November 2014 – Dublin and back to Southampton

1st November – Saturday

Travelled to Dublin to visit Laura and Damien.

For the first time we went to Manchester Airport on the train.  £37 for 2 people return.  Bargain.

This does depend on you having time on your hands.  We set off from home at 11.30am and arrived at Laura’s flat at about 7.00pm.

We went to their lovely new flat and then got a taxi to town and a lovely meal at a Nepalese restaurant and then to an unusual quirky pub.  Then we stayed up watching Strictly and X-Factor when we got back.

2nd November – Sunday

We walked into town to a brilliant burger bar for brunch.  Then sat in Bar 37 in the window watching the world go by for a few hours.  We finished off at the ‘Little Museum of Dublin’ which is a museum all about Dublin itself.  You get a guided tour in with the price, then get time to roam around.  There is a U2 exhibition on the top floor.

Our evening meal was at the excellent Thai restaurant ‘Koh’.

3rd November – Monday

Laura and Damien were working so we walked into town and visited the National Portrait Gallery.  Note – many Dublin Museums are closed on Mondays.

Laura popped home in the evening and we got Pizza from the Italian downstairs.

It was really lovely to see them both at the end of our trip as they were the last people we saw that we knew at the beginning.

4th November – Tuesday

Travelled home 12.30pm to 20.30pm via Bus, Plane and 2 trains.

5th November onwards

I think I caught a cold on the plane and was quite sick for about a week.  It was the first illness we had all summer.  I had to cancel my trip to Lancaster with Liz and we also cancelled going out with Allen and Dorit on Saturday.  Booo.  But there is nothing worse than a restaurant meal with a snuffler.

However I inflicted the snuffles on Annette, Julian, Alex, Katie and Tommy on Sunday afternoon as they had invited us for tea.

Mini passed its MOT.

Trip to Greens fabrics, while Mick at Training 2000.

2 days to finish covering the three seating cushions we brought back from the boat.

Picture of the Cushions.

Finished the workshirt quilt see www.handmadebyannmarie.blogspot.co.uk  for details.

Picture of Workshirt Quilt

Met Hannah from work at Ossy Mills.  It was the first time I would meet her beautiful baby Daniel.  It was a little surreal as she was sitting in a small cafe whilst a pensioners Christmas party was in full swing 20 feet away, (Mid November) which included a singer and sing-a-long audience participation.  We had a really good catch-up and a good look around.

W.I. Party meal out at the Three Millstones.

Made 5 draft excluders for friends.

Finally managed to meet up with Allen and Dorit and had a lovely meal out in Lytham and a good catch-up.

Went to Manchester Markets on the train, what a luxury not having to go at weekend.  The stalls were easy to get to and the pubs had seats available.

Made Victoria Sandwich cake and Sticky Ginger and Walnut.

Went to the Knit and Stitch show in Harrogate with Liz who kindly drove, Annette and Grace.  It’s always a good day out.

Craft n Chat on the 20th had 12 people in attendance, very lively evening.

Went out with the Annette, Karon, Pam and Carol.

Traumatic day while the man next door had his roof mended, Mick went up for a look, I had to go out, really hope they are good at their job as they moved our slates too.

Went to Dave’s 60th, Rock n Roll party in Leeds.  Excellent catch-up with Dave M and his team.  He also had a full sized motorbike made from balloons.

Watched Lewis Hamilton win Formula 1 championship on TV.

Started my craft blog.  www.handmadebyannmarie.blogspot.co.uk

Went to see ‘Imitation Game’ at Cinema, about Ian Turing who invented the machine which de-coded the Enigma machine.  5/5 excellent.

Went to Indian with Steve and Elaine.

Craft n Chat 27th, Liz taught us to make Christmas Baubles, using a very clever design.

Helped with the teas at Grindleton Pavilion Christmas Fayre with Liz, Sally, Denise, Jan, and Margaret.

30th December – Sunday

Travelled back to Southampton to the boat.  The mini was full of boat cushions, with not much room for anything else.

October 2014 – Going Home

Previously, we had been in Hythe for a few days.

3rd October  - Friday

On a beautiful, sunny and calm morning we sailed back to Southampton from Hythe, a short hop, which took just under an hour, as we had to re-negotiate the Hythe Marina Lock. 

We were a little sad in the knowledge that this was the last trip at the end of our Summer Sail, but felt accomplished that ourselves and the boat where returning safe and sound.

Over the next few days we re-organised the boat, looking in every nook and cranny to decide, with a tough eye, what was staying and what was going home.  The ‘if it’s not beautiful or useful’ moto was tested to its limits, we were ruthless.  The front cabin was filled with the items to be returned.

I must admit I had brought too many clothes for us both.  We have ended up with half a wardrobe each and the other half of the wardrobes are stacked with the Ikea zip boxes, with undies, t-shirts and shorts.  Even though I thought I had not brought many shoes 3 pairs went home too.

Sunday 5th October

We had our last walk to town which was buzzing and there was an even bigger market down the main street.  We had seen an advert online for a ‘Music in the City’ event for the weekend where music was being performed in unusual places.  Just before 2.00pm we went to the City Art Gallery, where 3 musical performances were to take place.  These events are free and open to anyone.  The room has a vaulted ceiling and the Southampton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonic choir were assembled in the beautiful room ready to perform.  We managed to get a seat and settled for the performances.

We were treated to Mozart, Regina Coeli with Soprano Lucy Balderson.  Haydn, Symphony No. 39.  Stopford’s, ‘Do not be afraid’ (which moved us both to tears and is worth looking up if you have not heard it).  Eglar, Lux Aeterna and finally a Nimrod MashUp.  There was also a Flute Orchestra and a Quartet to finish the afternoon.  2 plus hours whizzed by.

 

Biggest flute in the world,

Back to earth with a bump and a quick Lidl trip.

Monday and Tuesday

More jobs before home.

Mick waterproofed the canopy.  Mended the computer. 

Our friend came on Tuesday night and we went for a Chinese Meal in Town.

8th October – Wednesday

Our very kind friend arrived at 9.00am and we loaded up his car for our trip north.  We also put three of our boat cushions in the boot which we are going to cover at home.  The car was full and the boat looked very tidy.

We arrived home at 3.00pm via a KFC stop at Keele, which is a longstanding tradition.  We cannot thank our friend enough for his generosity.

Icing on the cake – we were home for the Bake-off final.

9th October – Thursday

Big sort out at home to find a place for all the boat gear.

Had a lovely visit from Liz who brought us some homemade Jam and Chutney, to bolster our empty cupboards.  She really stayed in touch while we were away and it was very much appreciated, to have that regular contact from home.  Thank goodness for technology.

I packed for our weekend away, which was one of the reasons why we came home.

First W.I. meeting – AGM with supper.  Kay was elected President.

10th October – Friday

In the morning Mick had a meeting at work, I went for a good chinwag and catch-up.

We travelled to Jackie and Murray’s new holiday home in Annette and Julian’s campervan.  A real family gathering.  Jackie and Murray have had a static van on a Lake District site for many, many years and they along with several others on the site have upgraded their holiday homes this year.  The site is quite remote and this involved making a temporary road so it made sense for several homes to be transported at the same time.

The new home is really lovely and exceeds any idea of a holiday home, power shower, fully fitted kitchen, two bathrooms!!!  Murray has excelled himself by building steps and a platform around the home which serves as access but also a lovely seating and lake viewing area.

Jackie treated us to one of her super curries on Friday and we went shopping in Ulverston on Saturday to get food for the Saturday night BBQ.  Murray is a BBQ legend.  On our return Jackie had made cake and scones, yum.

12th October - Sunday

We travelled back via Ambleside and a brew at Devils Bridge near Kirkby-Lonsdale.

Lovely weekend had by all.

13th October – Monday

Jackie, Annette, Murray and I went to PK Foods in Blackburn for spice stock-up and then to ‘Immanuel Fabrics’ in Burnley for Jackie to buy fabric.

14th to end of October

Craft n Chat meetings on 16th, 23rd and 30th, really lovely to see everyone.  Showed off the x-stitch they bought me for the trip.

Picture of completed lighthouse tapestry

Teddy Bear Fair on the 19th, to buy special Mohair for Caitlin’s bear.  Whilst in Bolton we went to the Fred Dibnah photo exhibition in the Bolton Museum and found out there is an aquarium there, who knew.

Over the following 2 weeks we had hair cut, visited Denise, visited Pam, made chutney, we visited Dave and Catherine’s new house, made brownies and carrot cake (I have missed baking and having a full sized, controllable oven), we visited Steve and Elaine, skyped Louise and Gordon, I went to the W.I. autumn council meeting at Blackburn King Georges Hall, made macaroons, we took a takeaway to Mark and Pam’s, went to Crafty Vintage event in Clitheroe, we had supper at Paul and Maria’s with Isabella and Luca, visited Karon with Liz, made 6 strings of Bunting, Mark and Caitlin collected her bear (Bethany), I cleaned the back of the house to remove the muddy football marks, Mick then chipped off the rendering and re-rendered it, Mick went to Training 2000, made Fruit Biscuits, went to Halloween bash at the local club.

Mick has researched and sourced, New water pump cover and seal for the engine, replacement tube for the boom vang (thing that hold the boom up), extension for WiFi aerial, hinge-covers for the hatches, polarity indicator for the shore power, insulation kit for the Eberspacer Diesel pump, new thermostat for engine frost heater for winter, new smoke detector.  Copied CDs into MP3’s for boat use.

People have asked how we are going to fill our days, so hope that helped.