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"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
Nicki's trip to the UK turned into three weeks rather than two (courtesy of the NHS), but thankfully she returns to Malta tonight and I'll have a hug and chilled glass of vino ready to welcome her back. I wonder which one she's looking forward to most? Frankly, it seems like an eternity since she left and I'm keen to get back to some form of normality - sun, sea, sailing and somebody to play Canaster with. Yes, we've recently learnt how to play the game, although a slightly fierce competitive edge seems to be creeping in. I mentioned last time that the boat needed some maintenance doing and I'm pleased to report that I've not been entirely idle whilst on my lonesome. Most importantly the water heater works again, so no more boiling the kettle to wash up. Just about everything else is now sorted ready for some autumn sailing in the sunshine. For the past week I've been alone in Jane's house whilst she took her daughter to Uni in the UK. My job has been to look after the cats and make sure they were adequately fed and watered. From left to right meet Bounty, Chocky and Kitty, who are all still with us thank goodness due to my not inconsiderable dollops of TLC. I'd like to say a few words about humidity……we've all experienced it one way or another. However, this past week has been unbelievable with humidity levels up to 85%, plus searing heat on top just to make matters worse. The other day the thermometer on our pontoon read 48 degrees in open sunlight. What it means is every time you move an inch you instantly become drenched. If you do manual work, like I've done on the boat, you fill a two gallon bucket with sweat every two minutes. Never in my life have I experienced such unpleasant conditions. At night all you can do is lie down in front of a ruddy great big fan and hope you drop off before the sheets become wrining wet. Luckily, today the weather has changed slightly which means Nicki will return to a sticky Malta rather than a soaking Malta.
Another milestone was achieved during my solitary confinement. For the first time in 34 years of marriage I learnt how to use a washing machine. Careful instructions were given to me via a Skype call that took all of twenty seconds to convey. Can you believe it, decades of techno fear washed away (sorry for the pun) in an instant. Mind you, it's just as well what with all this humidity; Nicki would have smelt my clothes from 30,000 feet long before she lands at Luqua Airport.
1 Comment
Ray
24/9/2014 05:02:12 am
Hi Stuart,
Reply
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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.
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