getting very close now.  Tried to get Perry up the mast the other day, but failed miserably.  So he made a few adjustments, and so on Monday had another go....

And there he is poor boy, up  the mast sorting out a halyard for the cruising shute.

 On Wednesday we did our final shakedown cruise before the big event, which consisted of sailing round the Island.  Left at 8.30, great conditions, ate our way all round.  Took 10 hours, Bertie was pretty fed up most of the time.  Only two other boats on the south side of the Island. 

Going round the Needles - take a left hand round

And here we are the other side of the Needles, just to prove we did go round

And here is St Catherine's lighthouse on the extreme South Side of the Island - no turning back now.

Tomorrow we are off to Gin's Farm on the Beaulieu River, before moving and loading the boat Tuesday and Wednesday.  Bertie has had his hair cut and suffered the injections at the vet.

The start of chaos... only two weeks left to get everything together.  Bertie is booked in at the vet's and the groomer, and I have a hairdressing appointment just before we go.  Bloto was out last weekend getting spruced up for the voyage.

Nice clean bottom, doesn't she look nice.

Bloto was out from Thursday until Monday.  We moved her from the yard on Monday aiming to have a sail on Tuesday.   All the time she was out the weather was absololute glorious, as soon as she was back on the morning, no more sun.  Although we went out, it was not the most glorious of sails and we both (well actually all three) got a bit chilly, so cut the event short.  After that, the sun came out again!  However, it has been a bit windy since then.

I managed to mess up the lazy jacks which Perry has so carefully reinstalled.   He had to sort them out again.

In the meantime I managed to do a couple of oil pastel paintings, which I submitted to Wet Canvas on their OP challenge.  Ages since I've done OPs.  The comments were nice and gentle - basically try harder next time!

Oil pastels are not the most forgiving of mediums, but I will carry on!

Also Bertie and I have been doing some longs walks which have been fun, and I have been running (short distance) a couple of times - this time no problems with knees.

Have got to hoist Perry up the mast tomorrow - should be interesting! and next Wednesday we are hoping to do our (finally) shakedown cruise, 60 miles round the Island.  So far weather looks right for it.  Must do some distance before we set out on the big trip......

Another messed up week weather wise.  However, we have fixed the date for the imminent departure - 13th April.  Now written in pen in the diary! As I write this it is only three weeks away - can you believe that!  Sailing wise, we had a weekend in Lymington - weather down was awful on the Saturday, fog!  Which fortunately cleared as we got half way down the Solent. 

Lymington in the mist and rain!

The picture shows just how exciting it really was! Yuk. Anyway we did manage to wander about and get some antifouling.  Sunday morning - rain!  However, we weren't due to leave until the afternoon, and fortunately the sun came out and it was a lovely sail back. 

Tuesday we sailed to Deacon's, Bursledon where we met up with Dick and Judith.  Lunch in the Jolly Sailor.  Had a good laugh.  Four old people have a really good time!  Daft old sods.......

Didn't manage to get out last weekend because of the really strong winds, but did go to a refresher DSC course at Island Sailing club on Saturday.  Pretty useful because of the extra information gained, which I hadn't picked up on the original VHF Radio course.  Sunday afternoon tea at East Cowes sailing club.  Really good, hope they do it again next year. Today (Wednesday) was spent putting up pictures at the Royal Victoria for our next art exhibition.  Pies tonight to launch the event.

Boat comes out tomorrow for her last scrub off and antifoul and then it's just getting last bits together and hopefully managing to get some decent sailing in before we go.

Well the weather has been awful again, so no sailing. However, we have had friends over for lunch and tackled lobster this time - well I didn't actually do it, but it was very tasty! Managed to complete one painting, but forgot to take a picture of it before rushing it off down the road to Lou to get it on the wall and retrieve some that had been on display too long.

New spray hood is lovely, and in addition we have a new Ensign - very smart!  Looks the business now. I have also been up to see Daniel and Catherine and they were well and happy.

How about that for very smart - notice how wind is blowing, actually it's worse today.

Nice new spray hood.

Ensign and Spray hood - lovely.

We have decided on a departure date 13th April, but obviously everything is weather dependant. Lists are still in evidence and every time something gets crossed off, two things get added.  Now we have agreed a date we can really start focussing on getting things absolutely ready......

Weather has been bitterly cold, but Perry's hand is gradually healing. Not managed to go sailing, but it won't be long now.  Went to a Chinese New Year party Saturday. Fun.  Sunday decided to finally eat the crab which we had bought before Christmas (it was in the freezer!).  However, didn't know what to do, so following the instructions from a You Tube video managed to successfully dismember the crustation

here's the little beauty

before

and after

Very tasty.  Off to mainland on Thursday to see Daniel then back on Saturday for the Commodore's dining in supper.

I know, I know, I know..... three weeks in and only just got roound to doing the blog! Well it's been very very cold, and now on top of that fog and ice!  I've also discovered I am a total whimp!  I went on my course for the practical part of Day Skipper, only to discover that I felt sea sick on the Sigma 38 we were on and that I really suffered with the cold.  So I abandonded.  However the sailing school very generously offered my a second hit at it, and tomorrow, prepared with new leather wellies and seasickness stuff, I will be down at Cowes Yacht Haven having another go! I took Perry to hospital this morning to finally have the operation on his hand.  Three delays so far, so perhaps they will finally get on with it.  No messages so far, so it must be progressing.  I will definitely update blog next week (!).

Christmas is over and we are now in the New Year.  Perry has had a cough and cold for the last fortnight, so it has been a bit limited here.  Bertie and I have been out for a few walks, but we did manage a couple of outings to get a bit further from East Cowes.  One of them was Freshwater

Thatched Church.  Been here before, it is very lovely.  We did go to Fort Victoria as well, but the cafe wasn't open, even though we had managed a decent walk and felt we deserved a cup of tea and cake! After Freshwater village, we went round the corner to look at the sea.  It was just before sunset and there were still people and dogs on the beach.  Perfect.

Looking West into the sunset.

Freshwater bay

Freshwater bay enlarged.

Hopefully, Perry will be better tomorrow and we can start proper messing around again.  In the meantime we have completed our passage plan for our forthcoming (hopefully) trip round Britain - gosh it's a long way! Now we are experimenting with trying to apply our planning to real data (i.e. weather!).  We have also now ordered our video camera to record the exciting event! Probably take us the whole journey just to learn how to use it! 

To whoever reads this besides Perry have a fantastic New Year and perhaps you will achieve all your planned 2017 dreams.  Take care.