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| Giving a talk to Westerly owners and friends |
Instead of a newsletter, we thought we would continue our blog. You can
read all our news from January to September in the posts already published. So
what have we been doing?
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| The garage begins to look organised |
Sal Darago was hauled out at the end of September and is on the hard at
Melton Boatyard, near Woodbridge. She was still in the travel lift when a voice
called out, “So, you made it then!” It was Mike, a fellow yachtie whom we’d met
quite randomly in Antigua. He had recommended Melton Boatyard, known locally as
Skeets. We were amazed, as we had no idea that he was returning to Suffolk.
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| Handy sheds in our garden |
We stayed with Emily and Ben, who were very patient with us as we went
through the process of becoming landlubbers once more. We bought a seven year
old Ford Focus Estate, signed the contract on our new house and started to
empty our savings accounts.
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| Jeremy painting our bedroom walls |
We were very honoured to be presented with the Rayner Plate by the
Westerly Owners’ Association in September. A presentation evening was arranged
for us at Woodbridge Cruising Club and we were presented with the award by the
club’s President, Andy Truscott. He and his wife had travelled all the way from
Dorset for the occasion. In return, we gave a short, illustrated talk of our world
sailing adventure.
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| Kathy helping to cut the grass at Em and Ben's |
On the day that we completed and became house owners on, October 3rd,
Simon and Erin arrived for the weekend. We had an empty house as all our
possessions were still in our shipping container, so we all stayed at Em and
Ben’s and had a great weekend together, with Ellie being the centre of
attention, of course.
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| Sal Darago in her new home |
For the next two weeks, Jeremy and I decorated, starting with the
kitchen. Appliances were ordered, boxes of crockery and cutlery were found and
the house began to function as a home. I went to Lancashire for five days to
meet my sister, Pat, and my Mum. I stayed with my friend, Pat, for three nights
and was able to catch up with Lynda, a colleague from work, and ex-neighbours,
Sue, Ruth and Frank. I really enjoyed meeting up with you all. Mum, Pat and I
stayed in a hotel for two nights and took Mum out to have lunch with 3 of her
friends from Blackburn. Mum and I went to see my Auntie Elsie, who is in a
nursing home in Blackburn.
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| The kitchen is nearly ready |
Back in Suffolk, Jeremy had finished the decorating our bedroom, the
study and the lounge/dining room. He had prepared a candlelit supper for my
arrival home.
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| Ellie helping to empty our container |
That was our first night together in our new home. Now, six weeks
later, all our boxes have been unpacked; our container is empty except for our
dinghy; Sal Darago is almost empty and the house, sheds and garage are full to
bursting. Jeremy is slowly recovering from flu followed by a chest infection
and not enjoying the first December in the UK for seven years. I am OK,
awaiting allergy testing next month to try to find out the cause of a cough
I’ve had for 20 years.
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| Candlelit supper in our new home |
Although we miss our friends and neighbours in Lancashire, we are
beginning to settle in here in Suffolk. Em, Ben and Ellie are less than 10
minutes’ drive away and we enjoy seeing them all regularly, sometimes helping
out with babysitting.
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| Did we order too much wood? |
We’re looking forward to Christmas as Simon and Erin will be joining us
and we’ll all be together as a family for the first time since 2007.
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| Home sweet home |
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
