Never a dull moment!

We went back to Kantara on Tuesday, to get the jobs finished. It was rather windy, but not too chilly, so we hauled the boat across to the next berth to use that pontoon to wash the other side, and varnish the Roses and Castles. We started to wax using new product, but this was appallingly smeary, despite its claims not to be. We'll take it back to Midland Swindlers if we get the opportunity. We couldn't find a source of the fabulous carnauba wax we've been using for the past three years, so I emailed John Barnard, who'd given it to us.

He doesn't sell it. Back on the interweb, we finally found  a company who did, and ordered it for next day delivery. We did a tiny bit more waxing with the weeny bit remaining in the tub, then more washing and preparation for work the next day.

It arrived the next day, and we finished!

The following day, the sun broke through and gave us the perfect opportunity to take Kantara for a short trip to test the engine after her injector overhaul. It certainly made a difference! The engine was quieter, smoother and far less exhausty. We took her down to Crick, where we had lunch in The Moorings, and did a bit of shopping at the Co-Op. Then we sailed back. An afternoon well spent.

On Saturday evening, cold, damp and windy, there was a Halloween disco/karaoke/social event in the marina. Despite the cold - everyone was wearing coats, hats, scarves and so on -  it was a good evening. We spent our time with a couple of couples we'd not met before - it's always good to exchange boating tales with new acquaintances - and enjoyed a tasty, hot meal prepared entirely by the wife of one of the owners of the marina. Wine and beer at fabulously low prices flowed steadily. Karaoke was... interesting, and the dancing amusing. But all great fun!

We winterised on Sunday, and drove back to the house. We'd intended to visit Ikea and John Lewis in Milton Keynes on the way back, but gave up because of the huge numbers of cars trying to get into the car parks. So, here we are. Decorating to be finished, Christmas to prepare for. Never a dull moment!

Back and forth

When we arrived back at Kantara the Wednesday before last, the weather was lovely. We were having the Indian Summer I'd predicted back in March, April and May when the weather was so dreadful at times.

But then came storm Callum, and winds rocked the boat violently, and rain thrashed down. We were more than a little surprised to see a young man fitting a stern canopy on Lyndsey Anne, struggling to keep it in place while he pulled the canvas down over the frame. Brave!

In the dry warmth of Kantara, we spent time trying to swat or otherwise get rid of several flies that had taken up residence there. Nasty creatures. If it had been a scene in a film, they would have suggested the presence of a dead body, but in reality this wasn't the case. Of course.

Flies gone, we then had the spiders to deal with. Spiders that had patently failed to catch the flies. Two or three of these were quite nasty-looking blighters which we were pleased to feed to the fish.

Finally, the wind did drop enough for us to get out and work on the boat. Grace washed and varnished over one panel of  Roses and Castles, and between us we washed and waxed the rest of that side. Unfortunately, the break in the weather wasn't long enough for us to repeat those processes on the other side.

I did get the opportunity, though, to run the engine briefly. WOW!! Having the injectors reconditioned has made such a huge difference! It runs so much quieter - and it never has ranked amongst the noisiest we've ever heard - and with so little exhaust fumes! We're really looking forward to taking her out for a proper run!

When we set out on Monday to visit Christine and Mike in Torquay, the weather would have been perfect for that proper run! And it was perfect for the stay in Torquay, too, allowing us to get out each day to enjoy the sights and the walks.

Teignmouth sea-front on Tuesday, the dullest of the days...

Beautiful Buckfast Abbey on Wednesday...

Canonteign Falls on Thursday...

followed by Compton Castle...

Babbacombe Model Village on Friday...

and a ferry trip to the fishing village (now large town!) of Brixham on Saturday.

This included a wander around the not-quite-accurate "replica" of the Golden Hind  - a floating museum in honour of Sir Francis Drake.

On Saturday evening, we went to the long-awaited Kadia/Said the Maiden collaboration in Kingskerswell Parish Church of St Mary. The maidens were one short, but the remaining two were unfazed. Kadia were brilliant in their own set and a clever aid to the maidens in theirs. The collaboration set was superb, and the whole show was all it was promised to be!

Their final song brought together all that's best in these two bands. Harmonies. A beautiful rendition of a song that they all found themselves singing impromptu around a bonfire at a very chilly out-door gig a few winters ago when they decided that they just had to perform together again. This evening's event was the second of three performances that came out of that. (Video courtesy of Keith Bache.)

The journey back yesterday was a good one, under a clear, sunny sky. It's the same today. But we hear rumours of an impending sharp temperature-drop, so it's back to Kantara tomorrow, to finish the work on the paintwork, and to winterise.

Snap decision time!

So yesterday, at last, the plumber - the third we'd tried to get to do our list of jobs - turned up to assess the plumbing situation. Chris the Plumber was the man we'd wanted for the job in the first place, but he failed to answer any communications. After two others had turned out to be totally unreliable, I finally made contact with him. And he'll do the work, and he'll do it soon!

We reckoned there was a small chance he'd say, "How about tomorrow?", but when he didn't we tidied up the layer of decorating materials and associated detritus, packed bags and boxes and headed back to Kantara. We're here for just five days, and in that time we'll wash and wax the boat ready for whatever the winter might throw at her, and varnish the Roses & Castles. The reconditioned fuel injectors were refitted yesterday, so we'll be sure to have at least a short trip before we winterise her and leave her again.

It's been a glorious day, warm and sunny, and was perfect for a drive out this afternoon along beautiful country lanes to visit Tony Lester, an auctioneer in the village of Marton. I've had a large collection of postage stamps under my bed ever since my dad died in 1995, mostly his but also the smaller collection I created when I was a kid. With philately being far less popular these days, I knew this lot weren't very valuable, but this auctioneer gave me a fair price, and it's good to know that someone will enjoy then in due course. It would have been awful to throw them away!

On Monday, we'll be heading south to Taunton to spend a week with Grace's sister, Christine, and her husband Mike. On Sunday 20th, the four of us will be going to nearby Kingskerswell Parish Church to see Said the Maiden share the stage with Kadia, a male folk trio acknowledged by many as the male version of StM. The Maidens are supporting Kadia on a short national tour, and this promises to be a really good gig at lovely venue.

Kadia

The Company of Players at Kingskerswell last year

After that... Well, the decorating's still not completed, and Chris has his jobs to do.

Then Christmas!

Yelvertoft Marina this evening