The Smalls and I spent the day (Tuesday 22 October 2019) pretending Jean’s house was ours. Washing clothes, baking a lemon and yoghurt cake and making chocolate chip biscuits. (Oh it is excellent to have an oven!) I diligently fried the many zucchini I’d bought on sale into fritters. Tidied our bedroom, had a bath, …
Ford St Clair invited his mate Jean to sail with us from Sydney to Bermagui. We enjoyed her company and delivered her safely after taking a week to make it down. She promised to return the next day with her two daughters, and Jindi the Bordoodle. It rained, so we ate hot chips in the …
The rest of the time Small DB and I spent in Melbourne was staying at the home of the Mothership and T. It felt crazy that we hadn’t been in their house for THREE YEARS! What the? Small DB was very happy to be there – remembered all the things she liked to do – …
Small DB and I were blessed with some largesse from Small Brother, who bestowed a couple of return tickets direct from Coffs to Melbourne – we left on 13 September, the day before the 50th birthday we were there to attend. My wonderful freckly love, Ellise, greeted us at Belgrave Station and handed me a …
The difficulties inherent in boat life are most apparent in inclement weather. For a while it is nice to be in a cosy cabin with a cup of tea and the rain pounding on the hatches, but after a while the positive aspects of my brain are flattened by a lack of sunlight and grey …
The transition back to boat life has been generally uncomplicated. I am much better for having been away – despite the shingles, the traffic violations and having lost oneself in the woods. I returned intact. There were suggestions from other (largely non-boat dwelling) people that spending eight weeks away in a land of hot water, …