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| Jennifer, the bride and groom and us |
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| more celebrating |
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| Baby Sydney at ten months at her play group |
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| The Admiral in her native Indonesian finery |
Friday, November 16, 2012
London, UK
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Rochester, Kent, UK
Its been a while since the last post and we have been very busy. We have been in London for three weeks now and I dont know where the time has gone. The first week was taken up with my sisters nuptial celebrations and these went on for many days. It was a wonderful event and we have never seen her so happy. Jennifer flew in for the week and is was great to see her too.
Photos of the wedding will be posted soon with the Admiral in all her native finery.
We stayed a few days in Amersham, Bucks. visiting with the Admirals parents who remain hale and hearty in their eighties. Lots of dinners and drinks with family and friends including old school friends, Michael and Leora, Michael and Bettina and Martin and Guida.
And cousins Ann, Robert and Claude and Stephen. Visits to the Royal Observatory, The Victoria and Albert and the London Museum to name a few.
Last weekend was a medical school reunion and almost twenty people showed up most of whom I have not seen for more than thirty years. A memorable and boozy evening and a great time was had by all.
The Admiral had a reunion of her own. This was a sleepover with five of her nursing pals at a hotel in Kensington. Needless to say, your humble captain was not invited!
The rest of the time was spent with Ben and Jessica and baby Sydney in Rochester. Sydney is crawling and standing now and is a joy to behold.
The mo remains itchy but is coming along. Thank you, all of you out there who have sponsored me in this effort for an excellent cause. $195 donated so far This is the link should you also wish to contribute.http://mobro.co/3631825.
Photos of the wedding will be posted soon with the Admiral in all her native finery.
We stayed a few days in Amersham, Bucks. visiting with the Admirals parents who remain hale and hearty in their eighties. Lots of dinners and drinks with family and friends including old school friends, Michael and Leora, Michael and Bettina and Martin and Guida.
And cousins Ann, Robert and Claude and Stephen. Visits to the Royal Observatory, The Victoria and Albert and the London Museum to name a few.
Last weekend was a medical school reunion and almost twenty people showed up most of whom I have not seen for more than thirty years. A memorable and boozy evening and a great time was had by all.
The Admiral had a reunion of her own. This was a sleepover with five of her nursing pals at a hotel in Kensington. Needless to say, your humble captain was not invited!
The rest of the time was spent with Ben and Jessica and baby Sydney in Rochester. Sydney is crawling and standing now and is a joy to behold.
The mo remains itchy but is coming along. Thank you, all of you out there who have sponsored me in this effort for an excellent cause. $195 donated so far This is the link should you also wish to contribute.http://mobro.co/3631825.
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| the new mo at 15 days |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Movember
The month of November has rolled around again and this is the time to support mens health issues by growing facial hair beneath the nose. Yes, it is itchy and looks fairly hideous initially but it is for a good cause so I would like to ask you to support my mo effort by visiting my mo space and watching its progress.
Please go to the following link
http://mobro.co/3631825
Please go to the following link
http://mobro.co/3631825
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| new mo day 8 feels like a toothbrush |
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Back in Blighty
We have been back in London for just over a week now, spending time with family and friends. The sun has been out for about four minutes of the past seven days and it's been quite cold. Still, we don't come here for the weather and we have all enjoyed my sister Ruth's nuptial celebrations which began last Thursday at the Marylebone Town Hall and on to lunch at the Grazing Goat restaurant. Friday night dinner was provided at Ruth's house and finally a great party at the Fish Factory in the docklands. We all had a great time and we have never seen her so happy.
Number 4 kid, Jennifer was also here for a week and it was wonderful to spend some time with her, having not seen her for over a year.
The other joy was to see our baby granddaughter, Sydney. She is now nine months old and weighs in at 25 pounds. She is a delight, a very happy and contented baby doing all the usual baby stuff. She crawls and stands up by herself and grins all the time, it will be very hard to leave her again.
Now that all the celebrations are over we will visit some old friends and see some of what London has to offer. Photos will be uploaded shortly.
It is almost November and the Admiral has permitted me to grow some facial hair beneath the nose for a very good cause, namely Movember, a charitable organisation to improve awareness of men's health issues especially prostate cancer.
Number 4 kid, Jennifer was also here for a week and it was wonderful to spend some time with her, having not seen her for over a year.
The other joy was to see our baby granddaughter, Sydney. She is now nine months old and weighs in at 25 pounds. She is a delight, a very happy and contented baby doing all the usual baby stuff. She crawls and stands up by herself and grins all the time, it will be very hard to leave her again.
Now that all the celebrations are over we will visit some old friends and see some of what London has to offer. Photos will be uploaded shortly.
It is almost November and the Admiral has permitted me to grow some facial hair beneath the nose for a very good cause, namely Movember, a charitable organisation to improve awareness of men's health issues especially prostate cancer.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Puteri Harbor, Malaysia.Some year end stats
We have been busy cleaning and putting stuff away as we get ready for our trip to the UK and the USA. We leave tomorrow and I can't believe that the cruising season is over for us this year. It seems just like yesterday when Roger and I left Sydney Horbour for points north but it was, in fact, February.
The weather has certainly changed and is now really hot and steamy. We had a huge thunderstorm yesterday and the day before with a massive amount of rainfall.
The marina remains very sheltered and secure. This was a good choice of place to leave the boat while we travel. (Thanks to Bill on S/V Bebe)
Here are some stats from year 2012.
Miles covered 5309
Engine hours 412
Genset hours 268
Fuel 1028 litres 270 US gallons 228 Imperial gallons
Countries visited 3 Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia
Islands visited Many dozens
Fastest sustained boat speed 10.5 kts Albany passage
Highest sustained wind speed 38 kts.
Lightening strikes 0
Engine failures 1 (air pressure sensor failed after Bali
low rpm only and no turbo boost)
I still hate Volvo's
Biggest Fish (before moratorium) 40 pound wahoo
Days on Mooring 49 Sydney harbour
Days at sea and at anchor 151
Days in marinas 156 (including this current hibernation)
Guests and crew Roger and Janice, Young Ron, Tracy and
John.
Hours in the Operating Room Still 0
Phone calls from Patients Still 0
Next post will be from London with photos of the upcoming nuptials
The weather has certainly changed and is now really hot and steamy. We had a huge thunderstorm yesterday and the day before with a massive amount of rainfall.
The marina remains very sheltered and secure. This was a good choice of place to leave the boat while we travel. (Thanks to Bill on S/V Bebe)
Here are some stats from year 2012.
Miles covered 5309
Engine hours 412
Genset hours 268
Fuel 1028 litres 270 US gallons 228 Imperial gallons
Countries visited 3 Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia
Islands visited Many dozens
Fastest sustained boat speed 10.5 kts Albany passage
Highest sustained wind speed 38 kts.
Lightening strikes 0
Engine failures 1 (air pressure sensor failed after Bali
low rpm only and no turbo boost)
I still hate Volvo's
Biggest Fish (before moratorium) 40 pound wahoo
Days on Mooring 49 Sydney harbour
Days at sea and at anchor 151
Days in marinas 156 (including this current hibernation)
Guests and crew Roger and Janice, Young Ron, Tracy and
John.
Hours in the Operating Room Still 0
Phone calls from Patients Still 0
Next post will be from London with photos of the upcoming nuptials
Monday, October 15, 2012
Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
All well with us after an interesting run from Nongsa Point in Indonesia. The marina did our clear out procedure from Indonesia with their usual efficency. I handed our passports and customs and immigration documents to them on Sunday morning and got them back duly stamped that afternoon for a fee of about $30.
We were told that there was no problem leaving the following morning which we did at about 0600H along with Ambika, Roxy, Ever After, Blue Heeler, Infini and Albertina who was towing Comedie who has a transmission problem.
We had a favorable tide to begin with and crossed the main Singapore shipping channel south of Raffles Lighthouse. About half way through the shipping channel we had a sudden loss of engine power, the chartplotter screen in the cockpit went dead and I lost my AIS receiver. We had to sail across the straight using an Ipad and the old Mark 1 eyeball. The wretched Volvo D3 has been showing a fault since Bali and will only run at low RPM due to a problem with an air pressure sensor. Fortunately, we did have enough engine power to proceed but the tide turned at about 1100H and it was slow going after that, dodging the busy ship traffic in this part of the world without the benefit of AIS.
Once west of Singapore, we turned north in the channel between Malaysia and Singapore where we met the usual hazard of fish traps dotted about the channel. Tide was still against us with no useful breeze and we plodded on at about 4.5 kts toward Puteri harbour. The final drama was the bridge between Malaysia and Singapore. The height of the bridge was advertised as being 25 metres at high tide and I know that Callisto's air draft is 22 metres but as we approached the bridge and eyeballing the height of the mast it certainly seemed like we could not get under. Rationality won over and we went slowly under the bridge without problem.
Entry into Puteri was very easy and the marina is only about 2 years old with friendly staff and is very clean. The restaurant and bar are alcohol free and the bacon is made of turkey. They would seem to take Islam rather more seriously in Malaysia than they did in Indonesia. The marina is also miles from anywhere but that suits us, as all we need is a safe place to leave Callisto for the next 3 months.
Oddly enough, once I shut down all the boat's electronics and started them up again all the screens and AIS worked again. This does not inspire much confidence!
The next few days will be spent on cleaning and maintenence chores and it's off to London on Saturday.
We were told that there was no problem leaving the following morning which we did at about 0600H along with Ambika, Roxy, Ever After, Blue Heeler, Infini and Albertina who was towing Comedie who has a transmission problem.
We had a favorable tide to begin with and crossed the main Singapore shipping channel south of Raffles Lighthouse. About half way through the shipping channel we had a sudden loss of engine power, the chartplotter screen in the cockpit went dead and I lost my AIS receiver. We had to sail across the straight using an Ipad and the old Mark 1 eyeball. The wretched Volvo D3 has been showing a fault since Bali and will only run at low RPM due to a problem with an air pressure sensor. Fortunately, we did have enough engine power to proceed but the tide turned at about 1100H and it was slow going after that, dodging the busy ship traffic in this part of the world without the benefit of AIS.
Once west of Singapore, we turned north in the channel between Malaysia and Singapore where we met the usual hazard of fish traps dotted about the channel. Tide was still against us with no useful breeze and we plodded on at about 4.5 kts toward Puteri harbour. The final drama was the bridge between Malaysia and Singapore. The height of the bridge was advertised as being 25 metres at high tide and I know that Callisto's air draft is 22 metres but as we approached the bridge and eyeballing the height of the mast it certainly seemed like we could not get under. Rationality won over and we went slowly under the bridge without problem.
Entry into Puteri was very easy and the marina is only about 2 years old with friendly staff and is very clean. The restaurant and bar are alcohol free and the bacon is made of turkey. They would seem to take Islam rather more seriously in Malaysia than they did in Indonesia. The marina is also miles from anywhere but that suits us, as all we need is a safe place to leave Callisto for the next 3 months.
Oddly enough, once I shut down all the boat's electronics and started them up again all the screens and AIS worked again. This does not inspire much confidence!
The next few days will be spent on cleaning and maintenence chores and it's off to London on Saturday.
Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
We arrived safely at Puteri Harbor at about 1500H today after an interesting day. Full report tomorrow
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