We're back! After a total Sailblog vacuum for several months, we are back on the water; only in home waters mind you, but that can't last too long if I know me. All the family medical issues are sorted and equilibrium has been restored.
Well, almost. During this recent period of the equivalent of "home detention" John managed to get himself tangled up in far too much work, of a regular and millstone-like nature. Oh well, think of the money! Well, so did our son Matthew, who decided to marry Jane. It was, following their usual style, an understated and modest affair, but weddings don't come cheap however you cut it. But it was money well-spent, as they had a wonderful day and an adventurous honeymoon in Vietnam.
"Destiny" has not been coddled and fussed over the way she should have this last several months, but we are luckier than we deserve and she has survived a Winter of semi-neglect almost without any failures of note. John has been catching up on the maintenance these last couple of weeks - repairing one of the foot-actuated anchor windlass switches, maintaining the outboards, getting the heads plumbing running perfectly again, and so on.
We have been alongside at the Squadron doing this work, and will be heading out onto the harbour tonight to watch the famous Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks display. Shauna's sister Claire and her husband are anchored over in Farm Cove to watch the fireworks, and we took the inflatable dinghy over the harbour to visit with them this afternoon for lunch.
My, the harbour was busy - it was like crossing a freeway whilst on crutches, dodging ferries, speeding motor cruisers and water taxis. We stopped under the shelter of a rock face below the Prime Minister's Sydney residence, Kirribilli House, and waited for a bit of a gap in the traffic then bolted across the channel into a moderate breeze and chop, getting somewhat wet in so doing! But it was great to see them on their "Trident", another steel yacht, and share some relaxation - at least until the usual hoons in big motor cruisers came in and gave a display of careless, selfish and just plain ignorant anchoring that saw a few nerves strained across the bay.
Then back into the dinghy and across the freeway again, safe on "Destiny" once more. It's so calming to be back on-board and enjoying the simple pleasures again.
Shortly after we were back on board, who should come along the dock but James Kelman, an Aussie now living in Britain, who sailed on "Destiny" during the time Theo Taylor had stewardship of her. He came aboard and was chuffed to see how well she looks and was very impressed by Pete Walduck's changes and our fine touches.
We've put a few pics of the day in the photo gallery, including some shots from the Harbour Bridge of the crowds gathering early in the day in the various harbourside parks to get prime spots for tonight's display.
Click here to see them.