Yachthaven Marina, Phuket, Thailand

We haven't done much posting over the last week as we have been much too busy. Not really, just didn't get around to it.
We have had a few interesting encounters, the first being a mooring ball failure on the island of Koh Lipe. This was a little strange as this was our third day on this particular mooring and the weather was quiet. We had just settled down to watch the second season of Homeland at about 8.00 pm when we felt on unusual thump. On deck, we noticed that the dive boat we were next to was now much further away. Fortunately, despite the dark, we could see well and it was obvious that the mooring we were on had broken loose. Mad dash to get the motor started and then re anchor in 25 meters of water ensued and was uneventful. Just as well we were on the boat when this happened and not ashore.
The mooring looked ok when I dove on it but the water was too deep to see what it was attached to.
Next day, we left for Koh Lanta in about 25 kts of breeze and made the sixty mile run in quick time. We anchored on the west side in the lee of the strong wind for two days and enjoyed the restaurants ashore.
Next stop was Ao Chalong bay in Phuket after some more spirited sailing, where we did our clear in to Thailand. There were many boats in the bay that were old friends some of whom were in the process of leaving for Sri Lanka.
I send my life raft off for its tri annual service and we left for Yachthaven in the north of Phuket to meet Jennifer who arrived on Thursday night after a marathon trip from San Diego.
We are going to cruise around the Phrang Na bay for a week before going off for a road trip to Chang Mai in northern Thailand.

Ko Lanta

G and T's on Ko Lanta

Ao Chalong Bay at sunset

Rain on Ko Lipe

Solar planet sailing past Phi Phi Don

Ao Calong Bay

Ko Lanta

Koh Lipe, Thailand

We are finally out sailing again after a seven month sojourn at the Rebak marina. The Admiral arrived on December 30 as planned and we spent a pleasant New Year' s Eve with our cruising pals.
The Admiral required a few days to get over jet lag and we set off on January 4th for Koh Lipe. We were able to sail about half of the 25 miles and it was good to leave the dock after so long. Only Twenty five miles but a huge difference between Malaysia and Thailand. Clear weather and clear water and much better food.  We will spend a few more days in Koh Lipe with our friends on Kilkea, Solar Planet and Tahina and then head up to Koh Muk and Koh Lanta and then Phuket where we will meet with Jennifer who arrives on January 17.
Photos to follow.

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

Hampstead, London, UK

We got back to London last Thursday and then spent the weekend in Kent with Ben and Jessica and Sydney. We went to a local farm with a small petting zoo and a playground and Sydney ran around enjoying feeding the creatures. We met with Phil and Sandra, Ben's Mum and Dad at the farm and then went back to Jessica's house for lunch.
Evenings were spent on an epic Downton Abbey binge viewing and we watched the entire recent season almost back to back. We await the Christmas special.
Back to London on Monday and a huge curry dinner with my brother and his girlfriend. Out to Ealing on Tuesday to visit with cousin Ann over a very pleasant pub lunch.
I went to Royal Academy on Wednesday to see an exhibition of Australian Art and a Daumier exhibit and had lunch with yet another cousin, Steven.
Yesterday, we went to the Thai Embassy to get our visas for our time in Thailand in January, February and March and then spent a pleasant afternoon in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

sydney driving

sydney and goats

sydney feeding the lambs 

swinging sydney

chihuly lights at the V & A

Rochester, Kent,UK.

We have had a weekend of doting.

Here are some wedding photos. We will get some professional ones in due course

London,UK.

In many ways it was difficult to leave the comforts and  beautiful weather of San Diego but it was time to get going again. Our flight to London was quite good as the plane was half empty and we were able to get three seats each and I managed to get a few hours of snoozing.
The London gloom was a bit of a shock but to be expected at this time of year. Jennifer and Josette arrived on the following day and then it was full on preparation for the wedding of my niece Lisa.
I'm not usually mad keen on huge gatherings but it was great to get all dressed up and have three of the kids in one place at the same time. Ann, Jessica, Jennifer and Josette all looked beautiful and the wedding itself was meticulously planned and most enjoyable.
I don't know how much jet lag was involved but I managed to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning.
On the following morning, we got to see baby Sydney in the flesh for the first time in six months. Even though we see and talk to her on Skype almost on a daily basis, face to face interaction was much better. I think she knew who we were but she seemed a bit confused as to why we weren't talking to her via an electronic device.
We went to Amersham on Tuesday to visit with the Admiral's mum and dad and also had  a very pleasant visit with Helen Southwood, one of our good cruising friends at her new home in Chorleywood .
Photos to follow