Catching up
Author: Shirlz
4 February 2014
A nearly new year and the start of new adventures. Speedwell is sailing again after a well deserved maintenance break hauled out in Chaguaramas.
I had the opportunity to visit my son, Pete, and all the family for the month of December. The last time I had seen the granddaughters, Kayla and Amy, they had been 7 and 5 years old. Now, 7 years later, they have become beautiful teenagers.
Four days over Christmas were spent in North Yorkshire with a large gathering of the Louw clan. Icy, stormy weather had me feeling grateful not to be thrashing about at sea
Then there was Pete´s 40th birthday bash and all too soon I found myself back on a plane to Trinidad and the tropical warmth. My brush with civilization had made me all the more appreciative of my pared back lifestyle.
As soon as I had unpacked I went over to the Australian boat Muneera, where Andrea and Nick and their daughters, Ella and Millie had been looking after a little foundling kitten that had entered my life two days before I was due to leave for the UK.
They had done a magnificent job of caring for it – feeding it with a medicine dropper and carrying him about wherever they went. It was now possible to discern that it was a ´he´ and they reluctantly handed him over to me. The strict rules regarding bringing pets into Australia made it impractical for them to keep him. Sparky settled down quickly on Speedwell and was soon racing about playing and bouncing along the deck. First job would have to be to put netting up to stop him falling overboard.
On the 15th January Speedwell was relaunched and we motored directly round to Scotland Bay to make sure that everything was as it should be before setting off again. A week later it was back to Chaguaramas to reprovision, clear out with Customs and Immigration and say farewell to all my friends. Then off again, heading North.´
February 4th, 2014 at 14:01
Hello Shirley, I was in N Yorkshire over Xmas too. Sorry we didn’t get to meet up. New cat looks devilish. Keep an eye on him. Happy sailing – where next?
February 6th, 2014 at 14:35
Hi Shirley , I see 2014 has brought you a surprise – We wish you well and hope happiness pervades your existence (big smile and cyberhugs)
We also have a new kitten – my goodness they are cute and destructive ….
Great you are back on track – have been eagerly awaiting your comms – cant wait to see the new adventures.
I am back in Cyprus for a haulout in April and off to turkey in May.
Cheers Kris and family on Footprints.