Dogs attired in bow ties visit Adina

Monty and Oscar dressed for dinner

We’ve got our first sailing friends over for dinner! Sadly no-one arrives by boat as the weather is a shocker or as John states you need sturgeon in the marina or risk getting sea sick!

Big Vernon arrives a few hours early and is soon roped into helping with boat maintenance. He’s even brave enough to open the holding tank to confirm it’s full and blocked! Bugger.

John, Val and Vicky Robbins turn up with their lovely dogs Monty and Oscar who are very impressively attired in bow ties for dinner.

It soon becomes apparent John is a wizard on all things relating to boats below deck. Susie and I can sail a boat and trim the sails merrily but engines and boat electrics etc. are a new world to us and it’s going to be a steep learning curve. John is a star and seems to be happy to help.

Susie whips up a dinner of lamb chops while I take care of Toms Bar. Yes indeed on board is a dedicated booze cabinet with glasses and it took all of 60 seconds to brand it Toms Bar. Having been a stickler for weight on racing boats that all seems to have gone out of the window now. The boat is loaded with wine and a jolly good range of spirits if I may say so.

Really nice to have John and Val around especially given the many times they have been generous hosts on their boat Seize the Day.

Vernon stays over and is a big help the next day s with the challenge of getting the main sail back on and the enormously long vertical battens in. Its funny how much more nervous you are when it’s your own boat and you question yourself on every bit of equipment, every move you make. Am sure that will improve in time.

Still low on the sailing front due to weather but getting stuff done.