Boating ahoy!

Now the observant amongst you will have noticed that there hasn’t been much boating on this blog of late. Now this hasn’t been by design, it’s just that various things have frustrated our plans. But this is all about to change and I’m planning on going out of 2008 with a – metaphorical – bang. First, we’re going to pootle down to Ellesmere at the end of November if no-one steals away our week’s holiday. Then before Christmas I’d like to squeeze in a meander up to Anderton and after Christmas, we’re hoping to do all of the Llangollen before the boys in blue put in their stop planks. So you should get some cruise reports! Shock horror, don’t overdo it, Greygal!

Before that, though, we’re hoping to get away for a weekend in the van, mainly to help friends who have just bought their very first van and who are looking for moral support. We’ll try and get adjacent pitches and ensure they don’t connect their mains lead to the Elsan disposal unit or wind their awning into a tree. This from the couple who crashed their van within 30 minutes of ownership and blew up their water hose because they didn’t unroll it! Talk about the blind leading the blind...

So we’re counting the days till holiday time. Of course, there are SOME people, mentioning no names, Caxton, that are about to start living the dream for real and doing this cruising lark full-time. I hope they’ve put the plug in the bottom of the boat...

In the meantime, I shall continue to amuse myself with my ‘virtual cruising’, scouring the blogs of Sanity, Seyella, No Problem, Indigo Dreaming, Balmaha et al. One of my new regular reads is Big Martyn’s blog, which I think oozes personality and character and also serves as a wonderfully articulate entree into the perils and delights, the highs and lows of single-handed boating. More power to your big elbow, big Martyn!

And for those of you wondering about the dog fleece coats, they will all be modelled for your enjoyment very shortly. Here’s a taster - you can see that Miffy's yawning with excitement!