OUR BLOG
"There's always a plan, but unexpected things happen and we just go with the flow. Though I do believe that fate and destiny often play their part"
sailing blog
We've spent the past week hunkered down on Comino whilst the rain has periodically poured and the temperature has tumbled. A few of the Maltese yotties in the marina have said to us "aren't you bloody cold staying on-board". Rather smugly I've answered "not at all - this is a British boat - we have central heating". Flabbergasted barely describes the reaction. Heating on a boat here is as rare as a warm glass of white wine. Our warmth comes at the press of a button in the form of a diesel powered hot air central heating system, which I had fitted at Nicki's insistence when the boat was built. Good call, even if it did cost two grand! So there lies the secret of our comfort, in spite of the worst the weather has thrown at us. This morning however, the word comfort went out the window. Since the day we arrived in Malta people have warned us about what happens when a North Easterly gale force wind blows. It's called a Gregale. At about 6am we found out exactly what they were talking about. Essentially, the wind drives small tidal waves directly into Grand Harbour at 20 second intervals, right down to where we're berthed. The effect is quite dramatic. The boat tosses like a bucking bronco on steroids, the pontoon rolls and it's just like being out at sea in a really bad storm. At 8am the phone rang and Jane said "get your bags packed, I'm coming over to rescue you". Much to our relief, she arrived shortly afterwards to help us abandon ship. Getting across the gangplank from the boat to the pontoon was a death defying feat, but we managed to get back on terra firma unscathed. A short drive later, at Jane's house, we were greeted with something we hadn't seen since last winter at our own home……a real fire…… WOW!!! Going back to yesterday, before the storm, we wandered down to the big new shopping centre in Sliema, now that the Christmas lights have been switched on. I normally hate the commercialisation that spoils this time of year……ba humbug I hear you say…... but we both felt we should try and get a bit of festive spirit inside us ready for when we come home in a couple of weeks. At the entrance to the mall a charming little shrine has sprung up, which replicates something that we saw in Paris earlier in the year. Lovers fasten a padlock to the railings and throw the key into the sea below. It kind of symbolises their lurve……soppy yes…... but hey……what's wrong with a little romance. Inside the mall the lights made us feel very festive indeed. So much so, that on the way home we stopped at Med Asia for bargain happy hour 2 for 1 cocktails costing all of €4.95. Now that's what I call festive spirit!
1 Comment
Angelina Roope
7/12/2013 12:10:02 pm
Miss you both so much, so close but yet so far away. Glad you are having fun and have heating, you lucky buggers, much love and big hugs and kisses Angelina xxxx
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A FEW PICS OF COMINOClick a photo to enlarge and use side arrows to scroll through.
COMINO IS CURRENTLY HEREDID SOMEONE SAY SEAFOODOn our journey from Portugal to Greece we enjoyed amazing seafood almost everywhere we stopped. Finding the local fish market was always a priority because seafood was so plentiful and so reasonably priced. And, the displays were a feast for your eyes.
Locating a market sometimes meant pounding the pavements in searing heat, but if you kept your eyes peeled, you often came across a little clue. The pic below was a rather less than subtle advert for a fish market - it was eight feet tall.
Freshly cooked onboard, a plateful of giant prawns, baked in wine and garlic, washed down with a few glasses of local vino, was like heaven. Watching the sunset on the boat eating a meal like that was the epitome of "living the dream".
Now we're in Greece we've another favourite to savour. I'm talking about fried Calamari. It's usually good, but every now and then it's off-the-scale fantastic. At Natalie's Taverna on Kontokali Beach in Corfu, it was nothing short of epic.
We're based in Lefkas now and It's been a bit of a mission to find somewhere just as good. And we have. Rakias is a mere ten minute walk from the marina and this little fish market, with its very own taverna attached, is quite sensational.
Oh...and it's also worth mentioning that, on occasions, a bit of barbequed Octopus is on the menu at some of the tavernas we frequent. Can I resist....no. SUNSETS AND DRAMATIC SKIESNo filters, or any other monkey business, have been used to enhance these images.
OUR ADVENTURES FROM THE BEGINNINGCATEGORIES
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