E-mail from the yard - finally. Only the briefest description of the state of affairs (most of it had already been reported by 'eyes and ears on the ground'). That was it, apart from: give us money. It's nice to have them acknowledging my existence.
Palms have now been crossed with silver, more than enough to warrant some (more) activity. Since then; not a word. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume/hope that they're too busy working on the boat.
Hope it won't be too long before I can drop in - in person - for a look and a chat.

Meanwhile, for a change, we've been having quite a lot of good news on the personal, professional and financial front. After what must seem like ages of moaning, whining and scraping pennies together we've finally turned the corner. The professional stability and financial security we've craved for so long is finally ours. So, come May, the boat will be all finished and the mortgage paid for. We can start living again, instead of merely surviving. All good things come those who wait. And I guess we've waited long enough.

Now that we're nearing the end of our project, I would like to say that none of it would have been possible without the support of my family. No matter how hard things got, they've been there for me: morally, emotionally and financially. The children have been great, but above all else, Brigitte has been a rock.

Today is our 19th wedding anniversary, and it's the first time in over a decade we're apart on that day. I love her more now than I ever did. Brigitte: wife, lover and best friend. My true North - I'd be lost without you.