We managed a train trip into Belfast and a good wander around there dodging the showers. The houses have, of course, the famous murals celebrating IRA or UVF or any other group who was busy shooting the others. All a bit sad but very beautifully done of course - see our posts from Derry a while ago. Someone had fun on the end of a terrace of houses in relatively poor and deprived, fiercely Sinn Fein supporting area of the city though:
The cynic in us reckons that only a very low percentage of the local residents have even the faintest idea what quantum gravity is and particle physics in general. Not something they teach in depth at the local Irish language school (which we also passed) we guess.
What else? Well, some catching up with folks was needed too. David (the man who helped us berth) and Caroline (his way better half) came for dinner and also took us to the Royal Ulster Yacht Club for drinks. Still amazed at the building. It is such a glorious place:
Whist there we were introduced to John Minnis, who owns an estate agency chain in Northern Ireland. The next day we discovered a lovely green golf umbrella on board - a marketing give-away for his company that matches the green covers on our boat very well. When it rains (bear in mind that we are heading north - it is bound to rain a lot) we will look very smart and co-ordinated indeed.
His present deserves a marketing plug so look at John Minnis website and if you live outside Norn Iron, look at what a good investment property is here!
Keith and Julie, the folks we bumped into a couple of years ago in Oban also came round one evening. We still owe them a trip on the "mighty ship" - Keith's name for the Nordhavn. Of course, after the trip he might not view her as quite so mighty. Perhaps the mystery of the whole thing is better than the reality.
We also had an invite to dinner from a man who, we discover, has been reading this stuff for a while. Ken, the yacht race man who kindly took the captain out on his yacht as ballast in September 2014 invited us for the evening. Rain didn't deter him from a BBQ either. We managed to upset him though. Whilst he had to work, we took Debbie his wife for a few circuits and bumps around Bangor Marina in the Nordhavn so she could see what they are like in close quarters situations. Sorry Ken (unless you have stopped reading this blog now in protest).
Maintenance:
Well, that pesky navigation light got some attention. The bulb was fine, so the connections got a good clean up and a little silicone grease around the fitting to make sure it stayed dry. Treated the other side to the same just in case. Time will tell if this makes it behave.
The gearbox oil change didn't happen - it isn't overdue yet anyway. Far too much going on in the social whirl known as Bangor, but we are heading for the less populated areas of Sctoland where you get excited if you see a local Co-op store. Plenty of time ahead to do one little oil change anchored in the middle of nowhere in the pouring rain. Or are we too pessimistic?
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Thanks for your ideas / cheek / corrections / whatever! They should hit the blog shortly after the system checks them to make sure they will not put us or you in jail.....