Week 16 Boat preparations

Week 16

Not much happening - at least not much out of the normal routine. A short week with Easter Monday and another short (and cold) week coming up for the King's Birthday. More importantly, to us at least, is the fact that The King shares his birthday with Ben!

They are expecting the coldest (this week) on record. It is the first week of school holidays.

Country Women's Cooking Club

mmmm, I wonder if they would like to learn about making a "Sunday Roast"? I shouldn't be too critical - at least they are experimenting - but not enough! It must be just cultural, environment, experience, etc. Even Ben is now complaining about the food we used to give him..... little matter that he wouldn't eat much when he was younger! Now that he is a seasoned traveler, his tastes have grown accordingly.

Janny watches 3 cooking shows each evening....so my score for this months submission by the Cooking Club.....only a 5 - they have done better!. (this is tongue in cheek - I hope they don't get to hear of it!).

If I have any success with my pumpkins this year, I will definitely put it to them that we do (another) "Cooking With Pumpkin) session. The last was in 2013 - also the last time I had any success in growing anything - too cold, too wet, not enough attention to detail!

A nice segue into....

This year's pumpkin preparation.

Still way too cold to put them outside yet, so I have begun with seed boxes in the window sills! Paul and Georgia organized some seeds from Bunnings - they survived the post and customs.

It's a start......

Later, some of them will find their way here - I've made 5 of these to try to beat the "drowning" I suffered last year!

and here... from about mid-May.

and in the meantime...

I have booked the boat to go back in the water on Tuesday. Our work experience young man has holidays - but he asked if he could still come and help! Who knows, I might be able to generate some interest in ropes and knots, engine (and other) maintenance, swabbing decks, boat handling and so on?

Just about organized....toilet, gas bottles, new fenders, new required books on board, varnishing... still have to buy our Marrekrite Flag (for 3000+ moorings in Friesland). Janny has also been experimenting with the name - have to wait for the right coloured paper.

I had a burst hydraulic hose on the tractor this week! A nephew normally does the maintenance, but he was on holidays at some warm, exotic location! So, I had to sort it out myself!

Some of "our" boys, all of an age that they will be leaving soon. I find it very difficult to let go after so many years (7) with us. They keep growing up! 

Last of the wood cleaned up...

and finally, a flashback to 2010! Cheryl and kids.

They also keep growing up!