Tuesday JAN 28th, 2014 - Yeah, still here.

Photo: Venture in her new summer dress, the sun shade we discovered.

With the Internet behaving completely spazzy and going on and off like a 2 year old flicking a light switch, we decided to finish the major chores on the boat. The rope holding hooky D things are now in the deck and completely sealed and secure, so we can now tie down the custom bag we had made to hold the inflatable kayaks and the big drifter sail. Doing this has made more room in the lazarette (the storage section at the back of the boat) and we needed all the room we could get.

We've also been stocking up on food supplies as the time to leave draws ever closer. Like, this coming weekend if the weather holds and the winds stay as forecast ... yikes!! I'm ever so glad that Dave built the storage shelf below the other storage shelf in the starboard/aft section (that's the right hand side at the back just in case my sailorly talk is dazzling you too much). It fits almost as many supplies as the actual food cupboards.

Dave also had a look at what he thought were ordinary boat covers but turned out to be the most fantastic tropical boat shades, which we have put to good use in the past couple of days, what with temperatures over 40 degrees.

There are still so many things to do before we leave, I fear my head may implode with all the stuff it's full of that I have to attempt to remember. Not having the best memory at the best of times is also not aiding me one iota. I have taken notes but then I have to remember to look at the notes. ACK!!! It's all too much. I have to remember to cancel things, pay bills, make stuff, sell the car and trailer, buy more bits and pieces, wait and hope that stuff we ordered will be here on time.... on, and on, and... (*takes deep breath and carries on*)

I'm also trying to catch up with friends and do some drawing whilst I still can. It's going to be a busy, busy few days. Then a big farewell family dinner and it's bon voyage. I can't believe it's finally so close and that it's truly happening. I'm sad about leaving my family and friends, nervous about the unknown, scared of the bitey things lurking about under the keel, excited about all the places we'll see, worried about the instinctive reflex of the gastric tract to displace the contents of my stomach at less than convenient times. Oh the mixed emotions I'm having... I could write a Mills and Boon novel.

Well, back to it. More in a couple of days. It's coming and now there's no turning back...............