Well hi everyone, sorry not to have blogged sooner, but we've been busy, but more of that later!

Work is as depressingly pointless as ever, though I guess the point is that it is funding our escape plans (currently we are at week 71). I've got 15 monthly pay checks to go..... I wonder if the marina will mind when I burn my suit on the pontoon?! Now that's cheered me up!

Ok so more importantly onto Emerald:

We've installed our lashing boards that were lovingly varnished by the admiral! All ten coats of them... Very pleased with the effect, as it doesn't look out of place or ruin the lines of the boat too much, especially when Nichola makes some green canvas covers for them, to keep the uV out. We used iroko rather than teak, easier to work and to be honest you can hardly tell the difference in look, even though it is a quarter of the price of teak! Let us know what you think. The idea is to stow 120 litres of spare diesel on the forward boards, 40 litres of emergency water, 50 litre of petrol for the dinghy and two spare 20lbs aluminium gas bottles on the rear boards. This will help keep us self sufficient for 3 to 6 months at a time. ;-)

(insert picture of varnished boards)

With our wind and solar, we should be able to live very simply indeed to enable the cruising kitty to go further. I've run out of time for the tank saga, so more of that tomorrow or Friday perhaps.
Skip clear.

Next up is the water tank and plumbing saga. Joy oh joy!