Revised cruising plans and a crew update

Well, we now have to head south again, to find a suitable spot (or spots) to overwinter. Although we could hang around in Scotland a little longer before the weather gets too cold and blowy to make it fun (looking outside right now, maybe it is already?) we have some time pressure.

Time pressure and retired people we hear you ask, how can that be? Well, after the Captain's mum passed away, we put the bungalow in Norfolk on the market and we've just received a sensible offer for it. This means getting closer to Caister-on-sea but not a lot bar the North Sea and the delights of Great Yarmouth are close of course. Lowestoft marina is in a horrid industrial wasteland so we will not head there either. We need to be able to drive to and fro to empty out the bungalow and garage. Anyone want a 12 foot, varnished, clinker built, mahogany on oak balanced lugsail dinghy?? Or an Austin J40 pedal car?

Yes, a pedal car sounds a bit cheap, tinny and weird.

Have a look at  http://www.austinmemories.com/page66/page66.html or  http://www.austinj40pedalcarclub.org.uk/aboutj40.html though before you judge.

Now you know about their strange history, you can judge and yes, it is a little weird but not at all tinny. The car was given to the Captain when he was about 4, all tidied up by the local Austin dealer's bodyshop after sitting in their showroom for many years and being regularly lusted over by the very young Captain (see, he was a total petrolhead from an early age). Even weirder is how much they now fetch on eBay! Have a look.

Crew update:

There were no signs of misbehaviour during our absence. Patrick and Moss were still "close" but not worryingly so. Colin (the "no publicity" name for the 747 captain) was a bit worried that Patrick had  a Hawaiian skirt. No Colin, the boat had grown a grass skirt. Can you imagine a self respecting penguin sporting a grass skirt? Or even the slightly errant Patrick?

Talking of Patrick, when we returned he was perched in the helm seat, clutching a belated birthday card for the Captain. Suitably penguin orientated of course:

All we have to do now is figure out where he has hidden the lawnmower as we fear the worst based on his past performances.

Phil, the Northern Irish Nordhavn man, is planning a trip up to this area during the week with his colleague Neil to inspect the flotilla we reported on earlier. So, we might just hang around nearby to make them lots of hot coffee and bacon rolls. Actually no, it should be healthy stuff as they have the Southampton boat show coming up where manning the stand means that their diet will consist of bacon rolls and burgers. Anyone feeling jealous?