Home again ….

We returned home on Friday ……. and I got ticked off by Heidi for not having completed my blog! Sorreeee!!

We really had a hectic couple of weeks preparing to leave the boat – well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

I have been sewing like mad & know now that I am definitely not cut out to work in a sweatshop! Having already made internal covers for the wheelhouse windows which should be useful for both hot (reflect sun) and cold (keep it cosy) conditions I took on the task of external covers – for all the windows! – and blue canvas covers for the wooden doors! I reckon I was tied to me trusty sewing machine for 8 days solid work.We have mainly used magnets to secure the covers to the outside – we ordered about 350 and I think I have sewn about 220 into ‘pockets’ of the various covers. Sewing magnets ain’t very easy as the little blighters don’t like to separate from each other in the boxes & they like to grab ahold of the machine footplate and then they grab each other on the table as you put more into the cover. Get the picture?

I started really early one morning whilst Nadine and Adrian were still in their beds so she took delight in photographing us in our PJs fitting the first one to the front of the boat!

All in all, quite a feat for this old biddy – much muttering and sore thumbs from pulling magnets apart and pushing them through the machine!

But I got them done (all but the 2 smallest windows) and Adrian had the job of balancing along the rubbing strait to secure the salon window covers. Several of our neighbouring boaters have expressed interest and concern when they saw Adrian’s balancing act!

We also decided to call in the expert and see exactly what he recommended as regards winterization of the engine and domestic systems ‘cos we felt Larry the Lamb (dodgy geezer wot we bought her from) was far too casual about it all – just pour some antifreeze down the loos type approach! Guy was extremely helpful and spent time explaining and demonstrating what needs doing and suggesting ways of minimizing costs for next year. It all helps with our knowledge and understanding of the boat.

So she’s done! Winterized and wrapped up nice and snug and we will return in the spring hoping all this work has paid dividends in terms of a happy boat ready for our next exciting season.

Author: mistyjf

I have been boating in Europe since 2009 when I shipped Misty Morning to France. Time & life move on! Adrian, my new partner, & I bought Piedaleau in 2015 to continue and expand our European boating adventures. View all posts by mistyjf