Rebak Island, Langkawi, Malayia

'Tis the night before Christmas and I can't believe that I have been here for almost three weeks. This is a very different pace and climate from London. My time has been spent doing boat chores, reading and watching re-runs of a favorite TV series called Deadwood.
Callisto was in fair shape when I got here and the major problem was dead batteries and failure of the 30 Amp charger probably due to the fact that the battery bank was seriously depleted. The fellow I thought was charging the batteries on a monthly basis did not, in fact, do so. Hence this problem.
Not the end of the world really as the batteries are due to switched out in March anyway and the charger is under warrantee. The batteries  came up quite nicely with the 100 amp charger and will do fine for the next few months.
The air conditioner in the main salon is fixed and not before time as the weather has been quite warm. The rains have stopped and the skies are mostly clear.
I found lots of things didn't work after 6 months of disuse and I have been gainfully employed fixing everything. The domestic water pump has been rebuilt and is now better than new.
The Admiral has given me a long list of jobs and I have been dutifully wading through it. The vast majority have been completed and I look forward to the holidays and the arrival of the Admiral in time for the New Year.
Three weeks of  the single life is not all that  it is cracked up to be but at least I do have some cruising pals here to keep me company over the upcoming festivities.
The Admiral and I wish all our readers a very Happy Holidays and healthy and prosperous New Year

Hampstead, London, UK

Another eventful week in cloudy and cool London. Cousin Benny arrived for a brief visit last weekend and we had an enjoyable couple of days with him, wandering around the street fair in Hampstead and the Freemason's Arms and then an amusing play at the Haymarket. I went to the Little Ship Club on Tuesday for their club night featuring Sea Shanties with Roger and Ted who will be my crew for the cruise from Singapore to South Africa next year. An enjoyable evening was had by all.

We met with some old medical schools pals on Wednesday for dinner and Thursday again to the theater to see the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, which was very well done.

The weekend was spent with Jessica and Ben and little Sydney in Kent and Jennifer joined us after completing her cookery course on Friday. We had a combined Thanksgiving and Hannuka celebration on Saturday and the time passed quickly playing with the baby.

We are now back in Hampstead getting me packed up  for the trip back to Malaysia tomorrow.

Thanksgiving in Kent

Sydney with the Admiral's boots

Sydney making gingerbread men

Princess Sydney with tutu enjoying a tea party with her dolls

Lighting the candles

Cousin Benny and the Admiral in the pub

The Little Ship Club with a view of the river at Southwark Bridge