Too Busy to Blog.

No posts for a little while, its been all go here at Port-Na-Storm, so here's a quick catch up.

Once the temperature finally decided to creep into double figures and the rain stopped for a wee while it was time to get out to the shed and catch up with things.

I've spent the winter on long overdue home improvements so the boats had been left to their own devices.  The Coot had overwintered inside the garage so she was nice and dry but when I pulled the cover off it wasn't pretty.  I must a have forgotten to clean her up at the end of last season and there was still a fair bit of sand and seaweed stuck to her floorboards. I knew she needed a spruce up so I set to and she's now got a fresh coat of paint inside and is now ship shape. 

Katie Beardie wasn't quite so lucky. She spent the winter down the side of the house and I'm afraid due entirely to my own neglect the elements managed to creep in.  There was some damage to the decks where the water had got under the ply and it had blown. This is what happens when you build using third rate materials then let nature do its worst. 

I stripped the deck right back, replaced all the dodgy bits then sheathed her in Epoxy and some of the good doctors bandages. She's now right as rain (!) and is gleaming in a fresh coat of paint, which is just as well as she's due at Beale Park Boat Show next Friday. 

 There are still a few jobs to do so as usual it'll be a mad rush to get there. The boys of the HBBR are planning a shortish trip down the Thames through Reading and then swinging right, up the Kennet &  Avon Canal which should be fun.

The fore-mentioned boys of the HBBR paid a visit to the Ancient & Vulnerable St Deny's Sailing and Rowing Club last Sunday and a jolly spiffing time was had by all, recorded here in a moving picture show.   

Plumbing Fans will be gasping to find out how the En-Suite re-fit went. 

You'll remember it was last seen something like this. 

Well I'm happy to report it now looks like this. 

Speaking of Re-Fits, the unsung heroin behind the power that is Port-Na-Storm has been in for a bit of a re-fit herself.  My dearly beloved, sometimes known as The Tooth Fairy, a shy self-effacing girl with nerves of steel and when needed the tongue of a Glasgow Clippie had a total knee replacement twelve weeks ago.
She has been strong, brave, and good natured throughout,  she's been swimming, walking, and yesterday we did a ten mile cycle ride which she is rightly proud of.  She is really pleased with her new joint, which is just as well as she'll be having the other one done in a few weeks time.  Seen here with our lovely granddaughter. 

And speaking of granddaughters, I'm proud to announce the arrival of Adriana Caitlin Rose.

  

Think we're going to need a bigger boat Grandpa!