Well, in fact we are now back in the Canaries but our time in the UK was pretty hectic so I did not get a chance to update the blog! This is rather wordy but I will add some pics to the gallery next time!
We had a really great trip back home. Unfortunately Chris’s dad was pretty poorly for some of the time which did dampen our spirits whilst in Exeter, but he did improve a lot by the time we left. However, we have now received the news that he had to be taken into hospital and has had a minor op. Fingers crossed that this solves the problem.
We were in the UK for 3 weeks and spent 11 days touring round the country to see my family and being treated so well by everyone. We even got to see water and boats everywhere we went, that was treat for us as we don’t see much of that sort of thing with our lifestyle!!!
From Beaulieu, my brother, Steve, took us to Lymington whilst Carol (my sister-in-law) was baby-sitting their grandchildren near Salisbury, and we spent loads of money buying things for the boat - especially a “Cobb BBQ”. We had a delightful drink with Steve in the Royal Lymington Yacht Club watching all the activity on the water.
In Leicester, George and Pauline, my sister, picked up their daughter, Anna and took us to Rutland water where George keeps his corribee (a design of boat Chris sailed on for many years!). We rounded off the visit with bacon sandwiches in the club-house - overlooking the water!!
From there we went to Lincoln to visit my daughter and her partner, Sarah and Danny, and following a rather heavy night, Sarah and I wandered round Lincoln whilst Danny was working and Chris lazing about with their new dog, Jack. Yes, we saw boats!! It was raining so on this occasion we didn’t hang about.
Our next stop was Milton Keynes, where with my bother, Peter and Gwen took us out for lunch and then we had a typical English walk along a canal, picking blackberries!! Yes, more boats!!!
Chris dropped me off in Bristol as he wanted to get back to see his dad and spend some time with his family, and I stayed with my son, Rob, and his girlfriend, Emily Breeze, (Chris insists I use her full name as he thinks its REALLY good!!). I went to their gig on Friday night and then on Saturday Rob and I (Emily was working) took a stroll in to Bristol, walked round the cathedral and ended up at the Mud Dock Café overlooking the river. Yes, even more boats!!
On our final day, we went over to see Chris’s oldest son, Paul. Unfortunately we missed his youngest son J who was out - better luck next time!! Maybe next time we can also get up to Manchester to see Mark, his middle son!
We also went down to Plymouth to catch up with another “old” friend, Mac; who has also sailed across the Atlantic but is now super-ace Latin-American dancer. We had a great afternoon and evening and met his new absolutely charming girl-friend Sam.
Whilst I was in Bristol, Chris also called into to see his friends Kevin & Mo but unfortunately Kevin was away working in Africa. On leaving their boat, a converted fishing boat, he tripped over a cleat and ended up cracking his ribs on the side of the boat.
I had been up to Taunton on Monday to see my ex-colleagues and my Cropredy friends and on Tuesday I was sorting out a minor problem with my flat so all in all the final few days flew past!!
Due to the incident above, we’re here for another week; although Chris could sail the boat at the mo, my concern is that the rolling and any sudden movement could send him flying and bash his ribs again! Oh a sailors life!!!!