Looks as though my last post was taken down by Google.  Suggestion being it broke some rules.  I think that may have been a mistake and since I can't remember what I said in the last blog, I don't know if I actually did anything wrong.  But yet.  Such is.  

Have managed to paint outside with Jo three times now, although the last one was actually outside because of the rain. Also I've been managing to sketch and paint almost every day, when I go out for my daily walk.  Some attempts have been better than others!  Additionally the RVYC has let us back to paint on a Friday, albeit outside, but at least it's a start.  Things should be getting back to some sort of normality on Monday, but as I will be going into hospital on Tuesday I won't see the first few days of the excitement.

Just remembered some things I may have posted that have been removed.  The family came down to see us and that was absolutely lovely.  Especially since we hadn't seen them since last October.  We even managed to go out on the Havenstreet steam railway!  Unfortunately it was very cold and damp for their visit, such a shame.  Hopefully we will be seeing them again in June.

In the meantime, everyone (including Perry who is the only one who reads this), take care and stay safe.

 Finally lots of things happening.  Lockdown starting to ease a little, thankfully.  We moved the boat to Island Harbour to have a bottom inspection.

Bloto at Island Harbour

Bertie resting in the heat.

Fortunately everything was absolutely fine so we were able to move the boat back down to East Cowes marina.  To our new mooring.

Look, we even have the boat name on the pontoon.

Can just see Bloto poking her nose out by the pontoon.

Following this, there was actually a day of good weather.  So we went out sailing!

Bertie very clearly enjoying the sail......

Considering it was still pretty cold, the Solent was packed.  Although perhaps this photo doesn't really show that.  Even Osborne Bay was packed and considering it was blowing from the North, it must have been really roly there.  Managed to get onto our new mooring safe and sound.  Now, unfortunately it's got incredibly cold again and the wind has been perhaps a little too strong for a gengle sail.

 And so lockdown goes on and on and on and.......

Not a lot been  happening.  Due to move boat to Island Harbour next weekend for a scrub off.  Will be there for a week then to our new mooring in the marina.  Hopefully then we will be able to legally sail and stay on the boat.  Let's also hope there will be an improvement in the weather, it's been very dull.  Just one sunny day in two weeks.

Still carrying on with ink and watercolour sketching.  If the weather improves soon, I should be able to go outside and paint, but at the moment still a bit cold.

 Yep.  Still in lockdown.  Getting a bit tedious.  We managed to get down to the boat.  Only supposed to go there for maintenance, still I think Bertie and I did our bit!

Lovely and calm, shame we can't go out.

Bertie working really hard as usual.  I think he may have dropped the scredriver somewhere, so he's passing the time thinking about it.

I've been carrying on with my virtual sketching tour.  Drawing sketch and then a watercolour sketch.  Keeping me sane, I think.

Perry is managing to do a lot of real maintenance work on the boat and we're looking forward to leaving the mooring.

 

We've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on sailing, and we're now experts - especially on sailing the Caribbean.....

Not long now, take care.

 Fortnight after last post, not a lot has happened.  Government has given us a roadmap out of lockdown.  So fingers crossed all goes to plan.  Have continued sketching and practising with watercolours, which has occupied part of the day.  We went out on boat on Sunday to recalibrate the fluxgate compass.  Unfortunately Perry didn't turn the calibration button on so we didn't manage that, but will try again next weekend.  It was nice to go out on the boat even though it was a very dull day.  I the river, the boats looked seriously beaten up by the winter rains. Sad.  Lovely sunny day yesterday, so we had tea and cake on the boat, oops sorry, maintenance of the boat.  That's the only thing you are allowed to do at the moment. However, very gusty.  Roll on spring.

 What have we been doing in lockdown.  Perry has sent a lot of time on the boat sorting the autopilot and some other bits and pieces.  And I've been painting, and painting, and painting...zzzzzz!  We've both now had our vaccinations, but it doesn't look as though things are going to change any time soon.  Long way to go yet.

Not the best photo, but a quick example of some of the stuff I've been doing.  Mainly messing with colours, but keeping up the sketching and watercolour sketching by doing a "virtual sketching trip", using photos of places I've visited in the last three years!  Take care.

we're in lockdown 3. Christmas got cancelled because we were only allowed one day with the family.  We had book a week in a cottage and Oxfordshire was showing high rates of covid, so we decided to cancel.  Long way to go for one day and into high risk area.  Then we all got shutdown!  Seems like we've been in lockdown since March.  Both of us are feeling a bit fed up now and fingers crossed we should get that vaccine soon.  In the meantime, I will try and carry on painting and Perry is, at this moment, cleaning the coooker - how desperate is that?  Take care.