A life on the ocean waves

Looking east from Whangarei Heads Norsand Boatyard, Whangarei, New Zealand It's been a very long time since my last update.  Who knew that being in lockdown a boatyard with nothing to do and nowhere to go could make me so incredibly idle?  When I have a deadline I am fine, but without one, I am not one of life's completer-finishers.  Each day has been pretty similar to the one before around here.  Anything we don't manage today, we can have fairly safely leave until tomorrow.  And that is what I have done.  Until now.  This is it.  Enough.  It's time to share some news.  We are approaching 100 days in the boatyard, and we finally have a plan, and both of those are good reasons to force myself to sit down and write this until it is finished. Eloise and Angus on a weekend walk We came out of the water in early March for what we thought would be two weeks.  When we met our new neighbours, we couldn't work them out at all; on both sides of us were couples who had been l

Current location for the foreseeable future: Norsand Boatyard, Whangarei, New Zealand #stayhomesavelives - a rainy day in the boatyard Things have got serious in New Zealand today so I need to cover that first; scroll down if you need immediate ideas for managing your husband in isolation.  Yesterday, a petition signed by over 40,000 NZ healthcare professionals was handed to the government, asking for them to move immediately to stage 4 lockdown.  Today, after a long cabinet meeting, Jacinda Ardern spoke with great eloquence, leadership and passion, announcing stage 3 stay-at-home with immediate effect, escalating to stage 4 lockdown in 48 hours.  There have been two cases of community transmission here so far, and New Zealand is desperate not to go the same way as so many countries in Europe.  Everyone we have spoken to has been in full support of the escalation, and thinks the bold decision has been taken not a moment too soon.  We hope and pray that it can change the traject

The children have just started school.. but for how long? Current location: Norsand Boatyard, Whangarei, New Zealand We have been watching the deteriorating situation at home with increasing disbelief, and deep sadness in our hearts.   Victoria came out of the water last week for a routine mini-refit, which we are half way through.   Our plan had been to sail to Australia mid-April, fly home in May for my brother, Will’s wedding, then return to Australia and sail Victoria up to Indonesia, before returning to the UK in September.   During the single week that we have been out of the water, everything has changed for everyone.   We cannot even begin to understand the enormity of the knock-on effects of what is evolving.   Our plans, like those of the rest of the world, are no longer possible.   Borders are closed and every single person on the whole planet is facing turmoil.   There is definitely no place for yachties exploring the world on a prolonged jolly.   Our hearts

A happy little Jack Current location: Fairway Bay Marina, Gulf Harbour, 36 37.2 S  174 47.6E We are back in Fairway Bay, where we began this adventure in March last year.   This is the place where the children and I first set eyes on Victoria.   (Angus had already seen her some months earlier).   It was our home for several weeks while we were getting ready to set sail for Tonga, which feels like such a long time ago now.   We have all come a very long way since then, both literally and metaphorically.   Angus and I were amazed by our crew as we approached the dock when we arrived;   all three were  on deck, bursting with energy and keen to help us.   Eloise stood at the bow, Jack amidships, and George at the stern, each confidently clutching their coiled ropes, ready to throw or pass to me once I was on the pontoon.   They jumped ashore as soon they could make the leap, and were extremely proficient in tying the lines around the cleats.   We could hardly believe what aw