Can’t get no
This is topical, so in a few weeks/couple of months it’s either going to be seen as being incredibly prescient or a non-event but… The
Captain’s log #3*
Kite! In a change to the planned programme, on Saturday Arthur and I were joined by a pal of his. Keith (for that is his
Neighbours
I dabble (the only word to use) with an app called ‘NextDoor’. It is (in case you’re not yet acquainted) a type of ‘social media’
Captain’s log #2
Becalmed. Tides and gate times meant another longer day on the water, and this time I would be singlehanded. To be honest, I sat at
Captain’s log
Because of tide times and the marina gate closing at 12.56 and not reopening until 19.11, the planned daysail on Saturday 4th September was going
Home invasion
After a long absence, next-door’s cat has started creeping into our house. He’s cunning, only attempts entry when everyone is asleep. Everyone except the dogflap
Going up! (v1.0)
These are peculiar times, my friend. Global pandemic restrictions and the Brexit fallout have combined in a perfect storm to make foreign holidays an uncertain
Sailing properly
After a long session on the boat carrying out essential maintenance, I’m a bit chuffed to say that I’ve fixed the jamming mast gate issue.
Going back to my routes
I’m going up to Deganwy in a few hours. If I wasn’t taking a few bits and bobs for spare parts and many tools, I’d
And another thing
Now that we are doing more handwashing than Pontius ever considered possible, how do I educate my bladder not to kick in with some kind
Sailing Good Mood: the joblist
*edit* This is an unprioritised list of jobs, but split across the calendar year(s). Some of these jobs are trivial, some are not. General jobs:
Not sailing twice
The week before last we (two dogs, two humans) went up to Deganwy and sat on the boat. We didn’t get out of the marina,
In the club
Without even applying for membership, I seem to have joined a club. I am now a member of the South Nottinghamshire chapter of the ‘grey-haired,
Safe dogging
The little brown spanner has been enhancing his spaniel hearing lately. Spaniel hearing is where he goes temporarily deaf to all commands as he heads
Bobbing about
Last Saturday we (my own-boat instructor and I) sailed out of Deganwy, up the River Conwy and out into the sea again. Unbelievably (but true)
Not working
Today is a not working day so I’ve: Walked the dogs Been out on the Ninja for a quick shopping trip Arranged for the boat
Getting serviced
It’s that time of the year again. Despite a serious lack of mileage over the last 12 months, the Ninja needs to get serviced. After
Whatever floats your boat
We (two adult humans and the two spanners) had a weekend in Wales! Well, we had an overnight stay rather than a full-on weekend. We
Strange goings on (not going on)
Some time ago I was approached by a recruitment consultant. The usual call. They had a terrific opportunity right up my street and wanted to
Powered by electrickery?
On Saturday I went up to the boat and cleaned. While I was belowdeck I heard the Coastguard put out an alert in my immediate
Weapon Of Choice
We started the Easter break in fine style – the dogs permitted us a long lie-in until almost 8am. Bliss. There was a long dogwalk,
Fraud prevention? Denied
Every day at 08.30 we get a call on the landline. The voice on the call has been run through a speech generator, so it
Jobs on land/jobs afloat
The boat has been lifted out of the water. She’s now sitting in a cradle on the marina hardstanding. I went up to Deganwy on
That time of the year again
The woes of having a 200BHP machine, eh? The insurance on the Ninja is due. And the bike is due for its annual service. The
Holy arm, Batman
24-hours ago I had v1.0 of the Covid-19 vaccine. The AstraZeneca/Oxford variant. I’ve had more painful general inoculations, TBH. The pharmacist who ‘did’ me was
Thank you for the music
I attended a Synology seminar a couple of weeks ago. It was all about how to use the NAS as a streaming music station, but
X-Ray Spex
You know the comics we used to read when we were kids? Superman, Batman, Green Lantern (my favourite)? You know the adverts? Turn your black
Days of future passed
Last night I stayed up very late* to watch a TV programme of my youf youth. The Champions (Talking Pictures TV), episode one. They say
Pandora’s box
A couple of weeks ago, after a lot of pre-action thinking about, quite a bit of planning about and a moderate amount of generally ruminating
Blogathon xx/21: The end
As the hand of destiny meets the bottom of fate, so we say goodbye to another blogathon and farewell to another February, and say hello
Blogathon 28/21: Two years? Only two years?
Two years ago today this cute bundle of spaniel came to live with us: In the two years we’ve been together Robyn has travelled extensively
Blogathon 27/21: Swallows or Amazons?
One of the most formative books of my early years was Arthur Ransome’s sailing adventure for children of all ages, ‘Swallows and Amazons’. I read
Blogathon 26/02: Pub?
Two of the inhabitants in da house are highly-seeded competitors in the 2021 quarter finals for World’s Fussiest Eater. They’re in different heats so I
Blogathon 25/21: A hard banging and a big blowjob!
Yesterday morning’s dogwalk was a most unpleasant experience. The wind was cutting straight through the village; when it was on the ease it was tremendously
Blogathon 24/21: Grass, man
After a winter of dogs hurtling back and forth over it, one of the dogs digging little bits up and bringing said bits into the
Blogathon 23/21: Renewables
I’ve just done the annual renewal of the caravan insurance. And I’ve just done the annual renewal of our membership of the Caravan and Motorhome
Blogathon 22/21: The flicks
I miss the cinema. The super large wall-to-wall, floor-to ceiling screen, the vibratingly powerful surround sound Dolby audio, the super comfortable reclining seats, the hideously
Blogathon 21/21: Unvisited
Over at Transport of Delight Highwaylass dips her toe into a bit of Scottish history. I know two things about the country: Yesterday, 20th February
Blogathon 20/21: Shredding
And while I’m moaning about the state of my guitar skills… Have a look at and a listen to this cover of The Beatles’ ‘Wile
Blogathon 19/21: Aliens
At 20.45z yesterday I watched a spaceship approach a planet 470 million km away from here, at 19,000km/hour. I watched this on my phone. At
Blogathon 18/21: Cheating
Not content with the enduring trials and tribulations of Knights in White Satin, my favourite Michael Kiwanuka track (Cold Little Heart) that I love to
Blogathon 17/21: Dischord
You’re struggling to get the F bar chord, right? Not just the basic shape of it, but also how to get into it quickly, and
Blogathon 16/21: (B)Lame
The junior spaniel has been lame all weekend; hopping around the place like a three-legged thing, our little wounded soldier wouldn’t even put weight on
Blogathon 15/21: Unnecessary dates
Yesterday was VD or Valentine’s Day if you prefer. Saint Valentine is the patron saint of epileptics, beekeepers, and Clinton’s cards. And probably Moonpig, for