Well we are still here folks!!! although not having too shabby a time of it I have to say. Sadly, the weather has been pretty unfriendly since the Jubilee weekend. We get the odd couple of hours of what could be described as sunshine, and then it all clamps down again and goes to pot!! However, skip and I are enjoying seeing family (his coz is over from NZ and Candy is up from Devon) and I get to see Jen and Mum so all is good. We have caught up with friends from the sailing season last year and enjoyed a couple of excellent lunches, and a game of croquet to boot!!! We were gale bound the other day, and enjoyed a bit of 'virtual sailing'!!! no need to leave the dock on those conditions!
In the meantime I am loving my stomps around the village, taking various pics of gorgeous trees and things that I enjoy and realise what I miss about the UK! All being well, and looking at the various met predictions, we hope to take Freedom out on Tuesday to get some sea time in and check her out. Mast was lifted at the end of last season, and sails removed, so need to make sure they all went back in the right order!! Meantime we need to just be available locally for a short while, as we have a family commitment to attend to in the immediate future.
Cheers for now. Sooze xx
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Comments [1]
love from the snatches
Gorgeous names for some of the villages around here!
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a couple of views during my walk the day before Jubilee Day when the sun was out!! The local pub went to town, and one of the lovely lanes had bunting tied around the trees, it all looked very festive... memorable for me!
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Also taken day before Jubilee day, was on my stomp around Bursledon and this view is from the top of the hill looking down to the River Hamble and across towards the bottom of Southampton Water and the Isle of Wight in the fog in the distance !!!! xxxx
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06/03/2012
A view of the Elephant in prep the day before, and the river across to Swanwick. You can spot Freedom quite easily by the dark blue hull.
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06/03/2012, Hamble
A rather grey day heralds the Queen's Jubilee Day which is a huge shame, however, typically English!! In the meantime, hundreds of man hours and equal amounts of time and expenditure have gone into what promises to be a spectacular event. For those who may be interested, The beginning of the water pageant will be done by a giant floating bell tower of 8 newly cast bells, each named after members of the royal family. As the bell's start ringing, the churches round the river will answer, and then all the churches fanning out throughout the UK, and electronically through the Commonwealth.
Then, leading the way will be the 88ft gilded royal rowbarge, Gloriana, powered by a crew of 18 oarsmen led by Olympians Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent. Her Majesty will follow in The Spirit of Chartwell, which will be covered in scarlet and gold and banks of flowers, its prow adorned with a swirling-bearded sculpture of Old Father Thames. The other 997 vessels will include boats from all aspects of British and Commonwealth maritime history from the tall ships to a Maori waka (canoe!). Around 40 of The Little Ships of Dunkirk will be there along with a replica of The Golden Hind, and hundreds of yachts from various clubs around the country/globe - all divided into 10 sections down the river.
Meantime, another important vessel Freedom of Hamble has joined the spirit of the day by dressing overall with several other boats at The Elephant and I have included a couple of pics on this!!! chat later, off to watch this amazing event even and despite the typical British weather which is a complete law unto itself! xxxxx
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