January 2009 - ALL CHANGE for this New Year
Posted at 4:39 PM, Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Hi Blog,
Had a great festive break with family and pals, some super skiing in the Spain, and a bitterly cold start to our British New Year.
But we've also had one of those 'once a year' big family chats and get some clarity on where we are all going. And maybe how we can help each other get there!
It's led to revised plans for our summer - and in the meantime our builders have commenced work on the new house.
So its all bulldozers and dust. Assuming this cold weather does not slow them down, we anticpate a full rebuild by April. Anticipate we'll be slowly edged towards moving out so as to allow them to do their job - maybe in Feb. We're hanging in for the time being.
Far too cold to consider moving onto the boat for the duration. Most mornings the pontoons are covered with frosted ice so getting to the loos is not an easy option - so we've sorted moving in with Rob and Louise for a few months. They are sorting the barbed wire dividers as we speak.
But the big boaty news is we've given lots of thought (and bought all the pilots and charts) for the Baltic, but resolved due to this increadibly chilly weather, not to risk a second winter with cold as the only option.
So before we change our minds one more time, I've paid and booked a spot for Swagman down south on the Portuguese Algave.
So its not north we're headed tihs summer, but down towards even more sun!
We're going to see out this construction work by spring, continue to build fitness so as to repeat the London to Brighton Bike ride mid June, then hot foot it away across the Channel for N and S Brittany this summer. Lotsa pals have comitted to join us for short breaks on this coast, with it's staggering scenery and great gallic music and festivals.
So North and South Brittany, then to the North Spanish Rias we've always shot by before, then a slide down the Atlantic Portuguese coast to Lagos. It should see us away for at least two months but will leave Swagman placed so we can access her in the sun next winter.
And we'll close the passage in September at Lagos just around the corner on the appraches to the Med. It is cold water, but super coastline and great local sailing with interesting places like Culartra, Saville and Cadiz not far away.
We've spent one winter here before on our old Swagman (a Grand Soleil 42) and stopped by on this one also - so know the loca services, town and bars, the marina staff, as well as the region.
The real decider is the winter weather, which combined with good value regular winter flights from our local regional airports, will make it a spot to slide off too when next winter here gets too much to bear.
So that's it. Next week we're off for another ski - in Italy this time with a big mob. Then head down bum up at work until a last ski in March. Then finish off new home with funishings etc. The the beginning of another summer - and awayyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Is it right for a sixty something to wish away their time? Can't help it.
JOHN
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