Happy Christmas everyone, I hope you all had a great time, we were certainly busy, as is custom we hosted the whole family on Christmas day. That was 10 of us. I had the dinner preparations worked out like a military operation. Happy to say I nailed it spot on. Never been so happy with the way everything went. We were all so stuffed we didn't have tea and only a very light supper.

Boxing day was a funny one for me I got up went for a bath jumped out to find Nicky going out the door. Where you off to, I asked. To meet the relee's at Brentford was the reply. It was at this point I realised it was the middle of the afternoon, not 10 o clock or so that I thought it was. Should have asked for a watch this xmas.

Of to Swanage today sometime. Get ready for all the Parties. Well three anyway, should be fun
I'll try to get some stuff done on the boat as well.

Four Days to Xmas. Tommorow is shopping day for all but the perishables. I must make a list. The house is a tip the seond bedroom has two more walls to plaster and then decorate. I ain't going to make it. Never mind it was a good try.

Just saw the secret millionaire on TV. What a great tv idea, and what a nice thing for well to do people to get involved in. Sadly what a terribly put together program. Yes we get the drift from the title that the millionaire may be undercover but do we have to be reminded by the narrator every 5 minutes?

The more I work the more it piles up. After watching the floor fitter work laying my new laminate flooring, I was inspired to be more efficient and positive in my DIY work, and to be honest it's working. Having taken 6 -- 8 weeks to finish off the back bedroom, I have steamed ahead on the front bedroom. I have to replace the lighting wiring with modern stuff then skim the walls with plaster and it's ready for decoration, 5 days and counting. This may have to be postponed a while whilst Xmas preparations take over. It is a worry as I haven't planned the food and we've 10 people sitting down to the table oo-er. I don't mind the cooking it's keeping it warm and ready for serving that the problem.

Must buy some presents too.

It was meant to be a quick trip to Swanage for a meeting on tuesday and take the living room carpet up on wednesday. Things as usual took longer than expected and I didn't get back until Friday.

It was great to catch up with the guys from the MES department (a bit of a reunion) We went to the orange tree in Richmond. Graham, Paul, Mark. Julian, Elaine, Matt, Clare, Lucy, Ruth, Roger and myself.

What a windy week! Can't help but worry about the boats and if they are safe and standing up to the conditions, It's going to be blowing like this for the next week at least.

Meanwhile the Back bedroom is now almost finished. The doors has to be hung, also the curtain rail. bits of fitting and painting to do then we can move in and go on to the next room.

Xmas finish for the project is not going to happen. There are too may other things to do. Now wishing I hadn't gone into the trimaran syndicate. Another drain on my time is the membership secretaries job., I have no idea how much time that is going to take. Must organise my time better and not waste so much time with idle browsing on the internet.

What a busy weekend that was. Even so it was also relaxing. The Dinner and Dance was a great success this year with good venue, good food, and a great band. Little too much to drink but that is just par for the course. The AGM was much as it always is with no great changes and the usual turnout of regulars. The rest of saturday was watching sport on the telly. New Zealand demolished the welsh and South Africa beat the English.

Sunday in the active sailors meeting saw Greg take over as sailing secretary but little else changes. Tougher rules on winter berthing. Well no, thats not quite true, the rules have always been there, we have just been lax in applying them.

More interesting was the possibility of becoming a part owner of a 42 ft trimaran, We picked it up and moved it on Monday. It has seen better days and although it is very tatty it is basically sound. First job is to beef up the repaired rudder and then see how well she sails. Then it's a matter of deciding weather she is a white elephant or a worthwhile proposition.

Yippee we're off to Swanage tommorow. A busy weekend ahead with Club Dinner dance Friday, AGM Saturday, and active sailors meeting Sunday. The back bedroom is nearly complete now. Jobs to do are New Door to fit, doors on the fiited cupboards, carpet, curtains then move in.

Nuff of the boring stuff, what's all this about supernannies for out of control kids and their families. Presumably on the National health. and imposed by the courts. What is missing is a lack of control to start with and this is missing because the government pass laws that prevent us from smacking, prevent police from disciplining and generally let the younger generation get away with just about anything. Now I only had occasion to smack my kids a couple of times when they were young (they're both bigger than me now). By the time they had pushed the limits of misbehavior too far and they had been adequately warned they received the punishment. They then knew the boundary and the consequences. I believe that this is why they never had to be smacked again.

Why is it so many teachers get assaulted by kids nowadays ( I never once heard of it when I was at school). Because there is no retribution, they can get away with it, and from a very young age they know that and play on it. I was caned at school which was not at all painful, it was the wait outside the headmasters office was the worst bit. what can the head do now? Warn repeatedly then expel. Derrrr that what they want ... not to go to school!


Enough ranting. I have two fine sons who have grown up God fearing and well behaved, I hope I played some part in that, but for the most part I think it's luck.

At last things seem to be progressing on the decorating front. You work all day, each day and nothing seems to change. The room still looks a mess and it's hard to keep focused, still they say it's all in the preparation. But now the paint (undercoat) is on and I'm on to building the cupboards, suddenly the room looks brighter. No more plaster dust to breathe for a while. Things are not being helped by a cold I've caught which along with the weather is making me feel lousy.

Must start to do some work on my various websites, Nicky has suggested some modifications to the Watanga site, to make it more readable. The Swanage Sailing Club site is up for it's annual revamp. Over the years it has got messy, (structurally that is) and has become a mixture of old and new styles. Average screen resolutions have gone up over the years so it's time to take advantage of that and fit more on the page.

After I've finished this room.........

Phew it's Friday, well Saturday already. Have been in Swanage since Tuesday, decided it was time to take a break from house renovating and get on with winterising Watanga. Now thats easier said than done as I've never been in this position before and apart from not knowing what to do, when you find out it's what do you do first. When presented with the list of items that need checking they all seem to want to be done first.

I decided that the engine being the most expensive replaceable item ought to come first. Changed the anode and extracted a couple of impeller vanes from the heat exchanger. To warm the oil I led a feed from the galley tap to a bucket (large) removed the raw water inlet pipe from the sea cock put that in the bucket and fired her up. at 1400 rpm she had run the tank dry so a quick tank swop and emptied the other as well. Just before it ran out I mixed antifreeze in the bucket and let that draw through. Used a pump to empty the engine oil, replaced the filter and refilled with fresh oil. Taped up the exhaust.

Need To Do Check / clean air filter. change fuel filter, change impeller.

Serviced the sonic leg

to do reseal lower bearing block with instant gasket send prop to be repaired.

Emptied and blew out all water pipes with air pump

discovered and fixed water leak

How to test the RCD on your consumer unit

It was the classic laurel and hardy scene. I was on a stool painting the wall with a PVA glue solution. I step sideways onto a trestle, the trestle wobbles, I panic jump to the floor, the pot of glue solution (about a pint of) goes over the wall, my shoulder, my arm and the window. expletives follow. Then I watch as almost in slow motion, the solution runs down the wall into the electrical socket and all goes quiet, well until there are a few more expletives.

Then a voice from downstairs says...... you can guess

Meanwhile I'm trying to disconnect the socket to flush the glue out, clear up the mess and stop my shirt becoming part of my arm. -

yes of course I realise the TV's not working!!!!!

Oh and by the way the RCD on the consumer unit works fine.

The Fireworks are cancelled. At a time when the government are pushing for safety on bonfire night and that, rather than let fireworks off yourself , you should go to an organised display. What do Hounslow council do, they cancel the well established firework display in Lampton park. Why? Due to lack of funds apparently, the council now feel that bonfire night is not cost effective. I hope residents of Hounslow remember this on election day.

Meanwhile diy continues apace, spent Thursday stripping all the wallpaper from walls and ceiling, Friday cutting out all the live plaster and refilling with bonding. Saturday continued with finish plastering. I am not the worlds fastest plasterer but I'm starting to be pleased with the results. I must be getting better at it. Downside of the plastering is the tennis elbow has flared up bigtime, I've still got three walls and maybe the ceiling to do!!

All this work is making me look forward to my next visit to Swanage.

The sudden cold snap is making me panic. Last night it went down to about 3 degrees and tonight it is already 2 degree and falling. After all this warm weather i took a chance and didn't drain the water systems on the boat. I just hope that there is no damage. The engine should be OK as it has antifreeze but the various pumps and the water heater are a different matter, it could be a costly mistake on my part.

Back here in London, Reg went for his cataract operation today and seems to have fared quite well, Nicky is staying in with him tonight. His follow up appointment is next friday week. Nicky says she will ask if he wants to come to Swanage for a few days to rest.



Refurbishments coming along. Framework to hide cylinder now in place, started stripping the walls and ceiling, there will be quite a lot of plastering to do soon as the old stuff is pretty naff.

Never was much good at writing diaries, as you will note I have now missed 3 days on the trot, mainly cos I've been too busy. Swanage on friday via chandlery to order new part for the windlass. Evening busy making lists and familiarising myself with the stuff I want to do on the boat on Saturday.

Sat

Get various bits together for working on the boat, then off to Watanga.
The leak that has been manifesting itself as pools of water under the bed mattress and mould on the cupboard door I have traced to the baby forestay mount. Had to cut the headlining to get to the nuts of the deck fitting. Only a minimal amount of sealant found and lots of water, and the backing plate going rusty. The complete headlining is soaked. Reseal with large helping of sikaflex ( may never be able to remove backing plate now) Set up heater in forward cabin to try and drive water out from headlining.

Serviced the windlass ready for new part when it comes in. Removed several gallons of water from rear lazerettes. Think this is rainwater entering through rudder lift mechanisms( there has been a lot of rain).

The racing season ends tommorrow, so spent the evening at the sailing club, the last race party. Bangers and mash, Jim Etherington singing and too much beer. A good night.

Sun

Take part in the last race, not much wind, excellent start first over line at start, but fell foul of the avarage lap curse. I was far enough ahead to have to do an extra lap, then wind died. So go from possibly first to last in one foul swoop. (This will only make sense to you if you understand how average lap racing works.)

Lousy journey back to London, very heavy traffic, I guess it's the half termers going home.

Today

The clocks going back have messed with the body time as usual, Woke quite refreshed at 7:30 today. I don't normally see much before 9:00 as a rule.

Made some good progress with the jobs list. Mended reg's taps, fitted some isolators, and fixed the outside security light. Put up the false wall in back bedroom to hide the fireplace.

Oops barely a week into the blog and I've missed a day. I had a long day yesterday ending in extreme frustration. The rewiring work I had just completed needed to be connected to the consumer unit. V straight forward. Mcb off connect wires mcb on .... nothing. Hmmm doesn't make sense so check with meter - volts on load side of mcb - 27????- off/on again volts 46 ?? I dont think the mcb had ever been switched off since new so it had decided to protest over the intrusion . It's in the bin now, I don't take that sort of insubordination lightly. New one works OK and all is fine and dandy.

Went to visit an old friend of my dads this morning. From our conversation I realised I hadn't talked to her for about 6 years. Her son and I were mates as kids so we had lots to chat about. Then she mentioned how sad it was my uncle dying last year. ( I've only had the one) Trouble was nobody had thought to mention it to me. (So now I have none, apparently. Nothing like a close knit family is there.)

Right I've done my four days hard graft, it's time to think about the boat again, off to swanage in the morning.

Is it me or does shopping take forever. I nipped out to the hardware store with a specific list of items all of which I found relatively easily, but it still took more than 2 hours. Am I in a timewarp? Talking of which, what does anyone think about the much publicised TV series Torchwood? I was expecting better, bad special effects, terrible storyline, and the acting's not much good either. "It's dark, wild and sexy" it says in the press release, well not for me. Adding swearing and sex to a kiddies storyline is a switch off from me.

All the family round for dinner this evening, followed by some photograph viewing.


Hounslow weather
A couple of showers this morning; otherwise, colder with sunny intervals
Max 15°C Maximum RealFeel® 12°C
RealFeel Shade® 12°C Winds W at 16kph [10 mph]
Wind Gusts 35kph [22 mph]
Thunderstorm Probability 4%
Amount of Precipitation 1.0 mm
Hours of Precipitation 1
Arthritis Index (0-10) 9

Today has just flown by. Did a bit on the upstairs ring main but needed some stuff from te builders merchant by the time I was on the way home thinking about lunch, I realised it was 4:40 and tea was next on the menu. I feel like time has cheated on me.

Hounslow weather 23/10/06
Mild with sunny periods Max 66°F
Winds S at 7mph [F2] Wind Gusts 16mph [F4]
Maximum UV 1
Thunderstorm Probability 4%
Amount of Precipitation 0.00 in Hours of Precipitation 0
Arthritis Index (0-10) 10

Elbow is real painful today which is a pity as I have to do some plastering soon, then it will be worse.

So much stuff! we have filled the previa twice with stuff from the boat and we still need a third journey today. Anyways everything should soon be dry and warm in storage. The boat new though it is is damp. After such a dry summer we haven't noticed any water getting in, but with the rain in the last few days it is now becoming apparent that rain water is coming in at a couple of points. The sail locker is one point of entry anything that gets in there goes straight down into the forward floatation chamber, not all that great huh. but we know what this one is and how to mend it. The other is proving more difficult to find. The water, only a small amount so far, drips down the centre of the master cabin locker door. On inspection today I found the roof lining forward of the windows is wet all across.so it may be the windows or where the baby forestay anchors on the deck. Tell you more when I find out which.


Swanage weather forecast Rain Max 16°C
Winds SSE at 14 mph
Wind Gusts 29 mph
Maximum UV 1
Thunderstorm Probability 12%
Amount of Precipitation 13.7 mm
Hours of Precipitation 9
Arthritis Index (0-10) 10


Had lunch at the Sailing Club to give us a chance to catch up with friends before setting off back to London. The weather forecast is spot on RAIN buckets of it. The M3 was a mass of spray but apart from being a bit slow it was a good trip back. Diwahli is very noisy up here, Fireworks going off all over the place despite the rain.

It's nice to be back in Swanage, such a quiet place, best nights sleep I've had in ages. Unfortunately Nicky couldn't say the same and was up most of the night. It's certainly noticably colder and damper recently , my fingers ache in the morning when I get up, (arthritis I think) Spent some time today emptying the boat of all it's soft furnishings in an attempt to beat the mould. There are a couple of wet spots in the boat so have to trace back where the leaks are, more tasks for the winter months. The wind certainly sounds stronger than the forecast 12mph
Inshore waters forecast is 6-7 poss 8 tonight.


Swanage weather

An isolated morning shower; otherwise, sunny periods Max 16°C
Winds S at 12 mph
Wind Gusts 27 mph
thunderstorm Probability 7%
Amount of Precipitation 0.5 mm
Hours of Precipitation 1
Arthritis Index 9

Off to Swanage for a couple of days to catch up on life down there. It seems an age since we have last been down but in reality it's only a couple of weeks. Work on the house in London has to take precidence. It's just draining reserves at the moment. We will have a chance to finish emptying the boat, I haven't seen it since it was hauled.

Weather for Swanage today

Sunny spells, then turning cloudy Max 17°C Winds
SSW at 7 mph
Wind Gusts 17 mph
Maximum UV 1
Thunderstorm Probability 21%
Amount of Precipitation 0.0 mm
Arthritis Index (0-10) 10

It's a strange thing but whenever I visit boatyard in winter it has that feel of a car scrapyard. It's because thay are all out of the water, static and unmoving. It's the water that gives them life and movement like a dog straining at a leash. All the while they stand there waiting for the next season, they get tended to, cleaned, painted, polished. A few get forgotten and slowly rot away, adding to this scrapyard feel.

Weather for today
Rain at times this morning; mostly cloudy Max 19°C
Maximumreliablel® 18°C
RealFeel Shade® 17°C
Winds SSE at 19kph [12 mph]
Wind Gusts 35kph [22 mph]
Maximum UV 1
Thunderstorm Probability 29%
Amount of Precipitation 5.1 mm
Hours of Precipitation 4
Arthritis Index (0-10) 10

What's wrong here?

I was watching the TV program "Rogue traders" the other night and they
stated that if you have your rubbish taken away and subsequently fly-tipped, you
are at risk of prosecution. Who on earth made that one up. Surely it's the fly
tippers who are at fault. If an accountant embezzles money do the employers get
fined for giving him the job? If a politician do'es a bad job do the electorate
get jailed for voting them in (I suppose we do pay for it in a round about way)
but you see my drift. I have been the victim of fly tipping and the last person
I want to get angry with is the poor devil whose rubbish it is. they have
already paid once, It's the greedy, mindless idiot who dropped it I want to see
punished. It's a matter of trust, you trust the man who clears up your garden to
dispose of it correctly. If he doesn't then prosecute him.

Weather forecast by accuweather for Hounslow for thursday 19h Oct

1. 
   Cloudy with a couple of showers; windy Max19°C
   Maximum RealFeel® 17°C
   RealFeel Shade® 17°C
   Winds SSE at 24kph [15 mph] Wind Gusts 46kph [29 mph]
   Maximum UV1
   Thunderstorm Probability 19%
   Amount of Precipitation 3.0 mm
   Hours of Precipitation 4
   Arthritis Index (0-10) 10

Part of the economics of retiring is having enough to live on ad infinitum. At the moment outgoings outweigh incomings and part of the plan was to refurbish the family home to a state where we could rent out rooms for extra income. Well as always it takes a lot longer to do these things than you first imagine. In hindsight, it may have been a mistake to get the boat this early, as it has been a constant distraction. Lets face it lovely hot summer, no work, boat just sitting there, you just have to go and play don't you. Well we did anyway. All in all I am surprised how little I have spent since leaving work. You learn to be frugal.
We have completed the kitchen , lounge, downstairs shower and the upstairs bathroom. Now onto upstairs rewire job (mains and lighting).

To do list includes

• replaster and decorate 3 bedrooms
• replaster hall and landing and decorate
• new flat roof on extension
• new aerial
• new ridge tiles on roof
• repaint exterior
• build studio in garage
• landscape garden

Then theres the boat to winterise ...... and so on, this retirement is hard work!!

In October 2003 Gillette UK decided it would close it's uk production site in 2006, this left me with a dilemma. At the tender age of 51 I reasoned it was a little too early to retire, I would surely need to get another job. However Gillette was kind enough to give us 2 1/2 years notice so there was time to contemplate and plan.

I had for many years wanted get a small yacht with a view of living aboard, at least for a good part of the year. The problem was that Nicky had never shown the slightest sign that she would ever want to step aboard a boat no matter live on one. However after much cajoling and dragging her to boatshows, plus one or two holiday trips on yachts and cruisers she was persuaded it might not be that bad. There was one overriding condition, it had to be a catamaran. Now there's a coincidence.

My wife, Nicky and I came to the conclusion that if we could rental income from our London home and with the pension I would get from Gillette we would have enough to live on. Nothing lavish but sustainable.

So as 2006 started we bought our boat, a Gemini 105Mc and named her Watanga. The spring was a time for getting used to the boat, but sadly as the year wore on family illness curtailed our adventures and we put our plans on hold. As autumn approaches the boat has been hauled from the water. The adventure of sailing off into the sunset will now start next spring. In the meantime we have lots of little mods we want to do to the boat and a whole lot of stuff to do in the house!!

Meanwhile meet the family

Lets start off with Nicky my wife of 30 + years, scary huh (the 30 years bit)

She has had a variety of jobs from nursury Nurse to Matron. Full time mum whilst the kids grew up. Mobile Library driver, womens safe transport driver. 4 year break to do a psychology degree. Teaching, and counselling young offenders in prison, then finally church administrator. before taking the plunge and retiring with me.

Luke 26 and Tim 23 are my two sons, as different as

chalk and cheese and have always been that way. Luke has always been studious and thoughtful one, Tim the more adventurous sporty type. Both are very musical, Luke in particular endevouring to pursue it as a career , writing performing and producing his own music. Luke plays guitar and mandolin, Tim plays the drums. I have always felt that raising kids is a bit of a lottery, you never know how they will turn out, I've been lucky that both of mine turned out good and I'm very proud of them both.







Oh and here's me, I did an apprenticeship with British Airways and was a qualified Aircraft technician by the age of 20. I later joined my fathers company and reinvented myself as a toolmaker, primarily working on a vertical mill, but able to turn my hand to most machining jobs. In the late 80's as engineering was suffering a huge decline in Britain, my father retired. I decided that running a company in decline was not my idea of fun so we sold up and I joined Gillette as a machine technician. There I stayed filling various roles over the years, finishing up as a project engineer. Redundancy came in April 2006 at the age of 51 not a bad time to start retirment after all.