anything once and feel confident that the experience will be a good one. As with most guys travelling on their own our needs are small, two pairs of jocks, shorts, T’s, one toothbrush, golf clubs (for when we hit land, figuratively speaking) and numerous cases of beer and chateaux box wines, of course various tins and packets of reasonably instant food. Our plan is to see what the weather is doing once we get up there and decide where we will head accordingly. So keep an eye out for the occasional post as and when we can access the net. Bye for now

It’s a Wrap

Ok folks this is it, still doesn’t feel like life will ever be back to normal and her indoors is still bedridden but it would appear slowly on the mend. Well the last major port of call for us being Italy and I have blogged on a fair bit about how much we enjoyed it, so here are the stats.

 

Anghiari

Dossometer   =  9   (would’ve been 10 but for a slight electrical problem)

Grubometer   =  8

Chickometer  =  9   Not as chic as the french but twice as sexy

Vistameter     = 10

 

        Just one of the many great apartments in Anghiari

This has got to be one of the great places to stay, only an hour in the car puts you in great places, Florence, Sienna, Assisi and many more. The scenery is outstanding and the people very very warm and friendly.

 

 

                           The Duomo in Florence, those catolicks sure now how to build ‘em

 

   

                       Assisi,  Just another small piece of church real estate!!

 

                   

                        Our Anghiari apartment Top Draw as well as top floor and that’s our washing!!!!

 

 

And of course no montage of Italy would be complete without the “Collarseeum”

 

Well folks tha about rounds it up, I won’t bother to do Dubai as it wasn’t worth doing, all Disneyland buildings and malls full of shops that are in every mall in every city in the world, so not much to write home about. It’s hot dusty and full of Pommie tourists who in some cases are worse than the Yanks!!!!

 

I would like to thank you all for your comments and indeed for even bothering to read our simple missives on what was for us a great journey and adventure. There was so much more good than bad and the memory of it all will last a lifetime. The fact that we only had two minor barnies in 10 weeks is a tribute to the patience of her indoors and to my attitude towards women and their need for shopping, both were tested on a few occasions but we pulled through.  We met some great people and we hope to add them to our list of great friends both here in Oz and throughout the known world. It was amazing to us that our blog has been accessed over two thousand times and from family and friends from all over the world, some of whom we haven’t a clue how they even found out about it! 

So thank you all once again for sharing the trip and we hope to see you all in the not too distant future.